Redemption Hills: The Complete Collection

44. Aster

FORTY-FOUR

ASTER

I was grinning when I went to the closet and pulled another of Logan’s shirts from a hanger. I put it on and buttoned it, then I padded back out into the kitchen to finish mixing the batter for the cookies.

There was no wiping the smile from my face. The joy that had seated itself deep.

It was amazing what could change in thirty days.

Thirty days.

It was funny that I’d intended them to free myself of Jarek’s chains. Even that should have been impossible.

Still, I’d known I had to fight to find my freedom.

To find myself .

And I did.

I did.

But I’d also found so much more.

I’d found joy and hope and love. I found the family I’d been missing. I found the belief in a man that I’d lost long ago.

We’d thought our dreams crushed.

But in those thirty days?

We’d found revival.

A resurrection.

Redemption.

A small giggle floated out when there was a tapping at the door. I grabbed a hand towel and wiped my hands and started across the room on my bare feet, a smile tugging at my mouth when I called, “What did you forget? I hope it was another kiss.”

I let the playfulness roll out with it.

This joy that possessed.

Logan had only been gone for little more than a few minutes, and I was already missing him.

There was no response.

Frowning, I pressed my ear to the wood to listen. “Logan?”

A shot of unease rippled through.

Dread slipped like ice down my spine.

Cold as it spread.

Because in that second, I knew it. I knew it just as sure as I knew the child that grew in my belly.

And I’d never let it happen.

Not this time.

I turned on my heel to run for my phone. That was right when two huge bangs crashed against the door. Wood splintered and metal twisted.

Alarm pounded through my bloodstream.

No.

On the third hit, it busted wide open.

A scream ripped up my throat, and I kept running as I looked back to find a man in the doorway who held a metal battering ram.

Jarek stepped around him and came through the doorway.

Evil curled through the air.

My knees nearly buckled, but I forced myself to hold down the fear.

I just had to make it to the bedroom where I’d left my phone and everything would be okay.

My bare feet slapped on the dark floor, but it was the sound of the heavy footsteps that grew closer and closer that sent terror ripping through my veins.

With each thudded step, his vile presence swarmed the room.

I pushed myself harder, flying into the bedroom and going for the nightstand.

I heaved a breath when I grabbed my phone, but Jarek was on me before I could even bring the screen to life. His hand flew out in the same motion, smacking me across the face. The force toppled me onto the bed. “You stupid bitch.”

Horror tore from my throat and banged against the thick walls.

No.

No.

I couldn’t let this happen.

He grabbed a handful of the shirt at the neck and jerked me up to standing. “Where is it, Aster, where is the stone?”

My head violently shook, and I clawed at his hand. “I don’t know.”

“You’re a fucking liar.” Hatred burned in his expression. “You think you’re going to ruin everything, don’t you? Stop me? I will have what I want. He will not make a fool of me again.”

Jarek jerked me forward and began to drag me back through the apartment.

I tore at his arm, fighting his hold, screaming, “No, someone help! Please, someone help me.”

He pulled my back to his chest and cupped his palm over my mouth. “Keep screaming and you die. At this point, I’m beginning to believe you’ve worn out your use.”

Still, I kicked and flailed as Jarek half carried, half dragged me into a stairwell meant for the maintenance team.

They quickly rushed down the stairs, the two men’s feet pounding on the concrete steps.

The whole time, I fought. Desperation thick, I scratched and clawed at Jarek’s hand while trying to sink my teeth into his palm.

It wasn’t enough.

It wasn’t enough.

They banged through a door that led into the back of the building where there was an employee parking lot for the stores and restaurant that housed the main floor.

I kicked and flailed my bare legs into the frigid, ice-cold air. “No!” It slurred against his palm.

Right outside, a man waited at the back door of a limousine. He opened it, and Jarek tossed me inside.

I shouted with everything I had as I slid into the leather seat on one side.

“Help! Please.” Frantically, I smacked my palms against the glass.

Jarek climbed in. “Shut your fucking mouth.”

Two doors slammed shut and the car jolted forward, the tires squealing as we peeled from the lot.

I banged both palms against the glass as if I could break free.

The low, sinister laughter that curled through the limousine made my head whip around to find another man I hadn’t realized was there.

Haille Manchief sat across from me with a smug smile on his pompous face. His head was cocked to the side, studying me as if I were the most interesting element in this twisted-up game. “Ah, there you are. I thought you were going to prove interesting.”

He took his attention from me and set it on Jarek who raged beside me.

“He’ll come. Just wait. It is done.”