Which suited Marisol just fine.
Now she’d have to find somewhere to spend the night.
Marisol’s stomach tightened. What should she do? Usually, she’d sleep in the car or go to a late-night café. It was cold here at night and she didn’t have a blanket or warmer clothing if she was going to sleep in the car. She tapped her fingers against the steering wheel as she thought.
Maybe you should ask Linc if you could stay with him?
She blushed at the thought. What would he say if she were to ask? Would he say yes?
What if he said no?
He’d told her that he liked her. That still made her smile. Until she remembered that she couldn’t have anything with him. That she had to leave.
This is why she shouldn’t let herself get close in the first place. She knew this already. Never get attached. People always left. Rosalind always moved them on to somewhere else. Only this time, she’d be moving on alone.
God, she was so scared.
Stop being a coward, Marisol.
She probably should have left already, but she wasn’t ready to say goodbye to those evening calls, when he’d put her to bed. The funny texts he’d send her in the day. She’d just wanted to feel like she was special, like she was loved.
Silly, Marisol. He doesn’t love you.
He was so sweet, though. One of the most caring men she’d ever met. The way he’d fussed over a simple bee sting, texting her to check on her that night. Wanting her to take the next day off and rest. She had reassured him that her foot was back to normal the next day. Which was sort of true. But he’d never know that she’d stretched the truth.
It hadn’t taken long for the swelling to go down and the redness to fade and there was no way Rosalind would ever let her take the day off work because of a bee sting.
Hell, she’d have to be in hospital or half-dead for that to happen.
She couldn’t call Linc. Telling him what was going on would just put him in danger.
She didn’t know who was at the party. She sent up a prayer that it wasn’t Saber and his guys. However, she didn’t like her chances.
She needed to get her stuff. Her stash of money. Her extra insulin. Snuggly and Princess Nana. Which meant that she was going to have to sneak in.
Just get in, grab some stuff, then get out.
Simple.
After climbing out of the car, she slipped around into the garage. Carefully, she opened the door leading from the mud room into the kitchen. Nobody was in here. Okay. She took the opportunity to grab her extra insulin out of the fridge, stashing it in her handbag. There was music blasting through the house. As she stepped into the hallway, cigarette smoke assaulted her nose. She coughed a bit.
Great. How long had these people been here?
A loud scream made her jump in fright. Two men burst their way out of the living room. One punched the other in the face. His head flicked back, blood spurting from his nose.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Her breath came in hard pants. One had long, straggly hair, the other’s head was shaved nearly bald. They rolled around on the floor, fists flying, grunting and screaming.
Where was her aunt? Why was she letting this happen?
Maybe these people weren’t here for a party. Maybe they’d broken in? Even now, her aunt could be tied up somewhere. Mierda! Perhaps she should call the cops.
The two men rolled into a side table and the vase on top smashed to the ground. A familiar screech reached her ears. Okay, so her aunt was here somewhere.
“What did you just do! Look at the mess!” Rosalind stomped her way into the foyer, her face filled with anger. So at least she wasn’t tied up somewhere, being tortured.
The two men froze. Marisol watched on, her heart in her throat. These didn’t look like the type of men who would take being told off by a woman well. Would one of them go for her aunt now? What would she do if they did? She couldn’t let her be hurt.
“Babe, jeez, what’s the problem?”
A familiar man stepped forward.
Oh shit. Fuck. It seemed she’d stupidly stayed too long. She should have gotten out when she could.
“The boys are just having fun. Letting off steam. They’ve had a tough few weeks. Leave them to it.” Saber wrapped his arm around Rosalind’s waist, leading her away. The two idiots got up and followed them, now laughing with each other as if sharing a huge joke. She let out a sigh of relief, grateful they’d slammed the door shut behind them. Music roared through the house, it practically rocked the house on its foundations.
She stepped forward, ready to fly upstairs when her wrist was grabbed. She let out a small cry as she was shoved back against the wall. Her other wrist was grabbed, her hands pushed above her head.
Oh no.
No. No. No.
He was here. One hand held both of her wrists while he ran a finger down her cheek, smiling evilly.
“Hello, Marisol. I’ve been waiting for you.”
After getting out of the shower and drying off, he checked his phone. Time to call Marisol and tuck her into bed.
He loved this time best. He tried to text her when he could. But his nighttime calls to put her to bed were the favorite part of his day.
However, it wasn’t the same as having her with him. As seeing her sweet smile. Hearing her laughter.
Slipping on a pair of cotton pajama pants and a sleeveless T-shirt, he picked up his phone and headed into the living room. He hadn’t pushed her for an answer about whether she wanted more than friendship. He thought that was best left until he could see her in person and use his powers of persuasion more fully.
With a grin, he pressed on her contact number. It rang then flipped to voicemail.
Huh. That was odd.
Marisol’s breath sawed in and out of her lungs. Panic made her stomach revolt. She was close to vomiting or passing out. She wasn’t sure what. She felt a vibration from where her handbag was pushed against her side. Her phone was ringing.
Linc.
Oh God. Linc. What she wouldn’t give to have him walk through that door right now and save her. Because she sure as heck didn’t know how to save herself.
She always felt safe around him. And she very much needed that right now.
“What’s wrong? Haven’t you got a greeting for your brother?”
“You’re not my b-brother.”
Stay strong, Marisol.
He wrapped his free hand around her neck, pressing against it until she could barely take in a breath.
Please stop. Please stop.
Tears filled her eyes as she tried to fight him, to free her hands. But he was too strong for her. If anything, her pathetic attempts to free herself seemed to stir him on.
He pressed his hard cock against her, grinding himself as he choked her. Finally, when dark spots danced in front of her eyes, he eased his hold around her neck.
She took in gulping breaths, her entire body shaking. She didn’t think he was going to stop.
“Do you need a demonstration of my ability to control you, Marisol?”
Oh God. Oh God. Where was everyone? Why was no one walking past? Not that they’d probably help her. No, in all likelihood, they’d spur Tiger on.
“Get on your knees, babe. It’s time to suck my cock. It’s time to show you who is really in charge.”
Tears leaked out of her eyes and she cried out again as he started to tug at his jeans. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be happening.