Love's Predator (Love's Predator Trilogy Book 1) (11 page)

“I am only saying that it may be too soon,” Alec said softly. He watched Kyle carefully, trying hard not to upset him again. “She only moved in recently.”

Kyle turned away from Alec, his hands tightening into strong fists. He closed his eyes, sucking in a deep breath. “Well, thankfully, Alec, it is not up to you when
I
decide to marry
my
Lindsey.” His voice was cold and sharp.

“Just do not to anything you would regret,” Alec murmured, deciding it was a lost war to fight Kyle. “But,” he said. “I think you should loosen your hold on her.”

“Loosen my hold?” Kyle smirked. He lifted a hand to his forehead, massaging himself gently as he gave a light chuckle. “Now why would I do that Alec? I have been nothing but lenient.”

“Perhaps you should do something to show her
she isn’t a prisoner?” Alec suggested in a low voice.

“A prisoner Alec?” Kyle laughed, shaking his head slowly.

“You haven’t let her outside since she got here,” Alec pointed out honestly. “So, of course she will get the impression she is a prisoner. Then she’ll want to escape.”

“Hmmm,” Kyle mused. The room was silent for a moment and in this moment Kyle pondered how he could appease his Lindsey. “I’ll take her a walk today,” he decided quickly.

Alec smiled softly and gave a gentle nod in approval. “I am sure she would appreciate it,” he told Kyle.

“She had better,” Kyle mumbled. He carefully got to his feet, dusted himself off and then headed for the hallway. “Lindsey!” He called upstairs. “Put on a coat and a flat pair of shoes!”

Upstairs, Lindsey looked to Lynn, confusion flashing in both of their faces. “It appears Kyle is taking you outside,” Lynn finally whispered.

Lindsey got up from the chair and politely thanked Lynn for her time, even if it was being wasted on a wedding Lindsey planned would never happen. She went to leave the room, but Lynn’s voice halted her.

“Don’t try anything Lindsey,” she warned firmly.

Slowly, Lindsey turned to Lynn, forcing a small smile. “I won’t,” she said quietly.

“Good,” Lynn nodded sharply. “Because you would regret it.”

Lindsey left the room, a little shaken by what Lynn had told her. She had said it so strongly; there was not a hint of a joke in her cruel green eyes. Lynn was really warning Lindsey. Yet Lindsey couldn’t miss this chance. As she put on a long cream coat and slipped on a pair of black gloves, she knew this would be her only chance to get away. If she didn’t she would have to marry Kyle.

She had to escape.

Lindsey watched with anticipation as Kyle turned the keys on the lock of the front door. She bit down on her bottom lips, resisting the overwhelming urge to run when the light of day poured over her. She ignored the twitching in her legs, tried to conceal her fast, beating heart and looked up at Kyle, smiling softly.

He smiled back at her, extending his pale hand to her. She took it happily, secretly celebrating that it would be the last time she had to touch the manipulative monster. Soon she would be free.

Together, they ventured out into the cold crisp air of winter and headed down the dusty, old courtyard. For now Lindsey stuck close to Kyle, keeping up with his fast pace as they made their way to the gates.

“The ring looks even more beautiful on your finger,” Kyle told her very softly.

Lindsey smiled and quietly thanked him.

Kyle smiled in return, wrapping an arm around his bride. He looked around before opening the gate, allowing Lindsey to pass through first. He followed her out, catching her hand again before she could get much further.

Lindsey was careful, she knew Kyle was fast and that there was nowhere for miles around. She looked to the road, silently praying a car would drive on by. Then she glimpsed at the forest, wondering if she could hide in there.

“I love you Lindsey,” Kyle spoke gently.

Lindsey’s attention was pulled away for a moment, falling upon her abductor. She managed a smile, but she could not say she loved him. Even if she could lie like that, the words would burn her. She just couldn’t.

“We’ll have a beautiful life together,” he said to her dreamily. “We can start a family, Lindsey.”

Lindsey gulped deeply, trying to hide her fear.

“But
there is more to this Lindsey; I didn’t just take you for love,” Kyle went on quietly. “And I’m not just marrying you because I want you to be mine.”

Surprised, Lindsey stared at him in awe, her eyes wide and full. She waited for him to speak again, but Kyle paused. There was a gentle purring sound coming from behind them, and it grew louder and louder with time, until Lindsey registered what it was.

It was a car.

Her body jumped into motion as if struck by an electric current. Time seemed to slow down around her as Lindsey’s legs behind to move swiftly. She pulled herself away from Kyle and a loud scream propelled from her throat as air rushed past them. She ran after the car, words finally forming amongst her screams and cries of both fear and joy.

“Help!”

She kept running, aware that Kyle was fast approaching. His muscular legs sprinted, his eyes blazing with an anger even he couldn’t
suppress.

Lindsey didn’t dare look behind her.

“Help!”

The car continued to speed before her, the blackened windows giving nothing about the passenger away. Surly they had seen her! Her thoughts were becoming desperate, her legs were becoming tired.
Her thoughts were chaotic and when Lindsey heard Kyle’s voice her panic rose.

“Get back here Lindsey!” Kyle screamed from behind her.

But Lindsey would not give up.

She fought on, pushing her body like never before. She tried to ignore the sudden pain shooting up her legs and sides, trying to keep ahead of Kyle as she raced for her life.

But a great pain struck
her head without warning, a pain like never before. Suddenly, Lindsey felt her world spinning and before she could react she was on her way to the cold, hard ground. Her thoughts left her. Motionless, Lindsey concentrated on breathing. But each breath was becoming harder for her to grasp.

Lindsey had failed. She would never be free.

She swallowed painfully as she heard Kyle’s footsteps slowly approaching her. In one last attempt, Lindsey tried to push herself up off the floor, but Kyle pressed his boot onto her back, pushing her back down.

Kyle chuckled darkly, tutting mockingly as he leant down, roughly taking her face into his hand, forcing her to look up at him.

“Lindsey, Lindsey, Lindsey,” he crooned sadly. “What am I to do with you?”

She was silent.

“I trusted you Lindsey,” Kyle growled. “I won’t make that mistake again.”

“P-please,” she spluttered. Her world was fading. Lindsey couldn’t fight how dizzy and tired she felt.

“Please?!”
Kyle laughed.

He scooped her limp body into his strong arms, throwing her effortlessly over his shoulder.
Lindsey gave little protest and soon her sobbing and begging slipped into silence. Kyle continued on, humming quietly as he entered their home. He vowed then he would never give her a second chance to escape him; she was his.

Chapter Fourteen

A strange, pungent odour slowly beckoned Lindsey from a deep, foggy sleep. Pain rang through her body, making her grip her head. She let out a quiet groan, wishing she had no woken up. But the pain in her head was not her biggest problem; when Lindsey looked around she saw she was confined to the bedroom, tied down to the bed with ropes. She tugged on her bindings, only to find her wrists were already red raw and sore. K
yle had obviously not been gentle when tying her up, which made Lindsey fear what was to come.

He was going to be furious.

Lindsey closed her eyes again, letting out a quiet sigh of despair. She had not only failed to escape Kyle, but she had made things far worse. Now she would never be able to escape, and now Kyle would treat her horribly. Maybe he would lock her up in the coffin or beat her like when he hit Lynn.

“Ah, you are awake,” came a gentle voice.

Lindsey looked towards the door, spotting Alec, who was watching her with concern. She looked away, realising what this meant. Alec had always known Lindsey was Kyle’s prisoner.

“What do
you
want?” Lindsey hissed. “You’ve not come to free me, I take it?”

Alec smiled softly, slowly making his way to her bedside. He stared at her bindings, cringing when he saw her wrists. They would bruise for sure.

“Lindsey,” Alec said tenderly. “You shouldn’t have tried to escape.”

“I did warn her,” another voice interrupted.

Lynn entered the room, swaying her hips in a model fashion as she approached. She stared down at Lindsey, smiling unpleasantly. “You ruined all that make-up,” she commented heartlessly. “It’s all down your face and now I’ll have to wipe it all off for you.”

“Lynn,” Alec sighed. He turned to her, gesturing to the door. “You’d better hurry because I am going to take Lindsey down for dinner.”

“Ah,” Lyn
n said, suddenly grinning. “The very
special
dinner?”

Alec nodded slowly.

“Alright then,” Lynn beamed, leaving the room as quickly as she appeared. She returned seconds later, only to give Alec a wipe to take Lindsey’s ruined make-up off with. “You’d better not keep Kyle waiting, he’s in a foul mood now. If you don’t hurry it won’t just be your job you lose,” Lynn advised Alec before she disappeared again.

Then it was just Alec and Lindsey.

He began to take her make-up off, gently wiping away the long black tear strains down her pale face.

“Please,” Lindsey whispered.

Her wet eyes caught Alec. He was enchanted by how they sparkled with her fresh tears.

“Help me Alec,” she b
egged quietly. “I can make it worth your while. I’ll give you what they’re paying you. I’ll give you more.”

He looked away, recoiling. Lindsey knew she must look pathetic, but for her freedom
she was desperate.

“I do not need anything Lindsey, not from you,” he said very quietly.

Hope flickered in Lindsey’s wet, blue eyes.

“But you must be patient,” Alec told her firmly. “And do what Kyle tells you until then. Understand?”

Alec placed the make-up wipe on the bedside cabinet and turned his attention to her bindings, cautiously untying her hands then ankles, trying his best not to hurt her. But Lindsey did not care about the pain, not now Alec had promised to help her escape.

He stood back, watching as Lindsey attempted to get up. She did not last long. Alec scooped her into his arms and carried her from the room himself.

“He must have hit you harder than I thought,” he frowned. “Do you still feel nauseous?”

Lindsey nodded lightly. “But I’ll live,” she assured him. “As long as you swear to me you will be true to your word, Alec.”

Lindsey watched Alec’s eyes shift slightly, as if he was considering now the danger he faced if he tried to free her from Kyle’s clutches, but he gave a nod still and smiled.

“I swear,” he assured her quietly. “Just don’t do anything stupid in the main time.”