Five Alarm Lust by Elise Whyles (popular books to read .TXT) 📕

She froze at the low, mean tone of Mike’s voice. “Should have let me get—”

“Jack Payle’s a bit beyond your reach at the moment.” Iron traced through the iciness of her mother’s voice. “Now, if you’re smart, you’ll kill her. I have to go. I have a meeting with my divorce lawyer. Make it happen, Michael, or you’re going to find yourself back in a prison cell with a very unpleasant cell mate.”

“Don’t threaten me, Barbara. You forget, I know just as much as you do.”

“I’m merely reminding you, lover, of what could happen. Do not think of it as a threat.” The wet smack of a kiss filtered through the door and Gillian swallowed harshly. God, why wouldn’t they just go away and leave her in peace?

Every muscle tensed at the slam of the front door. Silence descended, sending shards of terror and rage through her blood. The door creaked slightly as it swung inward, and Gillian stared at the cold, impersonal monster of her nightmares.

“Well, well, well. Mommy’s gone. What you say we have a bit of fun?”

She inhaled, breath catching in her throat as he pulled a long thin object from behind him. The sun glinted off the blade and she screamed.

* * * *

“Gilli?” Fear tightened his voice as he inched the door open and eased into the tiled kitchen. Behind him he could hear his friends, hear Rick dialing his phone, but it didn’t ease the fear. His heart shuddered as he froze in the patio door. Blood smeared across the marble surface to drip on the floor. The heavy rolling pin he’d left on the counter lay on the tile covered in blood.

Racing through the house, Jack eyed the shattered lock on his front door. Fear clogged his throat as he glanced behind him. Rick and Dean looked equally uneasy. He nudged the door with his toe and hovered in the silence of his foyer.

“No. Please.” Jack jerked on his arm as Rick grabbed hold. “I have to—”

“Let me do my job.” Covered in grass clippings and mud, Rick stepped in front of him, his cell pressed to his ear. “This is Constable Feller. I need all available units to four-four-seven Blancher Terrace. Possible abduction.”

“Mister Jack?” Panting, sweat dripping from his scraggy mop, Todd darted into the kitchen. His eyes widened, the color bleaching from his face as he stared at the red streaks.

Jack bit back a sharp retort. He had no time for the youth. Not as long as Gilli was missing. “Todd, how in the world? No, don’t answer, I know. Sally. I don’t have—”

“He took Miss Hilliard.”

“Who?”

“A guy in an orange jumpsuit. I saw him drag her out.” Todd pointed at the broken door. He leaned against the wall, his breathing ragged, harsh, as he shook his head. “I followed him on my bike.”

“Where’d he go?” Rick brushed past Jack as the faint scream of sirens filled the house. He shot Jack a harsh look when he moved forward.

Terror choking him, Jack pushed against Rick’s firm grasp. “Todd, where’d he go?”

“To a fancy cabin. I can—”

“Constable Feller?” Firm, professional, the masculine shout drew their attention as two uniformed officers raced into the house, guns drawn. From beyond the door, the sharp, furious bark of a dog reverberated through the house.

“We have the K-9 with us.”

Jack ignored the police officer and grabbed Todd’s shoulder. “Can you take me there?”

“Yes.” Todd’s head bobbed wildly. “I know exactly—”

“Fine, you can take us.” Rick glared pointedly at Jack before turning to the other police officers. “This is our eye witness. He knows where the man who broke in is. Todd, right? You can ride with me and Jack. Do you know who the man was?”

“No, but I recognized the clothes he wore. When Mom went to see Dad, I saw Dad in some just like them. He was at the prison.”

“We’ll follow you over.”

Jack slammed the car door and leaned back against the sun-warmed seat. He had no doubt who the man was, and when he got his hands on the bastard, he was going to beat him to a pulp.

“Let us do our job.” Rick’s low warning barely penetrated the fog in his head as he glanced at his friend before staring straight ahead. He’d let them do their job, right after he spent a few private moments with the prick who’d taken Gillian.

* * * *

Wailing sirens filled the air as Jack ripped the car door open and ran toward the front door of a small, elegant cottage. The sound of Gilli’s scream ripped at his control, and he lunged at the door. Wood and glass splintered as it hit the wall, the thud of a body hitting the wall enough for Jack to see red.

With Rick hot on his heels, he darted down the short hallway, the sounds of a struggle echoing in his ears as Rick shoved past him and lunged into the room. His blood ran cold as he saw a butcher knife skitter across the floor to lodge in the wall. Heart in his throat, he dived around the two men grappling on the floor, his eyes sweeping the room to see Gillian curled in the corner, her hair a tangled mass of curls around her bruised face. He glanced down at the crunch beneath his feet and sighed before hurrying over to where she huddled, soft sobs shaking her shoulders.

“Shh, it’s okay, baby,” Jack soothed, his arms wrapped tight around her shoulders. He glanced at Rick who lifted the tall, thin figure from the floor. Rage, disgust, and a twisted glee stared back at him as Michael Kilpatrick was led from the room. Listening to Gillian’s sobs, Jack wondered if Rick would notice if he beat the bastard. “Shh, I’ve got you now, baby, and you’re safe.”

* * * *

Gillian heard the front door click shut and sighed, glad to be back at Jack’s, even if she was freezing. It seemed like hours