Chase captive to the dar.., p.1
CHASE: Captive to the Dark, page 1
CHASE
Captive to the Dark
Dark and Dangerous
Alaska Angelini
CHASE
Captive to the Dark
Dark and Dangerous
Alaska Angelini
Copyright © 2014 by Alaska Angelini
ISBN:
All Rights Reserved
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental. The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and is punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
Prologue
Chase
Smoke billowed from my mouth as I took one last drag of the cigarette and flicked it to the center of the dark alleyway. The sizzle of the cherry being extinguished by the damp asphalt filled the silence and I looked down at my watch, lighting the background to check the time. Dawn was still hours away and the frigid temperature had me pushing my gloved hands back into my jacket pockets impatiently.
Three A.M.
As if on cue, the beam of headlamps turned into the narrow space, blinding me for only seconds before the pitch black swallowed me up again. I blinked hard, turning my head to the side as I fought the spots covering my vision.
The sound of doors opened and a low hum of voices registered before the wind carried their words away. I shifted my feet, turning back to face the approaching footsteps. The headlights were off now and I cursed under my breath as I slid my fingers around the butt of my gun. Briefly, I noted they hadn’t shut the doors. It left me cautious as I waited for the silhouettes to come closer.
“You play a very dangerous game, Father. What’s the deal, calling me out to meet you like this? You know what to do if you want to speak with me.”
My eyes scanned over the shadowed face before me. For a man who held such power, Rory McIntyre didn’t even reach my shoulders. True, I was over six-three, but it wasn’t my height that gave me confidence. I knew weak when I saw it, and if it weren’t for the three bodyguards standing just feet away, the man before me would have been cowering in my presence.
I licked my lips as my eyes adjusted to his sharp features. Thin lips, an even thinner nose. The brown hair was slightly receding, but not too noticeably. What I was staring at was an average-joe-wannabe who wouldn’t have stood out in a crowd if he wanted to. Yet, Rory was feared, and not just by a few—by every resident in Untold, Colorado.
My jaw tightened as I stepped even closer. “I told you to keep your cronies off my back. Two have approached me since Friday asking if I was offering shelter for your little business. I thought I made it clear. What happened between you and me was a one-time thing. If I would have known what you had—” My hand pulled free of my jacket to clench at my side. The gun was too tempting. Too…me. I was different now. Not the person I was in my youth when this town was run by a real leader. By a killer who’d taken me under his wing and raised me.
“One time, two, what’s the difference?”
“The difference is, I said no.” Still, I got closer. The crunch of the bodyguard’s shoes told me they were shifting...waiting, but I didn’t take my eyes off the stare that couldn’t hold mine.
A sigh left Rory’s lips. He shrugged and stepped back, putting distance between us.
“I thought you finally coming around meant the obvious. You used to know what side you belonged on. Guess that collar wasn’t for show after all.” He turned to leave, only to pause and face me again. “Of course, unless you want to excuse your little…kink. Although you may drive an hour away, you do know it doesn’t change your vows, right? You being a priest here, still makes you a priest there. How do you think the church or the townsfolk of Untold would react to your extracurricular activities?”
A smile pulled at my lips, but it wasn’t the nice kind. The urge to pound my fists into his face like I would have done in the old days sent my blood boiling. Instead, I restrained. “I’d say they’d probably think shit hasn’t changed. That might not be good for you. Wonder if they’d flock my way if that were the case?”
“Go to you...to lead? I don’t think so. Not if I exposed who you really are.
I took another step forward, not allowing him to get too far away from me. “You don’t know who you’re trying to blackmail, Rory. You better think twice before you go there. My faith won’t stop me from doing this town a favor.” Each word toward the end tempted me further. I was spiraling out of control, running from something I knew I could never escape. Had I thought religion would save me? That it would blanket my sins?
Narrowed eyes, heavy with anger, finally met mine. I let my smile grow.
“Fuck you. Who do you think you are? Just because you used to be big shit before you ran to the church doesn’t make you anyone now. You’re a has-been. Fucking pussy. We all know you fled after Able got busted and locked up. You’re probably the one who ratted him out.”
In one step, I had his shirt twisted in my grip. “I’m not a fucking rat, but I will tell you who I am. I’m the Father of this town in more ways than one. You hear that? The Father. If you think my absence changed what I could do, you’re sorely mistaken. You swept in, taking over a role that wasn’t rightfully yours. It’s mine, and you know what? I think it’s time to show you and the rest of Untold who this town really belongs to.”
My eyes cut up, scanning over the guards who were hovering, but not reacting. At my orders, I knew they’d obey. I’d always been a natural born leader. It was time I put it to the test.
“Sometimes God puts opportunities in our paths we may not feel are the best for us at the time. Unfortunately, today is not that day. It’s time.” I let go, roughly pushing Rory toward the waiting men. He fell to the asphalt, grunting at the impact. “Kill him. Then report to the church at eight A.M. From now on, you take your orders from me.”
Chapter 1
Kit
“Shit. Come on.” I held my hand higher, pointing my phone further away from the mountains towering just behind me. Service was impossible to get in this God forsaken town. It had my features tightening even more as I cursed and stepped up onto the seat of the wicker chair resting on the deck of the rental cottage I was staying in. The snow had melted, but the chill was still heavy in the air. I couldn’t restrain the shiver that raced down my spine as the wind blew back my blonde hair held down by a white, crocheted beanie. Fuck, it was cold here. So much different than Florida, where I’d just arrived from. If it wouldn’t have been necessary, I would have never of come. I liked sandy beaches and palm trees. A view for as far as the eye could see. Here, I couldn’t see shit but trees. It left me uncomfortable. Scared. There were too many shadows the closer it got to sunset. Too many places for someone to hide.
Guilty conscious? Perhaps.
Creaking from the chair followed me as I stepped down. When I found Rory, I was going to wash my hands of him for good. I couldn’t even afford to be here. Not emotionally, and sure as hell not financially. I had jobs. School. It was hard enough paying my bills since he stopped helping me out. Now he was making me worry and hunt him down? How was that fair? He’d promised he would stay in contact. He lied—again. I couldn’t continue to fear for him anymore. I was a nervous wreck.
“Come on, you stupid thing.” I headed deeper down the deck, waving my arm around for some sort of bar to magically appear. Ice had me sliding and my ass hit the wood—hard. I groaned, rolling to the side.
“It’s impossible to get a signal here. You’ll have to go into town if you want any kind of reception. Sorry to barge in on you like this, just surprised to see someone staying in these parts. We don’t get a lot of outsiders in Untold.”
My eyes shot to the stairs and I slowly pushed to my feet, eyeing an older man with a long white beard. For twenty-two, I may have looked young, but I was far from naïve. I trusted no one. I had learned my lesson long ago.
“I can see why. There’s not much here.” I wiped at the dampness, reaching up to hug to the white knit sweater I wore. Slowly, I stepped in closer—away from my door. “I only just arrived. Say, you wouldn’t happen to know Rory McIntyre, would you? He owns a law firm in town. He’s about my height, brown hair.”
The man’s brow creased and he stepped back closer to the stairs. “Sorry, can’t help you out there. I stay to myself. Don’t rarely go into town.”
I frowned, nodding. “That’s okay. I’m about to go see if I can find him. I would have earlier, but I didn’t make it in until almost five AM. I didn’t even hear my alarm go off at noon. I guess I was more exhausted than I thought.” I clamped my mouth shut at my rambling. I did that a lot when I was nervous. “I’m Kit.” I paused in extending my arm. “Well, Kathleen, actually, but Kit’s what everyone calls me.” The old man met my hand and grinned as he gave me a firm shake.
“Nice to meet you, Kit. So, this Rory, he’s your…?”
“Brother,” I said, laughing. Brother. If one could call him that. Stepbrother, technically, and a shitty one at that. He always had been a bully growing up, but he was all I had left.
The man took another step down and what looked like worry flashed on his face. “Hope you find him. I should go. Be careful on the roads, they’re still iced over in places.
“Will do. It was nice meeting yo
“Miller. But you can me Walter.”
“Nice meeting you, Walter.” I gave him a wave and he returned it, disappearing. I couldn’t get over the feeling that he knew more than he was telling me. There was something odd in his behavior when I mentioned Rory’s name. Maybe I was imagining it. I hadn’t been sleeping much and stress was making me question everything.
I exhaled deeply and walked over, pushing the door open. I picked up my purse and keys from the cheap coffee table. The particleboard was chipping away on one side and a stack of magazines was wedged under the back where a metal arched leg used to hold it upright.
That’s what I got for booking the cheapest hotel. As long as the décor was my biggest problem, I’d take it. A nagging feeling told me it went beyond that. I was truly starting to fear for my brother. He wasn’t a good man. I knew that. I just hoped he wasn’t running again because of something he’d done in this town, too. Or worse. For weeks now, his cell has gone straight to voicemail, and I didn’t have the number to the law firm. But I’d been here with him before. He wasn’t even a real lawyer. The dilemma had me shaking my head as I eased down the steps and headed to the rental car.
As the engine turned over, the heater blasted cold air at my face. I shivered again, rubbing my hands together quickly, trying to warm them. God, please let him just be drunk somewhere or on another cocaine binge. Fuck, I didn’t care, as long as he wasn’t in worse trouble. Like jail or…
My lips pressed together and I threw the car in reverse. We may have not gotten along, but I sure as hell didn’t want him dead. And he wasn’t. Not this time or the last time this happened. He was fine. I had to keep telling myself that.
I pulled onto the road, putting the four-door sedan into drive. The town wasn’t but fifteen minutes away. Had I known I’d be in the middle of nowhere, I would have paid the extra ten dollars a night to place me in civilization. The roads were narrow and all the trees cast a darkness I wasn’t used to. It had to be me. I was too jumpy. Too…fuck, something was wrong. I could feel it.
The road weaved and I kept my speed slow as I rounded the turn. Even though there was a coldness within my bones, sweat began to gel over my skin. I reached up, covering my mouth through the odd nausea plaguing me. God, what if Rory hadn’t made it out in time? What if…?
Movement blurred in my peripheral, jetting out in front of me. I slammed my hand on the steering wheel, stomping the brakes. The top half of a man’s bloody body doubled over the right front edge of my hood and I screamed, feeling the car jerk to a stop.
“Oh my God.” My words were breathless as I unbuckled and threw open the door. Two men, one wearing a blue and black plaid shirt, and the other, a police officer, burst past the trees angrily. I froze before I could move my other foot outside the car. For what felt like an eternity, we all stood locked as we stared at each other. I knew they weren’t good; that they were responsible for the condition of the battered man now lying on the road. Their expressions told me everything.
My eyes peeked over the roof of the car and I eased more inside, sliding my foot back toward the brake.
“You okay, ma’am?” The officer had his hand on the butt of his weapon as he held his palm out toward me while he slowly walked forward. Blood. His knuckles were covered in the deep red substance. It was even on the shoulder of his uniform. And he’d looked so angry when I first saw his face.
I didn’t give him an answer. After all the shit I’d seen in my life, I wasn’t about to wait around. I dropped my weight back into the seat and threw the car in drive as I slammed my boot on the accelerator. My door caught and I didn’t bother to reopen and shut it all the way. My mind spun and bile burned my throat as I turned, looking back. The man in plaid was running in my direction, appearing to yell something. The body still lay on the road and I watched the officer stop next to it and reach up to his shoulder. Was he calling dispatch? Was he reporting me for running? Jesus, what if he told them I hit the victim and kept going? I couldn’t see the injuries. If it was a brutal beating, it could appear as a hit and run. Surely the one hurt would tell them I was innocent?
If he lived…
“Fuck. Fuck. Shit.”
The road turned again and I held in the tears that blinded me. What in the hell was going on? Did I go to the police? I didn’t trust cops. Never had after I saw Rory pull them into his pocket. But I couldn’t not tell someone. The man needed help. But if a cop was involved, would they listen to me? Would they side with him? I had to find my brother. He was a lawyer. If anyone could help me, it was him.
The town came into view and I cursed, taking in the old-fashioned two story buildings lining both sides of the street. I looked at the hood of the car. The man had been covered in blood. Had some smeared on the light gold color of my vehicle?
I pulled in between a large truck and SUV, hoping the size would help hide the rental. My phone was in my purse and I reached in to grab it. My hands were shaking so badly, I almost dropped the damn thing in my lap. No bars had a cry coming from my mouth. Before I could figure out what to do, a knock on my window had me screaming and jumping in my seat. An older woman with short grey hair leaned over, looking in at me. I swallowed hard, rolling down the window. Where in the hell had she come from so fast?
“You okay in there? Looks like you might have hit something.”
Fuck. I knew it.
“I…” My voice cracked and I tried to hold in the sob. “There was a man. He…no. Two men.” Words blurred together while I battled with what was safe to say. If I told her, she’d involve the cops. I couldn’t let that happen yet.
“Two men what?”
“I’m looking for my brother, Rory McIntyre. Do you know where I can find him?”
The woman stiffened and slowly rose to stand straight. “Don’t know who you’re talking about.” She opened the passenger side of the truck, where a man was already sitting inside. I had to force my mouth closed at her abrupt ending to the conversation. The door slammed and I watched as they reversed and pulled away. I didn’t wait around. Cautiously, I got out of the car and headed farther into the town. My eyes constantly scanned behind me as I waited for a police vehicle to arrive at a fast speed. My heart was racing and I felt sick as I glanced at the names of the shops I passed.
A woman with a little boy walked out of a pizza parlor and I jogged forward to meet them as they neared an SUV.
“Excuse me!”
Dark hair whipped around and a smile came to her face as she paused.
“Hi, I’m sorry to bother you. I’m looking for my brother. I was wondering if you could help me?”
“Your brother?”
“Yes. I’m sorry, I’m not from here. He owns a law firm here in Untold. His name is Rory McIntyre.”
The stiffening confirmed my fears. The woman knew him, or knew of him. Just like everyone else in this town. Goddammit. What had Rory done?
“I…did you say he’s your brother?”
“Yes. Do you know where I can find him? I believe his law firm is somewhere here along this strip.” I quickly pulled up my phone. “I might have the address somewhere. If you could just point me in the right direction.”
I stole glances as she turned, staring down the street.
“No need to keep looking. Two blocks down on this side.”
Before I could thank her, she was already pulling her son toward the SUV. Nervously, I checked the road behind me, only seeing older model vehicles making their way through. A frown came to my face while I took off walking again at high speed. These people knew something concerning my brother and I was almost afraid to discover what it was.
Chapter 2
Chase
All black. White collar. A priest.
As I stared at the reflection in the wall-length mirror in my room, I didn’t recognize the person looking back at me. The appearance was mysteriously familiar enough, but not the apparel. Was this really me? Was I a man who had devoted himself to the church? It left me puzzled. I’d sat through numerous services since I’d been brought back here from the hospital, but this life didn’t seem real. I knew nothing of the Catholic religion. Nothing of God. I had been thrown into a world of unfamiliarity and it left me with constant vertigo. They said I had amnesia. That I’d been attacked one night and left for dead. The head injuries I’d woken up to confirmed they spoke the truth. But where was my family? My friends? Shouldn’t they have been by my side, trying to remind me who I was?
