Page 59 of Rescued by a SEAL

Chapter 16

Taylor giggled as Bailey pulled to a stop in front of her apartment building late that afternoon. “Oh my God, the look on that guy’s face was priceless when you told him you’d cut off his balls if he didn’t give us my car.”

Bailey muttered under her breath, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder, her hot pinks nails gleaming with fresh polish. “Yeah, well, it didn’t do much good. We still don’t have it. If I knew how to operate that damn lift thing, I would’ve taken it down myself.”

“It wouldn’t have done much good if they still fixing it. Then again, maybe Jake left it up there on purpose. Mason said he was pissed as hell when he called him. Mason told him we were going to come get my car, and Jake wouldn’t know Mason got sent out of the country. He probably left it up there just to mess with him.”

“I wouldn’t put it past him,” Bailey said dryly. “Are you sure I can’t give you a ride to Anchors for your shift?”

“No, but thanks, hun. One of the other waitresses, Amy, is coming by to pick me up.”

“All right, if you’re sure. Maybe you should call that detective and see what he says about them holding your car at the shop forever. Since Jake is friends with Eric, maybe there’s something they can do.”

“God, I hope so. This is getting ridiculous. I’ll call him tomorrow first thing. I need to get ready for work, and if the police want me to come back now to file a separate report, I’ll be late. I’m not sure there’s anything illegal about a car shop fixing my car though. Even if they are friends with Eric.”

“We’ll figure it out. Thanks again for lunch.”

“No worries. Thanks for driving me around all day.” Taylor climbed out of the car and shut the passenger door, waving goodbye as Bailey drove away. Her own nails shone with pale pink polish. It had been refreshing to spend the day with her best friend. Lunch overlooking the ocean, strolling along some of the shops near the boardwalk, and then relaxing at the nail salon had been just what she needed to get her mind off of everything.

Pulling her keys from her purse, she climbed the stairs to her apartment. The flip-flops she’d worn for her pedicure slapped on every step. It was relatively quiet at this time of day, with most of the other residents still at work for their nine-to-five jobs.

She slid the key into the lock of her apartment and twisted the knob, pushing the door open.

She froze as soon as she walked in, her keys falling to the ground as Eric staggered toward her. The door automatically shut behind her with a loud thud.

“Tay, baby,” he slurred. “I’ve been waiting for you all day.” His hands wrapped around her waist, his large body towering over hers, and he planted a sloppy kiss on her lips as she tried to push him away.

He tasted of alcohol and fast food, and she pushed harder at his chest, trapped between the closed door and him, until he finally released her. “How’d you get in here?” she asked angrily. “You have no right to come barging into my apartment. And you sure the hell have no right to kiss me. I’m calling the police.”

He grabbed her forearm, surprisingly strong despite being inebriated. She tried to yank away from him, and his fingers tightened around her, pulling her into her living room. “Don’t be like that, baby. I talked to the super. Told her I accidentally locked myself out. Luckily, she remembered me since we dated for three years. She walked upstairs with me and let me in herself. Where’ve you been anyway? I’ve been waiting here for hours. Hope you don’t mind that I drank a few of your beers.”

Wrenching her arm free, she pulled back from him, putting a few steps between them. “None of your damn business. How I spend my time and who I spend it with has absolutely nothing to do with you.”

“I miss you, baby. I told you that the other night at Anchors. I miss having you beside me in bed. I miss that sweet pussy of yours.”

“You need to leave right now or I’m calling the police.”

Eric’s expression turned cold. “Where’s your phone, Tay? You’re not calling anybody. Give me your purse.”

She clutched her purse tightly, his eyes following the movement. He yanked it free from her hands, carelessly tossing it across the room.

“Where’s that Navy guy you’ve been fucking? I thought he’d be here with you right now. Stripping you bare. Licking your pussy.” He laughed harshly, pulling his own phone from his back pocket. “I got some good footage of you two. I have to admit, I didn’t realize you were such a whore. We dated a month before you’d have sex with me. You barely even know him and let him fuck you. That hurt, Tay. I shouldn’t have had to watch that.”

Her cheeks flamed as waves of embarrassment and humiliation washed over her, and she crossed her arms, shaking. Trying to hold in her emotions. “You’re lying. You don’t have a damn thing.”

Eric unlocked his phone, swiping an app on the screen and pulling up some grainy video footage. He held it up, and Taylor wanted to vomit as she watched footage from a few days ago of her pulling off her camisole that first morning she’d been with Mason. Her bare breasts were on display as she straddled him, and moments later, she was crying out in pleasure.

“Give me that!” she yelled, reaching up as Eric chuckled and held the phone out of her reach. “Where the hell did you get that?”

“I’ve got plenty of videos of you two. I bugged your bedroom. I get to watch you walk around naked as you undress every night. I like to see those perky breasts bounce as you move. That gorgeous pussy of yours. Your ass as you bend over and slip on your sexy little panties.”

Taylor covered her mouth with her hand, bile rising in the back of her throat. He’d been watching her. Invading her privacy. Seeing her intimate with another man. What had Eric done with those videos? Had he shown his friends? Posted them online for the entire world to see?

“That’s right, baby. I like watching you. You’re mine. I love seeing your beautiful body. And I needed to see why you suddenly thought you were too good for me after three years. Why you picked that dumb fuck over me.”

“You’re a goddamn drunk, Eric!” she seethed, gasping in shook as he smacked her across the face. She lifted a hand to her cheek, the sting resonating through her. Tears smarted in her eyes.

“You know, I don’t really like sharing you, but since your new boyfriend’s not here right now, I thought we’d have a little fun tonight.”

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