Crazy In Love (Secrets of Suburbia #3) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,72
had been everywhere in my dreams. Always. Staining the cement at the bottom of the basement stairs. I could easily picture myself scrubbing away the blood on my hands. The water running red. I rubbed them harder and harder until my own hands were pink.
Now that I was awake, that disturbing image came back to me. But I still didn't want to move. I didn't want the warm feeling in the center of my chest to go away. I didn't want to have to go through with my plan. Because today was the day to finally say goodbye.
Goodbye to Noah. Goodbye to this house. Goodbye to Delaware. Hell, I'd even be saying goodbye to the country. And I couldn't delay it any longer. Detective Torres would be getting my missing records soon. He'd be putting all the scattered pieces back together. I’d already made a deposit on an apartment in Mexico. All I had to do was get there and I'd be free. I'd be free of everything. It was go-time.
It almost felt like my eyes were glued shut when I tried to open them. I reached to rid the sleepy from the corners of my eyes, but my hand didn't move. Ow. I tried to move my hand again but...I couldn't. I opened my eyes, ignoring the gritty feeling, and looked up.
No.
I pulled on the ropes tying my hands to my bedposts. How? I pulled again but they were tied in a knot I hadn't studied on YouTube. No! I pulled harder. This couldn't be happening. This was not how last night was supposed to go down. Noah was supposed to be tied up. Not me. I tried to wiggle my hands to loosen the grip or the rope, but all that accomplished was giving my wrists a bit of rope burn. Damn it!
I pulled my attention away from the perfect knot. The sheets were rumpled around me and I smelled Noah everywhere, but he wasn't there. That was no surprise. But what was a surprise was the Mrs. Claus costume I was wearing. Not a real one with a gray wig, round glasses, and long fur coat. But a sexy one that you surprised your husband with as a Christmas present.
What in the ever-living fuck was I doing dressed up like this? I pulled down as hard as I could on the ropes and tried to ignore the tears threatening to escape my eyes. Ow. I shook my hands. No. No, no, no!
I didn't know where Noah was, but surely he was close. It wasn't like he could just walk outside and....shit! I twisted my body so that I was on my knees facing the headboard. Come on. I pulled even harder, the ropes biting at my skin. If Noah left the house, all our neighbors would swarm him with questions. Detective Torres would show up and start asking questions. I'd be spending the rest of my days in jail instead of in Mexico.
The rope wasn't budging. I looked over my shoulder hoping Snuggle Muffins would come to my rescue. But my silly dog was nowhere in sight. It was tempting to keep trying to get free for as long as I could, but I needed to make sure Noah wasn't going anywhere. Hell, what if he was already with the cops right now?
"Noah!" I yelled and pulled on the ropes. The headboard didn’t even shake, but the action made my breasts almost fall out of my flimsy costume. This outfit was only supposed to be worn for good husbands. Not lying cheats. That son of a bitch. "Noah!"
I stopped screaming and stared at my left hand. My engagement ring and wedding band both glistened in the morning sun. And for just a second, I wondered if it was all a dream. Maybe I'd never taken them off. Maybe I never kidnapped my husband. Maybe Noah still loved me.
But that would have been a Christmas miracle. And I knew it wasn't true. Partly because the last few days definitely felt real. And partly because I heard a floorboard squeak.
I turned around as Noah walked in. He was humming Baby it's Cold Outside and carrying a tray of breakfast food.
"What the fuck, Noah?" This time when I pulled against the restraint, the bedpost groaned in protest.
"Good morning to you too, Ensley." He placed the tray down on the nightstand. "Toast?" He picked up a piece of toast and put it up to my lips.