Chances (Mystic Nights #1)(44)

Peter’s response to her plea was to lift his foot. In her panic she twisted away and it was her back he connected with.

Again, she saw stars. The pain was incredible, but she had to stop him. “Peter, please stop. I’m pregnant.” She had to protect this baby. The moment Jonathan had left, and she had collected herself, she had gone to the drug store and had bought a pregnancy test. Her suspicions had been confirmed. She was pregnant. She didn’t know if it would matter to Peter, but she had to try. This baby meant everything to her now.

Again he laughed in that tone that told her he had lost his mind. “That’s just f*cking perfect. And just like a woman to trap a man. My mother did it. Cost me being part of Foxwoods and the eastern Pequot tribe. Bitch.”

Through the pain, Aliya managed to get onto her knees and was just beginning to pull herself up. She needed to keep this baby safe. She wanted this child. In her heart she knew it was the most important thing.

Peter shoved her back down, but instead she fell to the small sofa behind her. “I was going to f*ck you, too. But his cock was there first. That sickens the shit out of me.”

“Please, Peter. No,” she cried at the thought of him forcing himself on her. She had to stop him. Delay him. Her eyes scanned the room furtively, looking for something, anything, she could use as a weapon. His words stilled her once more.

“Tears won’t stop me from what I have in mind for you. God, you are such a slut. Now stay put, or I will really beat the shit out of you.” He waved a gun at her. He had pulled it out from behind him. He must have had it tucked into the back of the waistband of his jeans. Her fears increased tenfold. She could protect the baby from his kicks and punches. But a gun? A cold dread settled upon her.

She watched carefully as Peter went to the computer he had set up at the desk in the corner of the room. She kept glancing around looking for any means of escape as he clicked around the computer screen.

“Stay put,” he reminded her with a wave of his gun, when she had moved forwards just a bit, a fraction of an inch only. But he had seen. Aliya immediately stilled. Her only movement was to gently touch her stomach. It was instinct that made her do it. That and a growing sense of queasiness. She felt like she might be sick. She needed to calm down.

She heard him laugh as he continued to work at the computer. “You’re folks left here to better you, and what did you do, got engaged to some cop, and knocked up. No better than half the girls on this reservation. Then what did you go do? You killed that baby. And if you’re not careful, bitch, this one will die too.”

Fear trickled down her spine. She could not let that happen. This baby, Jonathan’s baby, she knew she wanted to save it more than anything. She couldn’t stop the flow of tears that came as panic set in. “I was young. Stupid then. Please, Peter. I’ll do anything you say. Just please don’t hurt me, or this baby.”

Again he laughed while she heard several more clicks of the mouse. “If you want that bastard in your belly to survive this time, just make no sudden moves. Be a good girl for once, and do as you’re told.”

Aliya contemplated her options, and for now, following his directions seemed the only way not to further inflame him. So she kept quiet, rocking softly back and forth, she prayed. It was only a minute, but it seemed like a lifetime before he spoke again. “Well, it’s time to go. We are all set,” he murmured more to himself than to her as he got up from his chair and began to approach her once more.

The sense of foreboding washed over her. She felt the chill of his words deep inside. “Set for what? Where are we going?” Her words came out in a croaking whisper.

“Going? I’ve got four million dollars sitting in an offshore account. And you my pretty, leggy friend, slut that you are, are my ticket out of here.” His hand gripped her elbow roughly, and he pulled her up to him. He drew her close. Closer until she was just in inch away from his hard eyes and snarling lips. “Let’s go for a boat ride. And if you scream on the way, I’ll shoot you.”

She felt him turn her towards the door, the gun pressed to the small of her back. “Now move.”

Her legs were wooden, but they moved when he added a shove.

Gripping the door handle, she turned it, and took the first few steps. He followed her out, shutting the door behind him. All the while she felt the gun pressed into her flesh. Until she could get the gun away from him, she couldn’t risk him shooting her. Swallowing down her fear, and standing taller in her resolve, she was determined to find away to make her escape without getting hurt. She had to. She needed to. It was everything.

As they began to walk down the pier towards Peter’s small thirty foot sloop, he spoke once more. “You tipped Jonathan off by telling him you’ve seen me with Simon.”

“I didn’t. I swear. I really don’t know what you are talking about.” Her eyes darted furtively. There was no one out. It was too cold for people to be going out fishing. Especially this time of day. All the real fishermen had left and returned home.

“It doesn’t matter now.” She heard him breathing hard behind her in the early March winds. “I don’t believe a word you say anyhow. I’ve got the money in one account now. And I’ve got you.”

They were quickly approaching his boat. Still no one was around to see them leave. Not even the harbor master. “Why would you do this? To your own people?” she asked through the tears that were freezing as they ran down her cheeks. She was losing her last chance.