I’m a little upset that he’s not planning to see me sooner than that, but I’m not going to get all clingy no matter what he said about our future. “I’d like that.”
“Good. Do you have a preference?”
“I like anything. So surprise me.”
“Sounds good to me.” He steps up to me, cups my cheeks and then presses his lips to mine. “Be a good girl.”
He slips on this T-shirt and gives me one more kiss before walking out the front door. A sigh escapes from deep within my chest, hating how pathetically attached I am to this man within twenty-four hours.
I scoop up my phone and go take a shower. As I take my naked ass into the heated spray, letting my very achy muscles relax all the tension. I’m sure I was fired before Bennet called, but it still pisses me off that he wants to control me. With him gone, I can finally think straight. I have at least half a day until we go to dinner, and there’s really nothing I have to do today except getting a hold of my sister again. It’s not like I can check-in at the office or work on things because everyone, including my boss, assumes that Alexa is me.
“Fuck.” I really can kick myself for all of this. I’ve worked hard to get where I am and let my sister talk me into switching places. My boss has to know that she’s not me by now. There’s no way she can do what I do for him. Hell, Alexa taking orders is hard to believe. She’s the least likely to submit to anyone.
I hope she can talk her way out of getting me fired. I let the spray cascade down my hair as I consider my future. Do I want to work for Mr. King? I liked my job. Loving it would never happen. I don’t have an assertive nature, but I’m great at keeping Mr. King organized.
Money to buy my books and help my sister are the only reasons I truly worked so hard. Maybe I’ll take a less stressful job. Would Bennet fight me on it? I smile to myself. If Bennet’s as rich as he says he is and still became a teacher, I’m betting that he understands my need to succeed.
Once dressed, I tuck my phone into my pocket and go into the living room to read my book on the sofa. That’s when I notice Bennet’s phone on the table. Surprisingly, strangely, the fingerprint lock opens when I touch it. The screen picture is us in bed last night with my head on his chest.
Two voicemails appeared while I must have been in the shower, but it’s not my business to check them, so I go to set the phone down, but then remember I don’t have his number. I call my cell, getting ready to store it, but Bennet’s already all over that because when I check my ringing phone, it says, Husband. This asshole. I giggle, end the call, and then tuck my phone away.
As I’m about to read, the doorbell rings. Did Bennet come back for his phone? Holding it in my hand, I whip open the door and say, “Did you forget some—”
“You sleazy bitch.” I try to close the door, but he’s got me, dropping Bennet’s phone on the edge on my steps. He drags me to a car and tosses me in, slamming the doors shut. I try to open them, but they’re childproof locks. Shit. Then I remember I have my phone. I shoot Bennet a text, turn my phone onto silent, and tuck it back in my pocket before this creep knows that I have it.
He takes his time getting in, scoping the area for anyone noticing. I don’t even know who this guy is other than I remember him speaking to me briefly.
I have no idea why he’s after me. “Please let me go. I don’t even know you.”
“You don’t know me? We’ve had a class together for a whole semester, and you don’t know who I am?” I’ve said the wrong thing, but I don’t know how to get out of this.
“He’s never shown you an ounce of attention until yesterday. I’ve waited and waited to ask you out, but as soon as the old teacher shows you some attention, you’re panting like a bitch in heat. You betrayed me.” If I make it out of here, I’m never switching places with my sister again.
“I…I’m not Alexa. I’m her twin sister. Please.”
“Bullshit. Your sister never came home last night. I followed the professor here, and he never left.” The venom pouring from his words sends chills through me. He’s off his fucking rocker.
“I…I don’t know what to tell you, but I’m sorry if you’ve got the wrong idea.”
“I’m never wrong.” The conviction in his voice tells me I have no chance of changing his mind. My only option is to escape. But how?
Chapter 6
Bennet
As I drive to school, I know that my jealousy got the better of me. Alyssa doesn’t need to quit working for Oliver. Although I will demand that she works fewer hours. Whenever we spoke, he told me that he had the best assistant, and Alyssa worked nine hours a day just so he had a lighter load. Best of all, she never flirted with him.
Even if I don’t think she needs to work for financial reasons, there’s the emotional need that might drive her. Although, I plan to shower her with whatever she wants, and maybe that’ll keep her in our bed forever.
I pull up to the college parking lot, wondering how the hell did I get here. Did I blow red lights? My thoughts were all wrapped around Alyssa like I want to be wrapped around her.
I hop out of my SUV and jog up the stairs one step at a time. “Oh, Bennet, we’re so glad you’re here.”
“What’s going on?”
“Your office was ransacked.”
“What the fuck? Sorry. What?”
“Well, the janitor heard someone in there last night before he left, and then your door was wide open this morning. We tried calling you, but you didn’t answer your phone.”
“Oh shit.” I feel for it in my pockets, but it’s not here. I left it at Alyssa’s. Shit. It’s right on her coffee table.
“Did you check the security cameras?”
“They’re just for show pretty much. Budget cuts mean maintenance is going to be done over the summer for them.”
“Great. I’m glad you have one less professor to pay.” I gather up my things, but honestly, whatever isn’t broken isn’t worth taking. I end up with half a box of items. I load it into my truck and drive back to her apartment. When I get there, my phone is on the grass. I pick it up and fucking freak out. Alyssa sent me a text. Your student took me. Help.
I’m rushing as fast as I can back to my truck and hit the tracker on her phone. Okay, I’m a bit obsessed and might have set it up before she even got home from school. It helps to have years of mercenary work under my belt, but that’s another thing. I call in a favor from a friend, and we track the sick fuck down to a dock that leads up the damn Mississippi River. Where the fuck does this asshole think he’s taking her?
We arrive just five minutes after them. It’s amazing what you can do when you have friends in the right places. He’s about to speed off, but I can’t let that happen. That’s when I see it. She jumps into the water while he’s not looking. Good girl. I rush to get her before her kidnapper can. When I look toward the boat for threats, my guy has a gun trained on Ben Lee of all motherfucking people.
The cold water doesn’t affect me because I’m too damn busy on a mission. This water can be treacherous and unforgiving. People take the river for granted, but the undercurrents drag people down and roots that trap people under the surface, drowning them. I can’t let that happen to my love. I find her pulling her head above water, trying to stay afloat. Fuck. I grab her and pull her close. “Alyssa,” I brush my lips against her forehead and swim to the shore.