“It’s okay. Don’t worry.” When her memories get jumbled, she gets anxious. It’s not her fault. So much of her time has been spent in the dark over the past months, and who knows exactly how much of her life has been hidden away from her. Locked in closets, cages, rooms—she may think some of her life was normal, but I’m certain none of it was.
They turn down Cathedral Drive, and my stomach twists. We’re on Cathy’s street. My mouth dries, and I have to force myself to slow down. I’m getting too close, too eager to find out who the fuck’s in that car. Why are they going to Cathy’s house?
The speed of the truck is barely registering on the speedometer. Cathy’s car pulls into her driveway and parks outside the closed garage door. I maneuver behind a parked car and tap the brake, stopping us four houses down. The soft purr of the engine fills in the silence as I focus on the doors opening.
The passenger steps out. The garage security lights flip on, casting his face in a spotlight, and my breath sticks in my throat.
The driver side door opens. The security lighting isn’t as helpful, but it’s enough—too much.
“Who is it?” Dolly asks when I stay silent. Betrayal has my tongue tied, my vocal cords paralyzed.
“Ken.” Dolly grabs my arm. “Who is it?”
“That’s Cathy and Todd.” I turn my gaze to Dolly. “My partner and the IT guy who sent us to find you.”
Dolly’s mouth drops open and her eyes widen as the severity of the information sinks in.
“Grab the toy bag.” I turn off the ignition. “We’re going to have some fun.”
“Are you sure we should go now?” Dolly picks up the bag, zipping it closed without putting her knife away.
“What better time?” I push open my door. “We have questions. They have answers.”
Dolly hops out of the truck as I round the front and wait for her to join me. Once she’s at my side, I lace my fingers with hers.
“We do this together.” I remind her, and she squeezes my fingers softly.
“Everything is together from now on.”
“Let’s go.” I tug her forward.
The house is quiet when we walk up the drive. Lights flicker to life in the living room, the kitchen. I know the layout. I’ve been to her house for dinner.
“I don’t understand how she’s here,” Dolly whispers harshly as we approach the front door.
“We’ll find out.” I have ideas now. I reach into the back of my jeans and pull out my gun, switching off the safety. “Stay behind me. I don’t know if she’ll have her weapon on her.” If she does, I’m a quicker shot, but I don’t want Dolly in harm’s way.
“Okay.” She adjusts her grip on the bag with her left hand while raising her right hand high, ready to strike with her knife at the slightest provocation.
I think I’m falling for her—fuck that, I think I’ve already fallen. She’s ready to rush into battle at my side, with me, for me. When have I ever been so loved before?
The door could be locked, but I don’t waste time finding out. Cathy’s got a shit front door. I’ve told her before to replace it, but she never listened. I kick the door in easily, shards from the doorframe spraying the front hallway. A squeak comes from the living room.
Todd stands next to the television, remote in hand, aimed at the screen, while Cathy sits on the couch. Color drains from her cheeks as her gaze lands on me.
“Shut the door, Dolly,” I instruct, aiming my gun at Cathy while stepping into the single-level ranch. They have nowhere to run that a bullet won’t reach before they get anywhere.
“Brian,” Cathy exhales my name. “Thank fuck.” She stands up from the couch, her hands splayed out in front of her. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” She glances at Todd, frozen at the television set. “We all have.”
“Looking for me?” I shoot the question at her. “How are you even alive?” Images flash. Blood everywhere. Pooling. I slipped in it. Fell into the puddle of her blood.
She flickers her gaze to Dolly, who drops the toys at my feet.
“I…uh…” She’s preoccupied with Dolly moving toward her, walking around the end table. A few more steps and she’s there.
“Dolly, stay still,” I order her. We can’t start yet, but Dolly knows Cathy betrayed me. She won’t let that shit go undealt with.
“She doesn’t look hurt,” Dolly states blandly. She turns her head one way, then the other, inspecting how unhurt Cathy actually is.
“It’s been over a month—” Cathy starts, but Dolly jerks forward with her knife at the ready, sending Cathy into silence and stumbling back a step.
“I doubt even a month would heal the head wound you supposedly had,” I bite out, moving my aim to Todd. “Don’t fucking move.”
Todd’s jaw clenches, and he gives a little nod. Fucking pussy.
Cathy drops her hands to her sides, shaking her head. “You were really never too detail orientated, were you?” she asks, her tone souring, hardening.
“Don’t check the age of the girl at the bar—end up fucking your career.” She raises her brows. “Don’t bother to check if I was actually shot before blubbering about it.”
I blink faster, trying to sort through the memories. So many fucking drugs were racing through my veins.
“Didn’t notice the bag of blood hanging from the table beside me while you were shoving your fucking cock in my ass?” she taunts.
“Bag of blood?” I search the scene in my mind. She was naked, beaten, bent and tied over the table. Until she lifted her head to look at me, I couldn’t see her. I never saw the other side of the table.
“It wasn’t too hard to convince you, I’ll be honest. You were drugged pretty heavily. Not that it stopped your cock from getting hard.” She lifted her shoulders.
Dolly inches forward, but Cathy’s focus remains on me.
“You took me there on purpose.” Captain Obvious has taken control of my brain. How do you sort between what’s a lie and what’s real when there isn’t time?
“Brian, I think we should just chill out,” Todd says from behind Cathy.
“I think you should shut the fuck up,” Dolly yells at him.
“You’re Queenhearts.” I get my mind back on track. I’ll work through her actions later. Right now, we have to press forward. We need answers, we need to keep going, we need to make all of this shit right.
“I’ll admit, I didn’t think you had it in you. What you did with Morty and Jimmy,” she says. “But I think I know why.” She turns to look at Dolly. “Abigail.”
Dolly freezes. Her jaw tightens while her lips curl inward.
“My name is Dolly.” She lunges for Cathy, but Cathy’s ready for her. She easily blocks Dolly and takes her down to the floor.
I jump over the couch between us, but I’m not needed. Dolly’s on the floor. She swipes her knife, cutting Cathy’s Achilles tendon. Cathy screams and stumbles down beside Dolly.
“No. Wait.” I grab Dolly’s wrist just as she aims to plunge her knife into Cathy. “Not yet.” This is to be savored, not devoured. Control needs to be taken back.