The Sometime Sister by Katherine Nichols (ebook reader for comics .txt) 📕

I could turn, a hairy arm snaked tight around my waist. Something cold and hard jabbed into my ribs and a pair of rough, wet lips brushed across my neck.

“You should pretend we are old friends, Señorita.” I twisted away from his sour breath and caught sight of the ball cap. He jerked me back and squeezed me even closer. Together we did an awkward two-step toward a waiting car. The door behind the driver’s side was open, and my companion shoved me in.

“You shouldn’t be out in this weather, Grace.” Ben smiled at me from inside. “Do you hate storms as much as our Stella did? I know they terrified her.”

Chapter 27

My abduction happened so quickly I hadn’t had time to be frightened. Sitting beside Ben in the back of a car driven by his hired thug, I now had the time. But the last thing I wanted was for him to sense my fear.

“You could have invited me over.” I clenched my fists to keep my hands from shaking. “Oh, that’s right. You took out a restraining order. Awkward.”

His face reddened, but he kept smiling. “You always were a smart ass, Grace. One of the many reasons I chose Stella over you.”

“And how’d that work out for you?” A few months ago, his remark would have devastated me. Now, I felt only contempt. “Why don’t we skip the small talk and get down to the basics of why you kidnapped me?”

“Kidnapped? That’s a bit strong, wouldn’t you say? It’s more like finishing our conversation.”

“I said all I have to say, but it doesn’t look as if I have much choice in the matter. So, please, let’s get it over with, so I can get back to the hotel. My friends will be expecting me.”

“No need to rush. We have all the time in the world. But first,” he retrieved my purse from the floor where I dropped it, “We should make sure you don’t have any nasty surprises.” I left the Mace in the rental car during my make-out session with Justin, so there was nothing of any use to me in the self-defense department. He tossed my cell phone out the window, then rummaged through my bag before dropping it. I picked it up and clung to it like a security blanket.

He called out to the driver. “Javi, turn the music up.”

The smooth sounds of a saxophone drifted from the speakers, and I stiffened at the sound of Kenny G, Ben’s go-to seduction track.

He squeezed my knee. “Relax, sweetheart, and enjoy the drive.”

I tried to block out the raw timbre of the sax and what it reminded me of. I needed to concentrate on making sense of the scenery. Torrents of rain transformed the landscape into a smear, and the darkened windows made it difficult to tell which direction we were headed. An occasional glimpse of the rocky roadside terrain indicated we were moving away from the ocean into the hills. Wind pummeled the car, threatening to wash us off the curving road. After what I estimated to be about twenty or thirty minutes, Javi turned up a steep drive. He opened the garage, pulled in, and came around to open my door. The same man who stuck a gun in my back now held out a hand to assist me in getting out.

This casual courtesy frightened me more than anything so far. His cool detachment showed a lack of empathy: demonstrating good manners or good marksmanship would be the same to him. My legs were unsteady, but I clutched my purse closer to my chest and climbed out without his help. Ben stood at the front of the car.

“Welcome to the highest spot in Montañita, unimaginatively named the Point. The natives here are pretty simple.” If Javi took offense at the comment, he didn’t show it. “This is a business associate’s home. He’s out of the country and won’t mind if we use it.” He grabbed hold of my elbow and guided me to the door where he punched in a code and said, “After you, my dear.”

We were on the ground level of the house in an elaborate man-cave. A claw-footed pool table dominated the center of the room. Dark paneled walls, probably the last of a rare wood from a nearby rain forest, gleamed, as did the bar that stretched across the back wall. The brown leather sofa with matching recliners sat in front of sliding glass doors, overlooking the mist-covered ocean far below.

“May as well enjoy ourselves,” he said. “Javi, Scotch and soda for me, vodka tonic for the lady.”

He walked by the pool table and sat on the couch, then patted the seat beside him. I slid past him to the recliner. While we waited for drinks, he checked his cell phone before turning it off.

“Interesting outfit.” He leered at me.

I tugged my straps up and crossed my arms over my chest.

Javi delivered our drinks and disappeared up the long staircase beside the bar.

Ben took a deep swallow and sighed. I pretended to sip mine but had no intention of dulling my senses. I didn’t know what he had in mind but didn’t plan to stick around to find out. Getting away from him would require a clear head.

“You really hurt my feelings the last time I saw you.” He finished more than half his drink before continuing. “I’m sure you can understand I can’t let something like that go unpunished.” He stared at me, his top lip quivering. “But I’m not an unreasonable man. That was part of the problem Stella and I had. She never could get what a reasonable man I am.” His eyes reminded me of ones I’d seen on a shark in the tank at the Atlanta Aquarium. “If you answer a few questions, we can come to an agreement that won’t be too painful for you.”

I fought against rising bile in my throat, tipped my glass, and let the ice touch my lips.

“What’s