“What do they say? You can’t judge a book by the cover?” He smiled, though I couldn’t see his eyes beneath the brim of the hat. “Now, I’ll ask one more time, what’s upsetting you?”
I’m upset? Oh yes. “It’s just Wash. He’s so . . .”
“Caroline?”
I lost my thought. What was I talking about? I set my coffee cup down. “Wash. You know, he’s so complicated.”
But I hadn’t said complicated. I’d slurred straight through the word. Luke was smiling, his even white teeth the only thing I could see until he stood and caught me as I slid from my seat. Then I saw his light blue eyes. He slung my arm over his shoulder and hustled me out the coffee shop’s side door. My limbs were limp, and my eyes kept trying to close.
“Stop.” Had I said it or just thought it?
Luke dropped me into the passenger’s side of a black car at the curb. He jumped in the driver’s side and yanked me upright by my hair before fastening my seat belt. I couldn’t even cry out. I was paralyzed, though the pain registered as tiny eruptions along my scalp.
“Wouldn’t want to get busted for a moving violation.” He smirked and pulled away from the coffee shop.
Everything faded until all I could see was his profile and the occasional glance from those blue eyes. Then nothing.
Cold and aching, I woke. The sun was low in the windows ahead of me. I lifted my head but didn’t get far when a pounding crush of pain swamped my sense. My head felt like it had gone fifteen rounds with a heavyweight. I was gagged—a round, rubbery ball pressed on my tongue. Where am I?
I tried to look again and managed to get my head up. I was nude, every part of my body assaulted by cold air. I tried to move my hands, but my wrists were stretched away from me. My ankles, too, bound and pulled wide apart. I was inches above the floor, suspended in rigging in what was otherwise a normal sitting room. Victorian furniture dotted the room, an elegant brocade covered the walls, and a chandelier gleamed brightly above my head. The only things out of place were me and the layer of plastic beneath me.
I shook, my muscles trembling as I remembered what had happened. Luke had drugged me. And now I was here. I yanked harder at the bonds on my wrists and ankles, but they held fast.
“This is a tried and true system, Caroline. Trust me. You aren’t going anywhere.” Luke’s voice came from behind me, but I couldn’t see him.
I tried to scream, but the ball gag effectively kept my sounds within the walls of the room.
Fingers touched my side, and I jerked as Luke came into view. He was shirtless and moved to stand in front of me, placing his hands on my waist as he stared into my eyes. My heart raced, and I was having trouble breathing, my nose incapable of keeping air flowing to my lungs.
“I admit this is my favorite part.” He put his hand in between my breasts and pressed. His eyes closed as if he were hearing the sweetest music. “Your heart pounding so hard before it stops forever.”
I froze. “Chip!” The word was distorted by the gag.
“That’s me.” He nodded, a smirk spreading across his face.
Everything crashed down on me. I closed my eyes and shook my head, as if it would snap me out of this nightmare. But when I opened them, the Bayou Butcher still stood in front of me.
I was about to be his next victim. My body convulsed, doing everything possible to try to get free of the ropes. I screamed with fear and anger, the two mixing as I pulled and tugged, ignoring the pain as the ropes sliced deeper. Luke watched, the corners of his mouth turning up as I struggled until I couldn’t catch my breath. The entire time, his hand rested in the same place, feeling my heartbeat.
“As I’m sure you’ve figured out, Caroline, this isn’t my first rodeo.” He hitched a thumb toward a tray of knives laid out neatly a few feet away.
Tears streamed from my eyes as I silently pled with him to let me go.
“Oh, it’s too early for tears. I haven’t even begun yet.” He stepped back and roved my entire body with his gaze. He cocked his head to the side. “See, I’m used to a certain type of woman. Hookers. Rough sorts. You, though. Look at you. Smooth skin. No nasty sores or pockmarks. Not a mark on you. You take care of yourself. A perfect blank canvas.”
I shook my head.
He nodded in response. “Accept it, Caroline. I’ve been watching you. I know your roommate is gone. He won’t be back until next weekend. I checked. No one will even know you’re gone.”
He pulled my phone out of his pocket. “I already texted Terrell to let him know you’ll be staying at your mom’s place this weekend. So even if he does come home, he won’t expect to see you. I’ll keep on texting him now and then, until Monday when I dump your body and the phone, too.”