Page 2 of Absolution

“Who’s Susie?” Kenner’s gaze scanned the line of decanters on his nearby dresser. He’d have Nicole come andpour a large drop of something strong for him. Hopefully, her short skirt and the liquor would take the edge off the growing thud in his head.

“Ella’s mother.” Bennett pressed his lips together. “She said she hadn’t heard from our daughter, but now I’m starting to wonder. If Ella was going to reach out to anyone, it would be her. They’ve always seemed close.”

“How lovely.” Kenner’s jaw twitched. The allure of the twenty-five-year-old whiskey was getting difficult to ignore. “Do you think this Susie is withholding information?”

“Possibly.” Bennett tensed. “That bitch has never liked me.”

“I can’t imagine why,” Craig scoffed.

“Fine.” Kenner had heard enough. “Reach out to your ex again and pump her for details. In the meantime, I’ll muse on what I’ll require from you in return, Bennett.”

“Okay.” The color drained slowly from Bennett’s face. “I understand.”

“Marvelous.” Kenner couldn’t care less if he understood or not. His patience was wearing about as thin as Craig’s cheap suit. “Now, get out of here. I have a date with my decanter.”

Chapter One

Tortured Dreams

Ella Bennett

Ella’s head was heavy as she opened her eyes. Taking in the wooden interior stretching out all around her, dread knotted in her belly. The wood was reminiscent of Tucker’s cabin—the place she’d once been his captive—but how could she be there again?

Splaying her fingers, she tried to sit up, but something hindered her progress. She glanced down to see what the problem was, her panic amplifying at what she found.

Thick ropes secured both of her wrists, and there was a third rope wound around her body, tethering her to the bed.

Oh God.

Her breaths came faster as she struggled to understand how this had happened. She and Tucker had left the cabin, hadn’t they? She remembered their departure and the subsequent trauma of their trek through the woods. She also recalled the plush conditions of his city apartment.

“There you are, Ella.”

She turned to the male voice, expecting to see her lover, and was confused and disappointed to discover Alexander standing in the middle of the cabin.

Why is my father here?

“I’ve been looking for you.” A malevolent grin spread across his face as one graying eyebrow rose. It was a discomforting expression she’d not seen from him before.

“What am I doing here?” She tugged at the ropes again, but her efforts were useless. She couldn’t get away by yanking on her binds. Someone was going to have to help her. “Can you untie me?”

“I don’t think so.” Alexander lifted the small box in his hands. “I don’t think you’re going anywhere, little girl.”

“What?” She strained to see what he was holding, perturbed to hear Tucker’s chosen pet name for her on her father’s lips. The label had once sounded so endearing, but he made it seem strange and perverted. “What does that mean?”

“You know what it means.” Alexander’s voice was a low sneer. “You brought this on yourself.”

“No.” Her throat dried. “I didn’t do anything!”

“Shhh.” He lifted his finger to his lips, smiling as his palm opened to reveal a box of matches. “No more noise, Susie. This will all be over soon.”

Her brow furrowed at his response, her concentration laser-focused on the small box in his hand.

“I’m not S-Susie,” she stammered. “What are you doing with those matches?”

“It’s time for change, little girl.” His laughter filled the air as he pulled one match from the box and struck it. She watched as the tiny flame danced in the air between them.

“No!” she screamed, yanking harder on her ropes. “This entire place is made of wood. It’ll all go up in flames.”

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