Micah (15 page)

“
No. How about we take my
car? That way I can pick you up for a little shopping when you get
off. I’ll let Micah know that you’re in safe hands.” Reggie got
into her car and buckled in. It wasn’t a long drive, about twenty
minutes, so conversation wasn’t much. But her thoughts moved over
the things that Micah had done to her last night and just before
he’d left her to go to work.

His mouth had been nearly all over her
at least twice, and the spots that he missed were touched by his
nimble fingers. He’d eaten her too, over and over, until she had to
beg him to stop. Then like before, he’d moved up her body, tasting
her skin as he made his way to her mouth for a long, deep
kiss.

“
I want you to ride me
again. This time with my cock deep into your pussy while I watch.”
She didn’t move fast enough apparently and when he rolled to his
back, he took her with him. “Do you have any idea how much I’d like
to lean you over this bed, take you from behind, and mark you
again?”

He’d lifted her up, just by her hips.
And while she watched, he’d wrapped his hand around his leaking
cock and held it as she lowered herself over him. Reggie had been
tempted to take him quickly, filling her body with his, but he’d
moaned when she paused, and Reggie felt a little meanness within
her as she moved down his thickness slowly.

“
You feel good.” He moaned
again, digging his fingers into her hips as she rocked them. “I
want to taste you next time. Take you into my mouth and suck your
cock until you come.”

“
I’ll eat you while you do
it. Suck that pretty clit into my mouth while I fuck you with my
tongue.” He pulled her down onto him a little more. “Ride me,
Reggie. Make me come please.”

Reggie had lowered herself over him,
her body settling over his hips as his cock filled her. She sat
very still for several moments and felt him like he was a part of
her. He moved her then, pulling her hips forward, and she cried out
in pleasure.

“
Christ, do you have any
idea what you’re doing to me?” She didn’t really care and told him
that. His chuckle made her move over him again, this time by
herself. When he rocked his hips upward again, Reggie leaned
forward and took his nipple into her mouth and bit him hard. She
was being pounded on her back before she could beg him to let her
come again.

Begging him to stop, telling him she
was spent, didn’t make him let up. And she knew that when he did
come, she was going to pass out. But when he sank his teeth deep
into her shoulder, she heard her bones break. The pain was
incredible but she came with him, screaming out his name even as
her vision blurred and she did indeed black out.

At a quarter till the hour, she was
just about finished setting up when Nile told her he was going out
back for a smoke. He didn’t really smoke, but she knew that he had
to go out and get some air. The man had been living outside for a
very long time, he’d told her, and sometimes the building just felt
like it was closing in on him. She knew the feeling too. Not that
she felt closed in, but the feeling of being trapped haunted
her.

She heard him come back in, but
continued working on getting enough bacon fried up for the first
round of customers. Her shoulder was tender but not really that
bad, and she stretched it out before continuing with her work.
Smiling, she thought of Micah.

The door opened and closed again, and
she didn’t turn but yelled at Ruby that she was late again. When
there was no answer, she figured that she was either hung over
again or in a bad mood, neither of which could make Reggie change
her mind about having the boss fire her. Enough was enough. Just as
she took the last five strips of bacon off the grill, darkness fell
over her face. Before she could pull the dark thing off, pain
exploded in her head.

Reggie woke and knew that she was in
the back of a moving vehicle. There were voices, loud and angry
voices, but nothing that she could make out. When the lump next to
her moaned, Reggie tried to speak and felt the tape over her mouth.
She started screaming in her head before she heard
Micah.

Take a deep breath, love.
That’s it. Just breathe. I’m coming for you.
She calmed a great deal just hearing him, but she was still
afraid.
I’m not sure where you are, but I
know where you were taken from. I’m there now. He came in through
the back door where Nile was. I’m sorry, honey, but he killed the
man. When I find you, I’m going to take him out, rescue you, then
take you home and make love to you all night.

Oh poor Nile. He didn’t
hurt anyone. Why would they do that to him? It…was it to get to
me?
He told her she was the target, yes,
but he was coming for her.
I’m afraid,
Micah. Who has me and why? Please tell me it’s not that woman at
the nursing home. I told you she meant me harm. I think she’d do
this. All by herself too. Tell me it’s not her.

It’s not her.
That didn’t really make her any less
scared.
I’m going to tell you who it is,
but I want you to remain calm. Getting all terrified on me is not
going to help any of us. You’re very good under pressure, so I want
you to think before you freak out on me, okay?

You know, if you were
right here, I’d hit you. I do not freak out. I get mouthy and mean,
but I don’t freak out. Oh, there’s someone else here too. I don’t
know who.
He told her it was his
mom.
They took your mom? Is this a ransom
thing? Pay whatever they want to get her back. She’s the nicest
person I know. Beside your grandparents. I’m sort of sweet on your
grandda. Did I tell you that he wants me to—?

Reggie.
She shut her mouth when he said her name.
I love you. And Grandda asked if you would call
him Grandda too. I’m all for that. You’re family. But you can’t be
freaking out on me. Just take a deep breath and be calm.

I’m not freaking out, you
asshole. I was merely pointing out that your grandda is nicer than
you. You, sir, are a prick of the biggest kind.
She felt better just having someone to direct her anger
toward
. I’m thinking about what you said.
And I’m ready for it now. But that doesn’t mean you’re off the
hook. I’m going to hurt you.

Ready for what,
love?
She told him to change her.
You want to be a panther? Now? I’m a little busy
right at the moment. Someone kidnapped my future wife and my mom.
But I can get back to you, right?

I fucking hate you.
He laughed, and she smiled.
Are you really coming to get us? I would very much like that
if you’d come now instead of later. It’s dark in here, and while my
hands aren’t cuffed, they are tied up and I’m not liking that. If
you can only save one of us, please save your mom. She really is
the nicest person. I think…I really like her.

And she does you. But I
have to talk to you. This man who has you, we’re not sure which one
he is. They’re twins. And one of them is fixated on you to come and
be with him.

She asked him why.
I mean, it’s not like I have anything to add to a
relationship. Look at us…we’re barely living together and I get
kidnapped on the first day out. And on top of that, I get your mom
here too. My friend is killed.
She took a
deep breath.
Okay, that was freaking out a
little. What does he want with me?

I’m not sure. He’s got it
in his head that you’re the perfect person for him. You’ll cook and
clean his house.
She snorted and he
laughed.
Reggie…honey, he’s done this
before. And for some reason it didn’t work out with the other women
and he’s killed them. I saw it in his mind.

Then why didn’t you…you
couldn’t tell anyone.
She tried to think
about what it would have been like.
If you
had gone to them, no one would have believed you. Or they would
have thought you were nuts. Which I’m not saying you’re not, but I
don’t want anyone else to think that. So you have to work sort of
behind the scenes on this. I can see why that would make you want
to quit what you’re doing. And if you’d like to quit before
your…today. Today was your last day of work.

Thanks, I think. And yes
it is. And I’m bringing my family home to me all in the same day. I
love you. But I have to tell you what’s going on. Do you want to
hear it?
She told him to just give it to
her. When he paused, she knew there was more than she’d want to
know, but needed to hear it from him.
This
man has a cage in his basement. I think he means to lock you in it.
There are chains on the top and bottom of it. I believe he’s going
to chain you up.

“
No.”
She’d said it aloud through the tape covering her mouth, and
tried to crawl away from the thought of being chained. She heard
Micah saying her name over and over, but she was too locked in her
terror to hear him. Then the person next to her kicked her in the
leg.

Pay attention. I don’t
like this either, but panicking will not keep us
safe
. She started to ask Mrs. Gracie how
she’d done that, but she spoke again.
And
will you please stop calling me Mrs. Gracie? It sounds like an old
spinster’s name, or a great aunt with lots of cats. I’m a cat; I
don’t have any.

Yes, ma’am. And for the
record, did Micah tell you to kick me?
She
told her no.
Good, because when we get out
of here, I’d hate to have to kick his ass.

You’ve frightened him,
child. Tell him that we’re both fine.

It was strange talking to them like
this. Her mind seemed to be only able to have a single conversation
at a time, but she was making it work. When the car slowed, she
told Micah.

I don’t see anything
pulling up on his street. Just remain calm and I’ll watch for
you.
She told him she wasn’t as scared as
she had been.
Good for you. I’m coming for
you, honey. Just keep remembering that. I promise I’m bringing you
home to us. And my brothers and Grandda are looking as well.
Grandma is cooking us a big dinner. She said that we’d be hungry
after this. Are you all right?

As soon as the door to the van opened,
she could smell manure. It was a strange smell and one that she’d
never really thought of before, but told Micah. He started cursing
and she had to smile. He was really good at it.

Manure? Where the hell are
you?
She told him she didn’t know, but
he’d better fucking figure it out.
I am. I
am. Let me talk to my mom.

He was gone long enough for her to be
pulled from the back of the van and dropped on the ground. Gracie
was dropped on top of her, and she hurt from it for a few seconds.
They were lying in grass, thick, tall grass, and it cut into her
skin. She told Micah this as well.

Fuck. He took you to the
farm. I’m coming.
Farm? She was going to
be fed to the pigs, she just knew it.
No,
he’s going to burn you in the kiln. He’s figured out that you’re
not meant for him, and he’s going to dispose of you.

Well, that’s not fucking
helpful, you idiot. Why didn’t you say he’s going to show me how to
ride horseback or have me bale hay? But burn me in the kiln? Fuck,
Micah. I’m scared enough.
She used a few
of his curse words as she tried to think how to get through this
and kick his ass.
I have decided that you
are no longer allowed to be so honest with me. I need for you to
be—

Honey?
She knew she was freaking out again so she took a deep
breath.
Nolan and Tony are on their way to
the farm. I have to be more conventional and drive there. Grandda
said to tell you that he’s going to kick ass when he gets there.
Please watch out for him for me.

I will.
He didn’t say anything else, and she felt herself
being lifted. She didn’t want to freak out again, but she was
afraid…terrified, more like it. But she kept her mouth shut and was
glad when she was thrown down again near Gracie a few minutes
later.

They’re coming here; your
family, they’re coming for us. We’re not to freak out. Well, I’m
not to freak out.
Gracie told her she
thought they would.
I’m afraid for us,
just to let you know. There’s a kiln. They might be killing us in
it. Or at least me. I’m not what he expected.

Did Micah say that to you?
He told you that they were going to kill you by roasting you in a
kiln?
She told her yes.
Well, isn’t he just a wealth of good and helpful
news? I’m going to show you pictures of him when he was a child
when we get out of this. Embarrassing ones. See that I don’t.
I’m…why would he say that to you?

He’s an idiot. And so you
know, I might just love him.
Gracie told
her she knew that already and they lay there awaiting their fate.
Whatever that might be.

Chapter 9

Micah drove like a man possessed. He
knew that the rookie was terrified that they were going to die, but
he had it under control…the driving anyway. The fact that he was
still an hour from Reggie and his mom made him a little more
reckless than he normally was.