Jesus. How am I going to remain conscious? The room spun around me and I pushed my fingernails into the palms of my hands. The sharp sting of bile cleared my hazy mind and I swallowed hard.
“First, you hold the knife just so.” He gripped the handle tightly.
“Wait. The lighting sucks from this side, and I can’t see.” I leaned around the table to get a better angle.
Jack looked up at the overhead light. “I hadn’t considered how it would look from the other side. Come over here next to me, then.”
I joined him, now facing the entrance. Little beads of sweat dotted my brows. “That’s better. Maybe the moonlight filtering through the window in the door is helping.”
Jack bent over an unmoving Lola. “In order to remove the longest piece of skin, I always begin with the left side of the shoulder. Thinner pieces are easier to manage as well.” He glanced at me. “Does that make sense? I start at the top and go all the way down her arm.”
I nodded, staring at Lola.
He straightened up, his attention focusing on me. “I’m really glad you’re here, Tensley. I’ve dreamed about having you in my life for years.” He offered me a genuine smile, which sent shudders through my body.
“Me too, Dad.” I conjured up tears like I had when I was a little kid. “I’ve always wondered where I came from, and now I know. Thank you.”
He grinned, then made the first cut on Lola’s skin. Her one good eye flew open and bulged grotesquely. I steadied myself as her muffled screams filled the room. The small space began to spin, and I bit my lip, tasting the metallic blood on my tongue. I couldn’t pass out. I wouldn’t pass out.
Jack ran the knife down her arm, grinning widely. “Just like this. Watch your shoes. Eventually, the blood drips to the floor and splatters.” He continued to talk as he strategically selected the next place to cut. He leaned over Lola, focusing on his work.
One. Two. Three. I raised my arm up and plunged the scalpel into the side of his neck. A scream ripped from my throat as his blood spurted into my face.
Staggering backward, Jack knocked over the surgical tray as he tumbled to the ground, landing on his back with a thud. His terrified gaze connected with mine as he attempted to pull the scalpel from his neck.
“Goddammit, die!” I kicked him in the ribs. “Fucking die!”
Before I realized it, he grabbed my ankle and jerked me down with him. His words came out in a gurgle, but the flash of the knife he’d used on Lola caught my eye. I scrambled backward, but he wouldn’t let go of my foot, and the floor was too slick. I wasn’t able to make any traction.
The door flew open with a bang, and another scream ripped from my lips.
“FBI. Nobody move!”
In one final attempt, Jack plunged the blade down into my lower leg. White-hot pain seared through me. Then I blacked out.
25
White light blinded my vision and I bolted upright, releasing a gut-wrenching scream.
“Babe! Babe! It’s me, Layne. You’re in the hospital. You’re safe. Jesus, babe, you’re safe.”
I scanned my surroundings. My pulse was racing so fast, I thought I would have a heart attack. Finally, I connected with the most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen. “Layne?” My hands immediately moved to his face. “You’re alive? Did he hurt you?” I asked, the octave of my voice rising.
He gave me a sad smile. “I’m fine, Ten. I’m fine.”
“I’m not hallucinating?” I kissed him tentatively. If this was a dream, I never wanted to wake up. I would rather spend an eternity in a coma, dreaming about the man I loved, than living a day without him in reality. Big tears streamed down my cheeks as he kissed me in return. “Layne. Oh my God. Layne.” I threw my arms around his neck and held on to him for dear life while I finally broke down and sobbed.
“You’re safe.” He sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed my back while I cried. “He’s gone.”
I picked my head up off his shoulder. “What?”
“He bled out.”
I frowned as my memory struggled to piece everything together. Dark circles shadowed Layne’s eyes. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been gone, but it was apparent he hadn’t slept at all. He was still wearing the blue shirt he’d had on the night I was taken.
A chair scraped the tile floor and I nearly shot out of bed. I hadn’t realized Marilyn and Franklin were also in the room.
“Oh, hon, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Marilyn said, approaching me. “We were so terrified.” She grabbed me and hugged me tightly.
“Benji, Avery, Michael? Are they all okay?” I needed to know everyone was unharmed before I could settle down.
Compassion filled her eyes as she tucked my dirty blond hair behind my ear. “Everyone is safe and sound.” Her hand shook slightly as she smoothed her burgundy top. She was exhausted. “They want to see you. Benji has been out of his head with worry. I just didn’t think it would do him any good to be here until you woke up. He and Avery are at the house with Michael, waiting for me to let them know when you’re coming home. But before I do, the FBI wants to talk to you.”
Franklin cleared his throat and approached me. “I’ll be right here with you, Tensley.”
“Thank you.” I leaned back against my pillow, refusing to let go of Layne or Marilyn’s hand. A sharp pain shot up my shin, and I whimpered. “My leg. What happened?”
Concern clouded Marilyn’s expression. “Do you remember anything, Tensley? It would be a blessing if you didn’t.”
I blew out a big breath. Flashes of Jack and Lola hammered my mind. “I stabbed him in the neck.” My body trembled. “Are you positive he’s dead?”
“Yes. He won’t ever hurt you or anyone else again,” Layne said gently. “You got him in the carotid artery. Your aim was exceptional.”
I nodded, then burst into tears again. That sick son of a bitch was dead. He couldn’t ever harm or kill anyone again.
“We’ll be right here as you give the FBI and police details, honey,” Marilyn said, reassuring me that I wouldn’t be alone.
“Lola. Did she make it?” My brows knitted together as images of Lola’s broken body bombarded my memory.
“You saved her life, Ten. She’s in the hospital, recovering as well.” Layne rubbed my arm as he updated me on the events.
“I wonder if she’ll hate me or thank me. How will she live with the nightmares of what he did to her?” A dull thud filled my head at the thought.
“She’ll have a lot of support and help, just like you.” Marilyn leaned over and kissed my forehead. “The FBI and police are here. Are you ready to talk to them?”
I wiped the tears from my face and nodded. The faster I did, the faster I could move on. Or at least I hoped. I wasn’t just worried about Lola moving on—I wasn’t sure how I would either. My gaze landed on two men as they approached me.
“Miss Bennett, I’m Agent Tanner, and this is Detective Smith. We’d like to ask you a few questions. You’re not in any trouble at all. We just want to know what happened. It will help us in other cases like this. It’s not often a victim lives through this, much less two.”