Always (13 page)

“Oliver?” She kicked at the door repeatedly. “Come on, let me out.”
Bang, bang, bang
. “Somebody please help me. Anybody? Please, please, pleeaassse…”
Bang, bang, bang
. When no one answered, she leaned her head against the dirty floor and sobbed harder than she ever had before.

She was at his complete mercy, and there was no way to warn her family.

Please tell me this isn’t how it ends.

Completely at his mercy, she felt hopeless.

“Don’t hurt yourself now.” Oliver chuckled from the other side of the door. “I told you not to make me come and get you, you little bitch. And with the way the others watched you like a hawk—” The door vibrated as he hit it. “I was beginning to doubt I’d ever get a chance until yesterday at the grocery store. I have plans for you, sweetheart. You haven’t seen nothing yet. Now shut the fuck up and plan on staying put, ’cause you won’t be coming out until I’m sure you’ll obey. You’re mine, you fucking slut, mine. And to know you’ve tainted yourself with that other asshole—you know what that fucking did to me?”

He banged on the door again, making her flinch. “Your time will come, Teegan. In the meantime, I have you secure and will seek a little retribution on some of those you love.”

She gasped and then narrowed her eyes as the threat sank in. He’d stepped over the line this time, and now she was pissed off and ready to fight him with everything she had in her.

“No, Oliver, don’t you dare!” Teegan kicked at the door. “You fucking pussy. I’m the one you want, not them. So help me God, if anything happens to anyone I love, you’ll live to regret it. Do you hear me? I’ll make you fucking pay.”

Oliver’s evil laughter was her answer, followed by a door slamming shut. Her threats were then met by silence.

“
Oliver!
” She banged again, then finally gave up as despair took over. Her feet were killing her, her head throbbed, and she still had to find a way to get him to let her out. Having no way out and being helpless to warn anyone about the danger ahead was pure hell.

Chapter Sixteen

Liam

Four days had passed since Teegan’s disappearance, and Liam was barely functional.

Susan invited him and LJ to breakfast, and he graciously agreed, knowing this whole ordeal was just as hard not only on LJ but the rest of them as well.

“I’m dying here, James.”

“So am I, buddy. The longer he has her, the more afraid I am that we won’t get her back.” James’ voice was rough when he spoke, as though he was trying not to let his grief overwhelm him, and Liam groaned.

“I can’t sit by and do nothing. I have to keep going, James. I have to get out there and look for her some more. These past few days I’ve been trying to think what I’d do in his situation. Not that I’d be fucking sick enough to kidnap and harm anyone. Anyway—” He shook his head. “I’m going to be checking out secluded sites in and around Digby and Saint John. Hotels, campgrounds, cottages, that sort of thing. They’d be quiet areas where he wouldn’t attract too much attention but would also give him a quick getaway if he needed to. Do you think LJ can stay over today?”

“Don’t you think the cops would have done that already? You look like shit, by the way. What good are you going to be to Teegan if you’re exhausted? Hell yeah, LJ can stay as long as he wants, but I think you should get some much-needed sleep, and we’ll start our search again first thing tomorrow morning.”

Liam grabbed James by the shirt and slammed him against the wall. The material twisted in his fists as he pinned him there and got in his face. “Fuck you, James. I’m tired of you managing me and trying to keep me away from Teegan when she needs me, especially now. This hasn’t been the first time, but it will be the last. I’m going after her, and if I don’t find her by morning, I’ll stop by to pick you up. Otherwise, thanks for taking care of LJ, but go to hell. I don’t see you coming up with any fucking plans to save her.”

Liam stormed out of the house and cursed again.
Thank God the kids weren’t around to see my outburst. Damn James for triggering my nerves, and damn me for taking my frustration out on the wrong person. Fuck!
Liam knew
James was worried and that he may have been out of line with his outburst. James went out to
look for Teegan almost as often as he did, but he underestimated Liam’s determination if he
expected him to take one moment away from a chance at getting her back. He had to keep
going. Too much time had passed already.

Liam slammed the car door, started the engine, and took off. Today he was going to check out the Saint John half of his plan. That was where Oliver had originally wanted Teegan to meet him, and he had a gut feeling he might make some progress there. Tomorrow he would rework the Digby circuit if nothing turned up and go on from there all the way to Ontario and back if he had to, because that’s where Oliver lived. But would her ex be stupid enough to go back there? Probably not, considering he knew the police would get involved when he decided to kidnap her.

Liam patted his pockets as he drove in line to catch the ferry. He’d brought a picture of both Oliver and Teegan that Susan had graciously given him. It was a Christmas card photo taken two years earlier. The police had confiscated all newer photos for their own investigation. The first person he planned to show it to was walking up to Liam’s truck to collect his fare.
Here’s to hoping we find her.
Looking toward the sky, he sent up a silent prayer again for success this time.

***

Oliver

Damn it, why didn’t I stock up when I had the chance? The fucking cupboards are bare, and I’m out of toilet paper. A morning paper would be nice to for some reading material. Hey, I wonder if I made the papers.
Oliver chuckled to himself.
It’s all the slut’s fault for running away. If she didn’t disobey me to begin with, I’d never have to hit her.

Fuck, and then she had to go and screw around with her brother’s friend, tainting herself with his filth. I wonder if she’s finally ready to do what she’s told. Four days in the cubbyhole without any food or light should have at least weakened her. She’ll be ready for me soon, though. A few more days in there should do the trick, and then I can be rid of her once and for all if I want. She’ll be weak. A slow, painful torture session will teach her how it feels to fuck around. Stupid bitch belongs to me, and the sooner she realizes it, the better. I’m not done with that sweet ass yet, though.

Thinking about her and
what he wanted to do made him hard as granite. Oliver liked it rough, as long as he was
the one giving it.

“Are you ready to play nice yet?” He walked up
to the door and laughed when she told him to go to hell. “It’s your funeral, sweetheart,
because if I can’t have you, then nobody will, and that’s a promise. You enjoy that small
cubby space some more. I’m going out to stock up on supplies. Think about what I said,
Teegan, and we’ll talk some more about you behaving and obeying when I get back.”

***

Liam

Liam pulled up to the Shell gas station to fill up and grab a snack. It felt like it was going to be a long day. He’d been in Saint John for almost three hours and was beginning to get discouraged. He entered the store and took a quick glance around before grabbing a bag of chips and a bottle of Coke on his way to the checkout.

“Hey, buddy, I was wondering if you’ve seen anyone that looks like these two around here.” Liam pulled out the picture and placed a fifty on the counter. “I’d really appreciate the help.” He nudged the picture across the counter.

The old man arched a brow as he picked it up. “They’re a good-looking couple. What’s it to you? You a cop or something?”

“I’m the ‘or something,’” Liam explained. “She means something to me. Hell, she means everything, and that guy abused her for years, threatened to do her harm, and has now kidnapped her. I’m going on my fifth agonizing day since he’s taken her, and I’d really appreciate it if you could keep an eye out for them.” He took a business card from his wallet and a photocopy of the picture from a large envelope, then passed them to the clerk and took back the original. “I have reason to believe he might be around here, and the longer this guy has her—Look, my contact information is right there on that card. Please call me if anything turns up.” He couldn’t finish the last part of that sentence without getting emotional, which wouldn’t be productive. The last thing he needed was a breakdown in a convenience store full of people. Not only would it be embarrassing, but it wouldn’t help him find Teegan any faster. He needed to stay strong and focused, though that was so much easier said than done at the moment.

“She was taken about five days ago, you say, huh? Where abouts did this happen?”

“In Digby.”

“Sure, mister, I’ll keep an eye out. Do you know what type of car they were driving? I run a gas station here and am probably better with the types of vehicles that come and go through here than I am with the people’s faces. I’ve seen too many over the years, and keeping an eye on the pumps is way easier to do for this old guy.”

“Yeah, of course, uh—” Liam threaded his hands through his hair, trying to think. “My son said he was driving a red Ford. I think it might be an F150, but we can’t be too sure. It would have dents on the front end from when he tried running her and my son over, and maybe some on the sides.”

The old man looked up as someone was leaving the store and cursed. “Damn people should put stuff back if they’re not going to buy the things they took off the damn shelves.” Liam looked over his shoulder to see a bunch of merchandise piled on a shelf where it didn’t belong.

“Some people.” He shook his head and looked back at the old man.

“What year did you say that truck was?”

“I didn’t.” Liam raised a brow with curiosity. “I mean, we aren’t sure. The boys said it was pretty new, though.”

“Would you say as new as that one?” He pointed out the window and toward the man with the baseball cap climbing inside the red truck. Liam couldn’t see his face clearly, so he couldn’t tell if the man was Oliver or not. But the front end of his truck looked pretty beaten up, and the guy seemed to be in a rush to leave. It was better than nothing.

“I don’t know, but I sure as hell intend to find out. Keep the change and thank you.”

Liam rushed out of the store as the old man followed him out and yelled back, “I’ll call you if I see anything else. I wish you luck in finding her, mister. I hope they catch that son of a bitch, running down children and stealing and hurting defenseless ladies. The man needs to be shot.”

Liam left quickly as the man continued to grumble and hurried on his way to track that truck. He liked the old guy, and he may have led him in the right direction.
Finally!
As he pulled onto the road he had to step on the gas a little to catch up. His adrenaline began to pump, and he was determined more than ever to finish this. He needed to hold Teegan. He needed to know she was all right. He was dying inside not knowing if she was hurt or worse.

“Okay, buddy, you left that store pretty damn fast. Just what did you hear that got your panties in a bunch?” Liam muttered as he drove a safe distance away, trying his best to not be obvious. The red Ford was still in sight, and that was all that mattered at the moment.
I’m
coming, Teegan. So help me God, I’m coming for you, Sunshine.

Chapter Seventeen

Teegan

Teegan lay on the dusty floor with tearstained cheeks, doubting she’d survive Oliver’s torture this time around. She’d been trapped for days. She’d lost track of how many. The water he fed her just wasn’t cutting it; she needed more to survive. Hungry, hurting, and weakening by the minute, she remembered the happiness she’d shared the last few weeks with Liam, LJ, Susan, Claire, James, and her nephews to cope through the worst of it.
I love you all.

“Liam, I’m so sorry,” she whispered. If she had listened to him the day Oliver took her, she would still be with them
. Oh get real, Teeg, there was no
stopping him. If not that day, he would have found another.

She laughed humorlessly. “Great, Teegan, you’ve been cooped up in this hellhole for so long, you’re talking to yourself now. You’re going nuts.” She had closed her eyes momentarily, trying to think of a new plan when the door was thrown open and she was blinded by an intense light.

“Come here, you little bitch.” Oliver crouched into the room and dragged her out by her hair. “This is all your fault. I should have gotten rid of you when I had the chance. I should have had my way and then—Fuck!” He threw her on the bed and ran his hands through his hair.

Teegan lay there in a daze, still trying to adjust to the light she hadn’t seen in what felt like forever. Opening her eyes hurt, but she knew she had to do something now she was out of her prison, or she’d be stuck there again and he’d kill her for sure.

While Oliver was distracted, cursing to himself and pacing, Teegan crawled off the bed slowly at first, so not to attract his attention with sudden movements, then tried to make a dash for the cabin door that led outside to freedom. Only she was too weak.

Oliver leaped, and she let out a gut-wrenching scream for her life when he landed on top of her. It was now or never, her fight to survive, and she was losing. She’d been freed from one nightmare only to enter another—the end.

***

Liam

Liam had been tailing the truck at a distance for about twenty minutes before it finally parked in front of a small cottage. He pulled over a few yards away and watched as the man driving got out and slammed the door. He looked angry and muttered to himself the whole way into the cottage.

Liam picked up his cell phone and dialed James.

“Hello?”

“It’s me. I wanted to apologize to you for earlier. I know Teegan’s disappearance has been hard on all of us, but I can’t stop until we find her. I hate not knowing what’s going on, and I can’t leave it alone. I’m tired, scared, and angry as hell. When you told me to take a break, I just temporarily lost it and took it out on the wrong person. I’m sorry, man. Are we good?”

“Yeah, Liam. You had me worried there for a bit, but we’re good.”

“How is LJ?”

“He’s hanging tough and kicking Dylan’s butt on the PlayStation as we speak.” James chuckled. “Anything good pop up with your search so far?”

“Yeah, actually, that’s why I’m calling. I drove into Saint John today to get started on that plan I was telling you about. I was about three hours in with nothing until I stopped by a gas station for some snacks and to fill the tank when I got a lucky break. I was at the front asking the clerk questions after I showed him Teegan’s picture. Anyway, we got to talking, and out of nowhere this guy up and leaves a bunch of stuff he plucked off the shelves. It caught our attention, but the big break came when the old guy noticed what he was driving. A red Ford F150 with a smashed-up front end.”

“Holy shit. Then what the hell are you doing talking to me? Go get that asshole.”

“It’s a done deal. I tailed him to this cottage on Turner Lane by the Kingston Peninsula. I just watched him get out of the truck and go inside. So get your ass down here and meet me. In the meantime, I’m going to pay the guy a visit to see whether it’s Oliver or some kind of coincidence. My gut’s telling me something, though, and it’s not good, so hurry up.”

Liam pulled up to the cabin as James bellowed “Susan!” and it caused him to move the phone away from his ear. “I’m going out to meet Liam. He might have a lead on Teegan’s whereabouts.”

Liam opened the truck door and was about to end the phone call when he heard a blood-curdling scream just ahead. “Fuck this, James, call the fuckin’ police. I’m going in.” He dropped the phone and ran toward the noise with his adrenaline blazing and a need to help whomever was inside.

***

Teegan

Despite his weight on top of her, she still tried to claw her way to freedom. As she attempted to inch closer to the door, he placed the full force of his weight on her midsection and wrapped an arm around her throat. Restraining her wrists with his free hand, he asked, “Are you going to fucking cooperate, or am I going to have to hurt you?”

“Screw you,” she muttered, breathless, and began to kick and squirm to throw him off. It didn’t work.

“Quit it, Teegan, I’m only going to warn you once.” Oliver let go of her wrists when she didn’t comply and sat on her legs instead.

“Fuck you,” she whispered. “I’ll never go with you willingly or do what you say. I’m not a possession, and I belong to no one.” She tried squirming again and cried out as he got off her and then yanked her hair again to force her to stand.

“You little slut.” He backhanded her across the face, making her fall back on the bed. As she grabbed for her face to soothe the sting, he climbed back onto her.

“No!” she cried, trying hard to fight back. She managed to claw his face and draw blood before he slapped her again. He wrapped his hands around her neck and squeezed harder and harder, trying to choke the life out of her as she clawed desperately to be free of him.

This is it
,
she thought as her vision blurred and her kicks became weaker.
Lord, help me, I’m going to die.

***

Liam

Liam could hear the struggle as he reached the door and prayed he’d made it in time as he charged across the lot and up the stairs. “Oliver?” he shouted as he kicked the door down.

“You!” Oliver’s chest heaved from exertion. “This is your fault.” Oliver lunged at him before he could yank that piece of shit off her, but Liam was ready for it. Both men fell to the floor and their fight began.

“You better pray she’ll be all right.” Liam punched Oliver in the jaw. “You come near her again, and I’ll kill you.” He slammed his fist into Oliver’s right eye. “This is over, you piece of shit. It’s over.”

Everything seemed to fade out around Liam as he kept punching and ranting. Only when the police barged in with guns front and center did he realize Oliver had stopped fighting and lay unconscious. He slowly climbed off the trash in front of him and raised his hands as instructed before he was brought to his knees to be put in cuffs until this was all sorted out.

The most agonizing part was seeing Teegan lying unmoving on the bed.

“Is she all right?” Liam gulped, unable to contain his fear. His anger had dissipated as soon as the police drew their guns and he’d realized Oliver was passed out and would get his when he woke up. At least he hoped for justice. Canada’s laws weren’t very strict. Unfortunately, they were almost a joke.

“Please tell me I wasn’t too late for her, please.” The last part was a whisper. His world just couldn’t exist without her again, and he’d never be able to forgive himself if he hadn’t gotten to her in time. He should have followed the guy in, instead of sitting in the truck on the phone with James. He should have followed her to the grocery store and let Parker deal with the boat on his own. He should have told her that he loved her more often. Hell, there were a lot of should haves and could haves, but one thing was for sure: if they made it out of this, if she survived, he would be showing her nothing but his undying love from that day forward for the rest of his life.

“Get EMS in here ASAP.” The officer looked toward Liam as he sat in a nearby corner. “She’s unconscious, very weak, probably dehydrated and malnourished, and is in rough shape right now. But we have a pulse and will be rushing her to Regional momentarily. What’s your involvement in all of this?”

“I love her.” Liam tried to control the tremor in his voice. “That guy kidnapped her a few days back from Digby, and I couldn’t stop looking for her until I found her. He abused her before, and didn’t like that she left him—”

“Why didn’t you let the police handle this, then?”

“They were, but with all due respect, if you lost the woman you loved to a psychotic person hell-bent on revenge, who treated her like a possession instead of a person, would you be able to sit back without getting involved? ’Cause if you could, then you’re a better man than I am. I had to do something to get her back, anything to make sure she was safe. That asshole would have killed her if I hadn’t gotten here when I did. How’s her neck? He was choking her when I came in.”

“We’ll get it secure before we move her.” The officer looked toward Oliver and chuckled darkly. “Well then, if what you say is true, he sure deserved that ass-kicking you just gave him. He’ll have to go to the hospital now too before we can book him.”

“What?” Liam tensed. “You can’t be serious. He tried to kill her, and now he’ll be right beside her in the same hospital? That’s fucking insane.”

“He’ll be under guard, and she’ll be safe to recover. In the meantime, we need to take you back to the station for questioning.”

“Fuck.” Liam turned his head as he cursed and then nodded as he looked back up. If this was the consequence for finding her alive, he’d gladly pay it a thousand times over. Thank God James was on his way and would bail him out soon. “All right, let’s get this over with, then. I’d really like to be there for Teegan when she wakes up.”

Oliver was heavily escorted by several officers as they left to get him examined, and Liam was able to watch as they secured and loaded Teegan into the ambulance before the officers put him in their car. All he could think at the time was
Thank God she’s alive.

***

Teegan

Teegan groaned while placing a hand to her head. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around the unfamiliar hospital room. She smiled as her gaze landed upon LJ. “Hey, buddy, it’s so good to see you,” she whispered and tried to swallow with difficulty. She was so sore and still felt so weak.

LJ gasped and rose from his bedside chair to get a better look at her, but when he didn’t say anything, Teegan continued to speak. “I’m surprised to see you here all by yourself. Where is everyone?”

“The cafeteria.” He gulped. “You were sleeping, and I didn’t want to leave you alone. Dad, Uncle James, Aunt Susan, and Dylan went to get some snacks, but they’ll probably be up in a minute.” He looked away.

“I can’t wait to see them too.” Teegan smiled took his hand. “Hey, are you okay?”

LJ nodded.

“Well, then why won’t you look at me?” She knew something was wrong and wanted to make it better for him.

“I was so scared,” he sobbed as he collapsed on top of her and wrapped his arms around her in a big bear hug. “When that man came with the truck and you saved us, but we couldn’t save you back, I thought I’d never see you again. I thought you—” His sobs came out harder then, and she couldn’t understand the rest of his sentence. So instead she comforted him and cried with him.

“Oh LJ, I’m so sorry, honey. I promise I’ll never leave you again, okay? That bad man will be prosecuted, and we won’t have anything more to worry about.”
I hope.

He sat up beside her on the bed as his crying became a little more controlled. “My dad was miserable, and he looked for you every day. Dylan and me were so afraid. I love you, Teegan. Will you be my mom?”

He hugged her again, and she laughed through her tears. “Anyone would be very lucky to be your mom, LJ, me included. I really would love to, but it’s a little more complicated than that. For me to be your mom officially, I’d have to marry your dad or adopt you.”

“Okay, we could do both.” His innocence was so endearing, he made her laugh again.

“LJ, honey, you need to slow down for a moment. I love you and your father very much, but I’m not sure we’re ready for that step yet. Your dad and I haven’t even talked about marriage. It’s a very big step, you know. It’s supposed to mean forever.”

“Well, would you say yes if he asked you? I could ask you for him, and then we could just let him know about it later on.”

“Stop, LJ, stop. I haven’t laughed this much in ages.” She smiled and cupped the side of his little face. “I would love to be a mom to you, and I’ll be there for you whenever you need me to be, but let’s let things fall where they may. Let’s let your dad and I get to know each other again and we’ll see what happens, okay?”