Destined

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER TWO

“Dee?”

Dee lifted her head from the tear-stained pillow when Lydia walked into the bedroom with the guard.

Lydia glared at him. “I’ll only be a few seconds.”

“You need to hurry.” He backed up to the doorway. “Jonathan doesn’t want anyone in here with her.”

“Yeah, yeah, leave.” Lydia pushed the door as he closed it. “Dee, come on.” She raised Dee upright.

“I can’t take this s**t anymore. All I do is think of Winston and how this is my fault. If I hadn’t ever met Jonathan Wild none of this would’ve happened.”

Lydia sat beside her and touched her hair. “Deidra—”

“Don’t call me that. I can’t even stand to hear my name because of that monster.”

“Pull yourself together.”

“Why? For what?”

“Okay, that’s enough.” Lydia stood, lifting Dee from the bed. “This isn’t you.”

“Who am I?” Dee avoided looking her in the face. “I don’t know who I am.”

“You’re my sister. You’re the strongest person I know.”

“No.” Dee moaned, closing her eyes. “Not anymore. He’s broken me.”

“I won’t accept that.” Lydia tucked in her valentine lips. “Think about the things you’ve been through. You were the one who kept Dad going after Momma died. You raised me to be strong and to always fight.”

“I have nothing to fight for anymore.”

“Yes, you do.” Lydia wiggled Dee’s arms. “You have Winston and your baby. You can’t let Jonathan win. Do you love Winston?”

“More than anything.”

“Then fight, damn it.” Lydia turned her loose. “Fight with everything you got in you

because I sure as hell will.”

“I’ve tried.” Dee sat on the king-sized bed, gripping the linen sheets. “We can’t get out of here without help.”

Lydia sighed, her bun sitting lopsided on her head. “There’s an option I could try.”

“Not this ‘seducing Lucian’ thing again.”

“You got a better idea?”

“He’s dangerous, Lydia.”

“Look at us.” Lydia gripped her lacey, white dress. “Jonathan’s turned us into clones. Do you want to be in his cult for the rest of your life?”

“What about Rena?”

Lydia winced.

“She and the other women will be in Wales soon. I can get her to help.”

“How many times does Rena have to screw you before you realize you can’t trust her?”

“What choice do we have? You just said I can’t give up.”

“You want to wait for Rena? Fine. I’m not waiting.” Lydia went to the door. “I’m seducing Lucian.”

“Lydia.”

She flashed her palm to Dee. “He wants me. Let me see how much so we can get the hell out of here.”

“No. He’s as crazy as Jonathan.”

“You want to be Jonathan Wild’s wife?”

Dee dropped her head.

“I didn’t think so.”

****

“Are you kidding me right now?” Grayson Paul sat across Detective Connie Wilks’

kitchen table that night, stirring his salad. “I can’t believe you went to see CeCe at the

institution again.”

She sighed, chewing ravioli.

“Why would you do that?”

“I know he’s done horrible things but he needs help, Grayson. That’s why I became a cop, to help people.”

“You can’t give CeCe the help he needs.” Grayson stabbed romaine lettuce with his fork.

“He’s manipulating you. You of all people should know that.”

“I do, but I still feel like I could do more.”

“I don’t want you seeing him again.”

She nodded.

“I mean it, Connie. He’s getting what he deserves. Think of the women he hurt and remember you did your job.” He scooted his chair closer to the table. “No more.”

“Okay.” Connie chewed the salty ravioli. “I won’t see him anymore.”

Her phone beeped.

“Uh-oh.” Grayson grimaced. “The calls never end with you, do they?”

“That’s what you get when you keep dating cops.” She checked it. “Someone’s texted me.”

Grayson drank juice, leering.

“There’s a video.” Connie clicked on it and the video opened.

A blind-folded woman sat in the corner of a darkened room with her hands tied behind her back. “Aw, gross.” Connie deleted it.

“What?”

“Someone sent me some s*x video.”

Grayson laughed with a mouthful of food. “What was it?”

“Some half-n***d woman, bound and gagged.” She sprinkled parmesan cheese on her food. “Sickos.”

“How’d they get your number?”

“No telling.” Connie went for another taste of her dinner when the phone rang again.

Unknown caller.

Grayson squinted. “Who is that?”

Connie answered, “If this is the person sending me these sick videos, you might want to stop unless you wanna end up in jail for harassing a police officer.”

“Follow my instructions if you want the woman in the video to live,” a croaky, male voice demanded.

“I get it.” Connie grinned. “No woman in her right mind would go out with you so you’re sitting in your mom’s basement prank calling and sending nasty videos?”

“This isn’t a prank.”

Connie looked at Grayson.

“Hold on,” the stranger said.

A second later, Connie got another video of the woman. This time a man in a black ski

mask stood beside her holding a hunting knife under her chin.

Connie leaped from her chair, bumping into the table. “I...I’ll be right back, Grayson.”

“What’s going on?”

Connie ran to the living room, studying the video.

“Keep watching, Connie.” The man grabbed the woman by her curly, brown hair and pressed the knife harder to her skin.

The woman whimpered and squirmed.

“This is real, Connie.” The mask accentuated the man’s piercing eyes. “I’ll kill her right in front of you. Are you willing to take that chance?”

“Mm!” The woman wiggled, her peachy skin reddening from the pressure of the knife.

“Connie?” He pressed the point into her skin.

“Stop, stop! Don’t hurt her. What is this?”

“Just a simple game.” The knit mask wrinkled over his lips, showing the imprint of his smile. “You have to save her life but it won’t be easy.”

Connie swallowed. “What do you want?”

“I want to see how far you’ll go to get the job done.” He caressed the woman’s hair wearing black, leather gloves. “Prove how much you value your badge. Would you risk everything for someone else?”

She studied his movements and mannerisms, hoping to pick up anything familiar but got nothing. “Who are you?”

His eyes chilled Connie straight through the screen. “Wouldn’t be much fun if I told you, would it? You’re gonna have to find out on your own. It’s part of the game.”

“Let her go. Whatever you want, I can get it for you just don’t hurt her.”

He moved the knife from the woman’s neck. “I’ll let her go if you find her.”

The woman sobbed.

The man chuckled. “What will it be, Connie?”

She gyrated, rubbing her forehead in thought. “I’ll do what you say. Just promise not to hurt her.”

“I’ll keep my end of the bargain if you keep yours. You can’t tell anyone about this, Connie. No one.” He stuck the knife into the woman’s throat but didn’t draw blood.

“I promise,” Connie snapped. “I won’t tell anyone.”

“Great.” He let the woman go, cackling. “I figured you’d play along.” He sat at a table and looked straight into the screen. “You can handle this, Connie. I have faith in your abilities.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Wait for my call.”

She exhaled.

“Oh and Connie, don’t tell anyone about this or she’ll pay the price.” He hung up.

“Connie?”

“Oh!” She jumped as Grayson walked up behind her. “Jesus.”

“Are you all right?” He held her. “You’re shaking. Who was that?”

“No one.” She put her phone away. “Just about a new case.”

“I thought it was that weirdo who sent you the videos.”

“No, it’s nothing.” As she walked passed, he took her hand.

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

She nodded, avoiding eye contact. “Come on. Dinner’s getting cold.”