Chapter 46

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

A tear leaked from her eye, then slid down her cheek. Everything hurt. Her wrists and ankles ached from where the rough rope abraded her skin, and her back and head ached from David dragging her down the stairs.

The car hit a bump, jostling her slightly, and she let out a muffled cry as a fresh wave of pain speared through her. Her breaths came in shallow gasps, the effort of moving exhausting her. But she couldn't give up. Not now.

Kinley's thoughts drifted to Cam, her heart aching with the need to get back to him. He would be looking for her, she knew that. But how long until he realized something had happened? How would he figure out David's identity? She couldn't wait to be found. She had to help herself—she had to find a way to escape.

Her mind raced, trying to form a plan. If she could just get the trunk open, she could roll out. Her movement was limited because of the rope around her feet, so she couldn't run. Maybe there was something in the trunk she could use to cut through them.

Lying on her side in the dark trunk, she felt around with her hands. Her fingers brushed over the rough carpet that lined the space, and she wiggled backward. Her hands brushed the vinyl lining of the car, and she felt along the edge, searching for any sharp object.

She hadn't been paying enough attention to the vehicle's model before he'd dumped her inside, but some had hooks or latches inside the trunk area for storage. Bolstered by the possibility, she wriggled around blindly, feeling her way over the surface. Hope sprang up her as her fingers encountered what felt like a hard plastic hook.

She angled her arms, trying to loop the rope over the hook. It took several tries but finally caught, and a victorious smile broke over her face. Ignoring the pain that rippled along her back, she shifted side to side, rubbing the rope over the hook to create friction.

Was it just her imagination, or could she feel the ropes getting just a little looser?

Suddenly the car slowed, and she heard the familiar crunch of gravel beneath the tires. Kinley froze, listening intently as the gravel disappeared, giving way to something far more forgiving. It lacked the hard sound of asphalt, and she strained to hear anything else around her that might indicate their location. If she could get the duct tape off and call for help…

She rubbed her chin against her shoulder, desperately trying to work a corner of the tape free. One corner gradually rolled inward, closer to her mouth. She stuck her tongue out, wetting it from the inside, loosening it even more.

The car came to an abrupt stop. Kinley lay still, her heart pounding so hard she hear the blood rushing in her ears. She could hear David moving, felt the shift of the car, then the sound of his door opening and closing.

Her pulse quickened, fear nearly overwhelming her. But she couldn't afford to panic. She had to think clearly. With a soft click, the lid of the trunk sprang open, and a rush of cool night air washed over her. David's shadow loomed above her, his face a dark silhouette against the night sky.

"We're here," he said softly, his voice sending chills down her spine.

He reached in, his hands sliding under her back and knees to lift her out. Fresh pain rolled over her as he grabbed her injured back, and she cried out.

"Now, now," he murmured softly. "Best to stay quiet so no one hears you."

His shoulder dug into her stomach as he flung her over his back, and she felt bile rise up in her throat with every jolting step. Kinley closed her eyes and forced it down.

His words finally penetrated the haze of pain. He said someone might overhear—that meant there were people around. Blinking away the sweat and tears obscuring her vision, she tried to place their surroundings. The moon peeked out from behind a cloud, and the mirrored surface of the lake rose up in front of them as he cut across the dewy grass.

David's heavy tread clomped against the wooden planks of a dock, and her eyes flew open. Panic seized her chest. Oh, God. He was going to throw her into the lake. Before she'd worked out a plan in her head, they'd reached the end of the dock.

David dropped her unceremoniously on her back, and the breath rushed from her lungs. She stared up at him, every cell of her body aching, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Not sparing her a glance David retreated, moving back toward shore, but was back less than a minute later. In his hands, he held a large rock.

Fear ricocheted through her, and she resumed her efforts to struggle, yelling as loudly as she could behind the tape. The cold night air stung Kinley's skin and she struggled weakly, the pain making her movements sluggish and uncoordinated. She refused to go down like this. She had too much to live for—especially now.

"Shut your mouth!" David whisper-yelled.

He dug a knee into the soft cavity of her stomach, driving the air from her lungs. Tears scalded her eyes and slipped down her temples as she stared at the moon high overhead.

David deftly looped a coil of rope around the rock, then wove it through the bonds that secured her ankles. She felt the coarse fibers dig into her skin, filling her with a paralyzing dread.

A soft grunt escaped her lips as David picked up the rock and settled it on her torso. Satisfied with his work, he scooped her into his arms and stepped up to the edge of the dock.

He stared out at the lake for a moment, myriad emotions playing over his face. Was he thinking of letting her go? Hope swelled in her chest as he remained frozen, just staring out at the water.

Finally, his gaze dropped to hers. Then… he let go.

Her scream came out muted as she hurtled backward through the air. It felt like she was falling forever before her body hit the water and terror sliced through her.

The icy water swallowed her whole, and the shock of it stole her breath away. The coldness of the water was like a thousand needles pricking her skin. It was all around her, pulling her under, wrapping her in cold, inky darkness. Her chest tightened as the frigid liquid seeped into her clothes and hair, making her movements slow and heavy.

She bucked frantically, trying to reach the surface, but the rock tied to her feet was relentless, dragging her deeper into the dark abyss. Kinley thrashed against the restraints, the weight of the rock pulling her down faster than she could fight against it.

The tape on her mouth curled up, then lifted away completely and drifted toward the surface. Kinley blinked against the hazy, swirling water as the weight of the rock dragged her downward. The ropes around her hands felt looser, and she yanked on them as hard as she could.

She kicked wildly with both feet, trying to propel herself toward the surface. She hadn't had a chance to drag in a breath before she'd gone under; her chest felt tight, and her throat began to burn with the desperate need for oxygen.

Then the fear set in.

The world above became a distorted blur of moonlight and ripples as she sank deeper into the dark, frigid depths. Her descent slowed as she neared the bottom of the lake, and she felt herself come to rest on the soft silt of the lakebed.

Disoriented, she tried to make sense of her surroundings. The underwater darkness was oppressive, and she had to squint to see anything at all. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing in her ears.Kinley's lungs screamed for oxygen, the tightness in her chest becoming unbearable.

Suddenly, the ropes binding her wrists came free, sliding down and over her hands like a water snake. Determination surged within her. She grabbed hold of the rope and the rock, then levered to her feet and pushed as hard as she could, using every ounce of strength to propel herself upward.

Her movements were slow, the weight of the rock dragging her down as she fought against the relentless pull. She paddled furiously with her free arm, her muscles burning with effort.

Second ticking by in agonizing slowness as she felt herself rising, inch by inch. The surface seemed impossibly far away, a distant, shimmering hope. Her vision blurred and her lungs ached, desperate for air. She kicked harder, pulling with her arm, fighting against the weight. Her body screamed in protest, but she ignored the pain, focusing only on the need to survive.

The moonlight grew brighter and brighter, illuminating her path to survival. Suddenly, with one last stretch, she burst free of the surface.