Reclaimed Read online

  “Everyone has choices,” she whispers back, her voice cracking.

  I smile but internally it’s killing me not to explain why I don’t. How can I expect her to understand when I can’t tell her how important this is, why I have to finish this? “Please. Trust me. Know that I’ll come back.” She closes her eyes as I rub my thumb over her cheek. A lone tear escapes her eye. We sit there in silence. Her body begins to shake. I wrap my arms around her, and she burrows her face into my chest, moving her arms around me, pulling me even closer.

  “I trust you,” she whispers as she leans back, looking at me. “It’s the bad people out there I don’t trust.”

  I pull her into me, trying to show her I understand her fears. Fuck, I hate this! Hate having to put her through it after all she’s been through. I never wanted her to know fear, experience the unknown when a loved one goes away into danger, and not knowing what will happen. I’ve lived through that. No one should ever have to experience those horrific feelings. Especially her. Gently, I push her back and look into her eyes. “I’m coming back to you, dammit. I have too much to live for.” Her eyes search mine looking for hope. “You’re my world, my Angel. As long as you’re waiting for me, I refuse to leave this world. But I’ve got to put an end to this. Please, understand – it’s something I have to do.”

  She nods, slightly, then crashes her lips against mine. The once seductiveness changes to frantic fear, love, and desperation. I feel the wetness of her tears on my face and our kissing becomes a matter of survival. I feel her tug on the hem of my shirt, pulling it up my chest. We break our kiss long enough for me to pull it over my head then our mouths are connected once again, our tongues tangled. We become urgent in our need for one another, her hands fumbling to undo my jeans and pushing them down until I have no choice but to stand and remove them. I begin kissing all over her face as I lift her in my arms, laying her down on the mattress and entering her quickly. There’s no time for foreplay, no time to cherish and lavish every inch of her. There’s only primal need, want, and desire, the immediate demand to show my love for her. It doesn’t take long for our bodies to be covered in a light sheen of sweat. Our climaxes cause us to shudder in ecstasy. Our moans and our names dropped from each other’s mouths. Our bodies intertwined as we gasp for air.

  Picking up her sleepy form, I take her into the shower, wash her, and then wash myself. Once I’m finished drying us both, I take her back to bed and hold her in my arms as she falls fast asleep. But sleep doesn’t find me as easily. I lay awake, staring up at the ceiling and rubbing her arm, lost in my thoughts. My mind plagues me with the need to end this, once in for all, for more than one reason. I tighten my arm around her, looking down at her, and listen to her light breathing. She’s everything. My need to put this asshole away or die trying has changed to ending him and living to come back to her. I never intended to die but I would have willingly given up my life to serve justice, the need for vengeance. Now, I must make sure that I’m here for her, give her everything I can, love her, and take care of her.

  Morning came like it was a matter of seconds from when we’d made love. I never did fall asleep, my mind tormenting me and not wanting to waste a moment holding her, watching her sleep in my arms. As I carefully climb out of bed, she lets out a sigh, turning over in her sleep as I get dressed quietly. Walking to her desk, I find the notepad and quickly scribble words that come so easily. Once done, I place the note in my empty space and lean over, kissing her head gently. I hate leaving her, hate not being able to wake up with her in my arms, but time is of the essence.

  Stopping at the doorway, I turn and look at her, my hand clenching the frame. Taking a deep breath, I walk out, praying that this will be over soon, and I’ll still be able to come back to her quickly.

  The day was long without her, the night even longer. I’d been following leads only coming to dead ends each time. By three o’clock in the morning, my body was worn out, but my mind was still on my target, hoping for anything that would lead me to him.

  Then it happened.

  The one thing I’d feared and hoped never would.

  I received a text from Peter, telling me Saige had disappeared. She was working and had been there for several hours, left to get something from storage, never to be seen again. Darby called Peter in a panic, looking everywhere for her. Texting. Calling. Paging. No response. Peter called in a team of experts, combing the place for any evidence of struggle, or if she’d left on her own accord. Another team was sent to her house and broke in only to find it empty. My anger overrides my fear and guilt consumes me, knowing I’d placed her in harm’s way from the beginning. Thirty minutes later, another text from Peter arrives, bearing the news I’d hoped wouldn’t be true. His team found a cloth in a storage closet on a different floor, the smell indicating the saturation of chloroform meaning she’d been taken against her will. Dread fills me as I sit on the floor of the run down hotel room, awaiting my next move. Unfortunately, the ball is in his court and he knows it. He’s smart. I’ll give him that, but it’ll only take one small mistake and he’ll wish he never laid eyes on me. If he hurts even one hair on her beautiful head, he’ll wish I’d killed him two years ago. It would have been quicker than what I’ll do now once I’ve located him.

  Another two hours go by, and I’m pacing the floor about to pull out my hair in anxiousness and worry. In the silence my phone beeps, startling me. Turning, I see the flashing light on the bed and literally dive for it. I open the text quickly, my heart racing, anger filling me as I read.

  Unknown: Meet me and your girlfriend in the tunnels at Bridgeport in an hour. I know how you love sewers.

  Son of a bitch! He’d figured out my weakness, my Achilles heel. Saige. I want to scream. I’m such an idiot! How stupid I’ve been to be near her, putting her in danger. This is all my fault. I only wanted to be close to her, gain her trust, and take care of her. Find a way to protect her. I told her I’d die for her and if needed, that’s what I’ll do, if only I kill the asshole first and get her to safety.

  I nearly throw my phone in anger when I stop myself, realizing he may be in contact again. Walking to the closet, I open the door, grab my jacket and put it on, then bend down and lift the lid of my suitcase. I begin pocketing any and all manner of weaponry into my body holster underneath my shirt, my jacket pockets, and put the hunter’s knife into the sleeve at my lower leg. He said an hour – I say go now. Similar to the maze of the underground sewers two years ago, the ones at Bridgeport are even more intricate. I’ve studied them, knowing at some point it could end there. It’s where he likes to play his games.

  As I leave the room, I resign myself to the fact that things could go horribly wrong. That more than one life could be taken. But I’ll be dammed if it will be Saige.

  I arrive in the tunnels about a half an hour later, the smell of stench and muck fill my nose as I drudge through water and slime. Definitely something I’ve not missed. I walk aimlessly for a long time, my gun drawn, and my patience running thin. Sewer tunnels are much the same. Dim light. Water dripping from the walls. A small flow of water and sewage running on the ground throughout. Catacombs of turns, an endless maze that you can easily be lost in.

  Suddenly, I stop, hearing a muffled cry and pick up my pace in that direction. Sweat drips from my brow as I turn corner after corner, the maze making me feel dizzy and frustrated. Another long and dank corridor then I turn yet another corner only to stop in my tracks.

  Saige.

  I dare not move, knowing it’s a trap but the eagerness to go to her is overwhelming. She sits in the middle of a small cavern-like opening, candles lit all around the small space. Her arms are behind her, visualizing they are bound. A leather strap fits tightly around her neck appearing as if it’s tied to the back of the chair, holding her head back, and a scarf secured through her mouth, dried blood caked on the corner. I cuss under my breath when I notice the large bruise on her left cheek, swollen and dark, along with her closed swollen eye.
Her feet are tied to the bottom of the chair, her legs spread apart. She’s only wearing her bra and panties, her body on display. Sick fuck. As her eyes lift to mine, her brows raises high into her forehead as she shakes her head in short quick successions, warning me. I scan the room, not that there’s much room to hide. I know this is a trap, can feel it, but I have to get her out of here. Walking over to her, I pull the scarf down from her mouth and pull out my hunter’s knife from its sheath, lean behind her trying to cut the ropes around her wrists.

  “No! Dax! Please, go. It’s a….”

  Searing pain radiates in the back of my head, making its way down my body. My eyes instantly blur as I grab ahold of the back of the chair, my knees starting to fold. Another blow to the side of my head causes darkness to come, and I fall fast.

  28

  There’s the small time between dreaming and starting to awaken. But that time was even shorter when I feel around the bed beside me and feel paper, hearing the familiar crinkling sounds I’ve come to love. Disappointed yet smiling, I open my eyes as I pick it up and lean over to turn on the bedside lamp. My eyes well quickly and I brush away the tears as I read.

  YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING

  MY LIGHT

  MY HEART

  MY SOUL

  THE AIR I NEED TO BREATHE

  I LOVE YOU WITH EVERYTHING I AM

  MIA PER SEMPRE

  YOU ARE MINE FOREVER

  AS I AM YOURS

  IO SONO TUA

  I touch the dried ink, running my finger over his words when I realize he’s gone. A tear drops onto the paper as I think about the danger he’ll be in. Bringing it to my chest, I take a deep shaky breath, dread and worriedness filling me. “God. Please, keep him safe,” I whisper as more tears make their way down my face.

  During the day, I’ve cleaned every square inch of my house, trying to keep busy and my mind from wandering to Dax. It doesn’t really help. By the time my shift begins at six that evening, I’ve conjured up all kinds of scenarios.

  He’s hurt.

  He’s bleeding out.

  He’s dead.

  None of them comforting.

  The night is a blessing as I tend to the sick and laugh with Darby. She’s the best medicine for anything, even though I’m still thinking about Dax, consistently. Two o’clock draws near and with only four more hours to go, I grow anxious to hear from him. Just a text would be a relief. Standing up from the nurse’s desk, I raise my arms, stretching the kinks out, and start to walk through the area. “I’m going to go get another blanket for Mrs. Murphy. Will you keep an eye on my rooms?” I yell over my shoulder at Darby.

  “It’s what I live for!” she yells back.

  Laughing, I walk down the hall and open the storage closet door, thinking about not so long ago another storage closet that was a small solace with Dax during a turmoil time. I turn to get a blanket from the shelf and think of Darby and have found she calms me, so much like my bestie Brooke. I’m sad they didn’t get to meet while Brooke was here for the service. They would’ve hit it off immediately. I chuckle thinking how it would be to have both of them around. Pulling the blanket up against my chest, I sigh. I begin to turn around when someone grabs me from behind, my mouth instantly covered with what feels like a cloth. I pull on the arm that’s around me, a strong hand holding my other arm behind my back. I try kicking behind me while pulling down on their arm, struggling with all my might. A horrible smell infiltrates my nose and mouth, the familiar odor of – chloroform. Shit!

  “No!”

  My voice muffled and all I did was breathe in more of the vile substance as I continue to thrash and dig my fingernails into the skin of their arm. Reaching up, I give another attempt, trying to hold my breath as I scratch down my assailants face behind me, feeling the wetness of their blood oozing underneath my nails.

  “Fucking bitch!”

  The cloth is pressed harder against my mouth and now covers my nose as well. Dax save me! As my eyes begin to droop, the light growing dim, all I visualize is Dax.

  Odors of dank sewage fill my senses making me wonder if I fell asleep while cleaning a bed pan but worse. I shiver as coolness wraps around me and try to move my arms but something around my wrists restricts any movement. Opening my eyes, all I see is blurring spots as I try looking around. Everything feels as if it’s in slow motion, sluggish. My mouth is dry, my throat even more so. I look down and notice I’m only in my bra and panties but I don’t remember getting undressed. What is going on?

  “Ah! The prodigal girlfriend awakens.”

  Through the haziness, I see the figure of a man leaning against the wall next to an opening. My heart picks up speed as my vision begins to clear, slowly. He’s muscular, given his t-shirt is straining against his large biceps, his arms crossed over a broad chest. He seems tall, long legs extended out with one foot crossed over the other. His hair is the color of dirty blond, thick on top and long on the sides, curling at the ends below his ears. Matching color covers his jaw lightly and as I scan his face, I notice three scratches down one side of his face, the glimmer of wet blood in the low light appearing that it happened recently. My fingernails. Wisps of memory come in and out as I look into his dark blue eyes. He stands to his full height. My fear for Dax just excelled immensely.

  “I’m so delighted you could join me.” He claps his hands, rubbing them together as he gives an eerie smile. Pushing himself away from the wall, he walks over to me until he’s too close and I lean back. He leans down, putting his hands on the back of the chair, on either side of my head, becoming so close I can feel his breath. Grabbing a fist full of my hair in the back he pulls hard giving me no choice but to raise my head. “Seeing you from a distance holds no contest to seeing you in person. You’re lovelier than I’d thought. Brice is a lucky man.” Brice? I purse my lips as another memory hits me and Dax’s face materializes. “Aww. What’s the matter?” Grabbing my chin he squeezes hard. “Are you missing your boyfriend?” I will not cry. He can’t make me cry. Stay strong. Show no fear.

  I gather up my strength and spit as hard as I can, hitting his jaw and the corner of his mouth with my saliva. “Fuck you!” My chest is heaving as I breathe heavily.

  “Bitch!”

  Pain sears through my cheek and eye as his fist hits me hard, my eyes tear up instantly and blink rapidly. He grabs my chin again, his hand cool and clammy, and yanks my hair making me look him in the eyes, darkened by his anger. “Every move you make,” he says through gritted teeth. “Every fowl thing you say or do, I’d remember that it will be that much worse on your boyfriend.” He tugs again and I close my eyes briefly from the pain. He pats my already bruising cheek and gives me that evil smile. “You’d do right by minding me while you’re here.” I watch nervously as he scans down my front and below then looks back up into my eyes, licking his lips. “I might be persuaded to give him a quick death, if you cooperate.” I close my eyes as he releases my chin, roughly, then runs his finger down my throat and in between my breasts until the fabric of my bra stops him. When he removes it, I open my eyes and find him watching me. “We might be able to have a little fun, while we wait for him.” Bile rises in the base of my throat as he gives me that sinister smile. He releases my hair with a jerk then pulls something out of his back pocket. A scarf. I squirm as he pushes the fabric across my mouth and wraps it around my head, tying it roughly behind my head. He reaches behind him and pulls out a leather strap, wrapping it around my neck, pulling my head back, and tying it securely behind me. I’m completely immobile. I look down and watch as he walks back over to the wall across from me and sits down on the ground, I roll my neck as pain throbs in my head and cheek. “You look magnificent tied up.” His eyes scan my body making me feel violated. “You do as I say and we’ll get along just fine.” I look over at him, sitting with his legs bent and leaning his arms on his knees.

  God, Dax. I close my eyes. Please, please stay away.

  ~§~ ~§~ ~§~ ~§~

  I don’t kno
w how long I’ve been sitting here, only that the pain in my cheek and eye continues to throb and my wrists sore from twisting and pulling trying to get free. My entire body is stiff from sitting in this awkward position and I need to go to the bathroom. He’s been gone for a while now and my fear for Dax has tripled. Thank God that madman has left me alone but I’m afraid it’s because he’s gone after Dax. My arms ache. My legs are numb, and my left eye is swollen shut. I’m uncomfortable and desperately long to be in Dax’s strong arms. My fear for him escalates as I hear a noise outside the small area and choke on the scarf as I try to gasp when Dax appears in the entrance.

  No! No! No!

  He hesitates briefly and I feel as if the stale air will choke me as he looks around then begins to walk towards me. He looks at me with a mixture of relief and horror. Please, Dax, leave now! He pulls the scarf down and out of my mouth. The dryness and achiness causes me to lick my lips. Leaning over me, the feeling of something sharp begins to cut through the ropes that bind me. I hear a noise and open my mouth to speak but the dryness is causing nothing to come. I begin to squirm when I feel the ropes loosen, then I freeze when out of the darkness and into the small area walks the madman.

  “No! Dax! Please, go. It’s a….”

  I watch in horror as the evil man raises his hand, holding the butt of a gun and hits Dax hard on the back of his head. The knife Dax was using to cut the ropes falls into my hands, and I grasp the handle firmly as his knees begin to buckle. Hurriedly, I start moving the knife back and forth trying to finish what Dax started. I almost drop the knife when evilness hits Dax on the side of his head, and I watch in trepidation as his eyes roll into the back of his head, and his body falls hard onto the ground with a loud thud.