CHAPTER ELEVEN

– COSIMA –

I don't want to die. I'm not going into the light and I want out of this freaking darkness. And why the hell is my body not doing what I want it to do? I feel weird. Am I dead? Shit. The last time I thought I was going to die I had a lot of regrets.

Now? My only regret is that I'm dying right now, or am dead already, and didn't have a lot of time with the man I fell for. One voice clip after another, he pulled me toward him and never let go. I don't want to let go.

Again, I attempt to open my eyes but darkness still has a hold on me. Did I get hit on the head again? My body feels weird, not painful, just…weird as if I'm not the one in charge of it. My movements are sluggish and I'm finally able to shift some, it's then I realize my hands and feet must be bound.

I feel woozy. Did someone drug me? What the heck happened? Think, dammit. I take a choppy breath and try to grasp onto the last memory I have. Parker. A sob rips from me. Again, I hugely regret not having more time with him.

"Ssshhh, I'm here, we're together now," a voice I don't recognize states and I instantly freeze.

A stench of sweat and a strong putrid ammonia-like smell assault my senses right before something falls away from my eyes. The new sob that rips from me is one of small relief at the realization that I'm not completely blind again; I was blindfolded. The small relief doesn't last long when I see Murphy sitting in front of me.

He's close and leaning half over my tied legs. I quickly glance over the space we're in but don't recognize it. We're in what seems like a long hallway where each side is made from wood. The scent of horses is strong and I can even hear them moving around.

My shoulders almost touch the walls, that's how small this space is. I'm leaning against a wall and the one across from me is far away. The space is as high as the stables behind the ranch. From a distance, I hear voices and recognize Parker's who bellows out my name.

Holy fuck. Did Murphy create this hidden space in our own stables? If so, how the hell is Parker going to find me if no one knows about it? Panic is now flowing freely inside my veins and it skyrockets when Murphy suddenly palms a knife.

He holds it close to my throat when he says, "Stay quiet. I don't want our time together to end yet."

I flinch when Murphy reaches out to stroke my cheek with his thumb. "Don't cry, we'll be alone again soon enough."

Parker's voice sounds closer and I want nothing more than to scream his name but there's tape covering my mouth by the feel of it. Fuck it. I try to scream at the top of my lungs but it comes out muffled.

Fear hits me hard when I feel the tip of the knife Murphy is holding breach my skin. Warmth trickles down my neck and chest while I shiver at the thought of losing my life by this man's hand.

A dog starts to bark really close. Murphy mutters something while I hear muted voices from the other side of the wall. Murphy shoves himself away from me and I feel as if I can momentarily breathe again.

It doesn't last long, though. Murphy opens what seems to be part of the wall and glances out through a crack. My relief of him escaping doesn't last long when he grabs my ankle and jerks me toward him. My arms and legs are tied causing my body to fall back, and my head hits the floor, rattling my brain.

Pain radiates through my neck and an instant headache assaults me. Whimpers are the only muted sound penetrating through the tape covering my mouth. My shirt gets caught on the raw wood underneath me. Murphy gives another yank on my leg and I feel like a wiener being smacked into a bun when the fucker knocks me around to fit through the slim passage.

Another yank and my body catches up with my legs, causing my knees to bend. Murphy grunts and I remember how Parker shot him in the shoulder. Without giving it a second thought, I kick out with both my bound legs and hit him hard against his shoulder, hoping I remembered the correct one that was injured.

Murphy screams in agony and to my relief, I hear a mixture of voices coming from inside and outside. The flash of steel reminds me of the knife Murphy is holding and I'm momentarily stunned by fear as I try to force my mind to come up with a next move to regain my freedom.

"Big mistake," Murphy snarls.

His body shifts but I don't see what's coming until there's a burning heat on the right side of my face from being backhanded.

Murphy holds the knife against my throat once more and snarls, "Stop fighting me or I'll knock you back out again. You're mine and I don't care what I have to do to make you realize it. There is no way out for you other than death and I'm not ready to kill you just yet."

"Well, I'm ready to kill you now," Parker states from somewhere while at the same time, the sound of a gunshot cracks through the air.

The knife falls from Murphy's hand, his body crumbling down to the ground along with it. I start to struggle against the restraints on my arms and legs. I feel as if I can't breathe and my head is throbbing, ready to explode in a splitting headache. Black spots enter the only vision I have left and I can feel myself slip away into the darkness.

"Cosima, please, open your eyes, baby, please." Parker's torn voice sounds muffled.

I want to open my eyes but can't find the strength so instead I get sucked right back into oblivion.

Faintly, I hear Parker's voice once again. "She could be pregnant, how would the ketamine affect her and the fetus then? And when the fuck will she wake up? She suffered a concussion weeks ago and she also lost eyesight in her right eye. Can you please double-check if everything with her left eye is still okay or something that gives me the knowledge she won't lose more than she already had."

I know exactly what drives him to ask. Though, lying here, unable to open my eyes but hearing the desperation and fear for my well-being in his voice? It makes me thankful to know we're still here, breathing and able to touch and feel one another.

"Parker," I croak, my voice raw and hoarse.

I feel his big, strong, callused hand cover mine. "I'm right here, baby."

Trying again, I barely manage to blink a few times and relief hits me when I can see Parker clearly with my left eye.

"You found me," I whisper, still stunned they managed to do so.

Parker leans in and brushes his lips against my forehead. "I had help. Decker brought Sadie's search and rescue dog. The dog kept barking at the back of the stables, but we couldn't figure out why."

My sister's face comes into view behind Parker. "That creepy fucker built an extra wall to create a space where he's lived ever since they renovated the stables. Ugh, I'm ready to burn the stables down again and build it back up with my own damn hands. Great way to blow trust to smithereens with actions like that. I really hate people."

I wince at the volume of her voice.

"Keep it down," Parker grumbles. "She has a concussion…again, and needs to rest."

"I wholeheartedly agree," a man with a white coat states. "Visiting hours are over and Miss Hazel needs her rest."

I glance at my sister. "Please don't burn down the stables. Removing the double wall, yes, but don't let one idiot fuck up shit for all of us."

Eastlynne huffs out a frustrated breath. "Fine. Maybe I'll move in with Rourke and let you and Parker live on the ranch. Enough room to go around and balance between ranches."

Rourke chuckles. "We'll talk about this shit later. Let your sister get some rest." He pats my leg. "Hope you're back on your feet sooner this time."

The corner of my mouth twitches. "I'll try."

They leave the room and the doctor is looking expectantly at Parker, probably wanting him to follow the others out the door.

"I don't give a fuck what you think, say, or do, but I'm not leaving my old lady, and soon-to-be wife ever again," Parker states with a deadly tone that leaves no room for arguments.

The doctor releases a deep sigh. "Very well. Your earlier concerns along with the way you handled her sister just now give me the impression you will make sure her care and well-being come first. Now, to answer your earlier questions. The ketamine is leaving her body and the blood tests showed her level of HCG is considered negative for pregnancy. As I said, she has a mild concussion and needs rest. With her recent medical issues, we will monitor her overnight and will have her release papers ready come morning if all goes well."

"Thank you," I croak and try to sit up.

Parker gently places his hand over my shoulder. "Don't try to sit up. Relax and try to get some sleep."

The doctor is grinning behind Parker when I give my old man a grumpy look.

"I can see everything is under control here," the doctor states and I ignore the rest of his words as he excuses himself and leaves the room.

Once we're alone I whisper, "You killed him."

"I did and I'd fucking do it again if I could," Parker states with venom in his voice. "He took you from me. He fucking hurt you, and locked you away somewhere and I was unable to find you. I was going out of my fucking mind. Especially when Kathleen's dog led us to a dead body. Two dead women, one on the front of the ranch and one far behind it, and you, missing in between."

I can feel my eyes widen and my head throbs even harder.

"Damn," I muse and sink into the pillow.

"Yeah, damn is about right. Kathleen has her hands full at the ranch. Marvin is helping her since the two dead women are linked to the serial killer case he's working on."

My mind is finally able to process all the information and I frown. "Wait. Two dead bodies were found at the ranch?"

Parker nods. "One I told you about when Kathleen's dog helped us find you, but her dog is a trained cadaver dog so Wrench ran off as soon as he caught the scent. Anyway, when I was getting you coffee and pie, Luke signaled me to see something that was happening at the front of the ranch. Someone dumped a naked woman and drove off. I didn't want you to see it, so I left you on the back porch. Once we were staring down at the dead body I called Walker to check on you and make sure you wouldn't come out front to see it. It's then we noticed you were gone." A pained look crosses over his face. "While they were checking you out in the hospital, Rourke and the others talked and made sense of why the fuck Murphy was able to do that shit. Kathleen mentioned Murphy might have witnessed Bennie killing his wife, creating some twisted line he could cross when it comes to women. We think Murphy must have posed as one of the construction workers and was able to prepare things to make the hidden space in the back. Once that was set, he had the perfect room to eavesdrop and find out everything while staying close to the house to watch you. That's also why he knew the alarm was off when Walker entered the stables. The only thing he had to worry about was the cameras. All he cared about was taking you and he had the perfect opportunity when someone dumped a body in front of the ranch."

All the information blows my mind and makes me say, "I'm glad he's dead. It's over now."

Parker is silent too long and I slightly turn my head to see his face.

He has a grim look when he grumbles, "The Murphy issue is handled, but there's still an active serial killer. One body at the back of the ranch, close to our land. The other was dumped by the road at the entrance of the ranch. Now, we do need to know why the fuck this serial killer targeted the ranch, if he was working with Murphy, or if it was all just a clusterfuck of a coincidence. Until then I'm gonna be your shadow."

I reach out and link my fingers with his. "I thought you were gonna be my shadow from now on no matter what."

He gives me a blinding smile. "Damn right, I am."