Chapter 14

"Oh no, that's frustrating it's taking so long," Lena said, holding her phone in one hand as she pushed a shopping cart through the store. "I already grabbed the cake and am picking up the platter I ordered. Did they give any indication if they're almost done with your car?"

Gray swore under his breath. "Yeah. Should be twenty minutes, tops."

"It'll be okay," Lena said. "Why don't I just meet you at Ford and Clara's house? I'll have all the food, and then you can head straight there from the auto shop. We'll both get there just about right on time."

"Yeah, I guess I'll have to do that," Gray said. "I wanted to go together, but if the food is ready, you don't want to be late because of me. We can't have the pregnant ladies starving," he joked.

"It'll be fine," Lena assured him. "The store's crowded, so by the time I drove home to meet you, we'd be running late anyway. I'll see you when I get there, okay baby?"

She could almost picture Gray relaxing at her words. "Yeah. Okay. Just be careful, all right? Some of the guys just got back from Mexico, and there's crazy shit going on everywhere in the world. I'd feel better if I was with you."

"I know, but it's the middle of the day, and I'm always out running errands. I promise I'll be careful. I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Okay, baby girl," he said, his voice husky.

"And tell those auto shop guys to hurry up," she joked. "I need to see my man tonight."

Gray chuckled, his voice lowering. "I know you do, baby." She felt tingles racing down her spine at his words. When they'd made love last night, Gray had enjoyed talking dirty as he'd teased her, dragging out the moment until she finally orgasmed. Gray had asked if she'd needed her man to fill her pretty pussy, and Lena had almost combusted on the spot. Lena wasn't used to that kind of dirty talk, but something about hearing the words in Gray's deep voice gave her a thrill. She didn't think she'd ever come so hard as when he'd finally sunk inside her, thrusting in hard and deep as she clung to him desperately.

The woman behind the counter brought her platter over, and Lena lifted the entire thing into her shopping cart. The large cake was below, ready to go, so she headed to the front of the store to check out. The line was slow, and she found herself watching the shoppers around her. Mothers. Kids. Men by themselves and couples pushing carts together.

The cashier scanned her items, and after Lena swiped her card, she was heading into the busy parking lot. Typically, she avoided the store on weekend afternoons. It was too crowded, crazy, and full of impatient drivers. There was already a long line at the main entrance, with traffic backed up at the stoplight.

She hurried through the parking lot, bracing against the dry, cold winter air. Upstate New York might be beautiful, but it was also bitterly cold this time of year. Sighing, she opened her trunk. It would've been more fun having Gray with her. Plus, he would've let her get inside the car to warm up while he loaded everything. He needed to get his errands done, too, so she could hardly fault him for being a responsible adult. Lena should probably think about making her own car appointment soon. She was overdue for an oil change herself.

Closing the trunk, she crossed the lot, her empty cart rattling loudly as she took it to the cart return. Her phone buzzed, and she saw a text from Jett.

Jett: Everything all set?

She quickly thumbed a response.

Lena : I just picked up the appetizers and cake. I'm on my way over right now.

Jett: Fantastic. And thanks for booking that maternity spa package for Anna. She was in heaven.

Shaking her head, she turned away from the cart return, walking back to her vehicle. Anna loved everything from Jett, and the fact that he loved bestowing presents on her was a thrill in and of itself. Lena didn't mind shopping for Anna, although it was more than a little amusing now that she knew the woman she was picking out things for. His weekend fling with Anna had been one thing, but now she was Lena's friend and Jett's wife.

Clicking her key fob to unlock her doors, Lena slowed as she saw something hanging from the side mirror on the driver's side. She didn't think anything had been there a moment ago, although she'd also been busy loading the food into the trunk.

"It's a breezy day, isn't it?" the man climbing into the truck next to her said with a leering look. He shut the door and started the engine, driving off before she could respond.

What in the—

Lena stilled, her gaze landing on something on the ground beside her door. Had the man dropped it? It almost looked like—

Zip ties.

They were linked around her side mirror as well, strung together like some creepy zip tie chain.

Fear churned through her as she took a step back. She should call someone. Jett. Gray. The police. Turning away, she could see the truck that had been parked beside her exiting the lot in the back. It had avoided the main entrance where all the traffic was.

What did that guy mean by saying it was a breezy day?

Alarm washed over her as she remembered the zip ties in her driveway. She'd been talking with her neighbors about the windy day and how they must've just blown over to her yard.

But—

"Hello Lena."

She froze, instantly trembling in place at the cold voice behind her. No. This couldn't be happening. No. No. No.

Quiet footsteps approached from behind, and Lena heard her own heart thundering in her ears. She was paralyzed in place, wanting to scream, to fight, to run, but unable to do a damn thing.

"Don't move, pretty girl," he said, a hint of laughter in his voice. He could no doubt see that she was literally shaking. "My men are already here. Waiting. Wanting a turn with what's mine." Her eyes darted around the lot, and she noticed several men were already closing in on her.

Ivan stopped right behind her, and she could smell his heavy cologne, feel the heat from his beefy body, and practically taste the stench of alcohol on his breath. "But I'm not sharing. It's time to finish what we started, beautiful," he said, his meaty hands pulling her close. Covering her mouth as she whimpered. "Except this time," he leered, grinding his erection against her ass as he held her in an iron-like grip, "you'll never get away from me. Never."