Page 68 of Unmasked

FORTY-THREE

So many times Fletcher had held her like this. But it didn't feel right. It had never felt right, because he wasn’t the man she wanted and needed.

Everleigh pulled away, more desperate than ever to see Knox. She lifted her head and realized that, as he'd comforted her, he'd slowly moved them away from the door of the hospital.

“Oh, but⁠—”

“No.” He shook his head. “Come on, my car’s right over here. I'll take you home.”

“No.” She tried to pull away, but his hands tightened around her biceps. Fear rippled through her as a dark look entered his eyes.

“I have to go,” she said. “My mother is waiting for me.”

She spun, breaking his hold momentarily. But a second later, something cold and hard pressed into her side as he wrapped his free arm around her shoulders. “Don’t be stupid. Start walking.”

She didn't have to look down to recognize the pistol. Her breath stuttered, and he took advantage of her hesitation. “That's right,” he said softly. “I'm parked right over here.”

He dropped his hand from her shoulders as he guided them quickly across the parking lot to a small black sedan. A chill ran through her as she recognized it from the day she had been run off the road while jogging. Keys jangled as he passed them to her. “You're driving.”

She took a step toward the driver side, and he made a low sound in his throat. “Not a chance. Climb across the seat.”

She followed him to the passenger side, then crawled over the console and settled behind the steering wheel. Her lungs felt tight and her hands trembled as she shakily shoved the key into the ignition.

“Let's go.” He gestured impatiently with the gun, and she put the car in gear.

“Where are we going?”

“Shut up and drive!”

She barely managed to bite her tongue to keep from snapping back at him. Silence fell over the car as she drove out of town. As they drove, she waited for him to say something, to explain what he thought he was doing. She watched as he rooted through her purse, then dug out her phone.

He held it out to her, a scowl on his face. “What’s your password?”

She threw an angry glare his way, a retort on the tip of her tongue. But she had to be smart about this. Needling him would only make things worse. Instead, she recited the passcode and watched as he punched it in then began to type away.

The vibration of her phone sounded like a rumble of thunder breaking the silence. Every muscle in her body tensed as one ring turned into two… three. The vibrations eventually stopped, broken by a short pause before starting up all over again. Relief rushed through her. Zane had realized she was gone; he would tell Knox.

Then all hell would break loose.

“He’ll come for me,” she said softly.

“Oh, I’m counting on it,” he said darkly.

His words sent a chill down her spine. “Why are you doing this?”

He let out a mirthless laugh. “Is that a serious question? You had everything, and you threw it all away for what? Some piece of trailer trash who lives in a shack?”

Anger burst through her at hearing him reduce the place she and Knox called home to a shack. It was a thousand times better than the luxury apartment she had shared with Fletcher in the city. At least Knox’s home was full of love; she could hardly say the same for her ex.

“You made a mockery of me,” he seethed. “Everyone looks at me differently, like I’m the problem. I won’t stand for it.”

“W-what are you talking about?” Her fingers clenched on the wheel as he leaned close, and she fought the urge to recoil.

“Did you really think I’d just let you go?” In her peripheral vision, she watched him shake his head. “Not a chance. You’re mine, Everleigh. You belong to me, and I’ll do whatever I have to.”

The ominous words ricocheted through the cabin of the car. “Don’t do this,” she pleaded softly. “This isn’t Knox’s fault. I’ll do whatever you want—just leave him alone.”

“He’ll do anything to keep you safe, won’t he?”