Love's Predator (Love's Predator Trilogy Book 1) (15 page)

“What am I going to do with you?” He sighed loudly. “You are not very patient, Lindsey.”

Lindsey smiled softly, swiftly dusting herself off. “No I am not,” she agreed honestly. “But you’ve got to consider everything I have been through. Right now, it is hard to trust, especially when you offered me my freedom on a plate.”

“But you can trust me,” Alec pleaded with her. He stepped forward to take her hands, but Lindsey backed away. Her eyes never left him.

Alec frowned heavily and shook his head. “Alright,” he gave in. “I will tell you everything you need to know…but you won’t like it, Little Lindsey.”

“As far as we know, Kyle is not the leader of the cult, but he is high up. The leader, we do not know.”

Lindsey felt faint. Someone else was out there who desperately wanted to see her chained to Kyle.

“We are going to take you far away from Britain and keep you hidden from the cult,” Alec went on. “Meanwhile.” He paused, realising Lindsey was backing up now with a wide eyed expression. She looked like a cornered animal, ready to strike out.

“We will try to fix this Lindsey so that you can live the rest of your life as close to normal as possible, eventually,” Alec said very carefully.

“No!
” Was all Lindsey could shout. Alec moved toward her but she lashed out, screaming again hysterically. “I will not be a prisoner to you too!”

“You are no prisoner,” Alec spoke softly, but Lindsey didn’t care.

“I am going home,” Lindsey decided.

She turned to leave, but Alec’s voice stopped her.

“You have no home,” he said.

His bitter honesty in his voice made Lindsey’s blood icy. Deep down she knew it was true, she could not go home. What was left for her there but lies?

“Come Lindsey,” Alec coaxed gently. “Let me get you somewhere warm and we will talk more. Just please, come.”

He reached out for her, quietly beckoning her forward.

Slowly she turned to him. Biting down on her lip she gave a light nod and took his hand, letting him lead her into the unfamiliar woods.

“It’s not far,” Alec repeated calmly. “Everything will be well.”

Lindsey prayed it would

Chapter Nineteen

As promised, the walk to the cabin was brief, but just enough so that the cabin was not obvious to any passers-by. Lindsey gazed into the clearing ahead of them and swallowed heavily as she watched the curtain wave gently in the window of the cabin; someone was already there.

Her heart began to race, her head began to pound. What if Kyle had found them and beaten them there? What would her punishment be for escaping him this time? Perhaps he would make her into a pie, rather than making her one to eat.

“Alec,” Lindsey gasped.

The front door swung open, revealing not Kyle, but a tall, thin woman, with long yellow hair and fair freckled skin. Her nose was slightly upturned and her blue eyes glistened like sharp knives as they examined Lindsey. She could tell the woman had been expecting them for some time.

“Alec,” the woman said. Her eyes never left Lindsey. “This is the girl all this trouble is about? This is Lindsey?”

Lindsey looked down, scuffling her feet in the dirt.

“This is Lindsey,” Alec confirmed.

Suddenly a pair of thin arms was wrapped around Lindsey and she felt a deep kiss being planted onto her cold cheek. She stared at the woman in surprise, but when she saw her grin it made Lindsey smile.

“Welcome Lindsey!” She chirped cheerfully. “Welcome back to freedom!”

Lindsey glanced over to Alec, who stood a few feet away from them as he watched with his arms folded upon his chest.

“Thank you,” Lindsey smiled softly.

“Well! Come on in! I have hot food already on the table and warm clothes for you to wear!”

Led by the temptation and an approving nod from Alec, Lindsey allowed the woman to guide her into the cabin and take her coat.

“Now, your bedroom is upstairs and there are clothes for you all laid out on the bed. We don’t plan to be staying long so don’t worry about washing up or settling in,” the woman went on as she shepherded Lindsey over to the stairs.

“Please,” Lindsey said suddenly. “What’s your name?”

“Carly,” the woman smiled. “Now get upstairs! Don’t want your food getting cold now!”

Lindsey gave a quick nod and obeyed Carly swiftly. It made her happy to meet someone so friendly, and well,
seemingly sane. And once Lindsey had changed out of Kyle’s clothes she began to feel more like herself again, although she knew it would take time to recover completely. Lindsey knew this would haunt her for some time, but Lindsey knew Kyle would haunt her forever.

Lindsey passed the bathroom on her way down the short hallway. She glanced inside, longing to wash Kyle’s scent completely off her body. But the smell of the hot food below took precedence at the time. She headed downstairs and easily found the kitchen; it was a small cabin. There Alec and Carly sat at the table, but Lindsey took greater interest in the fresh crusty bread ready for cutting and the piping hot soup already spooned out into a bowl for her. She took her place at the table and smiled politely.

“This is very nice of you,” she said to Carly.

“It is,” Alec agreed. “You are very kind Carly.”

“It is in my nature,” Carly grinned widely. “Now, eat. We move out tomorrow morning!”

“So soon?” Lindsey asked as she lifted her spoon to her lips. She could already feel its warmth.

“Yes,” Carly sighed. “Sadly we have to keep moving, until we get far away to somewhere safe.”

Lindsey opened her mouth to speak, but she stopped herself abruptly. She was going to suggest that Kyle would grow tired of the chase eventually and give in, find someone else to torture. But after what she had learned, it became clear to Lindsey Kyle would never stop hunting for her, not until one of them was dead.

“Lindsey,” Alec spoke softly. “Today has been difficult.”

“I am sure it has been,” Carly agreed enthusiastically. “When they told me you were brining Lindsey here I was very…surprised.
But I am glad I get to meet the girl who the fuss is all about.”

Lindsey smiled tiredly and polished off the last drops of soup. For once she felt at peace, even if the future was uncertain.

“I am quite tired,” Lindsey admitted quietly. “But I want to enjoy this,” she said with determination. “I want to enjoy my freedom.”

“Then you shall,” Carly grinned. “I will make something special to celebrate while you take a nap and when you wake up we shall all celebrate a successful mission.”

Lindsey smiled gratefully. She had almost forgotten what human kindness was, and now she felt it wrapped all around her. She felt warm and secure, but more importantly she felt sleepy.

“Sounds wonderful,” Lindsey said with a nod.

She excused herself from the table and went to leave, but Alec quickly caught her arm. She looked around, catching his warm gaze. “You have no need to fear now,” he told her gently. “Kyle will not find you.
I will protect you.”

Lindsey looked away,
blushing lightly as she realised just how close Alec was to her. She could feel his warmth on her and his gaze was intimate. And yet she couldn’t help but think that she did not need Alec’s protection; she just had to get away from Kyle and stay away. This was her battle to fight.

However, she decided not to rock the boat.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I hope you are right.”

“He is,” Carly piped up.
“You will never be his prisoner again.”

Lindsey turned again and left the room swiftly, making her way upstairs and into the small bedroom where she was to spend the night. She climbed into the bed and wrapped herself in the multiple blankets.

No, she silently thought as she laid her heavy head onto the pillow, she would not be Kyle’s prisoner again, but for the rest of her life she would never be entirely free if she stayed with Alec and Carly.

Was that really the life Lindsey wanted?

Chapter Twenty

Lindsey lay in
the long, lush grass, staring dreamily up at the light, blue sky. She smiled softly as she stroked her hands down her body, savouring the soft, silken fabric of the pale, pink dress she wore. Gently, she rose up and glanced around the long peaceful meadow. The surroundings were familiar and comforting; this was her piece of Heaven.

On her feet now, Lindsey quickly dusted herself off and started to brush through the grass. The wind was blowing gently now and the trees of the near-by wood rustled a
quiet lullaby. Lindsey never ventured near those woods.

She spotted
a wooden swing, which hung from an old tree. Flowers were blooming on the green vines which held the swing up and little flakes of pink petals were softly cascading down in the breeze. Lindsey put out her hands and after a moment they were full of pink petals. Happily, she threw them into the air and watched as they were caught in a cycle of wind.

“Lindsey,” a soft voice called.

Lindsey spun around, but she couldn’t see anyone.

“Lindsey…” The voice echoed all around her.

She gulped heavily, turning towards the woods. They seemed to be darker now; the leaves were beginning to fall away and wither.

Her name was called again and this time Lindsey focused hard, following the call up to the near edge of the woods, where a white blanket was laid out over the grass. Lindsey headed towards it and as she drew closer
, china plates and silver trays began to appear on the blanket. Soon they were covered with a generous selection of cakes and treats. It was the perfect picnic.

“Temptation,” a voice whispered in Lindsey’s ear.

She cried aloud and whisked herself around, only to find no one was there.

“There are many temptations in life.”

This time the voice was before her.

Slowly, Lindsey twisted back and looked down onto the
picnic. She felt cold as she met the pair of electric blue eyes watching her, stalking her every movement, savouring her every breath.

“Kyle…” Lindsey murmured.

He grinned darkly.

“This is my dream, not your playground,” Lindsey spoke sternly. But even in her dreams she was afraid of Kyle.

“Come Lindsey,” Kyle crooned softly. “Join me.”

Ignoring her instincts, Lindsey
reluctantly sat across from Kyle on the blanket. She told herself silently that he could not do anything to her here. This was her dream and she was in control. Besides, this wasn’t even the real Kyle; it was only her unconscious.

“Please, help yourself, my love.”

Raising an eyebrow, Lindsey cast Kyle a quizzical look. He smiled in reply, still gazing at her intently with those icy blue eyes. It was as if he were plotting something, but what could he possibly do here?

Lindsey accepted his offer and lifted a slice of the large cake in the middle. As she bit into it she could not resist a light groan when she discovered how thick and creamy the icing was.