Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 101254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“I’ve got security on her. I ordered it yesterday.”
“Good thinking, but I bet they haven’t deployed anyone yet.”
“Fuck.” I stand. “I’m going over to her place.”
“I’m right behind you,” he says, “and I’m calling the cops.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
Tessa
I’m not sure how long I sit, huddled with Rita. I almost called Ben five different times, but what if Garrett wasn’t bluffing? I’m about to finally hit send when someone knocks again.
Rita scurries out of my arms, barking, as she runs toward the door.
My heart feels like a herd of wildebeests is stampeding over my chest. I gulp as I rise, walk to the door, and look through the peephole.
I heave a sigh of relief. It’s my neighbor, Laura Templeton, holding a bouquet of flowers.
“Hi, Laura,” I say through the door, hoping my voice doesn’t shake. “I’m not decent. What’s up?”
“I’m sorry to bother you, Tessa, but I heard about your father. I just wanted to drop these flowers by. I’ll just leave them here in the hallway.”
“That’s kind of you. Thank you.”
“My pleasure. If there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to call me. I can pick up groceries for you. Anything at all.”
“I appreciate that.” I pause a moment. “Actually, Laura, is anyone else out there in the hallway or the stairwell? Two men?”
Laura looks side to side as I watch through the peephole. “Not that I saw. Were you expecting someone?”
“Yeah,” I lie. “Thanks, Laura. I really appreciate the thought.”
I watch out the peephole until Laura is out of my view. She lives one floor down, which means she took the stairs.
Thank God. That means they’re gone.
I have to get to work. It’s only my third full day, and I’m already late. But first I have to warn Ben.
I doubt Garrett and that horrid altar boy could truly have anything that could threaten Ben, but I can’t take the chance. Once I talk to him and he assures me they’re bluffing, I can call the police and have those two psychos arrested.
Rita scurries around my legs. She probably has to go out. I grab her leash and fasten it to her collar.
My heart thuds as I unlock my deadbolt. I look up and down the hallway.
They aren’t still here, are they? Laura would have seen them in the stairwell. I probably should have called 911, but I couldn’t take that chance. I’ll protect Ben at all costs.
I walk toward the stairwell—
And Rita begins yapping like a rabid dog.
“We knew you’d have to come out sooner or later,” Garrett snarls, grabbing me.
Where did they come from? Rita lunges at Garrett and sinks her tiny teeth into his leg.
“Fucking dog!” Garrett yells, kicking at her.
I let go of her leash. “Run, Rita! Go!”
But she doesn’t leave me. She takes a shot at David next, but one woman and one scruffy dog are no match for two men. Garrett punches me in the face.
Pain explodes through my head as blood spurts from my nose. The coppery liquid crawls down my throat, and I swallow it down along with the nausea.
“I hope you like prison!” I shout at him. I grab for my phone, but it slips through my fingers.
“I hope your boyfriend likes it too!” he yells back.
I spit a glob of blood out of my mouth. “You drugged me, you asshole. You laced my alcohol with ketamine, and it caused a reaction with the Echinacea I took for my allergies. I almost fucking died, Garrett!”
He looks me up and down and then rolls his eyes. “You don’t look dead to me. Now you’re going to drop those charges.”
“At least let my puppy go!” I yell at David. “Please!”
“She’ll just slow us down,” Garrett says. “Let the dog go.”
“Fine.” David releases a wriggling Rita, and she runs back toward my apartment.
I pray silently that Laura or another neighbor will find her until I can get back to her.
And I will get back to her.
I won’t let these two degenerates get the best of me.
I tug against Garrett’s strength, looking for a weak spot. His groin, if I can get to it. I’m wearing stiletto pumps. I can do some damage with those.
“Let me go!” I yell.
“Not until you drop the charges,” Garrett says.
“I can’t. It’s the DA’s call. Not mine.”
“Without you as a witness, there’s no case.”
He’s right, of course. Nothing is worth this. Nothing is worth anything happening to Ben. “Fine,” I say. “I’ll drop it. But you have to swear never to come near me again.”
“I’m only too happy to abide by that request, you little bitch.”
“You have to let me go first,” I say.
“Nope. You’re calling the DA right now. Here in the stairwell. Tell him you’ve changed your mind, and you’re withdrawing your complaint.”
“My phone is—”
“It’s right here.” David shoves it in my face. “But you’re not calling here, where anyone can walk by. We’re going back to your apartment.”