Secret Past by Sharee Stover

Author:Sharee Stover
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-01-11T18:52:15+00:00

THIRTEEN

Katie’s eyes flew open to darkness, and she gasped, unable to breathe. She was suffocating...dying. Desperate, she tried to push herself up, but her arms and legs were bound. A weight pressed down on her chest and mouth, smothering her screams. She thrashed her head back and forth, fighting for relief.

“Stop moving or I’ll squeeze the life out of you,” the man growled. “The locket isn’t yours. Tell me where it is, and I might let you live.”

The blindfold shifted and Katie tilted her head, struggling to see the attacker. His hand partially covered her nose, restricting her airflow. The urgent need for oxygen overrode her desire to identify him. She bucked, trying to throw him off, but he was too heavy and pinned her down.

“Keep fighting me, and you’ll suffocate yourself. If you make a sound, I’ll kill you. Do you understand?”

She nodded, trying to place where she’d heard his voice before.

He slowly removed his hand. “Where is the locket?”

Katie sputtered, breathless and sucking in air. Was having the locket worth this? Daniel said it was their only bargaining tool. “My mother never gave me a locket,” she choked.

“Liar! Just like your mother!” He slapped her across the face.

Katie’s head jerked to the side from the impact. Her cheek stung, and she blinked back tears. The bitter scent of cigarettes drifted to her, tickling her nose. He clamped his hands around her throat, crushing her windpipe. Just before she blacked out, he released his grip.

She coughed, frantic, needing air.

“Tell me where it is,” the man growled.

Tears filled her eyes. “Please, if I could, I would give you whatever you’re looking for.”

“Maybe you require stronger persuasion.”

Katie felt a cold object against her cheek, moving slowly down her face. He continued his perusal, and she cringed. Please, God...don’t let him... It was now or never. She let out the loudest, ear-piercing scream she could muster.

The man cursed, and the bed bounced. His pounding footsteps faded from the room.

Katie cried louder, fear and anger surging through her body. She inhaled then exhaled a scream. Her throat was dry and scratchy, but she refused to relent and continued blaring at the top of her lungs. She thrashed, fighting against the restraints.

Heavy footsteps rushed toward her, growing louder.

Please, God, help me. She let loose again, using every ounce of oxygen to increase the volume of her cries.

Light broke through the blindfold and hurried steps drew closer.

“Katie?” Daniel’s voice. “What’s going on here? It’s me!”

She gasped with relief. “Daniel! Help me!”

The mattress shifted with his weight, while he worked to remove the mask from her eyes. He yanked off the bindings from her hands and feet.

Katie jerked free and scrambled off the bed. She stumbled backward against the wall, knocked over the lamp on the nightstand and stood shivering. Goose bumps covered her exposed skin and she rubbed vigorously.

Daniel approached with open arms, but she stepped out of his reach. Rejection flitted in his expression as he walked around and sat in the armchair giving her space.

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