A Shifter's Healing Love Read online

  “If you want to live a life outside of that room and his ruling, you need to get away and do as I have said. I can’t even promise that if he was to find you, he might let you live.” Truth shone back at her from his eyes before guilt and tiredness returned. “I’ve wronged you, and the baby you could be carrying might have a slim chance of being mine. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not setting you free because of that. I’m doing this because he had no right to kidnap you. No one should be used and abused.”

  He glanced down at his feet.

  “When he told me about you, I was shocked. We’ve been friends for many years, and I could hardly believe what he was saying. When I saw you, I knew I had to find a way to get you free. I didn’t want to rape you. I found out about his trip two months ago so had to bide my time. That, however, meant raping you. I know that isn’t an excuse, but you don’t know this man like I do. We wouldn’t have stood a chance of doing this until now, you have to trust me.” Lifting his head, he peered into her eyes. “From what I know, you’ve been locked up for about a year, and I estimate you’re about six weeks pregnant.”

  Violet sat shocked and sick to her stomach. A year! Her life had revolved around being beaten, whipped, and stuck in that small white room, as well as constantly raped, for a year. And here she was pregnant and unsure where her life was heading. Glancing at the office door again, she knew she was just a few feet away from escape, a suitcase of money sat beside her, and the man who’d raped her along with Master was telling her he was freeing her.

  Panic hit her. She found it hard to breathe again, and she could feel her heart sporadically missing beats. Was she having a heart attack?

  Kevin’s voice slipped into her foggy mind. “Calm down, Violet. It’s okay.”

  She wanted to scream at Kevin—Master Two—that no, it wasn’t okay, nothing was right. What would she do now? Kevin was telling her that Master was so rich that the only life she would have was one where she’d be constantly looking over her shoulder. Swallowing, she spoke for the first time, the ultimate test to see if this was actually happening. Master never allowed her to speak without punishment.

  “What if I was to go to the police?” Her voice was cracked and hoarse from disuse, causing her to cough.

  Kevin quickly rose and poured water from a jug into a glass. Violet stared at the door, waiting for it to open and Master to come in and reaffirm her beliefs this was all a test. Instead, a glass of water was placed in her shaky hands. Kevin cupped them and smiled at her. A smile that didn’t reach his guilty and sorrowful eyes.

  She looked down at the glass like it was poison. What if she drank it and went to sleep again, only to wake up in the room once more?

  As if reading her thoughts, Kevin urged her to drink. “Drink, and don’t worry, it’s just water.”

  Shit, this was more torture than being in the room. Believe or don’t? Truth or fake? It all went around in her wounded mind. Deciding to take the plunge, she drank the water down, relishing the coolness hitting the back of her throat.

  “To answer your question, the police aren’t a good idea, or I’d take you myself. As I said, Master has more money than the queen. He is also a fucking good lawyer.”

  Violet clung to that piece of information in case she ever needed it, and filed it away in her mind. Master was a lawyer and rich.

  “You need to travel to a far-off place, and buy a small house that is totally technology free. Stay away from city centers or places that might catch you on camera, otherwise, he could find you. Violet, I mean what I say, you have to stay under the radar, no social media or stuff like that. Do you understand?”

  She decided to ask another question since the first hadn’t resulted in punishment. “This is real?”

  Kevin closed his eyes and nodded before opening them again. “I promise you it’s real.”

  Without wanting to feel hope, it bloomed in her chest like a flower opening its petals in the morning sun.

  “Now, we need to get you out of this building without security stopping you.” Kevin pulled out a card attached to a lanyard. “Put this around your neck.”

  Violet did as he asked after placing her empty glass on the table.

  “I’m going to distract Master’s receptionist. When I do, grab this case and calmly walk out the door and go to the right toward the lift. Once you’re in the elevator go to the ground floor. By the time you reach that I will have caused a distraction for the security guards so you can walk straight out of the building without being stopped. Take the visitor’s pass off and dump it once you’re around the corner, then just keep going. Don’t stop ’til you’re somewhere far away and safe. Get on a train or bus and get as far away from here as you can.”

  So many questions popped into Violet’s head. “What if someone stops me? What if I do go to the police?”

  Kevin inhaled deeply before blowing out a breath. “Please, Violet, he will try to find you. I’m giving you some good advice here. I know trusting me after what’s happened isn’t an option, but please trust in the advice I can give you before you go. You must listen to me.” He looked at his watch before fiddling with it and taking it off and handing it to her. “I’ve set an alarm on it. His flight should take about twenty-two hours to get to Australia, and then once he finds out what I’ve done, another twenty-two, give or take, to get back. When that alarm goes off, you will know it’s only a matter of time before he starts looking for you. Can you do this, Violet? Can you do as I ask?” Kevin seemed sincere in what he was saying.

  She fingered the heavy steel band of the watch, wondering again if he was telling her the truth.

  “Violet.” Kevin called her name sharply.

  She quickly stared up into his face, her thoughts silenced as she obeyed his call.

  “The longer we sit here, the less time you have to get away. Are you ready to do this?”

  Was she ready? Yes and no. She glanced toward the misted glass office door. She could just scream now and someone would come running. But what if Master’s receptionist knew who she was and returned her to the room until he came back? She paled at the thought.

  Turning her gaze toward Kevin, she nodded, ready to take the challenge. There were only two outcomes to this, right? Escape and be free, or be punished, maybe die, at Master’s hand because she walked out the door.

  “Okay. One last thing, notice I haven’t given you his name and yet I have told you mine.”

  She had noticed that, but again this whole situation had stopped her wonderings.

  “On the way out of the building, don’t look for his name. Living your life looking over your shoulder will be bad enough. If you were to search his name and read everything up on him, it would just make you more paranoid.”

  Violet nodded, not sure she wanted to know Master’s name anyway.

  Kevin’s whole body relaxed as if he were relieved. That small action gave her a little more hope. He stood and picked up a laptop from the desk and brought it back. Opening it up, he ran his fingers over the keyboard before setting it on the table in front of her. An image was on it. Violet peered closer. It looked to be a security feed of a woman sitting at a desk.

  “This is Master’s receptionist, just outside that door. I’m going to distract her. Once we’re out of sight, grab the case and walk calmly to the elevator and go down.”

  Violet didn’t take her eyes off the screen.

  “Violet, look at me.”

  She obeyed his order.

  “I cannot stipulate enough, do not go to the police. Get as far away from here as possible and live your life. I won’t be able to help you again.”

  “I understand,” she replied, still unable to believe everything he said. He seemed suddenly unsure about something. Indecision was written all over his face before he shook his head slightly as if shaking it away.

  “I’m sorry for everything he and I have put you through. Danielle Knight, take care and be safe. Have a long, happy life.” He leaned down and forward as if to
kiss her. She nearly shirked away in fear, but held her body stiff and still. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before turning toward the office door.

  With his hand on the handle, he turned to glance at her one more time before stiffening his shoulders and opening the door. He walked out in a confident manner, closing the door behind him.

  Now that she was left alone, Violet was unsure if she should listen to Kevin and do as he suggested or not. There were two doors in the room. One to the bathroom and one Kevin had just walked out of. She couldn’t see a door that belonged to the room where Master had kept her. She wondered if it was hidden behind the far bookcase. She couldn’t even remember in which direction she had walked when leaving the room. She glanced around the room. A telephone on the desk drew her attention, but before she could give it further thought, from the corner of her eye she saw Kevin walking toward the woman on the laptop screen, and she turned her attention back to the computer. He said something to the receptionist, then she rose from her seat and walked off screen with Kevin following.

  Violet looked to the phone and then to the laptop screen, and then repeated the action. She could call the police, but would they believe her? If Master was this rich and powerful man—and by looking around this room, she could tell he was—and given that she had no real proof... He would talk his way out of her accusations and she’d end up back in that room.

  She glanced back at the screen. She had to make a decision quick, before Kevin and the receptionist returned. What if this was her only chance at escaping? Indecision made her feel sick. Was this real or a trick?

  Come on, Violet, get a backbone. This might be the only way free! She cursed and berated herself. She’d been in that damn room for so long, her heart pounded just thinking about being out of it and around people again.

  Finally, she stood. She hastily shoved the brown envelope Kevin had given her into the front pocket of the suitcase and cupped Kevin’s watch in a fist before grabbing the handle of the case and starting toward the office door.

  She’d do this for the baby, to make sure the child would never be around the male she knew as Master. She’d protect what was growing inside of her even if it was part of him.

  Swallowing the nausea rising in her throat, she grabbed the door handle and turned it. She waited for a blow, a fist, something of a punishment because she’d listened to Kevin. Opening the door, it never came. Peeking out of the door, she saw the small area that held a receptionist’s desk was empty.

  Swiftly, she exited Master’s office and walked as calmly as she could to the lift. Her heart pounded so hard and fast it felt like it would beat out of her chest. Perspiration gathered under her arms and dripped down her back. She pressed the call button and waited for a few thundering heartbeats for the elevator to arrive. Finally, the bell dinged and the silver doors opened to—thankfully—an empty carriage. Again, no Master!

  She walked into the lift and pressed the button for the ground floor. So far, so good, she thought. Again, she had to swallow the sickness feeling down.

  She watched as the floor numbers decreased. Counting down from the hundreds had never seemed so slow. Fear rose with each and every floor number that showed on the small, digital window. She was terrified that the lift would stop at any time and Master would be on the other side of the doors.

  “Ground floor,” the electronic, feminine voice said as the elevator stopped.

  By now Violet was shaking so much with fear she was sure if a trashcan was near she’d puke in it. The doors opened for her to see a wide and open floor space. Windows adorned each wall looking out onto a busy street. Black and white shiny marble shone from every surface. Not one person was around. What looked to be guard stations near turnstiles had no guards, and the area had no stray office workers wandering around. Nothing and no one.

  Again, thoughts of is this real or a trick swam through her mind. Her finger actually hovered over the top floor elevator button. If she went back up now, surely the punishment wouldn’t be that bad, right?

  Kevin had looked so earnest, so guilty for what he’d done. She glanced down at the suitcase he’d given her. Fuck it! She had to take the risk. This might be the only chance she’d ever get to be free of Master and his room, or forever—until she was murdered—wonder if she could have escaped.

  Violet straightened her shoulders, walked out of the lift, and headed straight toward the entrance without looking back. She was mere inches from the entrance door when a man in a dark blue security uniform bounded through the glass doors. She froze in fear, but instead of stopping her, as she thought he’d do, he held the door open. Stepping through them, she walked out into the sunlight. The man rushed off inside and didn’t look back.

  Oh God! She was free? The sun was blinding. Her senses were bombarded with the smell of car fumes from the street, her ears with the sounds of horns and people talking. It all seemed so loud after being in the room for so long. Fear and panic rocked her to her very core. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a crowd gathered around something to her left. Security guards in dark blue uniforms spoke into their walkie-talkies, trying to move people away from whatever was there.

  It was the heaviness of Kevin’s watch in her hand that had her thoughts turning back to her situation. Was this the distraction Kevin had set so she could escape? What was the diversion? Whatever it was, she didn’t care, she just knew she had to get away.

  First of all, she had to see if the money and the ID stuff Kevin had given her was real. Leaning down to the case, she plucked the brown envelope out and peeked inside. As Kevin had said, it contained a birth certificate and all kinds of ID in the name of Danielle Knight. Clutching the envelope to her chest, she opened the zipper of the bag a little and dug inside. Pulling out a bundle of notes, she quickly shoved it into the envelope. Peeking inside again, she fingered and examined one of the notes before peeling it out of its bundle and shoving it in a pocket, deeming it real enough.

  After placing the envelope back in the suitcase, she glanced around and realized she still stood in front of Master’s building. She began walking, wondering where she’d go and what she would do.

  “Poor fucker,” someone said, grabbing her attention as she walked past the group that had gathered.

  “Isn’t that Kevin Turner?” another asked.

  Violet froze. Kevin? No…it couldn’t be him. Panic stricken, she searched around her. Oh God, was this really just a mind trick? Were Kevin and Master following her? Why would someone ask if that was Kevin though? Was his surname Turner?

  The reality of her situation kicked in as her gaze stopped on the bloody pile on the ground through the crowd standing around it. The crumpled body of a man lay in a puddle of blood. He was wearing the same suit as Kevin had been. She stifled a gasp.

  Violet walked off quickly. All kinds of thoughts were going through her mind. She moved among the throng of people. Workers, shoppers, tourists. All with their own lives and stories. As far as she could tell, not one passed a glance in her direction.

  She still couldn’t believe what had happened. It appeared Kevin had jumped to his death to cause her diversion. He had helped her escape, giving her both money and a new identity, and then committed suicide.

  But the biggest thought in her mind as she walked down into the Marble Arch Underground Tube Station was the fact she was free!

  Chapter 1

  Five years later

  “Ollie, get downstairs please,” Danielle called out to her son.

  “Oh, Mum!” he whined from the top of the stairs. “I don’t wanna get the shopping. It’s boooring.”

  “Get your bottom down these stairs and get your coat on, young man,” she ordered, exasperated. Danielle knew her son hated the days they walked to the dock to collect their groceries. She’d have to sweeten the deal again as she had many times before. “There might be a surprise waiting for you.”

  “Really?” His tiny, chubby face lit up with excitement.

&nbs
p; “Yes, really.” She nodded.

  Eagerly, her young son ran down the stairs. Jumping off the two bottom stairs, he stood before her with a gleaming smile. Opening his coat for him, she waited until he slipped his arms in the sleeves then turned him around to zip it up. After placing a woolly hat on her son’s head and gloves over his hands, she put on her own coat.

  “Okay, let’s go.” She opened the door and cringed when they were both hit by a blast of icy air. It was a good thing she’d started the fire in the grate this morning for their return. She was also pleased she’d tugged her long hair up into her bobble hat. It was getting increasingly colder as the year ended. She was laying the logs for a fire every morning, ready for the fire to be lit in the late afternoon. Soon it would be lit each morning, to burn all day.

  The island off Anglesey was weirdly—but aptly, in Danielle’s case—known as Vanish Isle. For five years now it had been both home and a blessing in disguise for Danielle.

  It offered her the security she needed being there was only one house. That meant the added freedom to move around because there weren’t surveillance cameras everywhere as there were on the mainland. After she had escaped, Violet had hidden in a bed-and-breakfast far north of London, looking for an out-of-the-way place where she could live under the radar as Kevin had suggested. She’d spotted an advertisement for a house sitter and cleaner for a house on the Vanish Isle, a small island located west of Wales. It had warned that the job was only for someone who liked being alone and wasn’t technology dependant, as there wasn’t another soul around and internet was hard to receive. She’d immediately sought out an interview.

  The next day she’d met with Larry, a rather chipper man from the agency who was dealing with the job interviews. Violet had then waited another two nail-biting days before Larry had informed her she’d gotten the job. The alarm on Kevin’s watch had gone off well before she received her reply, but seeing she’d gotten the job, she was glad she’d listened to that something deep inside of her that told her to wait before moving on.