What was most important to him, his job or Chloe?
Chloe. Of course, Chloe. Why was it even a question? The important thing was being with her, not whether or not he worked for Titan Security, or any security company. It was true that she might tire of him and toss him aside, which would put him in a severe bind, but life was full of risks and without taking a risk now and then there would be no reward.
He would go to her. First thing in the morning. He would knock on her door and tell her that he’d changed his mind, that he would accept her offer. Assuming she would still have him.
His mind made up, he thought he’d be able to go back to sleep, but his thoughts kept going to Chloe. Like she needed him right that minute. But she was fine. Chad was there, watching over her. Even so, the feeling persisted.
It was late, but maybe she was awake. He could text her. Just to check in. Just to let her know he was thinking about her. And if she was asleep, she would see the message when she woke up in the morning.
Feeling like that was the solution, Jake picked up his phone.
Afraid to alert the intruder that she was awake, Chloe moved her arm very, very slowly, inch by inch, toward the panic button. It had been mounted to the wall just to the side of her bed, though not visible if you didn’t know where to look. It was within easy reach, Jake had told her.
Jake.
If only he was there. He would protect her.
Her heart ached at the thought of him, but she pushed that aside. Right now she had to alert Chad that she needed help. He was closest. He could do the most to help.
Her phone lit up on the nightstand beside her bed. Her hand froze. Someone had sent her a text. With her phone on mute, it made no sound, but the light that emanated from it lit the immediate area. Chloe’s eyes darted around the room, stopping on the unmistakable sight of a person sitting in a chair. It was the chair that was normally nestled in the far corner of her room. But now? Now, it was positioned mere feet away from her.
Complete terror swept over Chloe, and though she wanted to remain quiet, there was no way to make that happen. Not with the scream climbing her throat and pushing against her teeth.
It was him. The man who had grabbed her, the man who had told her she was his and that he would have her one way or another. He was staring at her, a wide grin stretching his lips. Her scream was loud, piercing, but even as the sound came out, she lunged for the panic button, but before she could reach it the man was there, grabbing her arms, preventing her from pushing that precious button.
“Uh uh uh,” he said. “You won’t be using that phone.”
“Help! Someone help!”
“Shhh,” the man whispered next to her ear, his voice completely calm. “No need to scream, my love.”
That only ratcheted up her panic. Chloe thrashed around, trying to yank her arms out of his grip, but he was too strong. “Get away from me! Help!!”
“Settle down,” he said. “No one’s coming.”
What did he mean? Did he know something she didn’t? Had he done something to Chad? Was she really at his mercy?
Chloe’s phone went back to sleep, plunging the room into darkness.
Chapter Forty
The bedside lamp in Chloe’s room flicked on. She squeezed her eyes closed against the sudden brightness. The man had both of her wrists gripped in one of his hands, and despite her attempts to break free, he held tight.
“Stop fighting,” he said, “or I’ll hurt you.” His voice was deadly calm, and to her horror, she felt the tip of a razor-sharp knife pressing against her throat.
She froze, her eyes snapping open. His face was inches from hers and he held a wicked looking blade, which he had pulled away from her throat once she stopped moving.
“What do you want?” She barely managed to control the tremble in her voice.
His grip on her wrists relaxed, ever so slightly. “I want us to be together, of course.” He grinned. “I know you want that too.”
Though she wanted to scream at him that he was crazy, she held back. Aggravating him would do nothing but put her in danger.
Maybe there was another way.
“You…you scared me,” she began, “showing up like this.” Her voice was soft and only shook a little. She struggled to keep herself calm. “Let go of…of my wrists, so we can talk.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Are you trying to trick me?”
Yes! A thousand times yes! “Why…why would I do that?”
He stared at her like he was trying to decide if he believed her. “I don’t know. Even though I know you love me, that doesn’t mean I trust you.”
She wanted to ask Why do you think I love you? but kept her mouth closed.
He frowned, like the look on her face hurt his feelings. “You don’t remember? You said it in your song Love Me Like You Mean It.”
The song popped into Chloe’s head, the lyrics filling her mind. In the song she’d said that she loved her man and wanted him to love her back, but how this guy could have misconstrued it to think she meant she loved him was beyond her. Then again, he clearly wasn’t rational. “Right,” she murmured, deciding it would be better to play along until she had a chance to escape.
His face lit up. “You remember now, don’t you?”
She stared at him, frantically trying to come up with a plan, knowing that unless she could escape on her own somehow, that panic button was her only chance.
“Say it,” he demanded. “Say you love me.”
She wanted to do what he said, if only to calm him down, but try as she might she couldn’t bring herself to say those words. Not when Jake was the one she loved. Instead, she turned her head away and acted like she was crying. “Not like this.” She could see the very edge of the panic button. It was so close.
The man—she didn’t even know his name—still had a grip on her wrists, but it had loosened a little.
Maybe if she could connect with him somehow, he would release her wrists, which would give her the chance she needed to press the button.
She turned her head and stared into his crazed eyes. “What’s your name?”
He blinked as if he was seeing her clearly for a moment. “Mitch.”
Forcing a smile onto her lips, Chloe said, “Mitch. That’s a nice name.” Was she making a mistake by being friendly? Would it feed into his fantasy and encourage him? She didn’t know, but she had no idea what else to do. Screaming had only agitated him, so being calm seemed worth trying.
“My name’s Chloe,” she said. “Chloe Ross.”
He stared at her, seeming to be mesmerized that they were having a conversation.
“I’d like to shake your hand,” she said, her tone reasonable, “but I’ll need my hands back first.”
He paused briefly, then nodded and released her hands.
Hope surged within her. This was working. “Thank you.” She held out her hand and he took it, shaking her hand like they were being introduced at a meeting, which was so ludicrous that Chloe had to suppress a burst of insane laughter. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said through a forced smile, then carefully withdrew her hand.
She wanted to sit up, to put the panic button within better reach. Thankfully she was wearing comfy pajamas rather than something sexy that would only make the situation worse. “I’d like to sit up.”