River couldn’t refuse her aunt and soon found herself parading around the small cabin, showing off the clothes, shoes, and everything else that Betty had bought for her, smiling and laughing with her aunt and with Alice.
The fun of it all made River forget about the danger lurking outside, finally amongst friends and she felt herself letting down her guard. It was the most fun she’d had in a long time, but part of her longed for Daniel to be there with them.
The roar of her motorbike sounded outside the farm and the three women looked at each other in confusion.
“I thought James was taking the bike to his shop?” Alice said with a frowned. River walked towards the window in the new jacket, skirt and top that her aunt had given her, and peered out of it. On the road leading up to the cabin was her bike, but it wasn’t James who was sitting astride it.
“He’s got my bike,” River said slowly. She knew he could see her at the window. He was grinning at her like a lunatic, as though he had won some great prize. She felt anger boiling up inside her at the sight. Alice and Betty both rushed to look out at the man who was sat astride it. “Lance, you asshole.”
Before Alice or Betty could stop her, River stalked outside. She was not wearing her snow boots, but some kitten heels thatBetty had thought she’d like. Her feet were freezing, but she didn’t care as she advanced on him. That was herbike.
“Lance, get off my bike,” River demanded.
“Sorry, it’s not your bike. It’s mine, remember?” Lance said and revved the engine to cover any reply River would make. River scowled at him with absolute hatred and went to push him. The moment that she was within arm’s reach, Lance grabbed her round the waist, yanked her off her feet and across his knees. Before she could do anything more than yelp with surprise, he whipped the bike round and gunned the throttle, speeding off down the driveway.
River was so taken aback by the abruptness of the attack, she hadn’t know what to do or how to resist, and now she was across his knee, with the bike flying down the roads through the trees, she knew there was no way she could wriggle off without killing herself in the process.
He’d done it again. Completely played her for the fool she was, manipulated her and made sure there was nothing she could do to get away from him. The joy and happiness of a few moments before was gone. Destroyed instantly by the man she had thought she could love at one point in her life.
She didn’t know what was going to happen or if there was any way she could escape, but she knew that she’d rather die than go back to the horrible life he made her lead.
River was so distracted by her thoughts that it took her a moment to realize the bike was slowing down. Lace pulled off the road and down what seemed like a tall ditch into a screen of trees.
Lance threw River onto the ground with disgust before he propped up the bike and swung himself off it.
“Don’t worry, we’re not going to be disturbed here. You’ve got a lesson to learn about loyalty, theft, and lies, and when I am done, you’re either going to be a good little girl, or you won’t be leaving these trees,” Lance snarled.
River screamed.
Chapter Ten
Daniel
Daniel and Grant were just leaving the town square when Daniel’s phone started to ring.
“Hello?” he answered. He hadn’t bothered to register who was calling as he was focused on trying to track the scent.
“Daniel, it’s James.” The mechanic’s voice sounded groggy. “The bike’s gone. This guy came in, hit me over the head with a wrench and by the time I came round him and the bike were both gone.”
“Are you all right?” Daniel asked, his medical training coming to the fore and tamping down his terror. Because it could only have been River’s ex, and that meant he’d be going after her next.
“I think so, bleeding a bit but nothing major. You can come see me later,” James said. “I’d never seen the guy who came in before. But he smelt off to me. I wasn’t thinking, I should have been more on my guard.”
“What did he smell of? Daniel asked, cutting off the car mechanic.
“Cheap cigarettes, body spray, and dime store cologne,” James said.
“That’s him. I don’t like the idea of you being alone with that head injury though,” Daniel said, torn between his duty as a doctor and his primal need to protect his mate.
“I’ll go,” Grant said, and gave him a meaningful look. “Idoubt he needs to see a doctor, anyway.”
No, not if Daniel was right about him being a shifter. The healing would take care of itself.
“What about Alice?” Daniel asked.
“She’s not in any danger,” Grant said firmly.
Our mate is. Stop chattering and let me out!his cougar growled.
