Page 52 of Dark ’N’ Deadly

“Fine.” Pritchard turned his attention back to her. “We’re not finished,” he growled. “Not by a long shot. Your stepdaddy made a promise to me, and I intend to take what’s mine.”

“Things are different now.” She clenched her hands at her sides as anger and revulsion gushed through her veins. “I’ll never be yours, and you’ll never lay a hand on me. Take the drums and let it go.”

Lightning flashed, followed closely by a sharp crack of thunder. The sky darkened more. Heavy rain beat down, quickly soaking her clothes and hair. Between the drops pounding on the metal hood and in the trees all around them, the sound was a deafening roar.

His eyes narrowed, and she stepped back, planting one foot slightly behind her. As scared as she was, there was no way she’d let that sick sonofabitch touch her again.

I’d rather die.

“I think that’s a good idea.” The second man grabbed Pritchard’s shoulder and urged him back to the barn. “Let’s unload and beat feet. The last thing we need is for her to go to the police because you couldn’t keep your dick in your pants.”

Pritchard shot the man a look of hatred so intense, this time she was sure he’d plant his fist in the guy’s jaw. With obvious reluctance, Pritchard accompanied the man to the barn, sending her a leering grin over his shoulder.

She let out a shuddering breath, not knowing who frightened her more—Pritchard or her stepfather.

Another bolt of lightning lit the sky, and she cringed. Thunder rolled over the treetops, so loud and powerful the ground vibrated beneath her feet. The cloud cover was low, the sky dark as ash. Aside from the rain, she heard nothing. No whop-whop of helicopter blades overhead.

A car drove past on the road and kept going. She couldn’t be certain, but it might have been one of the agents’ vehicles she’d seen in the school parking lot.

Pritchard and one of the men grabbed a handle on the barn’s doors, sliding them open. Aside from one other drum and a few bales of hay, the barn was empty.

The two men she didn’t know each picked up a metal ramp and dragged it to the back of the pickup. After flipping up the cap’s door and lowering the tailgate, they positioned the ramps at the edge of the tailgate then maneuvered the drums into position and rolled them out of the truck and onto the driveway.

Pritchard returned with a hand truck then began wheeling the first drum to the barn, pausing to look at her and lick his lips.

Again, bile rose in her throat. The urge to jump into the pickup and flee was overwhelming.

She moved to the hood of the pickup, glancing occasionally at the windshield. The camera and microphone were recording everything. Assuming the chopper was still grounded, Eric wouldn’t be able to see or hear a thing. Later, after reviewing the recordings, she’d have a lot of explaining to do.

The cloud cover lifted, but the deluge of rain was incessant. Water dripped from her forehead into her eyes. She began to shiver and moved closer to the truck, soaking up warmth from the rumbling engine.

She shifted her feet and clasped her arms around her shoulders as the men rolled the rest of the drums into the barn. One of them pulled a heavy chain through the door handles then affixed a padlock through the ends.

In the distance, a low whop-whop beat the air, getting louder by the second. The ATF chopper is up again. She couldn’t see it, but it was there, like protective eyes in the sky.

I’m not alone anymore.

Pritchard dug into his pocket then pulled out a wad of cash and strolled toward her, grinning and looking as if he had all the time in the world. Dark eyes dipped to her breasts that were plumped up from her tightly clasped arms.

“Here’s your money, darlin’.” He held out a wad of cash, and as she reached for it, he shot out his other hand, latching onto her wrist and hauling him against his chest.

“Let me go,” she screamed, yanking her arm back, but he was too strong.

His other arm wrapped around her back, holding her immobile against him. The smell of cigarette smoke was nauseating, as if his clothes were steeped in it.

“I haven’t had anything so sweet in a long time, so how ’bout givin’ me a little sugar.” He lowered his face, trying to press his mouth on hers. She turned to the side, twisting in his arms, revolted by the press of his wet, slimy lips on her cheek.

“Knock it off!” one of the other men shouted.

Ignoring the command, Pritchard chuckled. “The more you wriggle and fight me, the more I like it, sugar. Can you feel what you do to me?”

She could and fought the urge to wretch. His erection was hard against her belly. The thought of him taking her was so unbelievably repugnant that she screamed again and drew up her knee, crashing it into his groin.

He bent over at the waist, uttering a string of curses and covering his crotch with one hand.

Tess darted to the pickup and yanked open the door. Wait! Get the money.

Her heart pounded as she ran back to where Pritchard was still doubled over, his face contorted in pain. The other two men stood off to the side, shaking their heads, laughing.