Chapter 56
Rae
Ithrashed around,attempting to break free from Ethan’s grasp, my wrists and legs ached because of being restrained and my lungs burned from screaming. He was heavy, fueled by whatever sick adrenaline was pumping through him, and I could feel the shift in his intent—darker, meaner, final.
“Stop fighting me,” he growled, pinning me to the sleeping bag. With his free hand, he picked up the knife again and flicked open the blade, putting it at my throat. “I gave you a chance to be good.”
I spat in his face again. I couldn’t stop fighting. I knew what he had done to me, what he could do again. It wasn’t brave; it was desperate.
His hand cracked across my cheek. Stars exploded behind my eyes, and I choked on the sob that crawled up my throat. He leaned closer, breath hot and sharp with rage, and that knife glinted again as he angled it closer to my jaw. He waved it beside my face like a promise—a promise of what was to come if I didn’t behave.
“You think you can hurt me and get away with it?” he hissed. “You think that cowboy of yours is gonna show up and save you like some damn hero?” He hit me again and it made me so dizzy, I had to stop fighting.
I saw the evil smile on his face as he realized he finally got what he wanted. Ethan looked at my body and began to drag the tip of the knife down my side while holding my shoulder in place. I tried to tell him to stop, but my head was still spinning. He traced the tip of the knife up my stomach and my chest as he reached for my bra strap.
Be brave Rae. Caleb will be here soon. He’ll figure out where you are.
Ethan started to pull my strap down when we heard something. The house creaked.
Footsteps?
He froze.
My heart pounded so loud, it echoed in my ears. I told myself to stay still and not scream. Ethan was so focused on whatever made that sound that he’d stopped worrying about me for a moment.
Another creak.
“Shit,” Ethan hissed.
He stood up fast, yanking me roughly up with him. The rope around my legs had started to loosen just enough that I stumbled on the tarp covering the box in the corner of the room, next to the tools. The tarp fell away from what it covered and I saw a couple cans of white paint, among a few other items in the box. I gasped, realizing where I was.Ethan was the reason Jenny’s delivery went missing. I was in Jenny’s house.
Ethan jerked me around, causing me to lose my footing, and I realized the ropes around my legs had come mostly undone. Ethan didn’t notice this and he hauled me in front of him, jerking me back against his chest like a shield. The knife pressed into my ribs again. His breath came hot and fast over my shoulder.
“I swear, if it’s him...” he began.
The sounds of wood splintering filled the house.
“Hands up! Drop the weapon!”
A sense of relief washed over me when I saw Caleb and Santana.
