“Blood or not, I’m the only relative she needs.” Aria stiffened with rage.
He merely laughed, rubbed his hands, and stepped in front of the fire. Aria mentally calculated the distance to the front door. If she moved fast enough, she’d make the driveway. Then what? The pick-up would need time to heat up. If she ran, the cold would take her down quicker than an avalanche before she reached Kelly’s cabin.
Jay turned and scowled. “Ever wondered what happened to those missing red panties. The roses I left for you that you never asked lover boy about, or how I knew about your little escapade on the dining table. What about the rearrangement of your vases? The photos?” He uttered a creepy snigger. The tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. “Oh, what about your mother’s missing ring?”
“Oh, God, no.” Aria gulped as Jay pulled something out from his pocket and held it up. Her mother’s ring. Now, it all made sense.
“I lived in your backyard for a while.”
“What? Where?” No. It wasn’t possible.The bastard was so close all this time.“B-but those things happened more than a week ago.”
He ignored her questions. “Remember the black SUV the morning you jogged out in the cold.” He cocked a brow with a self-satisfied smirk. Her insides roiled in disbelief. “My first day here and imagine my surprise when you came up the hill. I’d driven this whole damn town in circles and almost gave up until...” He watched her, obviously pleased with his disclosure.
“Y-you’ve been here that long? Where—how?”
Jay’s nod made her cringe. “Granted, I went back home for some much-needed entertainment. I stuck out the cold for you.” His last sarcastic words stung her ears. “Anyway, where isn’t important. I’ve had people around here to do my bidding. I would’ve taken you sooner, but pretty boy put a spanner in my work.”
“What people?” She tensed at the thought of people in this small village working with such a repulsive man. “And what do you mean by taken me sooner?”
“Remember the night the cat went missing,” he said. Aria stared at him wide-eyed, afraid of what she was about to hear. “I watched you sleep for a while. Then, I took the cat and opened the window to make it look like he’d gone out himself. I wanted you to follow him, but your lover pitched up like a fucking hero.”
Sickened, Aria shuddered. She’d been right that night. The creepiness of Jay watching her shot the contents in her stomach up into her throat. She swallowed against the foul taste. “Why didn’t you just take me from here?”
He shrugged. “It had to look real. As though you’d gone out for the cat and got lost in the snow. Your disappearance would’ve been more believable.”
“You’re sick,” she gritted through clenched teeth. “How did you find me?”
“Rowena is the sister of an inmate that shared my cell.”
Wait. What?His cold answer struck her like a punch in the gut. She struggled to breathe.
“When I befriended her, a little charm goes a long way, and she eagerly agreed to do anything for me. She bumped into your cousin’s mother, intentionally of course and pretended to be your long lost school friend. Samantha’s mother, with her lovely personality, shared your whereabouts. The old woman probably figured three years was a long time for me to forget about you. Rowena’s my eyes and ears.”
It took every ounce of control to stay calm. Aria had allowed the woman into her life—trusted her with Prisha. Hadn’t Rowena mentioned she’d wanted a child? Something her husband wouldn’t give her. Probably just lies? After Jay’s confession, it had to be. What if she wanted to take Prisha?God, no. The thought terrified Aria. She suppressed the urge to scream.
Jay neared her. “Sometimes, people underestimate the power of love and its ability to make a person do things.”
“You don’t understand the meaning of love.” Aria finally found her courage. This man wouldn’t see her fear. Once was enough, and he’d weakened her, never again.
“You’re an ungrateful bitch. I gave you everything a woman needs from a man and—”
“You gave me nothing. I was merely your sex slave, to play with as you wanted. You’ll never feel love.” Aria moved backward, slowly. A few more steps and she’d make it to the gun in her office.
“Oh, but I will. Rowena followed all my instructions perfectly. I froze my ass and patiently waited for the right moment to present itself.” He scowled. “I suffered the cold, but trust me when I say this. It was worth every fucking minute to see your reaction. Forget about your gun, Aria.” His gaze dropped to her feet. “You shot me once. You’re not getting another opportunity.”
Aria’s shoulders sagged. Dread washed over her. She wondered what he wanted. Silently, she prayed for Prisha’s safety.
“I’ll make this easy for you. Come with me quietly, and nothing will happen to Prisha or your cowboy. Defy me, and one or the other will get hurt. You choose. Rowena has strict instructions. So far, she hasn’t disappointed me.”
“Come with you where?”
“Home, sweetheart. Our home.” The sudden sound of an approaching vehicle drew his attention. He glanced out the window. Aria craned her neck to look outside. Jay cursed and directed his gaze on her. “Open your mouth, and remember what happens. They die,” he cautioned in a menacing whisper. The gun he retrieved from his coat pocket, a clear reminder of what he’d do if she warned Reece. He hurried down the passage to her bedroom.
Aria bit her lower lip. She had no idea how many people worked for Jay or his plan. Retaliation could go awry quickly. She believed Jay’s threat and the thought of harm to her child or Reece scared her. Tears pricked the back of her lids.
