She almost deleted it but pressed send instead.The faint crack of a branch snapped behind her.
Probably a squirrel, she thought, brushing it off, but a chill crawled down her spine, anyway.
Immediately, her phone rang again.
“Hi, Ella.We’ll be there soon but checking in.How’s the arm?Enjoying a bit of freedom?”Helena’s rich voice held a hint of amusement.
“The arm hurts less.I’m out in the back garden.”
“I thought you weren’t supposed to leave the house.”Her friend’s voice was sharp, laced with concern.
“No, I was told not to go anywhere, but I haven’t left my property.”
“Sorry, Ella, I’m just on edge with the security breaches.What are you doing trying to tame that mess of weeds?”
Security breaches?
Ella brushed off the comment, thinking Helena referred to her work.
“I’m daydreaming about a bigger, exclusive BDSM retreat.Where there are gardens and cute little cottages to stay and—“
“Cute cottages?Ella, no your guests want luxury.”
“Why can’t it be cute luxury?”Ella said, laughing.
“Why not indeed?”Helena said.“What else does this plan of yours have?”
“A communal space for a dining room.Lots of different dungeons, an outside stage and the woods can be manicured for outside play…”
“Actually, this sounds pretty awesome.If you and Zee go through with this, Oliver and I would offer to invest.Have you talked to anyone else?”
“Ivy Powell, she just called and caught me in this rambling just like you did.”
“I love your ramblings.Now we have something to talk about at dinner other than your arm.We’ll see you in an hour.”
“See you then.”
Her spirits lifted, she clipped one last vine, then gathered her tools and strolled over the rough ground.
It’d take a lot of work to make this place the sanctuary of her dreams, but it could happen.
She ran her hand along the bark of a maple and made her way down the path.
Something crunched behind her, and she turned, her basket slipping out of her fingers as she spotted a figure in dark clothing.
“Can I help you?”
An arm shot out and wrapped around her waist, pulling her back against a solid chest.
Her breath slammed out of her lungs, her vision blurring.
The world tilted, everything spinning except the dark shape of the man holding her—his silhouette the only thing sharp in the haze.
Her pulse pounded in her throat, the sound of blood rushing in her ears louder than anything.
The man’s grip was iron, fingers digging into her ribs.
Her breath came in ragged gasps, her whole body going cold and stiff with panic.
