OBSESSED

60

LEAH

A sigh pushed through my body, shattering the hazy cloud around my mind. I groaned as a bolt of pain shot through my head.

While I gradually came to, I felt an unfamiliar throb in my thigh. I tried to stretch and the discomfort ramped up.

Realizing my hands were restrained over my head, I tugged against them with a whimper.

I blinked my eyes open and was nearly overwhelmed by the staggering realization of what happened to me.

I had been running. I'd even made it outside.

I knew my escape probably wouldn't work, but it was too great of a temptation not to try. If it had worked, it would've been the right decision.

Now I knew it never would. Jarrod had some kind of sedative and he wasn't afraid to use it.

Even if I managed to escape, there were no neighbors or civilization for miles beyond these walls. Just thousands and thousands of trees.
He would eventually catch me, no matter what I did.

The bedroom door squealed open and I instinctively shied into the sheets. Trying to hide only pulled on my manacled wrists, though. A quiet cry pierced my lips.

Seeing how determined Jarrod was to get me here and make me stay, I could only imagine how furious he was with me for escaping.

The throb in my leg reminded me of its recent trauma.

Will he stab me again?

Before I could even remotely consider that question, Jarrod's hand gently came to rest on my side.

I curled my legs up under me with a wheezy breath. All I could think about what that fucking syringe.

What if he had another one in his other hand? I stiffened.

"Leah, baby, it's okay," Jarrod spoke in a calm, measured voice.

I shivered under his invasive touch.

"It's alright, sweetheart."

The bed sank under his added weight. He placed his hands on my back and rubbed me placatingly in circular motions.

"I'm so sorry, Leah," he murmured. "I truly am."

His voice was genuine and thoughtful. He sounded genuinely remorseful and I hated him for it.

"I didn't want to hurt you. Please understand. I had to stop your resistance before you hurt either me or yourself. You weren't responding to reason."

Reason. The last thing coming out of his mouth was reason.

Clenching my teeth, I continued to shiver and fret. Reality was becoming more real to me by the second.

I was trapped in this cabin with a psychopath in the middle of nowhere.

Jarrod couldn't be in actual psychopath, though—could he?

He'd never acted like this before. He was always the perfect gentleman. He seemed truly empathetic, truly caring.

How could he just suddenly become this person who would do anything to get me alone? Including tying me down and sedating me?