She’d dubbed herself The Taker, and it was a very fitting name. Over the years, she’d fallen for and captured multiple people, keeping them for herself. While the newspapers and TV anchors went wild, she would be at home playing with her latest toy. Somewhere down the line it’d become something of a habit for her, and that habit had evolved from a raw, primal urge of seeing what she wanted and just… well, taking it.
Mason Black was no different.
He was a hotshot San Francisco homicide detective, and The Taker had followed his career for a number of years. As far as she could tell from digging up his life story, he’d left the police force, spent some years as a private investigator—where he’d tracked and stopped more than three serial killers—and then finally returned to the SFPD. It was an impressive career to say the least, but not nearly as impressive as his stature.
The Taker stood in the midst of the dark, nighttime shadows, watching him. Mason had always looked big on the TV, but in person he was a burly bulk of a man. She knew from watching videotapes that he was a gentle soul—at least once you got past the get-out-of-my-way attitude—and that made him even more irresistible.
She could barely contain herself.
Across the parking lot, Mason paced around his Mustang, checking his watch. There were no other cars in sight, but he was expecting her. Or rather, he was expecting somebody. All the messages she’d been sending him up until this point promised his childhood friend would be arriving tonight.
Boy, was he in for a shock.
Adrenaline spiked her cold skin, drawing goose pimples. The prospect of catching him made her giddy as she rounded the dark perimeter of the parking lot. She kept to the shadows, perfectly concealed as she drew closer to her prey.
This was it, she realized.
Mason Black was going to be hers.
Forever.
The wind picked up, whistling as it brushed through the naked winter trees. Mason buttoned up his trench coat and leaned against his car, checking his watch once more. The Taker knew she was running out of time, and the fear of missing her one and only chance made her pick up speed. She had to be careful though; one wrong movement and he’d see her. Then she could kiss goodbye the chance to have this perfect man in her possession.
By the time she reached the opening behind the car, Mason had stood up straight again. He pulled out a cell phone, the bright light from the screen glowing against his rugged features. The Taker found herself overwhelmed with sexual excitement, but she had to remain composed. Even more so, she had to hurry this up. If Mason made a phone call and then got into his car, he’d be out of there in a flash and then probably never return again.
She crouched, keeping low while she rounded the car.
Mason was only a few feet away with his back turned, and soon he’d be completely helpless. The Taker licked her lips and pulled the needle from her pocket. She slid off the plastic cap and took another silent step, gripping the syringe tight in her sweaty palm.
That was when her phone rang.
A wave of heat flushed through her face. She froze, dread filling her as Mason turned on the spot. They locked eyes for a fraction of a second, and The Taker knew it was now or never. She shot forward, throwing out her left, empty hand as a distraction. Mason must have seen it coming, as he slapped it out of the way, moving his huge frame in close to restrain her.
The Taker had anticipated this, using the extra second to raise her right arm high.
She plunged the needle into his neck.
At first Mason squeezed her in a viselike grip, his shocked eyes meeting hers. Then that grip loosened, and The Taker felt his hand begin to slip. The needle wobbled, lodged in his skin as his eyes searched everywhere for… what? Hope? An explanation? She had no idea, but as she heard his body thud against the cold ground, she let relief breeze through her like the freezing wind that assailed her cheeks.
She’d done it; she’d captured Mason Black, and now he belonged to her.
It was only a matter of time until someone came out here—probably a night-shift worker doing the rounds or a car full of kids looking for somewhere to smoke. This meant she had very little time to get out of there, so she acted immediately.
Heaving Mason into the passenger seat was no easy feat, but she managed it with a great deal of excitement fueling her. She sat him upright, fastened his seat belt, and rolled his head to one side. Hopefully, anyone they passed would just assume he was sleeping and think no more of it, and as The Taker slid into the driver’s seat, she took a moment to watch the detective as his heavy, unconscious breathing made him groan.
Perfect, she thought, starting up the engine of his Mustang and leaving the parking lot far behind them. Tonight could’ve turned out a lot worse than it had, but at least she got to witness the confusion in his scowl as she’d put him to sleep—that twisted frown creasing up his features as he realized he’d been drugged. Now, he was just a helpless man on the way to his new home.
She couldn’t wait to wake him up.