Page 8 of CHASE: Captive to the Dark

“I don’t think there was sex. At least, not completely. But other things, yes. You really want to keep talking about this?” His eyebrow rose in what seemed to be a challenge. My mouth opened to speak when he veered to the right.

“Wait, you’re going the wrong way. My hotel is that way.” Even as I said it, the road disappeared even more behind us.

“Yeah, I know. We’re not going back there. It’s not safe for you. You’re going to stay with me.”

“Stay with you? I can’t stay with you. I have to find my brother. He’ll help me.”

Trees grew thicker, swallowing us up on the narrow road. Further, we disappeared from civilization, and my heart was racing at his words. He’d just told me his head was full of dark thoughts. That could have meant anything. It could have meant danger.

“What’s your name?”

The question took a minute to process. My thoughts were racing. I gripped the seat, debating whether I should try to flee. Faster, he went, and I knew the time wasn’t now. “Kit,” I said breathlessly. “Please, I can’t stay with you.”

“Kit,” he repeated. “Well, Kit, I’m afraid you don’t have a choice in the matter. You’re going to stay.”

Chapter 4

Chase

Rory. The name set me off like someone tossed a grenade right the pit of my stomach. It left me raging and I couldn’t stand the thought of Kit getting around him. She may have been a stranger, but she was the most beautiful one I’d ever seen and the last thing I wanted was something happening to her. And I felt like it would if I let her out of my sight. Whether it was from what she’d seen or her brother, I wasn’t sure. I just couldn’t risk it.

“Father—”

“Chase,” I said, interrupting her.

The wild look in her eyes had me taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap like that. I know you’re…scared right now, but you’re safer this way. Trust me.”

“Safer? I don’t know you. And you’re right. You’re scaring the shit out of me. I want you to take me back to town. Screw my stuff. I’ll worry about it later. I’ll just get a room there until my brother can…”

At the glare I threw, she grew quiet. Dammit, what was wrong with me? The darkness I’d mentioned before was coming back. So many emotions poured through and right now, I only knew two things: I wanted to protect her just as much as I wanted her. I’d felt those soft curves when I held her against me. And those lips and big, innocent eyes. Fuck, they were going to be my undoing.

Dirt billowed as the road ended and a path picked up. I knew I was going the right way. An internal tug was pulling me forward, bringing me home. I almost felt at peace for the first time since I’d awoken. Then, I’d been healing from the broken ribs. My face had already lost the swelling and bruising, but I still got migraines from the massive head injuries I’d received. I’d been fucked up, plain and simple. Whoever beat me had meant to kill me. They just didn’t succeed.

The road took a sharp turn and I weaved up the mountain until my lights were shining on a two-story log cabin sitting right on the edge of a cliff. Slowly, I pulled to the front, easing the car in park.

This couldn’t be right.

“Didn’t you say you had a cottage? This is not a cottage. Who are you?”

I couldn’t look over at Kit. What she spoke fed into my biggest fears. They stirred around my evil, giving light to glimpses of nightmares I didn’t even want to fathom.

“I don’t know who I am,” I said under my breath.

The night engulfed us as I turned off the headlights and ignition. Kit opened her door and I followed, meeting her at the front of the SUV. I fiddled with the keys, sliding my finger over the one I assumed would let me in. I didn’t have to wait long before I swept her in my arms and the theory came true. I pushed the front door open, setting her down, and flipping on the light to the entrance. A grasp broke the silence between us and Kit’s attention snapped to me.

“Unless you were born into money or made it beforehand…you didn’t get this being a priest. There’s no way.”

Kit limped forward and I shut the door. Instinctively, I reached up to the alarm system—and nailed the code. It blew me away. Just being here was bringing things back. And they weren’t good.

A beep sounded and blue eyes shot to me, panicked. I could see her chest beginning to rise and fall faster as the deadbolt automatically slid into place, trapping us in. Something in her fear drew me closer. I liked it. It fed me. My cock hardened and I pulled at the collar, ripping it free and open. I wasn’t a priest anymore. At least, not in appearance.

“Father. Chase.”

“Shh.” I dropped the keys on the counter separating the kitchen and living room, but didn’t stop my advance. Something was happening to me. To the real me. I could feel myself become alive here with her. It messed with my mind. Drove me forward like gravity. For the life of me, I couldn’t stop. And she seemed to sense the evil and secrets I held inside. It left her hands drawing up closer to her chest, almost as if they were some sort of shield that would keep her safe.

But she wasn’t safe.

Kit stepped to the left, only to limp to the right, away from the leather sectional. What was she afraid of exactly? A smile tried to surface as I could only imagine fucking her there.

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