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When I reached the tree, I realized the rope was fishing line, and it was a hook through the envelope that held it up. I removed it from the fishhook. Opening the envelope, I withdrew a sheaf of photos.
My heart pounded as I went through the images. They were of me. But then they changed. There were images of the guys in the backyard with me. One of all of us in my dining room eating dinner. There were multiples of Ben and me. The first night he stopped by the club to last night as we exited together.
There was even an image of the two of us entering the house through the garage as it was closing. The look on our faces said it all. We were completely focused on each other, hunger and need splashed across our faces.
And that’s when I noticed writing on the back of the image.
How could you do this to me?
Don’t forget who you belong to.
Now I’m going to have to punish you.
My phone buzzed. With shaky hands, I grabbed my phone from my back pocket. And almost dropped it over the text from an unknown number.
Do you like my gift?
What the hell? Paranoia seized me. Large hands gripped me from behind, and I screamed bloody murder. Tater barked up a storm. Then there were hands on my face.
“Moira, babe, it’s me. Deep breaths for me, honey.”
Ben’s face swam into my field of vision. His mouth moved, but I had this loud buzzing in my ears.
“Talk to me, babe.”
“He’s watching me.”
Dark fury radiated off Ben. “I know. Come inside with me. Please.”
It was the please that jolted me from my stupor. “All right.” And for once in my life, I didn’t fight when he directed me. Ben assumed responsibility.
Which was fine with me since I could barely hear past the buzzing in my ears. He ushered me inside the front door and into the living room. Once I was seated on the sofa, I watched him call someone. But the words he said didn’t compute.
“Yeah, I know. But he’s been here this morning. Fine. See you soon.”
And then he was kneeling in front of me. Those enigmatic blue eyes filled with concern as they searched my face.
“Talk to me, honey.”
“They’re not going to stop. Are they?” I hadn’t really believed it was anything more than a nuisance—until now. I thought it was just someone being a tad too fixated on me. But that it would blow over.
I had a lot of guys crush on me over the years. Many of the regular patrons were just lonely men who fixated on me because they didn’t have anyone in their lives. I’d even had one man propose years ago. And I’d always been able to control the situation and maintain the upper hand. But in this scenario, I was lost. And I didn’t know what to do or how to handle it.
“No, babe, he’s not.” I spied the truth in his eyes. He was worried, but wasn’t saying it.
Bless him.
“I’ve got a police detective coming to the house. Trust me. I’m going to make sure you’re okay. I’m not going anywhere. Okay?”
I nodded. But I didn’t feel like I was in my body. It felt as if I was viewing the situation from a cold, distant vantage point. That this was all happening to someone else. I mean, this person wanted to hurt me. They were doing their utmost to scare me.
At the knock on the door, I jumped.
Ben laid a hand over the clasped ones in my lap. “I’ll be right back. Tater’s going to stay with you while I answer the door. Aren’t you, bud?”
Ben put my hand on Tater. Who turned his soulful dark brown eyes my way and lowered his furry head onto my lap. I held onto him like a lifeline as Ben left to get the door.
The sound of male voices drifted into the room.
