“I don’t even know your son,” Caroline said, avoiding Nancy’s attempt to jab her arm.
“Do you mean the young man who picked me up from the funeral?” Nancy asked as she took a stab at her. “He works for my son. Oh, I’m afraid you know him very well. I can’t imagine you forgetting Cain so soon.”
Caroline froze. “C…Cain?” she stuttered, her entire body buzzed in recognition of his name. Her knees threatened to buckle from beneath her.
“You’ve acted naughty, Caroline,” she tsked. “You belong to him, and you let another man touch you. He said he can’t wait to punish you.”
Nancy backed her into a corner, seeming much spryer than she did while caring for her father. Nancy raised her arm to jab her.
Kicking out, Caroline knocked the needle from her hand. They rushed to grab it before the other reached it. Nancy grabbed her ankle, sending her crashing to the floor. Caroline kicked and clawed her way toward the needle. Nancy launched herself on her back. Evil glowed in her eyes, reminding Caroline of Cain. Recalling Victoria’s instructions, she dislodged the older woman from her body. The syringe flew farther from her grasp as she scrambled to her feet. Nancy screeched as she flew toward her in a fury.
The traumatized Caroline swung her fist with all her might, knocking Nancy into the counter’s edge. The woman wobbled, then slumped to the floor.
Panic filled her as she grabbed the syringe and raced back to the pool house and dialed Mac’s number. When he didn’t answer, she dialed Jameson.
The phone rang once, and Jameson’s worried voice came over the line.
“Caroline?” he rushed. “Where are you?”
“I’m in the pool house. Nancy went crazy and tried to stab me with a needle. I forgot my knife,” she said, running to the bedroom to retrieve it, putting it around her thigh.
“Secure the door and don’t let anyone in,” he ordered. “Do you hear me?”
Caroline ran to the living room, and her blood ran cold as Cain grinned in the doorway. She dropped the phone.
“Did you miss me, Caroline?” Cain said, advancing toward her. “I almost gave up on you until my mother called and said you reunited with your dear father. It’s too bad you ran back to him. Now I’ll have to punish you as I promised.”
“I’m not yours,” she spat. “You don’t own me, Cain. You’re sick.”
His eyes narrowed as he drew closer. The sly smile spread across his face, immediately jolting her back to her past when he beat her, hurt her.
“I’m coming, Caroline. You fucking remember what Victoria and I taught you,” Jameson yelled, his voice bringing her back to the present. If she wanted a future, she needed to fight for it.
Her lip curled into a snarl as Cain stood before her. The old Caroline would’ve dropped to her knees in fear. But the new one kicked him in the nuts and busted his nose. She ran past him, jabbing the needle in his arm. She didn’t have time to push the plunger before he turned and yanked it out.
“You fucking bitch,” he growled as she yanked the patio door wide open, noticing Spider lying on the ground. She didn’t have time to worry about him as Cain lunged for her.
Caroline shrieked as both of them fell into the pool. Cain dunked her head under water. She thrashed, fighting for air.
“Why didn’t you say you wanted to play our little game?” Cain asked menacingly as he dunked her again. She coughed and sputtered as he pulled her up. She barely got any air before she went under again.
Panic filled her before she recalled what Jameson taught her. She took a gulp of air when he let her up. She kicked him in the stomach as she shoved off. He grabbed at her foot, trying to take her under. Caroline twisted and kicked, hitting his shoulder as she swam to the deeper water.
“You’ll pay for that,” he threatened, but Caroline no longer feared him. Jameson and Victoria taught her how to defend herself. She climbed the steps, taking deep breaths. Cain snarled as he jumped out of the pool from the edge. He stalked toward her as she backed toward the main house, glancing over her shoulder. Nancy lay in the kitchen, but Caroline forgot to tie her.
Swiping the wet hair from her eyes, she glared back at him. “You no longer have any power over me. Go to hell, you bastard.”
He rushed toward her when she punched him in the neck. His eyes grew wide as he choked and coughed, holding his injured windpipe. Cain’s eyes grew red with anger as he came at her again, grabbing her arm. Twisting and using her other arm, she broke his hold, feeling more powerful with every strike. He deserved her anger, not Jameson.
Her fist collided with his eye, sending him backward. His expression promised her death as he pulled out a gun, aiming it at her.
“You’re coming with me, Caroline,” he ground out. “There’s no way out. Get on your knees,” he commanded, as he approached her.
“Cain, go fuck yourself,” she said as she kicked the gun from his hand, startling him. The gun went off, and Caroline turned to run. The door opened, and Jameson appeared. His eyes scanned the area until they landed on her tormentor.
Shoving Caroline behind him, Jameson growled. “As always, you have to pick on those weaker than you. This will be the last time you ever lay a fucking finger on her.”
“Ah, Jameson. It appears you rose from the dead,” Cain spat out the blood trickling from his nose into his mouth.
