Page 31 of CHASE: Captive to the Dark

Good.

“Kathleen, eat dammit.”

Still, I stared, content to be in my own head. I used to do that a lot anyway. It was home. A place I’d known quite well throughout my youth. I had always been a quiet girl. My mother used to get so angry and would tell me to get my head out of the clouds, but it beat the alternative of yelling matches between her and Peter. I’d gotten so used to him beating her. To both of them getting so wasted, they were uncontrollable toward not only themselves, but others. Yes, I knew this place, even if I hadn’t been back here for a long time.

“You’re so damn stubborn. What do you think to do, starve yourself until I set you free? Sorry, little one. Not going to happen.”

His finger shoved a piece of turkey sandwich into my mouth and he placed his palm over my lips, sealing it in. I let the bread sit on my tongue while I stared off into space. After a minute, he growled.

“I’m about to take you downstairs. Do you want that? Is that why you’re goading me?”

I brought my stare to him for the first time since he’d cuffed me to the bed and spit the sandwich right at him. I missed, but the reaction was the same. Chase flew to his feet and lunged for the cuff. I spun, planting my feet, placing them against his side to push with everything I had. The lamp flew from the nightstand due to his hand flailing and shattered against the floor.

“That’s it.” His voice sounded calmer than I anticipated and I kicked out repeatedly as he paced to get near.

“Father?”

Chase spun toward the door. Palo poked his head in and I didn’t miss the annoyance on his face. He didn’t like me, but I didn’t like him either. I could imagine Rory doing a lot of things, but plotting murder or attempting to commit one? No, he wouldn’t do that.

“What?”

Although I heard Chase, I never saw him coming. Weight pinned me down and I was helpless to move under him. The cuff fell free and my arm was grasped as he lunged to undo the other. I managed to use my feet as I twisted underneath him, but it was pointless. He had me free and cradled, yet locked, in his arms before I could move.

“Father,” Palo bit out, “the cops are down the road. We have to get rid of the girl.”

Chase froze, holding me tighter. I didn’t think, I screamed, fighting as hard as I could to break free. If they got close enough and heard me, they’d come.

“Fuck. Fuck!” Chase spun, only to turn the other way. As he faced the closet, he stilled. For seconds, he didn’t move. It wasn’t until Palo called out his name in a frantic tone that he darted to the bed and reached behind the post. A click sounded and we turned, jogging into the closet. Hurriedly, his hand moved over multiple spots along the sidewall. When he got to the clothes in the back, he pushed them apart and slammed his palm down—hard. A small space popped open, revealing a hidden door. My heart fell to my stomach and I screamed even louder.

A small room came into view as he stepped inside and I couldn’t breathe as I was faced with a massive collection of guns and money. The stacks of bills were piled along numerous shelves and different sized guns— tons of them—were on the far side.

“Oh my God.” My stare shot up to him and he stood in as much awe as me.

“Fuck,” Palo said behind us. “You never told me about this place.”

“Rope…and get me something to put in her mouth.”

My body jerked at the command and Chase lowered me, placing his body over mine as Palo disappeared.

“You’re going to be quiet while these cops are here. If you’re not, I will make you regret the day you ever met me. That’s a promise, Kathleen. Be smart. Deep down, you know this is for the best. You’re not safe. That sheriff is looking for you. Don’t let him get his hands on the only witness to his crime. He could kill you and tell your brother I did it. Rory would never know the difference. Think about it.”

Palo burst through the door, handing Chase some rope. Whether I should fight or not left me lying there, frozen. And it was enough time for him to secure my hands. Maybe he was right. I’d seen that cop’s face. He might hurt me or want me dead. I’d never get free that way.

“Don’t you dare kick your feet.” Even as he said it, he grasped my boots, drawing my legs up. At the motion in my peripheral vision, I glanced up. Palo smiled as he swung…

“A ballgag?” I asked angrily.

“It was in his drawer. Besides, it’s perfect. We should have invested in it hours ago.”

Chase threw him a look. One that had the man’s lips tightening. Finally, Father turned back to me.

“Open.”

“Send me to Florida. I don’t even have to see Rory. Just let me go. I promise to keep my mouth shut on everything. I won’t tell a soul.”

There was a pause and I wasn’t sure if my plea had broken through. It made perfect sense. If I just left town and kept quiet, no one would hurt me.

“Open.”

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