Page 81 of The Restoration Program

“H-hi,” Nicole managed to say. “My boyfriend—I mean, myhusband, just stepped away for a second while we wait for our takeout. He’s right over there—”

Her backpedal came to a stop when her dress and ankles bumped the computer monitor’s base. Her arms windmilled for purchase, but she didn’t fall—at least not on the counter. The busboy shot his hand out and caught her.

As she scrambled to push herself up from his palm, his fingers snapped inward. “You’re so soft,” he breathed.

“Let go,” she gasped, her voice quickly escalating to a shriek. “Let meGO!”

He seized her entirely and swept her off the counter. Her cries were muffled as he held her against the front of his shirt.

“HEY!” Ryan’s voice thundered.

Choking on stale air, Nicole squirmed to see Ryan facing them from the other side of the podium. He was taller than this guy, Nicole noticed. He could take him. Only two steps, and he could force the man to free her.

The busboy seemed to follow a similar train of thought. He seized a steak knife off a passing tray and brandished it at Ryan. “D-don’t move. Don’t fucking move.”

The serrated edge moved to hover over Nicole’s throat. The busboy backed away like an animal keeping a predator in its sights. When he was at the front doors, he dropped the knife and bolted.

New sounds erupted around her as the busboy burst out onto the busy sidewalk. The world rattled, but Nicole pushed back desperately, her legs tangling uselessly in the silks of her dress skirt.

“Stop!” Ryan shouted, his voice somewhere close behind.

Enraged footsteps pounded in their direction. Glass shattered. She heard him shoving people out of his way.

Nicole squirmed madly and twisted her head enough to get a scream out, but her captor shushed her and tightened his hold until she had no breath to make a sound.

Everything swam in dizzying colors. The busboy sprinted across the road, dodging traffic to get ahead of Ryan. Horns blared and made Nicole’s ears ring painfully. She caught glimpses of cars and trucks swerving to avoid them. A deafeningcrunchtold her that someone had been rear-ended. She squeezed her eyes shut, certain they were about to be struck. All she could see was herself, sitting in her totaled car with the steering wheel caving her chest in.

When the busboy slowed to a stop, Nicole was weeping inconsolably. By some miracle, they had survived. As he pulled her away from his shirt, she saw that he had ducked into an alleyway. Sniffling, she looked up slowly at his face.

His blond hair was tousled from his run. There was something entirely unbridled in his eyes as he gawked at her. He lifted her higher, both hands clutched around her like he was holding a doll. His thumbs dug painfully into her stomach.

“P-please,” she said breathlessly, trying to pry the pressure off. “Please… What do you want with me?”

He exhaled in wonder. “I’ve never seen one of you so close.” One of his thumbs easily shoved her hands off as he stroked the front of her dress up and down. “I’ve wanted one ever since those ads started playing. Look at you… You’re so beautiful. You’reperfect.”

For a moment, Nicole felt like she had left her body. This was a nightmare. This was too hilariously, goddamnawfulto happen to her on her wedding day.

The busboy adjusted his grip, shoving his other hand under her tulle skirt to feel her legs. He moaned as her bare skin hit against his fingertips. Something animal loosened in her chest.

Nicole twisted, biting down hard on the webbing between his forefinger and thumb. The man’s grunt of alarm heightened into real pain as she grit harder, determined to draw blood. She kicked and writhed, and he shouted at her to stop, shaking her.

“I’m not merchandise you can shoplift!” Nicole wailed. It fuckinghurtwhen he shook, but she couldn’t stop.

“Shut up! Stop screaming.” He seemed unsure now, like he had expected her to be limp and docile during her own kidnapping. Her mouth was covered again by his thumb, and this time there was no traction for her to bite down. “I’m going to give you a new home with me. You’re going to be mine now, okay?”

Nicole’s eyes went wide, but the world spun again. Something huge barreled into the alley and slammed into her captor.

“Let her go!” Ryan shouted. “Let her go, NOW!”

Nicole shrieked as the men struggled. Ryan had the busboy pinned against the brick wall with an arm against his throat.

“Get the fuck off me,” the busboy wheezed.

Ryan decked him in the face. The vice grip loosened around her. Ryan immediately took advantage and pried her into his grasp, cradling her close.

“Are you okay?” he demanded.

She could barely think, let alone speak. All she could do was cry and cling to him. Ryan’s gaze lifted, expression twisting in rage. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”