Deadly Deception - By Andrea Johnson Beck Page 0,44

knew he was safe and under FBI protection. Victoria wouldn’t let anything happen to him.

“I know you are worried about him but you need to worry about you right now. Once Carter executes his plan, there’s no going back. I need you to trust me. Do you trust me, Anne?”

Without hesitation, she blinked once. Dr. Lindsey nodded.

“Rest, Anne. You’re going to need all your strength for what lies ahead.”

That statement tore through her, igniting a fire deep within. She was seeking retribution and it would be hers, no matter what the cost, even if it meant losing herself in the process.

***

Nine days had passed since her initial true awakening. Carter and Dr. Lindsey hovered over her. The debilitating medicine continued to drip into her IV, paralyzing all muscle function. Carter steadied himself on crutches, locking his wicked irises with hers.

“Anneliese, don’t look so forlorn. What I have planned for you is brilliant. Consider yourself lucky that I’m even keeping you alive.”

“Carter,” Dr. Lindsey spat out.

“Shut up.” Carter shot a glare across her bed. “Since your mother was just as fucked in the head as you, this will work out perfectly.”

Tears spilled out of her at the sound of his vile words, but he continued mercilessly.

“Good ‘ole Dr. Lindsey has brought to me all your research about brain manipulation, and your study notes with the Mayo Clinic. It’s amazing how readily you can locate certain drugs and medications—for the right price of course. You are pumped with so many fucking meds. I’m amazed you’re still breathing.”

Carter moved closer to her, evil rolling off of him. She prayed he would hurry along his point.

“You will be my puppet, Anneliese. You’ll do whatever I say and your sweet Adam will be nothing to you. I’m going to suck all the oxygen from your lungs and replace it with mine. Your blood will call out to me.” He stroked her wet cheek. “You will belong to me.”

She blinked once, conceding to his insanity. She had no other choice.

“Otherwise, you’ll watch me slaughter Casey and her entire family. It’ll be your fault. I’ll slit their throats and not think twice about it.”

She was clawing from her insides out, begging for mercy or for him to just kill her. The vision of Casey, Tony and her innocent children’s lifeless bodies was her undoing. Internally, her body thrashed from his threats. It convulsed. It screamed. It begged for death. She lay still while the inner war raged, consuming her soul.

“Before I leave, I have one other little secret to share but I think I’ll wait until my Anneliese awakes.” He turned to Dr. Lindsey. “Do it.”

Carter brought his lips to her skin, brushing them over her, as though she were Snow White, like he was breaking some sinful spell that had been cast upon her. However, the opposite was happening. His kiss was poison. He nodded at Dr. Lindsey and hobbled from the grim room. He exhaled, closing his eyes.

“Are you ready, Anne?”

She blinked.

“I’m sorry I have to do this.”

She could see his remorse. Anne wanted to reach out to him and tell him she understood, tell him that she knew he didn’t have a choice. Just like she didn’t have a choice. They were Carter’s captives. Once again, she was saying a silent goodbye to Adam.

“Anne, close your eyes and listen to my voice. Let it take you away, like an ocean current…”

His hypnotic voice towed her deeper and deeper, until his soothing commands breached her subconscious.

CHAPTER 17

The sea of burnt oranges, golden yellows and fiery reds swept across the Riverfront District. Autumn crept into the city along with its nippy winds that tickled the vibrant leaves. The mid-afternoon sun felt welcoming on Anne’s face as she let the fresh fall air enter her lungs. She had two of her smaller windows open just enough to let the breeze freshen the stale office space.

“Anne, what the hell are you doing?”

Anne exhaled deeply, turning to look at her best friend.

“I’m packing up the rest of my office, Casey.”

“I can see that but what I want to know is—why? Why are you doing this? Your life is here, with me and with Adam.”

Anne watched her lace her fingers with her own.

Six months had passed since the “incident”, as Casey called it. Anne distanced herself after leaving the private facility, claiming amnesia. But she knew that Casey thought it was a cover-up.

“You waltz in here after being absent for months and announce that you’re moving to Georgia and that