Read Online SAFE BY HIS SIDE (MANHUNT) by Rita Herron - Free Book Online
Authors: Rita Herron
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said softly. “Safe with me.”
A flicker of something like trust danced in her eyes, replacing the haunted look, then she lay her head back against his chest and heaved a weary breath.
Compassion for her, along with other feelings he didn’t want to acknowledge, filled him. He told himself that she was quiet now, calm, that he should leave.
Instead, he pulled her tighter up against him and held her until she fell asleep.
Robert had carried Nan into his new house, a lovely old Victorian place with a basement that had been deserted years ago. The cobwebs and dust motes gave the place a macabre feel, the dusty abandoned odor that permeated the rooms a reminder of the house he’d once lived in as a child.
Of the basement where he’d spent most of his time.
Ugly words rolled from his tongue as memories bombarded him — memories of his mother scrubbing his mouth with soap until his tongue was raw and bleeding. The ancient Victorian lamp in the corner looked exactly like the one she used to light up the room when she wanted him to see what was in her hands.
A belt. The thick rope used to hold back the heavy dark drapes. A cord she’d wind around his neck and penis.
Then the beating, and she’d close him in the dark.
Nan roused, a scream trying to escape the duct tape he’d stretched across her mouth, her eyes wide with fear.
She’d heard the stories Lenora had told in that fucking courtroom. She hadn’t believed her best friend back then. Or maybe she had, but she’d been so delicate she hadn’t been able to stand listening.
He would show her exactly what he’d done to Lenora. Make her a believer before he killed her.
She kicked at him as he carried her down the stairs, the cold, drafty walls rattling. The wind whistled through the eaves, dust motes swirling in front of his eyes as he plowed down the steps.
Nan was heavier than Lenora, a fighter, too.
That would make it more fun.
But he wanted Lenora here for the party to watch him take his pleasure from her friend.
Nan squirmed and wiggled, kicking and trying to elbow him, but he kicked open the door to one of the rooms and tossed her inside. Her body clunked as it hit the concrete floor, a grunt of pain escaping her.
Darkness bathed the room, the light snuffed out by a lack of windows, the musty scent of age, rotting wood and dead animal so strong that he paused to inhale it.
Home sweet home. Just like when he was young.
He was tempted to stay here and keep Nan company tonight, but he had other plans. He had to find his second victim quickly.
Then it would be time for Lenora to join them.
Hand on his cock, rubbing, stroking, he limped toward Nan, his shoes scraping the concrete.
She shook her head wildly, her eyes huge with horror and denial. He removed the burner phone from his pocket, then punched in Lenora’s phone number. Adrenaline sped through his veins as he waited on her to answer.
One ring. Two. Three.
“Come on, my pet,” he whispered. “Talk to me. I’ve been waiting…”
Lenora jerked awake, embarrassment heating her cheeks as she woke in Micah’s arms. His dark eyes met hers, a softness about them that made desire bubble in her belly.
She hadn’t been close to anyone, especially a man, in years. She’d thought she would hate it, that she’d run from his touch.
But somehow, having Micah beside her, so close, so strong and tough yet so gentle, not demanding but protecting, made her crave more.
He made her want to be whole again. To be able to find love and a future that she’d given up on five years ago.
“Lenora—”
The sound of her phone ringing cut into the moment, and she shoved hair from her face. It was barely dawn. Who would be calling?
“My phone—”
He hurried into her room and retrieved it from the nightstand.
“It’s an unknown number,” he said with a frown.
“Maybe it’s him.”
“I’ll answer—”
“No, he wants to talk to me.” She grabbed the phone, then pressed
A flicker of something like trust danced in her eyes, replacing the haunted look, then she lay her head back against his chest and heaved a weary breath.
Compassion for her, along with other feelings he didn’t want to acknowledge, filled him. He told himself that she was quiet now, calm, that he should leave.
Instead, he pulled her tighter up against him and held her until she fell asleep.
Robert had carried Nan into his new house, a lovely old Victorian place with a basement that had been deserted years ago. The cobwebs and dust motes gave the place a macabre feel, the dusty abandoned odor that permeated the rooms a reminder of the house he’d once lived in as a child.
Of the basement where he’d spent most of his time.
Ugly words rolled from his tongue as memories bombarded him — memories of his mother scrubbing his mouth with soap until his tongue was raw and bleeding. The ancient Victorian lamp in the corner looked exactly like the one she used to light up the room when she wanted him to see what was in her hands.
A belt. The thick rope used to hold back the heavy dark drapes. A cord she’d wind around his neck and penis.
Then the beating, and she’d close him in the dark.
Nan roused, a scream trying to escape the duct tape he’d stretched across her mouth, her eyes wide with fear.
She’d heard the stories Lenora had told in that fucking courtroom. She hadn’t believed her best friend back then. Or maybe she had, but she’d been so delicate she hadn’t been able to stand listening.
He would show her exactly what he’d done to Lenora. Make her a believer before he killed her.
She kicked at him as he carried her down the stairs, the cold, drafty walls rattling. The wind whistled through the eaves, dust motes swirling in front of his eyes as he plowed down the steps.
Nan was heavier than Lenora, a fighter, too.
That would make it more fun.
But he wanted Lenora here for the party to watch him take his pleasure from her friend.
Nan squirmed and wiggled, kicking and trying to elbow him, but he kicked open the door to one of the rooms and tossed her inside. Her body clunked as it hit the concrete floor, a grunt of pain escaping her.
Darkness bathed the room, the light snuffed out by a lack of windows, the musty scent of age, rotting wood and dead animal so strong that he paused to inhale it.
Home sweet home. Just like when he was young.
He was tempted to stay here and keep Nan company tonight, but he had other plans. He had to find his second victim quickly.
Then it would be time for Lenora to join them.
Hand on his cock, rubbing, stroking, he limped toward Nan, his shoes scraping the concrete.
She shook her head wildly, her eyes huge with horror and denial. He removed the burner phone from his pocket, then punched in Lenora’s phone number. Adrenaline sped through his veins as he waited on her to answer.
One ring. Two. Three.
“Come on, my pet,” he whispered. “Talk to me. I’ve been waiting…”
Lenora jerked awake, embarrassment heating her cheeks as she woke in Micah’s arms. His dark eyes met hers, a softness about them that made desire bubble in her belly.
She hadn’t been close to anyone, especially a man, in years. She’d thought she would hate it, that she’d run from his touch.
But somehow, having Micah beside her, so close, so strong and tough yet so gentle, not demanding but protecting, made her crave more.
He made her want to be whole again. To be able to find love and a future that she’d given up on five years ago.
“Lenora—”
The sound of her phone ringing cut into the moment, and she shoved hair from her face. It was barely dawn. Who would be calling?
“My phone—”
He hurried into her room and retrieved it from the nightstand.
“It’s an unknown number,” he said with a frown.
“Maybe it’s him.”
“I’ll answer—”
“No, he wants to talk to me.” She grabbed the phone, then pressed
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