8. Chloe

CHAPTER 8

Chloe

M y head pounds and I lift my hand to touch it, grimacing when there’s a pull at my shoulder and arm.

When I open my eyes, I focus with some pain and then try to figure out why the hell there’s a handcuff on my wrist and it’s locked around a bedpost.

“You’re awake. Good.”

My head whips around and I groan when the world tilts on its axis again. “Bennet? What the hell are you doing? Where are we?”

“We’re at an abandoned house. I figured this would be perfect to chat.”

I don’t want to chat with you, Bennet. I already told you. I’ve told you for years now. I’m not interested. I’m in love with someone else and he loves me too. We’re friends and have been for years. But it’s always been something more.”

“Liar!” He screams in my face, spittle gathering at his mouth. “You do not love him. You love me! Me! ”

I cringe back as he comes closer, his face red and swollen with anger. I smell a bit of alcohol on his breath and groan inwardly. We only went out twice but it was enough to let me know that he liked his drinking and that when he did, he was erratic and abusive.

He clenches his fists and then seems to struggle to get himself under control.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m the one that loves you and I’m gonna take care of you. In a day or so, we’re gonna get out of here and then I’m gonna take you home with me. After awhile I think you’ll realize that we’re good together. We fit.”

My stomach heaves and I groan, retching and falling to the side in the bed, throwing up over the side.

He jumps back and growls. “Jesus! Get yourself under control, Chloe! I’m gonna go out and get some towels out of the car so you can clean this shit up.”

He walks out, muttering under his breath and I lie back, my stomach still heaving. I feel like there’s something wrong with my head and everything keeps tilting sideways and going out of focus. I think I might have a concussion.

After five minutes he still hasn’t come back. I groan as my stomach heaves again and I roll over to the side and retch again.

My head is killing me and I pull weakly against the shackle around my wrist.

“Where are you, Sam?”

As soon as I say it, it’s like a calm comes over me. It’s like I know that he’s on his way and he’s gonna get here before Bennet takes off with me and I disappear off the face of the planet.

Then the door slams open and I open my eyes, fighting the dull throb and the wavy, weird, out of focus vision.

But even with all of that, I start crying when I see Sam and all the guys charging through the door.

“Sam! Dad!” I cry and within seconds, I’m wrapped up in arms as all the guys hug me tight. And then Sam unlocks the handcuffs and picks me up. I cry and bury my face in his chest, smelling that familiar scent that is uniquely him.

“I love you,” I whimper. And then all of it goes black.

The incessant beeping of the machine is what actually wakes me. I groan and open my eyes, the bright lights making my head throb and my eyes water.

“There’s my girl. Dammit, Chloe! I oughta turn you over my knee for scaring me like that! And for not letting any of us know what was going on!”

I smile weakly and open my eyes to see my Dad and my Mom hanging over the bed in the hospital.

“Hi, Mom and Dad.”

Mom grins but I still see tears trickling down her cheeks. “You scared the hell out of me, Chloe. Next time some guy can’t take no for an answer, you better make sure and let one of us know!”

“Hopefully that will never happen again.”

Both of them nod. “What happened to Bennet?” I ask, worried that one of them went too far.

“He’s sitting in jail with no bail. And that’s where he’s gonna stay,” Dad huffs.

I laugh. “I was a little worried that one of you might kill him.”

“It was a close thing. Usually I’d be most concerned about Stryker but it was actually Sam that almost killed him. We had to pull him off of the guy.”

“Is he alright?” My heart goes wild as soon as I hear his name. I look around and my voice squeaks. “Where is he?”

“He’s out getting something to eat. We sent him because he’s been pacing around here and scaring the hell out of the nursing staff.”

The door slams open and he charges through, his eyes wild and he shoves the food at Mom and Dad and rushes me, his arms reaching for me until he stops and then gently tucks me close to him. His voice breaks. “Dammit! Chloe, you scared me to death! Don’t ever do that again!”

“It’s not like I said kidnap me!” I huff.

“You know what I mean.”

I smile at him and lean back, my hand cupping his lean, rock-hard jaw and staring into his ice-blue eyes. “I love you, you crazy man.”

“I love you too, Sweets. And I want to get married as soon as you get out of here. I don’t want to wait. I want a Christmas wedding with all the trimmings.”

“Are you gonna ask me?” I laugh.

“Nope! You’re marrying me.”

I lean up and touch his lips with mine. “I think that sounds like a fantastic idea. Let’s do it.”

He leans back and hugs me tight. “Hallelujah! I’m on it!”

I laugh and rest in his arms, loving that feeling of being safe and right where I belong.