Chapter 14 - Joyce

I wish I knew what Anton had done to me. My emotions and feelings were hopping and skipping all over the place. I couldn’t concentrate on work or anything else for that matter.

I had been struggling since our kiss and then our chat two days ago. I felt sure he was hiding something from me. Maybe he was also involved in the underground world, like Jax. I had to find a way to get over him and move on.

Unable to get anything done, I asked my boss if I could go home early. I had been putting in long hours and deserved a break. He agreed without hassles. I packed up my things and shut down my computer before heading out.

After grabbing a coffee from the place across the street, I headed home. I would take a long soaking bath, watch a movie, and do some reading, I decided as I walked down the street.

I heard a man speaking behind me as I turned the key in the lock. “Excuse me, I need you to come with me.” Turning swiftly, I eyed the big balding man. Behind him, parked on the paving, was a white van. The man in his dark grey suit smiled at me as he repeated himself. “Please come with me, miss.”

This was ridiculous, and I thought sure it was one of Anton’s men. Did he really think I would come to him if he sent for me? Grinning at the man before me, I replied in a light tone. “Please advise Anton that he can’t just send someone for me as he pleases. I am not his possession.”

Turning back to my house, I opened the door and stepped inside. As I turned to close the door, the man came in. He shoved the door open and grabbed my arm forcefully. I was shocked as I realized this couldn’t be one of his men. Anton had never hurt me and wouldn’t approve of something like this.

“I said you need to come with me,” the man huffed as his grip tightened.

I could feel him squeezing the life out of my arm and knew it was going to leave a bruise. I staggered back, trying to shake him off, but his hold intensified the more I fought back. “Let go of me,” I screamed, but my voice caught in my throat as fear stormed my mind.

“Stop struggling,” the man ordered. “If you come quietly, you will not be harmed.”

What was happening, my mind screamed. If I went with him, I felt sure I would never be seen alive again. “No,” I huffed at him, grabbing hold of a flower vase and swinging it at his head.

It struck the side of his face, leaving a small cut along his cheek as it shattered. His grip loosened only for a slit second. But for me, that was enough. I staggered backward as I pulled free. Turning, I headed for the kitchen and grabbed a knife out of the holder on the table.

Unlocking the back door, I heard him breathing hard behind me as he closed in. I sprinted out the door, feeling his hand grab the back of my shirt. It tore as I moved forward. I didn’t intend on stopping.

I nearly fell forward as the back of my shirt ripped off. Sprinting over the porch, down the steps, and across the backyard, I didn’t dare look back. My heart was pounding, and my legs were wobbly, but I knew I had to keep moving.

Jumping over the knee-high picket fence that separated my yard from the neighbors, I heard him closing in again. There was no time to stop and ask permission to pass through their property as I needed to get away.

Moving to the back of their house, I saw a large bush. Hide! My mind screamed. I knew there was no outrunning this man, and hiding would be my best chance. Maybe someone would hear the commotion and come out to assist.

Studying the bush as I neared it, I decided it would provide sufficient cover. Glancing back, I knew I had to move quickly as the man was climbing the fence. Carefully entering the bush wasn’t even an option.

Once I was close enough, I lunged forward, jumping into the bush. I felt the branches scratching my arms and legs. Pulling myself into a ball, I held my breath. I couldn’t afford to move as I heard him nearing. If the leaves moved, it would give away my position, so I sat praying.

He stopped not too far from the bush. I heard him gasping for air. Then he spoke loudly. I heard the anger in his voice. “Fuck, where did she go? He’s going to kill me if I don’t take her in.”

Holding my breath was getting harder and harder. Then I heard him walking away as his footsteps got softer. I slowly let out my breath and inhaled as quietly as possible. I waited a couple of seconds to ensure he had left before sticking my head out of the bush.

I didn’t see him anywhere, so I carefully climbed out. After dusting off the leaves I had stuck to me, I checked the scratches. There were some on my legs and arms, but none of them was fatal. I knew they would heal within a day or so. I was sure the wounds he would have inflicted would have lasted longer had he caught me.

Deciding to be careful, I walked around the block, hiding behind the trees and shrubs. Stopping on the corner, I surveyed the street. The white van was gone. I let out a deep breath, feeling slightly relieved. The nightmare was over.

No people were around either, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t hiding. I climbed over the neighbor's fence on the corner. Moving slowly towards my house. I was glad that none of my neighbors had dogs. It would have more than complicated the situation.

Peeking over the wall, I couldn’t see anyone, so I climbed over. Cautiously, I moved towards my front door. The second step creaked as I moved up the porch. Stopping, I glanced around. My heart was beating in my throat, but all was quiet.

A truck or vehicle was coming up the street about two or three blocks down. The headlights were larger than most. So, I assumed it was a truck and not the white van. Turning back to my door, I sighed with relief as I turned the knob and pushed the door open.

My body went ice-cold and numb as I saw the man standing inside. “Surprise!” he spat at me as I stepped backward. His wicked grin stretched from ear to ear. With the soft glow of my yellow living room lights behind him, he looked like something out of a horror movie.

He moved swiftly as he came forward, grabbing me around the waist. He pulled me to him, placing his other hand over my mouth as I was about to scream. He picked me up and started walking. I heard a car pull up to the curb and knew it had to be the van.

I was not about to go quietly. Swinging my legs wildly, I kicked at his. I twisted and turned in his arms, trying to loosen his grip. I had to get free, I didn’t even want to consider what would happen to me if he got me into the van.

As I moved, I felt his grip slip just a tad. Was enough, I wondered. He bent forward a little, reaching for the van’s door. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for. As he shifted my weight, I shoved at him with all the strength I could muster.

The other vehicle was getting closer as the headlights were more prominent. I hoped that whoever it was would stop and assist. But for that to happen, I had to be in the street, not the van. My feet felt the road beneath them as I shoved again.

Glancing down the road, I knew the vehicle was still too far. I sprinted towards my house. If I could only get inside and lock the door, I could call the cops. As I reached the porch, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Swirling around, I saw the man’s fist coming at me as I screamed.

My face felt like it exploded as he punched me. My scream fell away as tears flooded my eyes. The man swung me over his shoulder and swiftly returned to the van. As foggy mist infiltrated my vision, I could swear I saw Anton. He was getting out of his truck and calling out. Then, blackness took over.