"I tricked you," she managed to whimper out. The bump on the back of her head made her lightheaded and all of the hair pulling wasn't helping. She thought she might vomit.
"See, Chase."
He nodded.
"Now you tell her you don't want her and then I'll let her leave with Tanner."
Chase stared into Audra's eyes and gritted out the words. "I don't want her."
"I said tell her," she said. "Make her understand how you used her for sex. Make her see you only kept her for your needs."
"Audra, that's not what I did with you." His voice was sincere. "I never meant to hurt you."
"We're not talking about us!" she yelled. "Just tell her."
"Chase," Tess said. "It's okay." She needed him to do whatever he had to. She intended to spend the rest of her life with him and she wasn't going to let this lunatic ruin it.
He looked at her, focusing on her eyes. She saw the guilt and remorse in his. "Tessa, I..."
***
Chase's only priority was getting Tessa out of there and keeping her safe. He'd gotten her into this mess and he was going to get her out of it. He had promised her he would do whatever he had to do to protect her.
Even now she was so strong. Her feet were cut up and bloody. Shivering from the cold, she still did her best to hold it together. One slip and Audra would cut her throat. He had to get her out of the situation he had put her in.
"Chase," Audra prodded him. "Tell her so we can be together."
"I made a mistake when I led you to believe I wanted to be with you." The words weren't true but they made his stomach churn all the same. "I want you to go with Tanner now. I need to stay here with Audra."
A single tear slid down Tessa's face but she continued to hold his stare.
"No!" Audra jerked Tessa's head back, causing her to flinch. "Tell her how you used her. Tell her she's worthless. This whore who never deserved you."
"That won't be necessary." He held out his hand for the glass again. "I'm staying here with you. That's what you want. You have to let Tessa go now."
"You'll stay with me?"
"Of course."
"You won't cheat on me with her anymore?"
"No, but you have to let her leave now."
Audra nodded, dropping the glass and releasing Tessa. Chase let out a relieved breath as she scrambled over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He held her for a moment but never took his gaze away from Audra as he reached for the piece of broken glass.
"You need to go outside with Tanner," he whispered into her hair.
"No." She tightened her grip on his neck. "I'm not leaving you in here with her. She's dangerous."
"Tanner." Chase stood, bringing Tessa to her feet. "Take Tessa with you." He handed Tanner his keys. "Get her out of here."
"Chase," she pleaded. "I'm not leaving without you."
Audra sat on the floor, watching the three of them but there was no fight left in her.
Chase was worried she might snap again and he didn't want Tessa in the room when she did. "Tanner?" Chase nudged her in his direction. She tried to resist but once Tanner took her arm she gave in. "Call the police," he spoke low. "Tell them we have a kidnapping situation and the suspect is unstable. We'll need paramedics as well." If Audra heard any of it she didn't react. "Get in touch with Seth too. Tell him to meet me here."
"Come outside with us." Tessa reached for his hand. "Don't stay in here."
"I need to be in here when the authorities arrive. Otherwise she'll freak."
"Chase, what are you doing?" When Audra stood from the floor, he shielded Tessa with his body. "I've waited long enough. Make them leave."
"They're going right now." He gave Tessa a reassuring smile. Don't worry, sweet girl.
"Let's sit down." Audra took Chase's hand as Tanner led Tessa out of the cabin. "I had to do it," she said. "It was the only way to make you see me. You've been ignoring me."
"I know." He led her over to the sofa. "I screwed up with you. I should have done better for you."
"It's okay." She rested her head on his shoulder once they were seated. "You made a mistake but I can forgive you and we can go back to the way things were. We can get married and I can give you babies. You'll forget all about her. I promise I'll make you forget."
He pulled an old blanket from the back of the sofa and covered her with it. "You're cold."
"I'm tired," she said. "You'll take care of me."
"I will."
"There are so many thoughts running through my mind. I can't keep anything straight. Were we engaged?"
"No, that was someone else." Just before they had broken up, she'd often confuse him with her ex-boyfriend. "Your therapist worked with you on that. I'm going to call him for you. He'll help you figure everything out."
"You didn't cheat on me, did you?" Her voice cracked. "I made a mistake. I didn't mean to hurt Tessa."
"Shh," he held her. "I know you didn't mean it. I should have made sure you were taken care of. I should have paid better attention."
"When I hit her with the candlestick, she fell and I panicked. I didn't want her to have you so I thought if I brought her here you would forget about her. That doesn't make any sense now. Why did I do it?"
"Because you need help."
"I don't want to go away again," she cried. "How can we get married and have a family if I'm away? I have to be your attorney. You need me." She sobbed into his chest. "I need you. Please don't make me go."
"Audra." He stroked her hair. "You need more than I can give. You feel it in your heart. You know we weren't right together. We talked about it when you came back."
"You love her." She exhaled as she wiped her tears. "You don't look at me the way you do her. You never did. I saw it the night of the charity function. I watched when you danced with her. We never danced."
"I'm sorry." He heard the sirens in the distance. "You're going to be okay. I'll make sure of it."
"You're going to let them take me, aren't you?"
"It's the best the thing for you." He helped her up. "I'll call your sister and have her meet you at the hospital. I'll make sure you're well taken care of."
"I don't want to leave you." She held on to him as they walked to the door. "Don't make me."
The red flashes of light streamed through the windows as the police and paramedics pulled up to the property. Chase watched Tanner explaining what was going on, as they came up onto the porch.
"It will be easier if we go outside," Chase said. "I'll stay with you for as long as they allow."
"I don't want to."
"You're going to have to trust me." He took her hand. "I helped you last time, remember?"
She nodded.
"I'll get you into the best place there is. I'll work with your therapist and your family. I won't abandon you."
"You're a good man." She leaned into him and kissed his cheek. "I hope she knows how good you are."
"You're going to be fine." He opened the door. "I promise."
Chase caught a glimpse of Tessa standing at the opposite end of the porch as she spoke to the officers. Tanner was a few feet away giving his statement.
"Mr. Carlisle?" a detective flashed his badge. "I'm Detective Spellman. Is this Ms. Sinclair?"
"Yes," he said. "She's not in any condition to answer your questions. I can contact her therapist, but I think it's best if she be taken for evaluation immediately."
"I'm cold and I feel sick," Audra said. "My head. I'm dizzy and confused."
Detective Spellman asked one of the other officers to take Audra over to the ambulance. She went with him without even looking back at Chase. She was too out of it to know what was going on.
"Does she have a history of mental illness?" the detective asked.
"She does," Chase answered. "My attorney is just pulling up now." He pointed to Seth's dark grey sedan. "I'd be willing to answer any questions tomorrow but right now I need to get to Tessa. She's had a traumatizing night and she was injured. I want to take her to the hospital."
"I understand," Spellman said. "But I'd like to get everyone's statement so we can process this. We need a better understanding of what happened here so we can proceed."