Wanting Mr. Barkley (Book 2)

Chapter Twenty-One . . . Freedom?

Chapter Twenty-One . . . Freedom?

Karen's POV

The handcuffs were digging into my wrists causing blood to drip onto the floor like rain, but that didn't stop me from fighting against them. It was still dark, I couldn't see anything, but I knew that somehow Max could see me. The door opened, revealing light that caused my eyes to water.

"Are you ever going to give up Karen?" He asked with a sigh.

I ignored him and continued yanking until finally I felt my left hand almost pull through of the cuff. I wanted to cheer with joy, but I couldn't let Max know I was almost free.

"Karen, this disrespect isn't going to do. I thought I trained you better." He tsked.

"I'm not a dog."

"No? Because you sure act like a bitch." He laughed and I rolled my eyes.

"You're hilarious aren't you." I spat.

I saw his eyes darken and before I could blink his hand had smacked across my cheek.

"I'm not going to keep my patience much longer Karen. Where is our son?"

"WE don't have a son!" I yelled.

He sighed and knelt to my eye level. He reached in his back pocket and pulled out a shiny blade. My breath hitched.

"You're going to kill me? Just like that?" I asked.

"No, but I can do this." With a flick of a wrist he cut my neck, not deeply, but enough to draw blood. I hissed at the stinging as he chuckled.

"Still want to be stubborn?" He grinned.

That grin haunted me for years, but it wasn't going to take me over this time.

I kicked my feet out which nailed him right in the face sending him backwards with blood pouring from his nose. While he was stunned I used my free hand to pull out my right hand from the cuff.

I screamed as it tour the skin. Once it was out I felt my wrist pop. I grabbed my right wrist and went to run, but a hand pulled my foot causing me to slam against the concrete floor.

"YOU BITCH!" He yelled while holding his nose.

He crawled up to me and sat on my waist. His weight had me pinned and I couldn't move.

"Where's my son?!" He yelled as he grabbed my throat tightly, making breathing difficult.

I clawed at his face, but that did nothing. He was a strong man and the pressure was  cutting off all oxygen which made my vision go dark.

"POLICE!"

I heard before the door was kicked opened. Max released my throat tightly and I rolled on my stomach trying to get air into my lungs. Max stood up completely and tilted his head to the side.

"Barkley's." He hissed.

"Put your hands up Max."

With all my might I lifted my head to see Dylan standing with a gun in his hand and Derek behind him.

"Alright." Max lifted his hands in surrender but kicked me hard in the gut. I coughed up blood that sprayed across the floor. Something was wrong.

"Derek." I softly cried.

I needed him, but I knew it would be better if he was far away from Max.

Max was crazy, and I was surprised that I wasn't dead right this second.

"Max, step away from Karen." Dylan ordered.

"Or what? You're going to shoot me?" Max laughed. "She kidnapped my son. I was just trying to get him back."

"By kidnapping her and beating her to a pulp?!" Derek yelled.

"She wouldn't talk. All I wanted was some answers." Max laughed. "But I have my ways."

I watched as Max's hand went to the back of jeans quickly, and he pulled it out and aimed it at me. I closed my eyes and waited for the sound of my death. The gun went off with a loud bang, but I didn't feel pain. I opened my one eye and looked around. Everyone was okay, except for Max who was now lying on the ground with his eyes open, his chest was rising slowly up and down before stopping completely.

"We need backup and medics in here now!" Dylan yelled.

I flipped to my back and stared at the ceiling where I relaxed slightly.

I felt free, but not at the same time.

"Karen?" I heard the soft voice of Derek as he lifted my head to his lap.

I blinked a few times trying to clear my vision from the tears that I didn't even know had formed.

"Is it- Is it over?" I stuttered.

"Yeah baby. It's over." He touched my cheek and wiped away a tear that managed to fall.

I grabbed his shirt and lifted myself up to him.

"Baby, you need to be careful. You're-"

I crushed my body to his and sobbed.

"It's over." I sobbed.

He rubbed my back and rocked me back and forth.

"I know. I know." He kept repeating that with words of love.

A throat cleared behind us, but I didn't let go to look who it was.

"Excuse me sir, but we would like to get a look at her to see what damage she has."

Derek didn't say anything, so I figured he nodded.

"Come on baby." He whispered before lifting me up and walking us outside and to the ambulance.

I kept my eyes closed tight, not wanting to see the damage that was in the room I was held in. Once the cool air of the night hit me, I felt my body relax from the tension of fear.

"Just set her down here." An unfamiliar voice said, but I held onto Derek tighter preventing him from following the order.

"Um, can I hold her?"

There was a slight pause.

"Of course."

Derek sat down with me on his lap while the paramedic checked me over. So far I was fine except for a bump on the head, but when he got down to my wrists he studied them as if they were a puzzle.

"I want a doctor to check these out, make sure there's no sign of an infection from the cuffs." I nodded in agreement even though I just wanted to go home.

"Alright, I'll tell the driver and we're out of here."

The paramedic hopped out of the ambulance which left me and Derek by ourselves. I looked at him to say something, but it felt like the words were caught in my throat and were replaced by another sob instead.

He brought my head to his chest and calmed me down. "Rest baby, just rest."

He told me, and that's exactly what I did.