I perch on the edge of the sofa with my hands tucked under my thighs to keep them from shaking. “How did you find me?” I force out. I figure the best way to handle this is to just keep him talking and not rile him up. He’s clearly unhinged and the slightest misstep will trigger him.
“Totally by chance. I met your professor boyfriend on campus one day before Christmas, and I decided to delve a little further, figured he’d lead me to you, I wanted to see who you were. You can imagine my surprise when I found that you were one of his students.”
“Why me?”
“Because as I said, you’re the one that got away, and I always get what I want.”
“But I don’t! I don’t want any of this. You really think I would after everything you've done?”
“Oh angel, you don’t have a choice in the matter. I told you once already, do as I say, and no harm will come to your boyfriend’s niece.”
“What has she got to do with any of this? Her and her mom are innocent so leave them out of it.”
“Ah, Victoria… beautiful woman. When I was looking for you, I never expected to come across her again. She captivated me the first time I laid eyes on her all those years ago…”
A chill spreads through my body at his tone. “First time?”
He smiles as if remember a fond memory. “Eighteen years old, so young and full of life… six years later and still as beautiful as I remember. And her daughter... I wonder who she takes after more, her mother or her father...”
It’s then that it hits me,hewas the one who assaulted Tori when she was younger.
Heis Lissy’s father.
My pulse quickens and a wave of nausea crashes over me.
This guy isn’t unhinged or crazy with an unhealthy obsession. He’s an abusive sexual predator preying on vulnerable young girls.
“Oh my God. It was you.”
He grins like he’s proud. “She sure put up a fight, but then I like that. The submissive type don’t really do it for me.”
“You’re sick. You’re totally sick.” I rise from the chair again, edging away, my breaths coming fast and uneven.
As I back away, he follows me, taking a step closer.
I have to get out of here.Now.
“You’re not getting away from me this time, angel. You owe me.”
“I owe younothing.”
“You know what you are? A tease. There you were, all of you on display, I was just taking what was on offer.”
“I’m not yours to take. Just because a woman dances half-naked, doesn’t give you the right to force yourself on her.”
“You were begging for it.” He takes another step.
“Don’t come any closer,” I warn.
He smirks. “You’re not going to hurt me, angel.”
“Try me.”
He lunges for me, knocking me backwards and my back hits the wall painfully, a sharp pain shooting down my spine.
I try to push against him, and I manage to bring my knee up between his legs and use the few seconds when his grip on me loosens to push him off.
Just as I unlatch the lock on the door and pull it wide open, a hand clamps down on my neck from behind, pulling me down to the ground.
