“Of course.”
I stood up and brought my plate to the sink. “I hope Marcy is okay. She was supposed to go to a Halloween party with Robbie tonight.”
“Maybe they just had a little fight? Let me know how things go.”
“I will.”
He walked over to me. “Afterward, maybe I could even swing by and spend the night at your place?”
I looked up at him. “I’d like that.”
“Me too.” He turned on the sink and began cleaning the dishes. “Tell Marcy I said hello, and if she needs someone to whoop an asshole’s ass for making her sad, I’m just the guy to do it,” he said, only half-joking.
I chuckled. “I will definitely let her know you’ve got her back.”
“Good.” He stole another kiss and told me he loved me again.
Not remembering having ever felt so happy, I smiled. “I love you, too, Mitch.”
11
Sophia
When I reached the cabin, Marcy hadn’t yet arrived. I went inside, kicked off my shoes, and pulled a bottle of wine from the refrigerator. Something told me she needed it. Just as I was uncorking it, I noticed her car pulling up the gravel driveway.
Intending to meet her at the doorway with a full glass, I quickly filled it. A few seconds later, I heard the knock and opened the door. When I noticed who was standing on my porch, all of the blood rushed to my head.
Patrick.
The eyeglasses were gone and he no longer had a moustache. Oddly enough, he looked younger and less menacing. His new appearance was obviously very deceptive.
He held a bouquet of red roses in one hand and a revolver in the other.
“Hi, Sophia.” His eyes took in the wine glass. He grinned. “Wow, is that for me? You shouldn’t have.”
Horrified, I dropped the glass and tried slamming the door in his face. He quickly blocked it with his foot.
“For God’s sake. I just want to talk,” he said angrily.
I needed the rifle.
It was under my bed.
I turned to make a run for it, but slipped on the spilled wine and shattered glass. I fell forward, landing hard on the wooden floor.
“You silly goose. You’re going to hurt yourself,” he said, amused.
I scrambled up to my feet, desperate to escape, but he grabbed my elbow and jerked me around to face him.
He stared at me with regret. “I see you’re still upset about everything. I really hoped maybe by now you’d have cooled down.”
Cooled down?
After everything that had happened?
I suddenly remembered that he’d shown up in Marcy’s car.
Had he also texted me too?
“Where is Marcy? What have you done with her?” Frightened for my friend, I searched his face for answers, praying she was safe.
“She’s fine. For now. But, if you don’t cooperate with me, that can change in a heartbeat.”
My mind started racing with what he might have done with her. “I swear to God, if you’ve hurt her in any way, I’ll kill you.”
He put his finger to my lips. “Hush now, my sweet.”
I slapped his hand away. “I’m serious. What have you done with her?”
He sighed. “She’s fine. Just taking a little nap somewhere. I promise, I’ll let her go once you and I have worked out our differences.”
What in the hell did that mean? He’d drugged her? “Taking a little nap? Where?”
“Just like I said, someplace safe. Now, listen closely. You and I are going to take a ride.” His eyes hardened. “And if you try anything funny, you won’t see her again. I mean it.”
In the last couple of weeks, Mitch had taught me a couple of defense moves. I wanted so badly to use them, but getting physical wasn’t going to save my best friend. The only thing I could do was play along with Patrick. I needed to find out where she was before I tried escaping again.
“Fine. But only if you promise to let her go.”
He relaxed. “I will. I swear.”
I let out a ragged sigh. “So, what exactly do you want?”
“Just for you to take a little ride with me.”
I knew it was a bad idea, but what other choice did I have?
I’d have more with the rifle…
I nodded. “Fine. Let me just grab a jacket.”
“Okay.”
I turned to go toward my bedroom when he stopped me.
“I bet you have plenty of jackets in the closet right here.” He opened up the one next to him. “See.”
Dammit.
“Yeah, I suppose one of them will work.” I grabbed a gray wool one from a hanger. “Actually, I should probably use the bathroom first. Before we go.”
He sighed. “Fine. Go ahead.”
I headed to the bathroom, with him following behind me. At the last second, I made a quick beeline for my bedroom.
“Sophia…” he warned.
I raced over to my bed and tried reaching for the gun underneath, but it was missing.
Patrick leaned against the doorway with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. “Missing something?”
He knew.
The bastard must have been in my cabin.
I stood up and glared at him. “You were in here earlier.”
He nodded. “Yeah. Actually, I’ve been in here a few times. Funny that you didn’t notice your pillowcase had been changed in the last week. Or that you were missing some panties from your dirty laundry.” His eyes drifted over to the hamper next to my closet.
Thinking back, I had noticed some items missing.
Sick pervert.
“You know, now that we’re in your bedroom, I have a better idea.” His eyes drifted below my neck. “I want you to change into that sexy little black nightie I found in your lingerie drawer.”
I told him where to go with that idea.
He looked amused. “Are you telling me that you’d rather see Marcy dead than wear something that covers more than a bikini? After everything she’s done for you?”
“No. I’m telling you to go to hell,” I snapped.
“Tsk. Tsk.”
“You said you wanted to talk. So, let’s go and do that, Patrick,” I said, trying to reason with him.
“At least you’re finally changing your tune.”
I forced a smile to my face. “Yes. I mean,
