“What are you doing here?” I cleared my throat to try and steady my voice. “I need you to leave.”
“Listen, sweetheart, you sound scared. I just want my girl back.” Ethan took a few steps forward, and I backed up behind the island, putting space between us.
I gripped the countertop in an attempt to steady myself. “I'm not your girl. I was until you hurt me. Leave.” My voice came out forceful despite how shaky I was.
“Okay, I'll leave, but I want you to come with me.” He reached out a hand and took another step towards the island.
“I will not be going anywhere with you. Leave. Now. Before I start screaming.”
“I don't think you'll be doing that.” He pulled a pocket knife off his belt, causing a chill to go up my spine. “Just come with me and we can be in love again. I saw how you were with him. You—”
I cut him off, yelling, in an attempt to sound more angry than scared. “You mean you stalked me, trespassed, and then took photos of him and I naked? That's what you mean.”
Duke hadn't stopped growling and barking, and now he was clawing at the door he was locked behind. I was hopeful my raised voice would make him bark louder. Maybe Caleb would hear even though he was still at the barn.
“His fault for leaving the curtains open. I saw a lot more than that. He doesn't know how you like to be touched, Rae. He doesn't know you like I do.” He took a couple steps, making his way around the island, glass shards crunching under his shoes as he kicked them out of the way.
I continued to circle the kitchen island as he did, waiting for the perfect moment I could make a run for the front door. Duke's barking had not been heard by Caleb yet.
“He doesn't have your best interest at heart. You've not lost weight since being here. Probably all that wine and pizza.” He pointed the knife at my stomach and thighs. I suddenly remembered what I was wearing and wrapped Caleb’s flannel tighter around me. “Keeping the curtain open while you sleep is unsafe. Eating processed foods, making you fat... That’s not good either.”
I've got to keep him talking until Caleb gets back. Come on, Rae. You can do this.
“I actually have lost weight since being here, since I'm working on the farm.” I took a shaky breath. “And Caleb loves my curves.”
“No he doesn't, Rae. He just knew you were easy and would get in bed with him. I'm the one that loves you, and I'm actually glad I caught you like this.” He motioned again to my body. “It will make our reunion that much easier.” His voice sounded angrier, and the way he looked at me, in nothing but my undergarments and a flannel, sent chills up my spine. The look in his eyes was worse than the night he hurt me.
I pulled Caleb's flannel tighter around my body, trying to cover as much skin as possible. “Ethan, please. Go. Now. I'm happy here. If you love me, like you say you do, you'll let me stay happy. Here.” We'd continued to round the island slowly, and I was hoping something would distract him so I could run to the front door and escape.
Caleb, please come back soon.
As if Caleb read my thoughts, I heard him outside thanking Luke for calling him, and for his help. He was coming back to the house—thank goodness!
Hearing Caleb's voice getting closer, Ethan's expression turned desperate. I looked away just long enough to look at the front door. Ethan came up behind me, wrapping a big hand over my mouth, stifling a scream.
“You're coming with me now or your hillbilly gets his throat cut.”
I nodded quickly, fighting the tears that had begun to flood my eyes.
As soon as Caleb's boots hit the front steps, he must have heard Duke’s barking and growling, because his footsteps immediately picked up as he ran to the front door.
“Rae! Rae, baby! It's me! Open the door!”
I realized then that he hadn't taken his keys because I should have been able to let him in. None of this should have happened.
Ethan led me to the basement door, and I quickly realized that was how he got in the house. I realized he was probably hiding in the spare room and it wasn't Caleb who opened the door. At the bottom of the basement stairs, I saw the walkout door open. The lock had been tampered with, from the looks of it. Ethan pushed me to the door, his hand still over my mouth, and the knife still at my side on my bare skin.
“Move,”he ordered.
I heard Caleb at the front of the house banging on the windows and calling for me. I wanted to call for him, to tell him where I was so he could save me, but I couldn’t with Ethan’s hand over my mouth and a knife at my side.
I heard a loud noise along with glass shattering. Caleb must have broken one of the windows on the front of the house in an attempt to get inside.
As we exited the basement, Ethan tripped on an uneven spot in the grass, causing the knife to cut my arm and side as we fell. Pain exploded into a ringing that drowned everything else out for a moment. I placed my hand on my side and felt a small bit of blood trickling down my fingers and side. Tears fell from my eyes now. The spots where the knife had cut me burned as I moved, causing me to cry out.
Wait, he’s not holding his hand over my mouth. He still hasn't gotten back to me yet!I screamed. I screamed as loud as I possibly could and yelled Caleb's name.
“You stupid bitch.” Ethan stood and grabbed me by the arm, yanking me up from the ground. He smacked my face and then stepped closer to me as he said something I couldn’t focus on. I could only focus on the pain and wonder where Caleb was.
