All I've Never Wanted(122)

“Ugh!” I slapped my forehead. “I forgot to take you for a walk today, didn’t I?”

Mickey rested on his haunches, and actually nodded once.

I groaned. I’m such an idiot. I should’ve known. He always got unbelievably hyper and restless and loud when he didn’t get his walk.

“How about I take you out for two walks tomorrow? I have a big date tonight,” I persuaded, feeling a bit silly for negotiating with a dog. I swear he understands what I’m saying though.

Mickey’s tail swished back and forth as he whined again, then growled.

I sighed, looking at my watch again. “Fine. I’ll take you for one very, very short walk. Ok?”

He barked happily.

I shook my head, as I went to get his leash. “You’re going to be the death of me one day,” I joked, leading him out to the front yard and locking the door behind me.

I probably had just enough time for a quick walk around the block before Roman got here.

“You should be glad I love you so much,” I added sternly. Mickey yelped, pawing me again with an adoring look in his eyes.

“Come on, Mr. Diva, let’s go.”

As we made our way down the sidewalk, I shivered a bit. I should’ve grabbed more than a flimsy shawl to protect me against the chilly late fall air. I could feel the goosebumps erupting on my flesh, and I quickened my pace a bit, both to warm me up and to hurry our walk so I could return to the warmth of my home faster.

Mickey trotted happily down the street, as well-behaved as always, giving me time to reflect on my conversation with my father earlier this week.

It had been awkward, to say the least. When I’d finally broached the subject of Lexi, I swear he turned so white he could’ve passed for Casper, the Very Guilty Ghost. Needless to say, he had been more than a little suspicious about why I needed Lexi’s name. I was more than happy to tell him, because a) it definitely bruised his ego, which he deserved, and b) perhaps he could shed some light on why someone would hire her to seduce him.

My father had been understandably stunned, but unfortunately, he had no clue why someone would do that, although he did manage to tell me Lexi’s full name: Alexa Weston.

Not that it had been much help. I couldn’t find anything on her online.

Mickey barked again, the sound echoing in the silent night, and I suddenly realized all my neighbors seemed to be out. None of the lights were on in the surrounding houses, and the whole scene was actually a bit creepy.

A shiver snaked down my spine, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me.

Stop being so paranoid, I tried to console myself. There’s no one here. Valesca is one of the safest towns in the US.

Still, the feeling didn’t go away. I was about to reach into my pocket for my phone when I realized I didn’t have any pockets. I also didn’t have my phone.

I groaned. Wow, I’m an idiot. I stopped, yanking lightly on the leash.

“Sorry, buddy, it’s time to go home,” I whispered to Mickey, who cocked his head at me quizzically. I’m not even sure why I was whispering.

I just knew I didn’t want to be outside any longer.

As we made a U-turn back to the house, I heard the soft roar of a car in the distance, and without even thinking, I quickened my step. It wasn’t quick enough though, because a moment later, a discreet black SUV came into view, and it seemed to be driving awfully slow.


My heart now in my throat, I gripped Mickey’s leash tightly, just as he erupted into a series of loud, panicked barks.

“Mickey! What’s wrong?” He wasn’t helping my nerves.

Mickey just kept barking, and finally, I decided to just screw it. I broke into a run, my heart pounding with adrenaline. I heard the distinct slam of a door behind me, and I let out a scream when I felt someone grab me.

Before I could even attempt to fight back, though, pain ripped through my head, and Mickey’s barks gradually grew fainter as I fell into oblivion.

CHAPTER 28

My head was pounding. I swear I could feel my brain hammering against my skull, desperate to burst out of its confines, which didn’t exactly ease the nauseous feeling in my stomach.

I slowly opened my eyes, disoriented, and was nearly blinded by the bright strip of fluorescent lights overhead. I winced, but once I got used to the harsh lighting, I realized I wasn’t at home.

In fact, I was sitting tied to a wooden chair in the middle of what looked like a warehouse.

The events of last night crashed into my mind at full force, and my body tensed as fear flooded it. My heart beat erratically against my chest, and I looked frantically around at my surroundings, trying to find something, anything, that could help me.

There wasn’t much. The entire room was gray, the floors cracked, the paint on the walls chipped. There was no other light save for the ones above my head, and the only exit I could see was the giant, forbidding steel gate at the other side of the room, the kind used in industrial buildings.

“Well, lookey here. The girl’s awake.”

A shiver snaked down my spine, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up as a skinny, tattooed guy with messy brown hair came into view, a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. He wore a dirty stained beater and ripped jeans, and his dark eyes were hard and cold as he gazed at me.

“Who are you?” I tried to keep my voice and stomach steady. “What am I doing here?”