“Tie her up. Let’s get this done.”

I barely comprehend my bound wrists being thrown above my head and tied to the tree. Desolation consumes me as I feel my dress, then panties, being torn from my body.

“Me first.”

Hearing those two words, I don’t fight to stay conscious any longer. My last thought before I succumb to darkness is Pap, knowing this is going to kill him, and he will have no one left to take care of him once I’m gone.

CHAPTER 7

Grayson

It’s been a long day, longer than usual. Even though I should really stay and finish my reports, I decide to say fuck it and file it away for tomorrow. I can’t focus right now. After my run-in with that dick Clint Larson, I haven’t been able to concentrate on much of anything.

The smug bastard.

It drives me crazy that Dixon lets him in on so much of our shit, especially the Bradshaw case. By the remarks he was making today it’s clear he still wants Olivia. When I heard he went out there to check on her I wanted to knock him the fuck out.

Jealousy and possessiveness are a foreign feeling to me. I’m not the type to get jealous. I’ve always preferred to have a good time and move on.

Until Liv.

It’s a scary fucking feeling considering I haven’t even had an official date with her yet, but somehow that girl has me tied up in all sorts of knots. Just the thought of that arrogant asshole hanging around her pisses me off.

“What’s up, man?” Terrell asks with an arrogant grin on his face, carrying a file under his arm that is likely filled with his completed daily reports.

It makes me think of my incomplete ones I just filed away. “Boy scout.” I joke.

“Slacker,” he fires back.

Terrell and I went to high school together, and although we played on the same football team we never hung out. We didn’t get to know each other until he joined the department about a year after me. We’ve grown pretty tight since, and he’s definitely someone I trust to always have my back.

“My house tomorrow night for the game. You in?” he asks.

“I don’t know,” I reply, unsure if my goddamn paperwork will be done by then.

“What do you mean, you don’t know? These are the playoffs we’re talking about.”

I grunt.

“Fine, be a pussy. I was going to have my sister bring Liv over, but hey…” He shrugs with a knowing grin.

I grimace, hating that I asked him about Liv the other day because he hasn’t stopped busting my balls about it since, which is why I haven’t told him about my date with her yet. But I still jump at the chance of seeing her before then. “Fine. I’m in.”

The asshole chuckles. “That’s what I thought. See you tomorrow.”

“Johnson, hold up.” I call him back before he can walk away. “What’s with that prick Larson going out to see her?”

He tenses with a scowl. “How do you know he went to see her?”

“I heard him mention it when he was talking to Dixon today.”

He shakes his head in frustration. “Who knows, that asshole still has it bad for her. No matter how many times she shuts him down. I’m just glad Liv is smart enough not to fall for his shit again.”

Me too, but the bastard better take the hint soon, or else.

“Later, man.” he says, walking out.

“Later.”

I close my computer down before making my way to the exit. On my way out I stop by dispatch to say good night to Lucy.

“Callin’ it a day, darlin’?” she asks with a warm smile.

“Yeah. You need anything before I head out?”

“Nope… I’m all good, but make sure you stop by and see your mama on the way home. She was tellin’ me today over lunch how much she misses you.”

I just saw her the other night when I went over for dinner. I try not to complain because I know she misses my dad. His death was hard for us both, especially her. I try to check in with her as much as I can, but sometimes it’s hard with my work schedule. “Yeah, I’ll stop by and see her.”

She smiles. “I knew you would because you’re a good boy. Have a nice night, Grayson.”

“You too, Miss Lucy.”

Nodding with a smile, she fields an incoming call. I give her one final wave and have my hand on the door when the sound of her voice stops me mid-step.

“All right, now just hold on. I’m gonna need you to calm down and take a deep breath. I can’t understand a word you’re sayin’, sweetheart.”

I turn back and move closer to the window so I can hear her better. Her eyes meet mine, and I can see the silent panic flickering there.

“Sir, you have to slow down so I can understand what you’re saying. Who’s gonna die?”

Her words have me reaching my hand through the window to take the call. She pushes a button to release the call from her headset and hands me the receiver.

The male voice on the other end is frantic and distorted, making it hard to understand him, but I manage to make out his last few words. “You better hurry, they’re gonna kill her!”

“This is Deputy Taylor. I need you to calm down and explain to me what you’re talking about. Who are they going to kill?”

“Olivia Bradshaw.”

My heart sinks like an anchor in a sea of red as time comes to a complete standstill. “Who is this?” I ask, barely able to hear myself through the blood rushing in my ears.

“That doesn’t fucking matter! You need to get to the Wheeler property now or they’ll kill her.”

The line goes dead, and for a second I think my heart stops beating altogether.

“Grayson? Who was it?”

Without responding, I drop the phone back in the window and haul ass to my patrol truck. Flipping on my siren, I peel out of the parking lot. The entire four miles it takes me to get to Wheeler Road I pray this is some stupid fucking kid pulling a prank, but the feeling in the pit of my stomach and the desperation of the caller tells me it’s not.

The gate to the property is closed, but I ram through it. The clash of metal upon metal doesn’t slow me down as I press harder on the gas, kicking up a cloud of dust in my wake. Once I make it through the thicket of trees I stop at the clearing, throw my car in park, and get out. Scanning the field, I see nothing amiss. No indication that anyone has even been here.

“Olivia!” I yell, my eyes darting frantically in every direction. I hop back in my truck and follow the path across the field, and that’s when I see something lying on the ground up ahead.

Coming to a stop again, I get out and walk closer. Pure fear grips my chest like a tight vise when I see it’s a bloody dress and tattered underwear.

What the fuck?

“Olivia!”

I start running, but have no fucking clue where I’m headed. I yell her name repeatedly, my voice hoarse. I spot a big oak tree at the back of the property and my swift feet falter. “Oh fuck!” Bile rises in my throat and my stomach recoils. It’s something I couldn’t even conjure up in my worst nightmare.

Liv tied to a tree, naked, and beaten.

I rush toward her, pulling out my pocketknife. I flip it open with a deafening click as I fall to my knees beside her. “Jesus, Liv, can you hear me?” My hand trembles as I quickly slice the rope, freeing her from the base of the tree. I try to swallow around the knot in my throat, searching for a pulse.

I exhale a breath of relief when I find the faint thrum of life beneath my fingers. Reaching for the mic attached to my shoulder, I bring it to my dry mouth.

“10-79 to dispatch.”

“Go ahead, 10-79.”

“I need an ambulance at the Old Wheeler property.” My voice cracks as I try to get the words out. “I’m at the south entrance.”

“10-4.”

“Hang on, Liv. Help’s comin’, baby.” I rip my uniform shirt off and cover her broken, battered body as much as I can. Then, before I can stop myself, I turn to the side and purge the contents of my stomach, knowing the image of her bound to this tree will be ingrained in my mind forever.