Page 52 of Abandoned

She went to her bedside table to turn the lamp on and retrieve a flashlight if it didn’t.

Maybe she didn’t need the apartment long-term. Would she and Will get married?

Something like a shadow moved behind her.

Or was it her imagination?

She reached for the lamp but missed the switch when a large muscular arm snaked around her.

The lamp crashed to the ground.

A gloved hand clapped over her mouth and muffled her scream.

Chapter Fourteen

Zara threw her elbow back into her attacker’s side, but it had no effect on the brute. She reached for the concealed-carry compartment in her purse. She needed to get away. Get her gun. Get her phone. Get help.

The brute’s other arm wrapped around her waist and dragged her backward. She struggled to keep her feet beneath her.

Her purse bounced against her shoulder. If she couldn’t get her gun or phone out, she could at least use the whole thing as a weapon. Grabbing the strap, she swung it around and whacked it into the large man.

He grunted and loosened his grasp on her.

Never underestimate the weight of a Sig Sauer.

She stomped on his foot, but her thin sandal was no match for the boot it fell upon. She clawed at the hand covering her mouth.

Prying it away, she screamed until he choked the breath from her.

In a single powerful move, he shoved her forward into the wall between her dresser and the door to the living room and ripped the purse from her grip.

What was this lunatic planning to do to her?

Ernie’s threats played in her mind. Was this Ernie? The height and build were about right.

He turned her to face him, pinned her arms above her head, and pressed himself against her.

The thug was dressed in all black, with a black ski mask covering his whole face. In the darkness of the room, she couldn’t identify him at all.

She couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t let this happen. Was this guy going to rape her? Kill her?

“Who are you? What do you want?”

“Someone you shouldn’t have crossed.” The voice was familiar.

Was it Ernie?

He continued, “If you don’t back off and leave us alone, you’ll pay a price far worse than tonight.”

A shiver trailed down her back. It didn’t sound like he would kill her, but there were things far worse than death.

He leaned in. His hot breath smelled like onions. Or was that his sweat?

“Do you understand?”

“Yes.” Childhood had taught her that if an angry man told her something, she had better listen and at least pretend to understand.

He moved both of her hands until they were pinned by only one of his. The hand that was now free, he moved back to her neck.