Page 76 of My Destiny

“Right, and give you the chance to finish me off?”

He lets go of me, and I watch as he paces back and forth. I have no clue what to expect from this man from one minute to the next. My body stiffens when he stops and faces me again. “We could try again.” He steps forward, grabbing my elbows. I hate the look of hope I see in his eyes. A rational Jake would know this could never happen, but he’s no longer that person. “We can have another baby. Would you like that?”

“Jake, don’t do this.” He’s more delusional than I thought.

“Do what?”

“This. What we had is over. Please just let me go. I’ll get you some help, I promise.”

“You’re my wife. You belong here with me.”

I don’t belong here—I belong wherever Logan is. Will I ever get the chance to see him again, a chance to tell him how much I love him? “Let me go,” I plead. My words sound more desperate as reality sinks in. He’s not going to let me just walk out of here.

“No!” he screams. “You’remywife.”

“I’m not your wife anymore, Jake.” His breathing becomes erratic as he stares me down. When I see that change in his eyes, the same one I saw the day he tried to strangle me, I brace myself for what’s about to come.

He retreats a few steps, and for a moment I think he’s going to leave, but then he opens the top drawer of a rundown old dresser that sits by the wall. I gasp when he pulls out a gun.

“I should just kill you now,” he says, closing the distance between us.

Is this the end? Tears fill my eyes, but I don’t plead for my life. I refuse to give him the satisfaction. If this is my destiny, then so be it. The last few weeks have been my happiest, and I’m so grateful for that. My only regret is not telling Logan how I truly feel. It hurts my heart that I’ll never get to see him again, but I’ll cherish the short time we had together.

I bow my head. “I love you, Hot Stuff,” I whisper under my breath. This may be the only time I get to utter those words.

Jake raises his hand, and I instinctively close my eyes as I await what I know is coming. But instead of the bullet I’m expecting, his fist connects with the side of my face with such force, the blow knocks me off my feet. My hands are still tied behind my back, so I can’t even break my own fall. The side of my head connects hard with the metal frame on the bed, and my world instantly turns black.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Logan

It seems like an eternity passes before we get what we’re after. I look down at my watch as Mike makes a call to get whatever information he can on the plates. It’s been over two and a half hours since Brooke left the apartment.

At this stage, we aren’t even sure the white van is connected with her disappearance, but it’s the closest thing we have to a lead. In the CCTV footage, it definitely appears to be following her.

I read over what Mike jots down, and it instantly has my blood boiling. The van’s registration is under the name of a Mr. Jake Ryan. I’m livid that he’s using Brooke’s last name. It also confirms my worst fear—he has her—and that thought terrifies me. Now I just have to pray that we can get to her before it’s too late.

The address he writes down is in Redfern, which is about a fifteen minute drive from here. He’s been right under our noses the whole time. “Should we call the police now?” I ask.

“No,” Mike says, ending the call. “Let’s check it out first.”

“I’m calling them.” I say, pulling out my phone. “I’m not waiting another second.”

“Wait,” he says, placing his hand on my phone. “What are they going to do? Come in with sirens blazing, storm the place? Maybe get a hostage negotiator? We all know how that usually ends.”

“Well, what’s your plan? We need to act fast. So much time has been wasted already.”

“I’m going to go and check the place out myself. The element of surprise always works best.”

“And what if they’re not there. They could be anywhere by now.”

“Then we’ll notify the police.”

He turns to leave. “I’m coming with you,” I say.

“Me too,” my uncle adds. I’m still pissed with him, but I don’t protest. We may need him.

“Suit yourself. My car is parked across the street,” Mike says.