“Rhys, what are you—” Sadie tries to talk, but fear closes her throat, and her heart rate speeds up so much that she almost passes out. As I put the little girl next to her, she struggles as if she wants to put her arms around her daughter, then wails a little when she can’t.
“Hey, mister,” the little girl says.
My eyes meet hers, and I’m surprised to see the cold light in her eyes and the firm set of her chin.
I don’t say anything, and the girl sets her mouth in a hard line.
“Don’t hurt my mom,” she whispers.
The words seem to brush against my skin. It should be a plea. A child begging a big, scary man not to hurt her or her mom.
So why does it sound like a threat?
Chapter 4 - Sadie
A wave of heavy darkness crashes through me, the pounding of my blood in my ears and the back of my skull making it feel like my head is about to explode. I’m not sure how long I’m out for, but it’s Cassie’s warm body against mine that eventually chips through the shock and wakes me.
We’re both tied with a strange, soft rope, almost like a silk ribbon. It’s just a few loops around the midsection that also traps our hands, but it feels like it completely immobilizes me.
What is this stuff? It’s so soft, but there’s no give in it.
Cassie moves next to me, murmuring a little. Her eyes are closed, and I’m not sure if she’s asleep or passed out. Fury floods through me, and I look up towards the front of the car, trying to struggle again.
If I could get free, I’d wrap this weird rope around your fucking neck! How dare you hurt my baby girl?
Intense emotions struggle for dominance in me, but rage is the only one that sticks.
I was going to spend the whole day with my baby, and now she’s been ripped out of her home, terrified and confused—and what the fuck is this whack job going to do next?
The car slows a little, and Rhys looks over his shoulder. “It’s not that far,” he says, turning back around. “We’ll be there soon. Is the little girl okay?”
“I think so,” I answer, keeping my voice soft. “If she’s not, I’ll skin you alive.”
“I wouldn’t hurt my daughter,” he replies.
“Why do you assume she’s yours?” I shoot back.
He glances over his shoulder again. “I know,” he says, and his gold eyes do the strange glow that I remember so well but thought I’d only imagined.
He’s not human.
The thought sinks into my guts, adding a new element to my terror. I try to convince myself I’m being ridiculous, but now that the thought is in my mind, I can’t get rid of it.
“How far?” I ask, trying to distract myself from those thoughts.
“Not much longer,” he says. “Don’t worry, I didn’t tie the kid too tight. She’ll be fine.”
“Cassie,” I say.
“Hmm?”
“Cassie,” I repeat. “Her name is Cassie.”
Rhys doesn’t respond, just keeps his eyes forward. I wriggle a little, but I really can’t move, so I just try to relax against the seat.
Cassie’s breathing seems smooth and even, as if she’s just peacefully asleep. My heart aches again for the beautiful, safe world I built around her that was shattered in one instant by the reckless actions of her insane father.
That’s what I get for becoming infatuated by intense presence… of course he’s a serial killer.
