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Mark closed his eyes. They’d talked about so much. She’d opened up to him more this week than she had before, and the stories she’d told him made him cringe even now. He hated hearing what they’d done to her, but she’d lightened with each story she shared. It was healing her to share. She’d never been able to tell anybody about the horrors she’d endured before, and it helped her to talk about them.
A thought struck like a lightning bolt and he jumped to his feet. “The cabin!” He pulled his phone out and started pacing the sidewalk. “Rafael has a cabin.” He tapped Chase’s contact information. “Chase, has Corey found anything about a cabin connected to Rafael?”
“Not that I’m aware. Let me ask.”
Mark heard muffled voices and he paced as he waited. And waited. He winced as he remembered the story Emily had told him about being taken to a cabin in the woods by Rafael when she was fourteen. In a sick way, it would make sense if Rafael took her back there.
He glanced at his watch. It had been well over two hours since they’d left the theater. Seth would be arriving soon. Maybe they should head to the airport so they could get moving as soon as he arrived. He was about to mention it to David when Chase returned to the phone.
“He found a cabin in the name of a company he’s associated with in the Angeles National Forest, along with a Joe Parker. I’ll send you the location.”
“Thanks. Should we go to the airport and wait for Seth?”
“Good idea. He’s on a private plane, so I’ll have him text you his landing info. There are a lot of airports around there, if I remember correctly.”
“Thanks, Chase. I’d be lost without you.”
“Anytime, man.”
Fifty-Two
Emily gaspedfor air as Jarrod pulled her head from the bath water before dunking her again. The water was filthy from the dirt she’d rolled around in outside, as well as Geoffrey’s blood that hadn’t washed off in the shower. The floor was covered in brown-tinged water from her struggles.
Jarrod grinned and dunked her again. The world went silent and she lay there as long as she could, trying to conserve her breath. But when he pinched her nipple hard, she screamed under the water and choked. He pulled her out again and released her.
“Pull the drain plug,” he commanded in a harsh voice.
With shaky hands, she did as he commanded. He grabbed hold of her hair again and dragged her out the tub and onto the hard tile floor.
He threw a towel at her. “Dry off.”
Jarrod watched her as she dabbed the towel over her aching body. Once she was dry, he grabbed her arm and led her out into the hallway.
She yanked against him, trying to free herself from his grip, but he just picked her up and carried her through the doorway leading to Rafael’s master bedroom.
“No, please!” She kicked and scratched at Jarrod, but he dropped her on her feet, slapping her hard when she tried to escape. Sparkles filled her vision and she swayed, blinking hard, trying to clear her vision and her mind.
Jarrod wrapped leather cuffs around her wrists and attached them to a chain hanging from the beam in the center of the room. He cuffed her ankles together, looked her over with a menacing grin, then turned and walked away. She jumped as he slammed the door behind him.
Dazed, she hung limply and stared up at the chain holding her wrists until tears started streaming down her cheeks.
She closed her eyes, forcing her mind to concentrate on the wonderful hours she’d spent with Mark the last few days. They’d never even had the chance to make love. Mark had kissed her, yes, but nothing more. She wanted to know what it was like to make love to someone she loved. And, oh, how she loved Mark.
Would she ever see him again? Would they kill him? Would her father and Rafael kill her like they’d killed Geoffrey? After all, her appearance here had ruined their plans. And Geoffrey wasn’t around to watch her anymore.
The door opened several minutes later and Rafael walked inside, wearing a wicked grin and nothing else. She had thought him handsome when she was younger. Now? He was still handsome, but so sadistic it was hard to see past that. Her father followed behind him.
Rafael circled her, running his hands over her stomach, stopping behind her and cupping her breasts. She leaned away from him, but he just held her tighter.
“I remember when you used to love it when I did this,” he said in a low voice, nipping at her ear.
“That was before I knew better,” she spat.
He pinched her nipple and she cried out. “I guess we’re going to have to start all over.” He kissed her neck and she tried to twist away but he grabbed her forehead and pressed the back of her head against his shoulder.
Her father moved closer and caged her jaw, wrenching it open. He thrust something small inside and it took her a moment to taste the familiar bitterness of the pill. He pressed his hand over her mouth and grinned.
“Swallow, darling,” he said.
