Layover (Open Skies Book 1) Read online

  He wiggled his brows. “I have a few ideas.”

  She giggled. “Good.” She thought she’d feel devastated, but she felt more relief than anything else. There was no doubt in her mind she’d just made the best decision of her life. No more tiptoeing around her mother, lying to make the woman think she was toeing the line. No more blind dates. From now on, Libby was free to be herself whether her mother liked it or not.

  Chapter 28

  Monday morning, Libby was in her kitchen sipping her first cup of coffee when a knock sounded at the door. She groaned, hoping it wasn’t another damn gift from Eddie. The man hadn’t sent her anything or even texted in over a week and she’d let her guard down.

  Libby shuffled slowly toward the door. She should have taken Jason up on his offer to spend the night last night. The only reason she hadn’t was because she knew he needed to get to work early today, and she hadn’t wanted him to do so on only two hours of sleep. Because the truth was, if she’d stayed, they wouldn’t have slept at all.

  She was thinking about the way he’d stripped her naked and taken her over his knees when they got back to his house. The feel of his palm on her bottom lingered to this morning, a delicious sensation that had led to one of the best orgasms of her life.

  With a smile on her lips, she opened the front door.

  Two men stood there. They were huge and dressed in mostly black. Black jeans and T-shirts and boots. They looked fierce and daunting.

  “Can I help—”

  The one closest to the door flattened his hand on it and pushed it the rest of the way open. Without a word, he stepped inside, his friend behind him.

  “Hey, what are you doing?” She jumped back, her coffee sloshing over the edge of the mug to burn her hand. When the men shut the door behind them, she dropped the mug entirely. It shattered, hot coffee splashing her bare legs.

  Libby screamed. “Fuck! Get out of here. Who the hell are you?”

  The slightly larger of the men grabbed her arm and hauled her toward him, lifting her almost off the floor.

  She stopped breathing as she met his menacing glare. Just when she thought he might speak, the second guy grabbed her other arm and held it tight in his grip. She twisted her neck just in time to watch him jab a needle into her biceps.

  Full-on panic filled her, and she jerked hard to get away from the men. She screamed as loud as she could, but the first man covered her mouth with his enormous hand.

  Her heart raced, and sweat beaded on her forehead. Who the hell were these guys? What did they want from her? She kicked at the man’s shins, but her efforts were futile. She was far too small to compete with them, and whatever the man had injected her with was taking effect. She was fading.

  She struggled as hard as she could, like a rag doll in the hands of a giant. Fear like nothing she’d ever experienced filled her veins, and then the world went black.

  Chapter 29

  Jason was standing in Tank’s office that afternoon when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and answered it without looking. When he was at work, most of the calls that came in were from unknown numbers anyway. Since he was always juggling several clients, he didn’t have the luxury of screening calls. “Jason Nixon.”

  “Jason, it’s Christa. Have you talked to Libby today?” Her voice sounded urgent. No, she was freaked out.

  Jason instinctively put the phone on speaker. “No. Not since she left my house last night. Is everything okay?”

  “No. I don’t think so. I got home a few minutes ago, and she’s not here. Something’s wrong. Jason, I’m freaking out. Something is terribly wrong.” Her voice rose every few seconds.

  Tank stood and came closer. Sweets and Kraft must have heard them also because they came up behind Jason.

  “What makes you think something’s wrong, Christa?”

  “I knew as soon as I walked in the door. It wasn’t locked, and the entryway is covered with coffee. The mug is shattered all over the tile.”

  Jason’s heart stopped. “Did you try calling her?”

  “Yes,” she wailed. “Her phone is on the kitchen table, and so is her purse. She didn’t take her car or anything. Jason, I think someone took her.”

  “Fuck,” Jason muttered. “Get back in your car, okay? I’ll be right there.”

  Tank grabbed his keys. “Let’s go.” He all but shoved Jason out of his office toward the door. “I’ll drive.”

  Jason could not process what was happening. He was vaguely aware of the fact that he was leaving the office with his coworkers but nothing else.

  “I’ll take my car, too,” Kraft stated. “Sweets is with me. The two of you head to their condo. We’ll go to her parents’ house.” Kraft grabbed Jason’s arm. “Address?”

  Jason handed his phone to Kraft. “It’s the last address in my GPS.”

  Kraft tapped on the phone several times and handed it back before jogging toward his car.

  Jason climbed into the passenger side of Tank’s SUV and buckled his seatbelt on autopilot. Thank God the other guys jumped into action. They were all former military after all. Action was their specialty. Jason was numb. Not thinking straight. He needed to pull his head out of his ass and focus.

  “Talk to me,” Tank said. “Is there anyone who would want to harm Libby?”

  Jason ran a hand over his head. The only man he knew who had ever fucked with her was Eddie, but Jesus, would the man kidnap her?

  Tank was one step ahead of him. “What about this Eddie guy who’s been sending her flowers and shit?”

  Jason nodded. “That’s where we have to start.”

  Tank drove as fast as possible without causing them to get pulled over. He jerked the wheel to turn onto the last street hard enough for Jason to grab the door.

  Jason was out of the SUV and jogging toward Christa as she got out of her car. She had her arms wrapped around her middle and she was crying.

  Tank reached her first and set a hand on her back, so Jason turned and rushed toward the condo. The door was standing open, and Jason pushed it the rest of the way. He stopped breathing as he took in exactly what Christa had described. Coffee everywhere. Shattered ceramic, too. Nothing else was out of the ordinary.

  Tank came up behind Jason and looked inside. “No sign of a struggle. I don’t think they ever came past the foyer.”

  Jason ran a hand down his face. “I agree. Fuck.” He turned toward Christa. “Call the police. Wait for them. Tell them what you know. Unless you have any other ideas of people who might want to harm her, I suspect Eddie. We’re going to head to his house now.”

  Christa nodded, tears still streaming down her face. “I think she has his address in her phone.” She hurried past them and gingerly stepped through the coffee before racing across the room and returning with Libby’s phone.

  Jason opened it and found Eddie’s address under his contact information. He gave it to Tank and then handed the phone back to Christa. “Just in case the cops need it. Or if Libby calls. Jesus. If she calls…”

  “I’ll call you as fast as I can,” Christa assured him. “Go.” She was already dialing 911 as Jason and Tank rushed back to the SUV.

  Tank drove even faster this time while Jason called Kraft to let him know where they were heading. Kraft was at Libby’s parents’ house, but neither of her parents had heard from Libby since yesterday when Libby and Jason had visited. Ricardo and Maria were distraught according to Kraft, but Jason didn’t have time to deal with them right now.

  “Tell them to stay there in case Libby shows up. Christa called the police. Meet us at the address I’m going to text you.” He ended the call and grabbed the door again as Tank rounded another corner.

  “Glock 9. Glove compartment and another under the seat,” Tank informed him.

  Jason grabbed both and handed one to Tank who shoved it in the back of his jeans without slowing the car down.

  A few minutes later, Tank pulled the car up to a mansion. Libby had mentioned this place. S
he hadn’t exaggerated. What Jason didn’t understand was if Eddie lived here with his parents or not. Libby had seemed to think so, but Eddie was a grown man. No matter how rich daddy was, why would he still live with his parents?

  As they jogged up the front steps, a feeling of dread crawled up Jason’s spine. He didn’t like the vibe he got from this place already.

  Chapter 30

  Libby groaned as she rolled onto her side. Her head was pounding, and she couldn’t remember why that might be the case. She hadn’t been drinking last night. She’d been with Jason. Jason…

  She came fully awake, squinting into the room. Her heart rate picked up as she took in her surroundings. Where the hell am I? She gasped and tried to sit up as her memory returned. Something was keeping her from moving though. When she tugged on her arms, she realized they were tied together above her head.

  Libby twisted her head around to see the rope around her wrists and secured to the headboard. In a full panic, she jerked her gaze around the room. Nothing was familiar. She was in some sort of bedroom, but it had no windows. Just this queen-sized bed, a dresser, and a nightstand. Nothing else.

  It was plain and dark. The walls and ceiling were painted black. The furniture was also black. Even the sheets were black. The only reason she could see was because there was a night light plugged into the outlet on the wall across from her. The glow was enough.

  She tugged on her hands again, but all she managed to do was scrape her wrists. Already they were sore. She glanced at the rest of her body, wondering if she’d been injured or raped. Relief eased her nerves a tiny fraction when she found herself dressed in the tank top and boxer shorts she’d been wearing when the two giant men had abducted her. Her hair was still in the messy bun she’d slept in, whenever that had been.

  She was barefoot, same as when she’d answered the door too, and she wondered how long she’d been here as she recalled the needle and then blackness. They’d fucking drugged her. But why? What was she doing here?

  Suddenly the door opened, and someone filled the doorway. At first, all Libby could detect was a silhouette, and she was scared out of her mind. A second later, the man who entered made her nearly swallow her tongue.

  “Eddie?”

  He smiled as he approached, and then he sat next to her hip and set his hand on her torso.

  “What the hell, Eddie? Who were those men, and why am I here?”

  He patted her, making her cringe. “Shh. Calm down. You’re fine. No one hurt you. No one laid a hand on you while you were sleeping. I promise.”

  “Untie me. Eddie, fucking untie me right now.” She was furious and probably not making the best decisions, but all be damned if she was going to lie here whimpering like a weakling.

  His hand lifted from her stomach and then he cupped her face. “Take a breath. I’ll untie you as soon as you calm down. You’re not a prisoner here. I just wanted some time with you, and you weren’t answering my calls.”

  Like hell I’m not a prisoner here. Does he not know the meaning of the word prisoner? I’m the very fucking definition of prisoner.

  She took deep breaths, trying to calm down. Until he untied her, she wasn’t going to be able to do anything at all. She needed to gain his trust in order to figure out how to escape.

  “That’s my girl.”

  She flinched. “Don’t call me that.” Jesus. I’m not your fucking girl.

  He winced. “Libby… I need you to see that we’re a perfect match. That’s all.”

  “And you thought kidnapping me and holding me hostage would help me see reason?” She wished she could control her tongue, but there was no way.

  He shook his head. “Don’t be so dramatic. Some women fantasize about having a dominant man take them against their will.” He chuckled.

  Her eyes went wide. Was he fucking serious? And did he really think he was a Dominant? Because she had news for him. He was nothing but a fucking kidnapper. A bully. A piece of shit. He didn’t know the meaning of the word Dominant with a capital D.

  She tried to calm her racing heart and slow her breathing. “I’m not that kind of woman,” she informed him.

  He shrugged. “It was worth a try. I was hoping you might enjoy having things a bit rough.”

  Oh, I do. Just not with you, asshole.

  “I’ve heard a bit of bondage play really spices up a marriage.” He wiggled his brows, a ridiculous grin on his lips.

  She bit into her lip, forcing herself not to respond.

  “Can you be a good girl now so I can untie you?”

  She nodded.

  He slid his hands up her arms and worked on the knot at her wrists, freeing her a few minutes later.

  She gritted her teeth the entire time his hands were on her, pursing her lips, too. She couldn’t stand the smell of him, like cheap cologne and fake jewelry. He was wearing three chain necklaces, and they kept swinging against her chin as he worked the knot.

  Eddie looked like a gangster. The two times she’d seen him before, he’d been classy but not trashy. Today, he looked more like a drug lord, and she began to wonder if that wasn’t the case.

  Now that she thought back on the time she went to his house and met his parents, she wondered where all their money came from. Maybe her imagination was getting away with her, but she felt like she was in a mafia film.

  The moment Libby’s wrists were free she dug her heels into the mattress and shoved herself back against the headboard. She hated that she was wearing nothing more than a tank top and shorts. Her nipples were visible through the thin material.

  She pulled her knees up, caring more about covering her breasts than having Eddie see her thighs.

  He set his hand on her knee, but she jerked to the left to avoid his touch.

  He scowled. “Libertad, you need to listen to reason.”

  She opened her eyes wide. “No, Eddie, you need to listen to reason. What the fuck is your plan here? Did you think you could have me kidnapped and then just keep me?”

  He winced. “Stop saying kidnapped. That’s not at all what happened. I sent my men to pick you up because you wouldn’t respond to my texts and messages. I need you to listen to reason. If you’d just spend some time with me, you’d see that we are perfect for each other.”

  “So, your plan is to hold me hostage in this…” she glanced around, trying to decipher where she might be, “…basement? For how long, Eddie? Until I agree to be your girlfriend?” He was certifiable.

  He shook his head. “I’m offering far more than that, Libertad. I want you to marry me.” He smiled wide.

  Oh. Holy. Shit. He was beyond certifiable. “Marry you,” she deadpanned.

  “Yes. We’re a perfect alliance.”

  She begged to differ.

  “You’ll see in time that we make sense together. The entire community will attend our wedding. It’ll be the biggest event in years.”

  She stared at him. Did he honestly believe there was a snowball’s chance in hell she would ever agree to marry him? If so, and judging by the way he was talking, she needed to keep her mouth shut and figure out a way out of this situation. There was obviously no reasoning with the man.

  Eddie’s eyes widened. “Hey, I have something for you.” He snapped his fingers and rose from the bed.

  She watched him walk across the room and through a door she hadn’t noticed yet that she assumed might lead to an attached bathroom. She didn’t move an inch. Instead, she remained huddled in the corner of the bed against the headboard. She looked around the room again, trying to decide if she could make it to the door before he noticed.

  But he was only gone two seconds before he returned holding up a hanger with a black dress on it. “My men retrieved this from your bedroom when they picked you up. I want you to wear it for me. I just know you’ll be so very sexy in it.”

  Libby winced. That “dress” had less material than her current outfit.

  He waved her toward him. “Come on. I don’t have all day.”
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br />   She didn’t move. Mostly she wasn’t sure she could if she wanted to. She was scared out of her mind and fighting to pretend she was anything but. “Eddie, I’m still tired right now. Your men drugged me,” she pointed out. “I’m not sure I can even trust my legs to walk across the room yet.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re fine. Get up. You can either go change in the bathroom and maintain your modesty for another few hours until bedtime or I’ll help you out of your current clothes and put this on you myself.”

  She held her breath.

  “Or if you’d like, I could have my men come hold you while I cut those clothes off you and leave you naked until dinner time. Which is it?” He started walking toward the door. Were his henchmen in the fucking hallway?

  “Fine,” she muttered as she slid off the far side of the bed. She shuffled toward him, snatched the silk from his hands, and rushed toward the bathroom before he could try to enter with her. The moment she was clear of the door, she shut it and locked it.

  Her heart was racing. God damn it. How was she going to get out of the fucking predicament? If she didn’t come up with something fast, she was going to end up in Eddie’s bed, and the thought of his skin touching hers made her want to vomit.

  She hung the fucking dress on the back of the door and looked in the mirror. Her hair was still in the bun that was now a disaster sticking out all over. She used the toilet and then washed her hands and splashed water on her face.

  “Hurry up, Libertad. You have five minutes before I come in there.”

  Shit. She quickly took off her tank top and shorts before lifting the dress off the hanger and pulling it over her head. Fuck. A glance down revealed how low cut the front of the dress was. It showed far too much cleavage and her nipples were insanely obvious.

  She was no prude, but this dress was suitable only for a private striptease, and not with the man currently waiting for her on the other side of the door.