Page 139 of Shadows of Obsession

He flexed his right hand, feeling the slight sting where his ring had connected with her cheekbone. The sensation was oddly satisfying, a physical reminder of his control, his power over her. She'd tried to run, tried to escape, but she'd never stood a chance. He thought with contempt, "Did she really think she could hide from me? That she could build a life without me?"

Kim stood by the door, trembling like a leaf in a storm, her face twisted with guilt and fear. Daniel barely spared her a glance. She was a tool, nothing more, useful for getting him onto this property undetected, but ultimately disposable.

"Keep watch," he ordered sharply, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

Kim nodded frantically, swallowing hard as she moved to the window. Her hands shook as she pulled the curtain back slightly, just enough to peer outside into the darkness. He was glad she knew how to follow instructions.

Daniel crouched beside Anna's unconscious body, his movements deliberate and controlled despite the adrenaline still coursing through him. He studied her face, the bruising already beginning to bloom across her cheekbone, the blood staining her lips, the way her blonde hair had come loose from its braid and fanned across the floor like a halo.Beautiful. Even now, she's beautiful.

With practiced efficiency, he slid his arms beneath her, one under her knees, one supporting her back, and lifted her. She was heavier than he remembered, more solid. She'd gained weight since leaving him, filled out from the skeletal thinness that fear and control had carved her into. He noted with a sneer, "They fed her. Made her comfortable. Made her forget she belongs to me."

He carried her to the bedroom, where he'd already prepared everything. The restraints were laid out on the bed. Rope he'd bought specifically for this purpose, strong enough to hold, but not so rough it would chafe too badly. He wanted her conscious for what came next, wanted her aware and helpless and fully understanding there was no escape.

Daniel laid her on the bed with surprising gentleness, arranging her limbs almost tenderly before securing her wrists and ankles. The rope bit into her skin as he tightened the knots, testing them to ensure they'd hold even if she struggled. He knew she would struggle.

Stepping back, he stared down at Anna's unconscious form, a twisted mix of triumph and obsession playing across his features. This moment, this exact moment when she was finally, completely his again, was something he'd fantasized about for months. Every mile driven, every dead end pursued, every setback endured had led to this.

"Now, the real fun begins," he muttered to himself, a cruel smile spreading across his face as he contemplated the hours ahead.

But first, he had loose ends to tie up.

Daniel strode purposefully back toward the bed, his eyes scanning Anna's unconscious form with clinical precision. With deft movements, he searched her pockets, his fingers quickly locating her cellphone. He pulled it out, a newer model, probably a gift from her cowboy boyfriend. The device felt small and fragile in his hand. He knew he couldn't have her calling for help.

Without hesitation, Daniel dropped the phone onto the hardwood floor. The sound of it hitting the wood was satisfying, but not as satisfying as what came next. He raised his foot and brought it down hard, the crunching sound of plastic and glass shattering beneath his boot echoing through the room like broken bones. Problem solved.

Next, he reached into her pocket once more and retrieved a set of keys. The metal jingled softly as he held them up to examine them in the dim light. Truck keys, based on the distinctive key fob. A slow smile curved his lips. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

He abandoned his unconscious prisoner, the keys clutched tightly in his fist, as he made his way back toward the front of the cabin. Kim was still standing watch, her shoulders hunched with tension, her breathing rapid and shallow.

"Here," Daniel growled, his voice low and menacing.

He threw the keys across the room. They clattered against the wooden floor near Kim's feet, and she flinched at the sudden noise, her eyes going wide with fear.

"You're going to take the truck that's parked in front of the house and leave," he commanded. Each word was carefully enunciated, leaving no room for misunderstanding or negotiation.

Daniel stalked over to his duffel bag, which he'd hidden behind the couch earlier. Reaching inside, he pulled out a thick yellow envelope, the paper rustling between his fingers. Five thousand dollars in cash. Money he could barely afford to lose, but a necessary expense to ensure Kim's cooperation. And her disappearance.

He closed the distance between them in seconds. Shoving the envelope against her chest, he forced her to stumble back. Before she could even register the impact, his hand was around her throat, fingerssinking into her soft flesh with bruising pressure. He dragged her gaze to his, forcing her to see the absolute seriousness in his eyes. She needed to understand. To know he didn’t make idle threats.

Kim's pulse fluttered frantically beneath his hand, like a trapped bird desperate to escape. He could feel her heartbeat accelerating, could see her pupils dilating. Good. Fear would keep her silent. Fear would ensure her compliance.

"You're going to take that five grand, take the truck, and leave," Daniel snarled, his face inches from hers. "I don't care where you go or what you do with it. If you call the cops, I will find you. If you stop and tell anyone what you've seen here, I will find you. Leave town, leave the state, and forget all of this. Do you understand?"

With each word, he tightened his grip incrementally, watching her face redden, watching her eyes begin to water. She needed to understand that this wasn't a bluff, wasn't an empty threat. He had her name, her information. He thought with cold clarity,And I will. If she betrays me, I'll hunt her down just like I hunted down Anna.

Kim nodded as much as she could while his hand constricted her airway, her vision blurring at the edges as oxygen slipped away. Just when her eyes started to roll back, Daniel released her, shoving her so hard she collided with the door. The wood creaked under the impact, and she gasped, wheezing and coughing for breath.

She was sufficiently terrified.

Kim didn't hesitate. Survival instincts took over as she fumbled for the doorknob with shaking hands. The door flew open, and she bolted, footsteps pounding across the ground toward the house.

Daniel moved to the window, positioning himself where he could watch without being seen. His gaze remained fixed as he tracked her movements, watched her stumble to the truck, watched her fumble with the keys, watched the headlights flare to life. He muttered impatiently, "Come on. Get moving."

The engine roared to life. Gravel crunched beneath the tires as the truck lurched forward. The taillights grew smaller and smaller, twin red dots swallowed by darkness until they disappeared entirely.

A slow wave of satisfaction washed over him, warm and intoxicating. Kim was gone. The truck was gone, which would buy him time before anyone realized something was wrong. And Anna…

Anna is mine. All mine. No one to interrupt. No one to save her.