“No.”
“Annalise. Annalise. You never should have run off like you did.”
“You never treated me like a daughter. Every day in that house I lived in fear. I had no choice but to leave.”
“You’re not my daughter though, are you? A daughter wouldn’t give me a daily hard-on. And you were just begging for my attention, weren’t you?”
“No!” She bolted out of her seat and stood behind it. “What does my mother think of this proposition?”
He shrugged. “As long as her credit card has no limit, she doesn’t give a shit what I do with my free time.”
Tears pricked her eyes, but she forced them away. She was too angry to feel hurt or betrayed. That ship had sailed before she left home.
“Well, I’m not for sale. I don’t want your job or your apartment. I’m an adult, not a child to toy with. What don’t you understand about that?”
“I will have you one way or another. Do you realize how many people are on my payroll? How many branches of government react when I snap my fingers?”
“Why? Why me?”
“You’re the little fish that got away.”
He was obsessed, determined to have her in his bed. The mere thought made her sick to the stomach. She didn’t want him to get one finger on her, but at the same time, she knew what he was capable of. Her plan to rat him out to her mother came crumbling apart when she realized now, more than ever, her mother didn’t love her. She had her new, luxurious life and that didn’t include Annalise. Surely someone would disapprove of his deranged idea. Was there anyone out there left to defend her?
****
Vinny saw the tracks leaving the property. There had been a car there at some point today, he was certain of it.
With everything going on with the inspectors and the law lately, it wasn’t a good sign.
“Annalise?”
He ran up the stairs, checking all the bedrooms. There was no sign of her inside or out in the barns. No note. Nothing.
She’d been busy planning Gabe’s birthday party in private lately, but he’d promised to take her shopping after supper. It didn’t make sense for her to call a taxi and not wait for him. She’d been so excited about their plans.
He called Annalise’s cell phone. She only took the old thing along if she left the ranch. Gabe and Archie plodded into the house, kicking off their boots and hanging up their hats. It has been a long, hot, grueling day.
“Baby, I’m starving.”
He tried to ignore his friends’ voices.
Someone answered the cell phone, but all he heard were sobs.
“Annalise?”
More crying and a few attempts to speak. It had to be her. Where the hell was she? What happened?
“Are you okay, Annalise? Answer me, woman!”
“What’s going on? Where’s Annalise?” Gabe asked, coming closer.
Vinny waved him away so he could hear on the phone.
“I don’t know what to do,” she said. “I’m in the city at my stepfather’s office. He wants to force me to stay here. If I don’t, he’ll make life hell for you as payback. I feel so trapped and scared, but I can’t just walk away.”
“How’d you get there?”
“He sent someone to pick me up. I had no choice, Vinny. I swear. I’m thirty years old, and I still can’t control my own life.”
“You sure can. Send me the address. I’ll come and get you straight away.”
“He’ll shut you down. No, worse. His revenge has no limits,” she said.
He heard the fear in her voice and knew firsthand that it wasn’t unfounded. She was right. Raymond Davenport could make their lives miserable. Years of hard work and struggling would all be for nothing.
“We’ll find a way. I’m getting you back. I won’t stop until I do.”
She began to sob again. The hopelessness of their situation was getting the best of her. Even now, he tried to think of every scenario that could leave them on top. None came to mind. He needed to inspire her, to give her hope.
“I’ve got to go,” she said. “I hear someone coming.”
She hung up the phone before he could respond.
“Annalise? Annalise!”
Vinny crashed down on the sofa with a groan, the phone still in his hand.
“What’s going on?” Gabe asked. “Tell me now.”
He took a breath. “Her stepfather showed up. He’s forcing her to stay in the city. She called from his office in tears. That bastard is planning to keep her for himself.”
“He’s keeping her as some kind of concubine,” Archie said. “What a freak.”
“Well, let’s go get her. The sooner we start the drive, the sooner we’ll be back to take care of the ranch,” Gabe said.
Vinny shook his head. “You understand what we’re dealing with more than anyone. Don’t you remember giving me slack for fighting with those inspectors? You went on and on about how I could have ruined everything for us. Her stepfather has power, money, and connections. He’ll shut us down and have us tied up in so much litigation, we’ll be miserable.”
“So we just forget about her?” Archie said, pacing back and forth in front of them. “Forget she never came into our lives and find ourselves another woman to share that’s more convenient?”
“Never said that.” Vinny rubbed his temples. “We just have to think on this. Do it the right way.”
“He’s got a wife, doesn’t he?” Gabe said. “I’m sure she’ll put a stop to all this once she finds out. I mean, the man wants to fuck his own stepdaughter.”
“She’s got serious mommy issues, so don’t count on that plan working out,” Vinny said. “We’re all she has in the world.”
He needed to get some air. His emotions were getting the better of him.
Vinny left the house, heading to the barn. The dogs followed him, but he wasn’t in a playful mood. He knew they were wondering where Annalise was. She usually gave them leftovers from cooking dinner about now.
The house felt so empty without her. She was the heart of the home.
He’d been drifting through life, trying to look on the positive side. But since Annalise showed up in their lives, he’d finally realized what was missing. He needed the security and connection of a serious relationship, a forever love. A woman to share. She was unique, a perfect fit for the three of them. It was like all the hardships had led them all together.
Now this.
Vinny had to come up with a way to get Annalise back without jeopardizing everything. They didn’t have six figures in the bank or friends in high places. They were lowly working men, easily crushed by sharks like Raymond Davenport.
“You were ready to knock those assholes into next week for her. Now you’re scared to make a move,” Archie said.
“Fuck you.”
“Maybe you’re not good enough for her.”
He whirled around on his friend. Why couldn’t he have stayed in the house and given him some damn breathing room? “Listen, you have no idea how much I need her, how much I want her. It’s killing me on the inside. But who the hell am I to take on a man like Davenport?”