Page 97 of Compelled Obedience

“I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Elizabeth Jacobs, Grant’s fiancée.”

Fiancée. I thought about what he’d told me and wasn’t certain what she was trying to do. An ugly thought slipped into the back of my mind. Was it possible that Grant had lied to me? Not a chance in hell. I must have kept a miffed look on my face because she smiled slyly, holding up her ring hand. The diamond was huge, sparkling in the light.

No. I refused to buy that Grant had lied to me.

“I’m sorry. Elizabeth, is it? But you’re not supposed to be here. As a matter of fact, I’m quite certain that Grant wants nothing to do with you any longer. I think he told me that you were an annoyance.”

While my mouth was brazen, I wasn’t entirely certain of what I was saying.

She gave me a hard look then acted as if she was going to get upset. “That fucking asshole. He’s always got a tart stashed away in one location or another.”

When she pushed past me, I took a few seconds before closing the door. Something didn’t feel right. Who was I kidding? Everything about her visit didn’t feel right. I glanced at the hallway leading to Casey’s room and took a deep breath. The music he was playing was loud, so much so I doubted he’d be able to hear anything that was going on.

“I need to ask you to leave.” I noticed she glanced toward the noise then tensed. My Spidey sense was flying high. I needed to get her the hell out of the apartment.

She spun around, planting her hands on her hips. “He fooled you too, huh? The big oaf.”

“No. I don’t think so.” I tugged out my phone. “I think there’s been some misunderstanding. I’m going to call Grant right now and get it straightened out.” I glanced down for a split second and that was all the time she needed. I saw the attack in the back of my mind before it happened, the phone ripped out of my hand, tossed aside.

Then she threw a savage punch to my jaw, the force enough to toss me backwards, my leg hitting the bottom of one of the chairs. As I went flying, I heard her ugly laugh.

And I knew I was in desperate trouble.

“You’re as stupid as I was told you were,” she snarled as she advanced.

My phone was on the floor only inches away. I wrapped my fingers around it before she had a chance to see, trying to keep my wits as I fumbled to dial Grant’s number.

The bitch kicked me in the stomach, then ripped the phone from my hand a second time.

Oh, God.

No. No. Winded, I rolled just before she threw herself on me. I didn’t waste any time, jerking to my feet then lunging toward her, managing to get off a hard punch to her stomach, then a second to her cheek. I advanced again, snagging her arm.

Before I had a chance to issue a third punch, she pulled out a gun and I screamed.

“Nice try, bitch. Now, we’re going to do things my way.”

* * *

Grant

“Kerri. Answer the goddamn phone.” I was ready to break my cellphone, my anger was so intense.

“Maybe she’s okay,” Lachlan said from beside me.

I threw him a glance and made the last turn onto the road leading to the sky-high apartment. “I shouldn’t have left her alone. Goddamn it!”

“Did you recognize the other voice?”

“Too jumbled.”

My phone rang, igniting my hopes. Seeing my bouncer’s number on the screen, I cursed under my breath. “Abe. What did you find?”

“She’s not inside. However, Casey is fine. He’s with me,” Abe said quietly, as if trying to keep his voice down. Or maybe he was trying to keep from me from going off the rails.

I fisted my hand, smashing it against the steering wheel. “Any sign of a struggle?”

“I think you need to take a look. Maybe a clue was left. I’m not certain.”

---