I laughed as he went back to the stitches.
“I’ve never asked to be forgiven for stabbing someone, but I will this time.” His brown eyes swam in tears. “Will you forgive me, Jill?”
My heart swelled as I cupped his face. “Of course.”
He kissed the scar, then leaned his forehead against my abdomen. “Thank you.” He let out a breath, and I smiled. “I’m taking time off starting next week, and I am going to lay low at my cabin while police are investigating the gang murders. Will you come spend Christmas with me?”
I almost squeaked in excitement as I went over what my classes looked like for the next while. “I have a final exam on Friday, but I can leave after.” I thought of what this would entail, and a thought crossed my mind. “Is it secluded?”
“It very much is... why?” he asked as though reading my mind.
“Starting on Friday, I want to be hunted like one of your victims. I want to know what it’s like so I can add it to my report.”
“On one condition.” His gaze darkened, and I swallowed hard. “You understand that what I do to you, I wouldn’t do to anyone else.”
A shiver shot down my spine as I caught his meaning. I’d be at his mercy. “I accept on the condition you understand I’ll do everything in my power to fight you along the way.”
His smile widened. “I’m glad to hear it.” He got to his feet and leaned into my ear. “I’ll see you on Friday, then.”
33
Game
Ifinished my exam in record time and then headed home. It was already getting dark because of the seasonal time change, and with snow piling on, I gritted my teeth at the inconvenience.
A shadow moved behind me, and I spun around, ready to fight back. Nothing. I was pretty paranoid. Police tape barred my access to the main entrance, and I shivered as I went around toward the parking area instead. What had happened inside my building? My heart raced as I pictured Jack lying on the floor of my apartment, shot dead by the cops. I rushed ahead, but before I got to the entrance, someone grabbed me to the side.
I yelped, but before I could do much more than that, Jack shoved me inside the trunk of his car and closed it. The small space seemed to close in on me, and I pounded against the ceiling with little results.
“I want out!” I screamed as loudly as I could. The car moved forward, and something hit me in the back. I turned around, reaching into my pocket for my phone, but it was gone. Had he taken it, or had I dropped it somewhere?
“Shit... Shit...” I muttered, glancing back and trying to figure out what kept hitting me every time he came to a stop. Finally, after some feeling around, I realized it was the suitcase I’d packed for my two weeks away. He’d likely put police tape there himself, and suddenly, I wanted to be the one to shoot him, the bastard. I hated enclosed places, but I’d never told him that, too scared he’d use it against me at the start. Instead, he’d used it not knowing I was claustrophobic.
The ride took longer than necessary, but without being able to check the time, I didn’t know for sure. Maybe it had only been a few minutes, and my mind, in its panic, convinced me it had been hours.
When the car came to a stop, I moved my legs around, ready to kick him in the face and run for it. I’d be giving him a piece of my mind, not caring at all about his no-swearing rules. I had to remember he wasn’t the Jack I’d gotten to know anymore; he was going to be himself and hold nothing back. And the thought of that sent excitement through me.
The key unlocked the back, and as soon as the trunk opened, I kicked out. I got him right in the chest, and he staggered back as I jumped out. My legs had gone more numb than I’d thought, and I didn’t get far at all before he grabbed me. I landed hard in the snowy driveway and looked around at the forest surrounding us as he straddled my back.
“You fucking son of a bitch. I hate small spaces,” I screamed at him while I wriggled.
He tied my wrists together behind my back. “First of all, there’s no need to insult my mother,” he said with a chuckle. “Second of all, I can’t read your mind. And third?”
“Let me guess:language.”
“Exactly.” He pulled me to my feet and led me toward the cutest cabin I’d seen.
It wasn’t big the way I’d imagined, but instead, it looked as though it had, at most, one bedroom inside. The rest of the surroundings were nothing but trees; he wasn’t kidding when he’d said the place was secluded. Despite the situation, it was peaceful with the falling snow. Even the Christmas lights decorating the small house, as well as a few of the pine trees, gave it such a cozy feel.
I snorted as he led me toward the house, but instead, he continued toward a large shed out back. “I imagine you don’t want to get cut, so I suggest you kneel right here and stay still,” he said as he pushed me down to my knees in front of the chained door. He unlocked it, and I thought of bolting, but with my hands tied behind my back, I wouldn’t get far. The chain fell into the snow with a soft thud, and he slid the doors open. Inside the small area were a bunch of chains and a small cot. It reminded me a lot of the one I’d woken up on when he’d drugged me that first time we officially met; it seemed like a lifetime ago.
He pulled off my coat and threw it to the ground before closing the doors again. The lightbulb hanging overhead was the only illumination inside the place, giving it a creepy feel. As though this was the place where he butchered people.
I asked for this...
A high table on one side of the room caught my attention. He forced me to kneel again before I could see everything on there, but from what I did see, there were a lot of sex toys. I swallowed hard as I looked up at him.
“Is this something you usually do?” I already knew the answer was no, but I needed to hear him say it.