Chapter 53

**Angela’s POV**

Even in sleep he taunted me. His touch the most prominent and so real. It took me a moment to drift out of the state of sleep to find Brad caressing my cheek. He smiled smugly as my eyes allowed the entrance of light to grant me vision.

“Hmm.” I groaned and snuggled into the pillows. I heard his rich laughter before he pulled me to lie on top of him. I rested my hands firmly on his bare chest and felt drowsy by the heat of him.

“I have to go.” Regret laced his words. Or was I imagining it? This drunken state was no way a credit to my assumptions.

My grip on him tightened. “Where are you going?” I stalled for time.

“Closer to town I think. Dixon is adamant about taking the men to some place.” He replied.

“Some place?” I questioned. How could he not know where they were headed.

“Yeah, I retreated into my mind when he began talking. I didn’t exactly hear.” I felt his chest vibrate.

I pushed off him and rolled onto the bed. “Okay. I guess I will see you later.” I tried to not sound pathetic. I didn’t want him to go. I wanted him to stay right here with me.

He bent over me and gave me his most undoing smile and slowly bent his head closer to mine, connecting our lips teasingly. I pulled away.
“Go.” I muttered and leaned back into bed.

I felt the bed relieved from his weight and then he placed a lingering kiss on my forehead.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He promised and I hung on to that as I drifted off once more.

“What about you, Mrs Angela?” I snapped back to the present at the mention of my name by Mrs Dixon. We were having a late snack on her porch. The five women and Harvey sat beside me.

“Do you enjoy music?” She repeated the question after she had realized that I wasn’t paying much attention.

“I do actually. I used to play the piano when I was a girl.” I admitted and she beamed.

“Really! Fascinating, my youngest was very fond of piano music and we got her one for her birthday one year. You are welcome to view it. Though it pains me to say it is in the most secluded part of the house. My youngest loved to have privacy when practising.” She commented warmly.

“Thank you. I just might.” I replied. It had been years since I had set my fingers to the soothing keys of a piano.

After polite conversation the women decided to retire to their rooms and this is when, out of boredom I decided to take Mrs Dixon up on her offer to view the piano. I took Harvey along with me for company.

“I didn’t know you played.” He observed and I smiled.

“It was a long time ago.” I confessed. We finally came upon the room and Mrs Dixon was not exaggerating when she said it was very secluded. This part of their house seemed rarely used.

I pushed open the only door at the end of the hall and the majesty of a grand piano sitting elegantly in the middle of the room greeted me. Harvey and I walked towards it and my fingers skimmed its shape as I circled the exquisite instrument.

“Play something.” Harvey encouraged. I stood contemplating for a few seconds and then my fingers were running against the keys in a fluid motion. Almost as if I had never stopped. Harvey sat on a chair and listened as the music danced to all corners of the room.

I gently opened my eyes as the sing ended and Harvey and I smiled at each other.

Our attention was grabbed and plastered on the screeching growl of wooden door rubbing against the floor. A slim man walked into the room and my mind screamed recognition.

I was transported back to the flashing image of seeing him in Brad’s building and then again at a dinner party...what was his name? Eden? Ivan? Even? That was it. Brad had referred to him as Evans. My blood instantly crawled and he walked further into the room.

I instinctively pushed back from where I was sitting and stood rigidly. Staring at the man in contempt.

“Surely this time you remember me.” He drawled and I tried to smile but my muscles hurt and my entire body was on red alert. There was just something about this man that unnerved me.

“I believe I recall you faintly.” I replied as I walked over to Harvey and signaled to him it was time to go.

Evans smile deepened, “Maybe we can work on establishing a longer acquaintance?” He offered and this time I didn’t have the stomach to smile at that.

“Perhaps another time. We have to leave.” I tried to keep my tone as non-committed and emotionless as possible.

We started making our way to the door when an iron-clad grip pressurised my arm and wrought me back closer to the piano with such force that I almost lost my footing. Harvey made a step forward and before I could tell him to stop, Evans brought a hand down and connected it with his face. He fell back.

“Harvey!” I stood straighter and tried to reach for him but I was held back. I struggled but his grip was too much for me. The more I struggled the more pressure my bones undertook.

“Let me go!” I screamed, but he didn’t flinch.

Harvey rose and stood up, I eyed him and begged him with all the silent communication to leave. He must have understood me because he rushed to the door and flew out before Evans had a chance to stop him. I sighed inwardly.

Having the proper position and the gift of Evans’ attention off me I stomped my heel into his toe. He growled but instead of letting me go as I had hoped he pushed me forcefully away and I collided into the wall.

I let out a cry of pain as my head smacked against the barrier. I turned around and felt the hot liquid dripping from the wound. I touched it gently and confirmed I was bleeding. I turned my gaze back to Evans.

He stood by the door. It was now closed and his back leaned against it.

“Don’t you bank on that boy reaching anyone. All the men are in town. It’s just us. I can take my time.” He whispered and my blood froze over a hundred times.

He stared at me, a sick predator determined to have his prey. His eyes, the coldness I encountered there chilled me. I just wanted to run, to get as far away as possible but he was at the door.

“You don’t have to do anything. You can let me go and I will forget this ever happened.” I tried to reason with him, but I was sure my voice mirrored the thudding of my heart, fast and unsteady.

“It’s too late for that. Besides I don’t want to let you go.” He responded as if it was the most natural and obvious answer.

“You have no reason to harm me.” I spoke through clattering teeth. My body feeling weak.

“I have every reason, and when I am done with you...” He let his voice trail off and a smile wandered on his lips. “well let’s just say that no one will be able to gain anything else from you. I will be your last.” He gloated.

I felt sick, my throat burning with nausea and my body writhing with fear so intense that my chest ached with the force of my heart hitting against my chest.

“Why are you doing this to me?” I croaked, the hot sting of tears threatening to erupt.

“Doing to you? No dear, I am doing this for you. Ever since I saw you I knew this would be special. On the brighter side it will cause that insolent husband of yours some pain.” He chuckled.