Page 64 of In Her Shadow

“But I did.” She leans forward to whisper in my ear, making my skin turn cold and my heart drop into my stomach.

“None of this makes sense, we’re friends…Best friends,” I remind her, tugging harder at the ropes to try and get free. I should have learned from all those playtimes with Ren that struggling only makes them tighter.

“Correction, wewerebest friends. You’ve changed, Eloise.” Her head shakes disappointingly. “I much preferred poor helpless Eloise Meadows, whose life was so tragically sad,” she pouts.

“Katelyn, listen to me, this is serious. Whatever you gave me to knock me out could be harmful to the baby. You need to get me to the hospital.” I try not to panic because I know it’s only going to make things worse, but it’s hard when your friend is acting like a psychopath.

“You're fine, I would never have given you something that would hurt the baby.” She spreads her fingers out wide andpresses her palm over my stomach with that dreamy smile on her face again. “Why would I, when she’s going to be mine?”

REN

The wheels screech as I pull up outside Lance Worthington’s home, and I quickly jump out of the car and burst through his front door. I guess Lance must have been on a night shift cause I find him in bed, looking all startled and scared. I grip him by his t-shirt, drag him out, and send him crashing headfirst into his wardrobe.

“Where is she?” I reach between his legs and crush his cock and balls in my fist. I swear, if he’s laid one finger on my girl, that's the first part of him I’ll take.

“What the fuck?” he screeches back at me, and I twist.

“You heard me, tell me where my girl is or I will detach this from your body and make you swallow it.”

“You’re mad! You’refuckinginsane.” He tries pushing me away, but I press my body harder into his.

“You tell me right now, where Eloise is, or I will ensure your death is slow and excruciating.

“She probably came to her senses and left you, you freak,” he spits back at me, with all the tendons in his neck straining from the pain he’s in.

“Don’t be fucking smart. Start talking.”

“Look, I have no idea where she is. I literally just got home from a night shift. I was with my partner, Jasper, all night. His number’s in my phone; call him up and ask him if you want.”

I release him and watch as he doubles over in pain, clutching between his legs as he tries to get his breath back.

“If it wasn’t you, then who was it?”

“How wouldIfucking know? Did you guys get into a fight?” He strains as he moves to sit on the bed, keeping his hand between his legs.

“No, we didn’t fight; she’s about to give birth to my kid.” I look at the prick as if he’s stupid and notice how shocked he is by my words.

“So the two of you are in a good place?” he checks, almost seeming as if he doesn’t believe it.

“She didn't leave me, if that's what you mean.” I shake my head. “She was taken, her and that annoying friend of hers. I dropped her there while I took care of something in the city, and when I got back, they were gone, so was Katelyn’s car. The place was trashed and there was…” I can’t even fucking say it. “There was blood.” I slide my hand over my face and look up at the ceiling. I’m a little confused when Officer Limp Dick gets back up on his feet and starts struggling into his jeans.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I ask as he takes his gun and holster from his top drawer.

“You're gonna take me to this friend's house, and we’re gonna see if we can figure out who’s got her,” he tells me simply.

“You're gonna help me?” I check I’m hearing him right.

“No, I’m gonna help her.” He limps out of the bedroom, leading me out the front door, and when he sees my car blocking his patrol car, he looks back at me.

“I take it you’re driving?”

“Shit.” Lance takes a look around the kitchen and sees the blood smears on the tiles for himself. “You said the girl who lives here is her friend?”

“Best friend,” I assure him. “They’ve known each other since they were kids.”

“Katelyn.” He nods his head as if he’s familiar. “She spoke a lot about her when we dated.”

“Let’s not go into that. It makes me wanna crush your ball sack again,” I warn him.

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