Page 33 of The Maverick

Greg gunned the engine and sped up.

At the last moment, Earl jumped to the side, but the car clipped him and he was thrown.

Rachel screamed, then turned in the seat to see if he got up. She let out a pent up breath when she saw him rise to his feet and run back toward the guard house.

“What do you want, Greg? We’re divorced and you’re violating a restraining order. I have nothing to give you.”

He turned the car toward the highway and gunned the engine.

She jerked back in her seat.

“A piece of paper can’t take you from me. Didn’t you realize that at that house you rented? I’ll always find you, and I’ll always get you to be with me. I don’t care what you’re new boyfriend does. He can’t keep you from me, no matter who he is.”

“You leave Nick and Jake out of this. It’s between you and me.” Her voice was harsh. She was glad it didn’t waver as she spoke. Fear and anger warred within her, and she couldn’t decide which she was more of. “Where are you taking me?”

“To this little out-of-the-way place I found. You’ll like it. It’s small and cozy, out in the country not far from here, and the best part...” He looked over at her. “Do you know what the best part is, Rachel?”

Please, don’t leave me alone with him. Nick, I need you.“No, but I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

“No one can hear you scream. And you will scream.”

Her hands began to shake. “You don’t have to do this. You can still go back to New York and continue your life. Don’t do this, Greg. When Nick finds you—and he will find you—he’ll make you wish you were the one who is dead.”

“Your boyfriend won’t find me. I’ve worked it all out. I’ve been watching that house of his for a long time. It wasn’t hard to find. Everything is available on the Internet.”

Could he be right? No, I refuse to believe it. Lord, help me. “You’re wrong. Nickwillfind me, and when he does, you’ll wish you’d never been born.”

He raised his fist to hit her.

Gasping, she put up her hands to stop the blow.

Greg lowered his fist and laughed. “You still remember to put your hands up, but that won’t save you. You’re mine, Rachel. I’ll never give you up.”

“And what about Jake? What will happen to him when I’m dead and you’re in prison. Not that I want you to raise him, anyway. He’d be better off in the foster system than turning into a monster like you.”

He looked at her, murder was in his eyes as he narrowed them. His nostrils flared. “I don’t care what happens to that whelp. I never wanted him to begin with. That was your doing. I should have had a vasectomy instead of relying on your birth control pills.”

“Jake is the only good thing you’ve ever done. I should have recognized what you are before I married you, but you had that all planned, too, didn’t you? You wined and dined me and made me fall in love with you. Then even after I married you, I didn’t see you for the monster you are. You didn’t show me that side of you for months. I actually thought I was lucky to have caught you.” She laughed bitterly.

“You were lucky. I was a catch. Do you know how many undergrads threw themselves at me? I picked you because you didn’t. You seemed immune to my charms. You were a challenge, and I always did love a challenge.”

“I was lonely and stupid. I know that now. You need to let me go, Greg,” she turned toward him but kept her arms poised to protect her if needed, “before you do something stupid that you can’t take back.”

“I think you need to shut your trap before I shut it for you.”

She knew he would make good on that, so she kept quiet...for a few minutes. She looked up at the bus as they passed it and mouthedhelp. She felt her body start to shake as she looked out the windshield and passenger window for landmarks. Unfortunately, she saw little but flat prairie dotted with small stands of trees and houses behind the trees. “You know Nick will find me. He has the best security team in the world. They’ll track you and find you. You didn’t cover your tracks that well, you probably even used your credit card to rent this car, especially since they won’t rent them without a credit card.”

He narrowed his eyes.

She was right and smirked. “You didn’t even think about that did you? I know you, and you don’t think before you do something. That’s why I know Nick will find me, and he’ll kill you if you hurt me.”

Greg growled and fisted his right hand.

Rachel prepared for the blow.

He lashed out, hitting her arms as she raised them. He returned his gaze to the road.

If she kept deflecting his blows he would eventually get tired of it and just drive.