Toxic by Debra Jupe

Author:Debra Jupe [Jupe, Debra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Suspense
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc
Published: 2015-09-23T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Ethan gulped the last drop of beer as he stared at the water below. The moons subdued spark radiated over the river’s ripple. His growing issues drifted through his head. Mike’s death, the possibility of murder charges, which transferred into a wrecked reputation even if he was proven innocent.

His fucked up life in general.

Gracie.

The drained can crushed easily in his fist.

The woman somehow managed to slip into his heart, and she’d stayed there. His mind couldn’t find any escape from thinking about her despite his dismal circumstances. His impulses bounced from blame to out of control erotic daydreams that drove him wild. Both had him wanting to rush to her and do—something.

He shifted his gaze into the darkened sky.

And she’s the reason he’d ended up here. He squeezed the flattened tin between his fingers and gave it a toss into the rushing water. Time to go. Except he didn’t want to. He hadn’t been to his house since the police released him, and going to an empty home was just sad. Eyes closed, he sucked in a load of air in an effort to keep his panic at bay. His lids lifted as he stood in the twilight, alone. So very alone. Hard to believe it’d come to this. After following a bunch of last ditch orders that stressed him to the point to where he’d imbibed way too much, he was done.

Thoughts in a whirl, he scrambled to his feet, and stood on the edge of the pier.

An odd sound made him freeze.

Subdued.

Behind him.

He did a half turn and gazed into the darkness.

Other than the frogs harmonizing with the river’s flow, he couldn’t make out anything unusual.

Just his imagination. He’d drunk several beers, and he wasn’t used to so much alcohol, one being his usual limit. Probably an animal getting a drink down the way. He jammed a hand in his pocket, hoping he hadn’t locked his keys inside his truck. Relieved, they jingled between his fingers as he took a step.

He stopped.

He heard it again.

The strange soft bump. Didn’t sound like anything wild, and the thud was definitely in back of him. “Who’s out there?”

A jolt hit him from the rear. In a split second, an attacker was on him. His body swayed above the rushing stream below. He grabbed for something to latch onto while trying to wrestle away from his assailant. They tipped sideways, toward the water. Their weight propelled them over the dock’s edge, tumbling into the murkiness beneath.

His capturer released him the second they crashed into the river. Ethan sank into the muddy depths until his butt bumped the spongy bottom. Holding his breath, he pushed from the base, thrusting his body upward. After a few moments, he broke the plane, releasing a gush of air.

His feet found the sodden floor.

Good, this area was shallow enough that he could stand and keep his head above the surface. He looked around. His attacker seemed to have disappeared.

On alert, he combed the darkened surroundings. Treading

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