Angelica looked over every inch of the cabin she could reach, and there was nothing to use as a weapon. She’d tried to pull the shackle off but just ended up bruising her arm.
When she heard the door unlock, she jerked around. Kenneth had come in with an armful of wood. “Did you relax while I was gone?” he asked.
She stayed as far from him as she could as he bent down to stack the wood. If he could just get a little closer, she’d wrap the chain around his neck. She knew she would be getting hurt, but she wasn’t going to let this man rape her and take a part of her she desperately wanted Duncan to have.
“Kenneth, please, just let me go. My family won’t stop until they find me, and then you’ll be dead.”
He turned to look at her over his shoulder and grinned. “The chance of them finding us is pretty low, so I’ll take my chances.”
“I won’t let you rape me without a fight,” she said.
She flinched when he suddenly stood and took a few steps toward her.
“You need to stop pushing me, my love.”
“I’m not trying to push you. But I have to tell you what I’m planning.”
“I’ll get you to want me eventually. Until then, I’ll try to be as gentle as I can.”
“No,” she screamed. “What made you think you could take a person away from their family and it be okay in your head?”
“I’m not crazy. I know what I’m doing is against the law, but it was the only thing I could think of to get you away from your family so you could get to know me.”
She lifted her chin. “Even if I don’t want to?”
Kenneth growled and stomped over to her to pin her against the wall with his hand on her throat, pressing hard enough to cut off her breathing. She clawed at his hand and fought him until black dots appeared in her eyesight.
Just when she thought he would kill her, the door burst open, and Duncan ran in, tackling Kenneth. She slumped to the floor and watched as other men raced in and pointed their guns at the men fighting on the floor. If she could have screamed, she would have, but her throat made it nearly impossible.
Two of the men came and stood in front of her, protecting her from the men fighting. She heard the bed and glass breaking and then a massive thump. Nothing. She tried to look around the men’s legs that blocked her, and she couldn’t see anything.
“Duncan,” she croaked. She tried to push the men away from her but was too weak. “What’s going on?”
The men separated as Duncan started for her. He had blood on him and a few cuts, but he looked so damn good. He picked her up and held her tightly against his chest. “Fuck, Angel. I was so afraid I lost you.”
She tried to hug him, but the chain still attached to her was too heavy, so she tucked her face against his chest. “I didn’t think there was any way you’d be able to find me.”
“I wouldn’t have stopped until I did.”
“Thank you.”
He tipped her head up with the side of his hand and then kissed her gently a few times. “We need to unlock you.”
“I saw him put the key in one of his front pockets.”
One of the men looked through the unconscious man’s pants and handed Duncan the key.
She felt incredibly light when the chain fell away from her.
“I need to get you out of here,” Duncan said.
“You’ll be with me?” she asked.
“No, I’ve got to take care of him.”
Angelica looked over at Kenneth. He had blood everywhere, and his clothing was torn. “I think I should be the one to take care of him.”
“Absolutely not,” Duncan said.
“Why? I’m the one he hurt.”
“Because it’s my job to take care of you.”
“But…”
“Have you ever killed someone, Angel?”
“Well, no, but—”
“No buts. You’re tenderhearted, Angel, and I want to keep you like that.”
She sighed and let it go.
“I want two of you to tie him up. I want a few of you to drive Angelica back in the bastard’s Jeep to the cars and have Jamison take her to her mother’s house. Stay with her until I get there.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Duncan…”
He nudged her toward the door. “Go. I’ll be there to get you shortly.”
She stared at him for a moment before she nodded, turned, and walked out the door.