Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Fallon Ray turned into her driveway, her home a welcome sight after a long day of being on her feet. She pressed the button on the remote, watching as the garage door lifted smoothly, the motor's hum blending with the muted buzz of insects outside.

She pulled into the garage and cut the engine, the gentle purr fading into silence. Wearily, she climbed from the driver seat, then moved toward the trunk of the car and gathered a handful of grocery bags. Balancing the bags in one hand, she moved toward the entry door to the house and used her elbow to hit the switch to lower the garage door. The mechanism groaned as the door began its descent, the sound echoing in the confined space.

Fallon headed inside, kicking the door closed behind her, as she moved into the kitchen. As she began to put the groceries away, she mentally checked her list, ensuring she hadn’t forgotten anything essential—milk, bread, a bottle of her favorite red wine. Satisfied she hadn’t missed anything, she headed back out to retrieve her purse and cell phone from the car.

As she stepped into the garage a cool draft washed over her, sending goosebumps sprouting over the backs of her arms. She frowned, glancing back at the door. It was still wide open, the cool night air drifting through the space. Fallon shook her head. She swore she’d closed it.

Shrugging off the unsettling feeling, she tapped the button again, watching as the door descended fully this time, sealing her safely inside as she moved toward the car. Just as her fingers landed on the door handle, a faint whisper of movement reached her ears. Her heart skipped a beat, her senses suddenly on high alert.

Before she could react, a large hand clamped over her mouth and nose, and a damp cloth covered her face. Instinctively she sucked in a breath, and she drew in a lungful of the noxious fume maturing the fabric. The acrid smell was sharp and overpowering, and it caused her eyes to water. Her mind raced, adrenaline surging through her veins.

Panic surged through her, and she thrashed wildly, fighting against the attacker. The arm banded around her waist held firm, the hand holding the cloth immovable. Her vision blurred, the edges going dark as the drug sank into her system and took root. She struggled to stay conscious, her thoughts becoming a jumbled mess of fear and confusion, even as her limbs grew heavy and unresponsive.

Her breaths came in ragged, desperate gasps, each one drawing more of the chemical into her system. The world tilted, her balance slipping away as everything faded to black.

* * *

Fallon’s eyes fluttered open, slowly adjusting to the dim light that cast eerie shadows across the room. Her head pounded, a dull, relentless ache that matched the cold, damp chill seeping from the concrete walls. She tried to sit up, but her body felt heavy, sluggish.

A wave of panic surged through her as she took in her surroundings: a dingy basement, the block walls stained with age and moisture, the only furniture a filthy mattress in the corner.

A man hovered nearby, his silhouette a dark, ominous presence against the faint glow of the single, naked bulb that hung from the ceiling. Fallon’s heart raced as she tried to make sense of the situation. She tugged at her wrists, realizing with dread that they were bound with coarse rope and suspended high over her head.

“Please.” Her throat, cracked and dry, struggled to form words. “Let… let me go.”

The man turned to face her more fully, and she studied his features. Something about him was familiar… Did she know him?

He smiled, a gesture that should have been reassuring but only served to amplify her fear.

“Shh, don’t worry,” he said as he approached her. “Everything will be fine.”

Fallon recoiled as he leaned over her, his hands moving with practiced precision as he checked the restraints. She winced, expecting pain, but his touch was gentle, almost tender. He adjusted the bindings, ensuring they were secure but not tight enough to cut into her skin.

“There now,” he murmured. “We don’t want you hurting yourself.”

Her eyes darted around the room, searching for any clue, any avenue of escape. As she turned her head, her chin grazed something on her left bicep, and her attention was drawn downward to a thick, white bandage that stood out in stark relief against her pale skin. Fear mingled with confusion.

“What happened?” she asked, her voice trembling.

The man’s expression softened as he stroked his hand over her hair. The gesture felt disturbingly intimate, and her stomach revolted. “You don’t need to worry about anything now,” he said, his tone low and soothing.

“We’re going to be happy…” His eyes lit up with a strange, fervent excitement as his gaze dropped to her midsection. “The three of us.”

Fallon’s breath caught in her throat as he placed a hand on her belly. Her stomach swooped violently, and her blood turned to ice as her gaze moved once more to her upper arm. Horror dawned as the cold realization of truth washed over her.

“You… you took out my implant?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rush of her own frenzied heartbeat.

The man nodded, his smile widening. “Yes,” he said, his voice filled with twisted pride. “Now we can be a real family.”

Tears welled up in Fallon’s eyes as she struggled against the restraints, the reality of her situation crashing down on her. She was trapped, helpless, and at the mercy of a man who had taken everything from her. Desperation clawed at her throat, but she forced herself to stay calm, to think.

“Please,” she said again, her voice breaking. “You don’t have to do this. Just let me go.”

But the man shook his head, his expression firm. “No, Fallon,” he said gently but firmly. “We’re meant to be together. You’ll see. Everything will be fine.”

As he turned away, the dim light casting his shadow across the room, Fallon’s mind raced. She had to find a way out, a way to survive. She had to fight, not just for herself, but for the life she had never imagined carrying within her. Determination hardened her resolve. She would find a way to escape. She had to.