December 21 Update #1 Superb.i.t.c.h threw gum in my hair! OMFG! She is so dead!

December 21 Update #2 I slapped Superb.i.t.c.h H.A.R.D.! She cried!!!! She tried to say that she was crying because she was so mad, but I know the truth! Everyone else did too! They all laughed at her and pointed! Now she knows what it feels like. She and her little b.u.t.t face friend Megan ran away.

Everyone stared at us in the hall after I smacked her. They all looked shocked and most of them didn"t even seem to recognize who I was. Dad says it"s important to hide in the background, but it sure felt nice to be noticed for once!

Stevie stayed behind and talked to me then! He is so awesome!! I wanted to pa.s.s out right there in the hall. He said that he didn"t really like Superb.i.t.c.h and he still wanted to hang out with me over Xmas break! I thought he was going to ask me to the Winter Dance right then, but he didn"t. I think he was just being shy though. I hope.

If my parents don"t let me take Stevie to the house... I"ll die!

December 24 Dear Diary, I hate my life!!!!

I begged and pleaded, but they won"t let me take Stevie to the house! I"ve been bawling for days but Dad still says no! This is such c.r.a.p! Tomorrow is Christmas and I couldn"t care less! All I want for Christmas is Stevie and I can"t have him. I don"t care what stupid books or robes or candles I get this year! What good is all this stupid stuff if I can"t have one boy over to the house?!

Dad said he was tired of hearing me complain and he left to go for a drive. Mom has been sulking around, trying not to get involved, which is total B.S. I can"t understand why she won"t stand up for me! I bet Superb.i.t.c.h is going to get whatever she wants tomorrow! And that better not be Stevie!

I can smell Mom cooking a stew downstairs, the same she does every Christmas, but I"m too mad to help her like I usually do. If they want me to stay a kid forever, then I"m going to act like one. Maybe that"ll show them.

My gifts are already under the tree. Usually I pick them all up and give them a shake, trying to figure out what they are. I"m too mad to even do that! I"m just going to lock myself in my room and hope I die!

Christmas Day Dear Diary, I wanted to stay in my room all day but I got hungry, of course. I keep telling myself I"m not going to keep eating so much, but I"m just so stressed! Ugh! So I went to the refrigerator and drank from the cartoon, just like Dad hates, when I saw a new present under the tree. Well, it was more like beside the tree, but it was way big.

I tried to push it with my toe, but it was so heavy it didn"t move. So I tried to pick it up and I couldn"t. Then it moved! Not a lot, but it shook a little and scared the c.r.a.p out of me! What the h.e.l.l is it? I wanted to tear it open right then but I knew that Dad would go on a rampage so I didn"t.

c.r.a.p!!! It"s only 6 A.M. so I"m the only one awake. Last year I woke Mom and Dad up so we could open the gifts early and Dad almost had kittens. I swear his eyes turned red when he rolled over. Now I"m sitting here writing in my stupid diary, waiting on everyone else to wake up. This sucks!!

Christmas Day Update #1 I went downstairs and nudged the box with my foot again, but nothing happened. Maybe I was just really tired this morning...

Christmas Day Update #2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG! OMG!!!! My parents finally got up at nine, but DAD had to take his sweet time making stupid coffee! Then he wanted to eat breakfast first! Not awesome! He was smiling when he said it though, so I think he was just s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g with me. I"m so happy I can"t even be mad at him for it!

Mom said I should open all of the other gifts first, but screw that! I tore the wrapping off the big one first-and found a dumb cardboard box that said Maytag on the side. WTH right? I cut through the tape with my fingers and broke one of my nails, which was just soooo stupid of me, but whatever.

When I opened the top of the box, I saw a cage. It sorta looked like a dog"s crate or something, I don"t know, but what was inside it almost made me faint! STEVIE!!!!! I know, right?! Stevie was in the cage!

I screamed. Loud.

Dad was really mad at me for that. He said that I had to act like an adult if I wanted to be treated like one. Well, soooorry! It"s hard to be all mature and stuff when you"re looking at the perfect boy in a cage by the Christmas tree! I gave Dad the biggest hug EVER! Mom went to the kitchen to put the stew on the stove.

Poor Stevie had most of his face wrapped up in plastic and a gag in his pretty mouth. Dad hadn"t covered his eyes though, and he looked so scared. I almost felt bad for him, but I was just too excited to worry about anything! He started to cry when he saw me! Awww!!

I tried to tell him that he was the most important thing to me, like ever! He kept crying though and I did start to feel a little bad. When I told him that I had to eat him to get all of my powers and become a full witch, he REALLY started crying! He just didn"t want to listen! I told him I chose him because he was soooo perfect! He would always be my first! We would be together forever!

Mom told me that my first time would be the hardest, but it wasn"t too bad. I actually got really, super excited when Dad handed me the dagger!

Christmas Day.

Update #3.

I was right!!! Stevie was PERFECT!!!!!! BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!!

In the Eyes of the Beholder.

Penelope Bartotto.

Dominic lifted the chipped porcelain mug to his lips and took a sip of the bitter coffee as he stared out the grimy window of the Hwy 51 Diner. He was daydreaming of one day having a family and of living a life that wasn"t on the road. He glanced over at the buxom, plump-but pleasant-waitress, Ellen, who was reading a romance novel. He realized then that the last time he spent any quality time with his gal, Rose, was three weeks back. They kept in touch when he was on the road, texting and s.e.xting when the opportunity arose. He missed her voice though, her touch, and most of all, her brilliant hazel eyes. Something about her eyes called to him over the miles, making him miss her even more. Her eyes were what had drawn him to her, like a mystical web that threaded its way into his soul and took hold the instant he saw her. Looking into them was like drowning in pools of root beer, and he loved that sensation.

He finished his coffee, grabbed the check, and headed up to the counter.

"Edible?" Ellen asked as he handed her the check with a twenty.

"Enough to keep me trucking," he said with a smirk as he retrieved his change and dropped a couple of crumpled bills on the counter. "Take it easy, Ellen; don"t take no d.a.m.n wooden nickels!"

Dominic headed out to his truck-his beautiful lady-Betty Lou. She never left him, no matter what the circ.u.mstances. They were both fueled up so it was time to hit the road. The highway that Dominic had traveled for what seemed like an eternity-that long and lonesome highway.

The date had been wonderful. Rose dropped her keys into the bowl on the dresser, kicked off her shoes, and shut her bedroom door with a satisfied smile on her face. Kevin was everything she had ever looked for in a man. Her roommate Janice thought she was cheating on Dom, but Rose knew Dominic was just another tally on her boyfriend roster-not a man of means. Janice was just an old fuddy-duddy who thought that monogamy was essential to a relationship. Oddly enough, Janice had yet to know what a relationship even was, but she loved to preach. Rose and Janice were quite different in all aspects of life, yet they had been friends since the third grade. When they moved to Atlanta, it made perfect sense for them to become roommates. Janice was at Georgia State and Rose was just tired of living in the backwater town her parents called home-she was seeking adventure and a husband. Kevin, the pilot, just might be that husband.

An all-to-familiar ringtone coming from her purse drew her out of her sweet dreams. Dom was texting again. Rose flopped down on the bed, grabbed her purse, and rummaged through it for the phone. It was a present from Dom last Christmas-the fanciest available at the time. She had him wrapped around her little finger extra tight-it was always nice to have a man under your control. She silenced the noise, got undressed, slipped into a nightshirt, and crawled under the covers before looking at the message.

"Miss u baby, be there 2morrow, cyu then. Love u."

Great, she thought. Now what was she going to do?

Dominic had sent his text to Rose right before he hit the road. He never responded to his phone on the road, yet he kept it on the console so he"d see when a new text arrived. He"d left the diner six hours ago and Rose hadn"t responded-not all that unusual for her. She was a busy girl after all-with school, work, and her dance cla.s.ses. There were times he could go days without hearing from her, but when he was heading that way she usually responded quickly. Their time together was so limited with his job keeping him on the road for weeks at a time. Trucks didn"t run on a driver"s time clock, they ran on the clock of the delivery schedules, and those clocks were d.a.m.ned strict. Whenever he could find a run that would take him near Atlanta, he made a point to be with Rose and make sure she knew just how much he loved her. He had an enormous surprise for her this time around. He"d been pondering the thought for months and wasn"t sure how she would react-but his mama always told him to follow his heart and not to let the gra.s.s grow under his feet. So it was time to make the ultimate step.

Rose was frantic. She paced her room for an hour before finally heading out to the kitchen for a drink. Only after she got to the fridge did she realize that the strongest beverage in the apartment was coffee. Janice had purged the alcohol again. d.a.m.n her Puritanical ideals anyway, Rose cursed to herself as she made some orange tea. Kevin was planning a surprise; something he promised would blow her mind. Her job was to be ready for a week of fun. He was picking her up Sat.u.r.day night. She knew only of theater tickets, champagne, and a journey on a private jet. Dom was suddenly a wrench in her plans.

Rose was an independent woman, she ruled her roost, and she was the master of her domain. Her mama had given her only one good piece of wisdom in her useless waste of an inebriated life. Men had one purpose in the universe-to provide women with what they need, want, and desire. Why shouldn"t that woman be her? Under her strict monitoring, of course. A battered suitcase, and the fifty thousand her mama had managed to squirrel away, was all Rose was left with after her mama"s unfortunate accident. Last she had heard, her mother"s sudden disappearance barely made the police blotter, and was deemed a cold case faster than Flick"s tongue stuck to the flagpole in that Christmas movie her mama loved so dearly.

Dominic suddenly seemed like a rusty anchor weighing her down, something no longer desired. He had been the perfect fish dangling on her hook; he"d kept her entertained and well taken care of-like all of her men did. Rust had no place in her diamond encrusted, golden dreams; it was time to drop the anchor. She left her house to put her plan in action.

Dom pulled into the truck stop and climbed down from his cab. He needed a restroom something fierce and another shot of coffee before he finished this leg of the trip. The sun was just cresting the horizon as he stretched his legs before locking up Betty Lou. He would reach Atlanta about ten in the morning, make his delivery, catch some sleep, and clean up before he took Rose out for a night he hoped would be the most memorable of her life.

The truck stop was one of the better ones he stopped at, he tried to find quality wherever he could, but the road was master and places along it were not always top-notch. The Nickelback had been around since the thirties, but upgraded to keep up with the times. A nice diner tucked in one corner, a bank of showers and nice restrooms, and the fact the owners knew how to treat a customer right, kept Dominic coming back.

"Howdy, Dom," Chuck said from behind the diner counter. "Your usual?" Dominic smiled. He loved that Chuck and Amy knew his order. It made him feel like he was at home, or as close to a home as he would ever have. His dream home wasn"t on wheels.

"Thanks, Chuck," Dom replied and attempted to make his way to the restroom before being interrupted by the old man"s ramblings.

"d.a.m.n, you"re aging well, boy. It seems I keep getting older while you don"t age a day. The road must be treating you well, huh Dom? Yeah, I remember when I bought this beauty back in 1954 from that bitter old cuss, Gritty Smitty. Shoot, I was only twenty-two then yet I remember it like it was just yesterday..."

Dom rolled his eyes at the old man"s rambling, one-sided conversation as he allowed the man"s voice to fade in the background and made his way to the bathroom. Even though Dom has been a regular face for decades, old Chuck always seemed to tell the same story, reliving the times when he was just a young man, fresh out of the service, money burning a hole in his proverbial pocket. He was. .h.i.tching rides across the country looking for adventure, and maybe, a place to call home. Gritty Smitty was the old fellow that had been manning the pumps. He was a bitter old cuss, who hated the stench of gasoline and abhorred people. That day in May 1954 changed both of their lives, or so Chuck says. Smitty sold faster than a lightning strike and hopped in the nearest truck that was heading anywhere but there. Charlie stood in the dust holding the keys to his new life.

Now, old Charlie, better known as Chuck, had owned the Nickelback Truck Stop since 1954; it was his livelihood, his home, his universe. Whatever happened there, Old Charlie knew every gritty little secret, or so he liked to tell Dom anyway.

Once Dom returned from the bathroom, Chuck seemed to be in his own little world, staring at the steaming pot of coffee in his wrinkled hand.

"Earth to Chuck, you in there, dude?" Dom"s asked quizzically.

Chuck chuckled, a deep throaty sound that filled the air. "Cool as a cuc.u.mber, kid."

As expected, a thermos filled to the brim of hot, rejuvenating coffee with just a hint of sweetness and two breakfast burritos hot off the griddle were waiting for him. The aroma of spicy sausage and hot sauce made him salivate at the thought of taking a bite out of those righteous rolls that were currently seeping grease through the white paper bag on the counter. Slapping a twenty on the counter, he winked and left before the usual argument over the tip being too much ensued.

Checking his phone, there was still no word from Rose. He got into his truck, ate his breakfast, and thought things over. Concern outweighed her foolish rules. He had to call-that was all there was left to do. They had an arrangement that phone calls were to be limited, generally initiated by her. When she called, he stopped and called right back, no matter where or when-that was the way things were to keep her happy. She knew he was heading in for the weekend... Maybe something had happened-he had to know, he loved her. Stuffing the trash from breakfast into his garbage bin and taking a shot of hot, liquid courage, he grabbed his phone and made the call. He wasn"t sure if she would pick it up. It rang and rang, and just as he thought it would never stop, she picked up.

"Dom?" Rose"s voice came from his phone, sounding weak and frightened.

A wave of concern washed over him. "Babe, what"s wrong?"

Tears were what he heard first, which caused him to slam his fist into the steering wheel. "He hurt me. One minute I was safe, then h.e.l.l! I need you-can you come now?" she begged, her voice stabbing him through the heart.

"Rose, you need to call the police. If you"re hurt, I can"t get to you quick enough. Call them now, or I will," Dom demanded, worried she may be more injured than she was letting on to spare his concern.

"Dominic, no! I"ve already been down that road and I even saw a doctor. I don"t need the law right now-I just need you. I"m scared. Please, Dom."

"I"m heading out now. Screw the delivery! I"ll be there at ten sharp. Stay at home, lock the door!" he said with urgency through gritted teeth.

"Remember, I love you!"

"I love you too-need you," she said with a whimper before hitting the b.u.t.ton to end the call.

Anger coursed through Dom"s body; an electric shock jolting him into action. He contemplated going against Rose"s wishes and calling the police again. She didn"t sound stable enough to be at home by herself. But what would he do? What would he say? He didn"t know who hurt her or the extent of her injuries. It might be best if he a.s.sessed the situation in person before making such a drastic move.

He punched the starter b.u.t.ton, and Betty Lou roared to life, like a lioness ready to pounce. He cranked the stereo to max volume, causing Eminem to pound through the speakers, shaking the cab with the power of the music. Shifting into gear, he slammed his foot onto the gas pedal and the engine growled-a similar sound slipping from Dom"s lips as he beat his fist against the steering wheel in pace with the song. The intensity of the anger surged through Dom and the engine revved to meet his ferocity with equal pa.s.sion. They barreled down the highway like animals on the hunt; their pa.s.sion synchronizing as they flew forward into the blazing horizon.

Rose smiled as she put her phone down. He had fallen for it-hook, line, and sinker. She knew he would. He wore his heart on those worn flannel sleeves. He was one rare bird of a man. She usually steered clear of guys like Dominic, but something about him had drawn her in that night, almost two years ago. They"d both been on the prowl at a local nightclub, Eclipse di Luna-and not necessarily for each other. It was a magnetic attraction that could not be ignored. They enjoyed that night, and a few more, before she discovered that Dom was a truck driver-an over-the-road, long haul driver. He was the perfect man-able to fulfill her wants, needs, and occasional desires-hers to control, not underfoot every day, and giving a required freedom that a traditional relationship hindered.

He was a good man; never failed to take care of her, no matter how crazy her requests might be. Thanks to Dom, the rent was paid, the bills were not an issue, and she had many pretty things to call her own. Now was not the time to reminisce though-now was the time to prepare. Preparation was the key to success. She had very little time to waste. She cleaned the tools methodically, placing them in the cabinet. She mopped the floor with the bleach first, and then the Biokleen disinfectant. Finished, she rushed back home to clean up and give herself a makeover to die for.

Dom was just outside of Atlanta on I-285 and nearing his exit for his delivery. He already called the loading dock operator and told him there was no way he could make it until he checked on his girl. He contemplated making it anyway, knowing he had made good time. But the deliveries didn"t always go smoothly and one snag in it would have caused him to blow a fuse. The tension was already pouring from him like a suffocating fog. Over the phone, the operator sensed he was not to be messed with and finally agreed the delivery could wait until the afternoon.

With the stress of the delivery out of his way, he raced to the company lot. As an owner/operator, it was nice to have the privileges that were afforded him with his company. He had worked his way up the ladder, paid his dues, earned a good reputation, and made a name for himself. Special clients started requesting, and then demanding, that he be their driver. He had things to be proud of, things worth living for, and things worth fighting for.

He yanked off I-285, onto Const.i.tution, got "Betty Lou" parked and locked up, then hopped into his Dodge Durango and began the short drive over to Rose"s campus area apartment. The clock on his dashboard read nine forty-five a.m. He was making great time.

He originally hoped tonight would be a new beginning for them. He thought of the velvet box that sat in his pocket and prayed he would have the chance to ask her soon. He desperately needed a hot shower, but his lady needed him-the idea fueled his anger. His hopes of proposing someday waged war with the emotional outrage he felt for the garbage that had hurt his beautiful lady. He had no idea the extent of damage Rose had endured. His heart burned with hatred for the unknown attacker, and ached with love for his precious, hazel-eyed girl.

Rose found Janice buried under a blanket on the couch, an ice pack on her forehead, the curtains shut tight. Another migraine, another drama scene. Unbearable! She was close to smacking her upside the head and stuffing her in the closet. She was tired of playing nurse. She had no time for it. An argument ensued, tempers flared, unspoken words suddenly spewed forth. Hurt, angry, and dejected, Janice relented and agreed to go over to a friend"s place to stay for the night. Janice had only given in because it was Dominic coming-and not Kevin.

The tussle with Janice made it a fast makeover. She looked in the mirror-what a shame to soil such beauty, yet the deed must be done. She pulled her makeup kit from under the sink-her deluxe, costume-grade kit. No typical color palette would meet her needs today. She blended a variety of base creams to get the perfect shade of paleness, thoroughly covering her face and upper torso. A little ochre blended into the base helped her create the faded bruises on her arms, and around her neck and wrists. She dragged her beautifully manicured nails repeatedly down her abdomen and arms, bringing blood. She allowed this to flow and mix with the makeup, and then wrapped gauze bandages around her arms. She flexed her arms, forcing more blood to flow, soaking the bandages a bit. Medium violet, Phthalo blue, buff, mars black, and t.i.tanium white were placed on her palette. With the colors, she worked to make her eyes look sunken, bruised, and abused. More vibrant bruising was added to her neck, resembling fingerprints embedded within the skin.

Makeup attended to, it was now time for the costume and final touches. She dug in an antique trunk she stored in the corner of her room, clothing flying everywhere. Sweatpants, check. Ratty t-shirt with stains topped by an oversized cardigan, definitely. Slouch socks with house slippers, absolutely. Checking the clock, she shrieked; she had mere minutes to finish.

Back to the bathroom, she took a rat-tail comb and teased her hair into a snarled mess. For the finishing touch, she ripped off the fake nails, leaving her hands looking bland and damaged. She looked into the mirror, smiled once, and then dropped into character. She looked the part of a wounded animal. Now it was time to play the role to the best of her natural abilities. She"d been acting since she was able to talk-today should be no different.

At just two minutes after ten, she heard a knock on the door. Dom was known for his prompt arrivals. She shuffled to the door, embracing the character, and slowly opened it a smidgen to peek out at him.

Dominic saw a dark, haunted eye peering from a slit in the doorway. The anger flared through his body like a fire eating kindling for lunch. Her perfect hazel eyes were not twinkling and he wanted to kill the b.a.s.t.a.r.d who had done this to her.

Softly, with tenderness, he spoke, "Baby, let me in. I would never hurt you. Let me in so I can hold you." He waited for her to open the door, fists clenched with rage. He breathed deeply holding the beast within. His anger is better left unseen if there was any hope of her allowing him in to comfort her. He waited, trying to be as patient as possible, but fighting to maintain the ruse.

Slowly, Rose finally opened the door enough for him to slip in. He kicked the door behind him, slamming it shut as he gently brought her into his arms, holding her against his chest. He gradually brought one hand up and brushed the hair back from her face to look into her eyes. How he wished to see them twinkle, but they just looked like lost, sunken in, bruised pools of pain. Rose shifted in his arms, and that was when he saw them. Bruises and scratches marring her arms, neck, and who knew where else. The beast howled, fighting to be released, causing him to squeeze her a little too hard. She pushed him back, looking frightened by him-a look he wanted to erase from her face as quickly as he had put it there.

"Rose, honey, I"m so sorry. I just am so angry," he said. "Not at you, of course, but at the b.a.s.t.a.r.d who did this to you." He reached out to her, but she turned and walked away. He followed her into the living room where she slumped on the couch. She looked so miserable-so fragile-in need of tender, loving care. He could do that for her. His mind wandered to the velvet box he now had in his pocket. He could provide more security and love than she ever dreamed of. But now was not the time for talk of marriage. She was too emotional, too fragile. Now, he just needed to be there for her-and find the a.s.shole that hurt his lovely Rose.

In a parking lot across the city, a loud growling noise shattered the peaceful afternoon, and a green glow spread across a concrete jungle.

Rose looked at Dom from hooded eyes. She couldn"t believe how well he had reacted to her "supposed" condition. This performance would be easier than taking candy from a baby. The time had come to see how the game played out. Would he take the bait or sink to the bottom? She patted the couch next to her, hoping he would get the hint and sit down. Naturally, he did. He reached for her and she leaned over and laid her head against his chest. She could hear his heart beating-so strong.

She hitched her breath and body a few times to give the appearance that she was crying, breaking down in his manly embrace. Just as she expected, he started to rub her hair. With each stroke of his hand, she could feel the tension continue to build in his body. He was a strong one-that was certain. She had fed on that strength for two years-now the time had come to feast upon it.

"Seriously, Rose-what happened? Who did this? When did it happen? Why didn"t you call me?" he asked in rapid-fire order. His mind formulated an extreme picture of vengeance, but he needed her cooperation for that to come to fruition. She shifted in his arms and looked up at him, a tiny smile on her face that seemed more like a look of discomfort than glee. As always, he was drawn into her eyes, sinking deeply into the swirling color.

"I was walking home from cla.s.s the other night and this guy came up to me," she said softly. "He seemed like a good guy-a normal person-you know, a safe person. I found myself talking and walking with him. Everything seemed okay until I realized I didn"t recognize where I was. I started to panic. I wanted to scream, but he must have sensed my fear. He grabbed me and stuffed a wet rag in my mouth," she said, fear causing her voice to tremble. "I think I pa.s.sed out. I woke up with a screaming headache. Looking around, I realized I was trapped."

Dominic fought the burning rage building in his body. His eyes glinted with fury. A vein in his neck throbbed in rhythm to his anger. His pulse skyrocketed. He might be a guy who drove a truck day and night, but that didn"t mean he couldn"t take someone on in a fight and finish it swiftly. He took a couple of deep breaths and prayed that Rose would stay on track. Fear had a funny way of making people babble, and he needed her to stay focused so he could get enough details from her to vindicate her honor-so that justice could be served.

Rose flinched from the grasp Dom had on her. Anger radiated from him. Of course, this was her intention, but she didn"t want to end up really hurt. Her eyes were set on Kevin and all that he could offer her. Looking at Dom, she knew she would miss him, but she also knew she didn"t love him. She knew he loved her though. Hopefully, this would nip it all in the bud and life could go on as she planned. Her plans were everything to her, and she rarely failed. She snuggled into him closer, hoping to calm his tension. She needed his emotions to function, but not for him to become out of control.

"It was dark, but I knew I wasn"t alone. He was there. He raped me, beat me, and kept me locked up. I thought I was a goner for sure. I almost wished it would just end. Day and night meant nothing. Time was irrelevant." She sighed, stopping to let what she said sink in. She felt Dom"s tension increase even more. Before he could respond, she continued her tale. "Sleep came on and off. When I thought I wouldn"t last another minute, it came to an end. Oddly, he returned me to the same spot on the campus where I first met him. I woke up groggily to find people staring at me. Voices talked at me, others screamed around me. Chaos followed. Campus security came running. 911 was called and they rushed me to the hospital." She paused, and he hugged her. "The police came and a report was filed. The doctors fixed the physical wounds. A psychiatrist came to talk to me. I had no answers for anyone. I just wanted to run away. Finally, they released me. Janice brought me home and I just stayed in bed after that," she said, curling further into his lap.

He held her closely, picturing her lying broken on the campus grounds. There were no words for the emotions that were building within him-nothing that could describe the fury. He would get vengeance-that much he knew. As his anger seethed, it fueled the beast, giving it more power, more control, and the strength to act if action was needed.

"I"m so sorry that this happened and even sorrier that I wasn"t here when you needed me." He hugged her closely. "I love you more than anything and can"t handle that I wasn"t here to protect you. That"s my job, d.a.m.n it! I failed you and that is not acceptable. I need to fix this. Do you have any clues as to where you may have been held?" he asked her.

She looked confused for a second and he thought he had scared her again. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her more, but he needed an idea of where to look for the b.a.s.t.a.r.d who"d hurt his hazel-eyed girl. He watched her closely as the minutes pa.s.sed-worried he had tripped her memories in the wrong direction. Just as he was going to tell her to forget it, she spoke.

"I think I was in a warehouse. It was so dark, so cold." She shivered and shrugged. "I"m not sure, but I"ve thought about the noises. I heard noises the whole time." She suddenly got excited and almost shrieked. "There was water! I swear I heard water and maybe even fishermen." She seemed suddenly very animated to Dom. He knew she was excited, but for him, the clues didn"t help that much. He sat and thought on it for a few minutes.

Rose watched him closely, gauging his reaction. She was about to tell him more when he suddenly stood up and stomped across the room, standing next to the entertainment unit, a pensive look on his face. She knew now was not the time for her to roll the dice in the intricate game she was playing. Dom held them now. She waited patiently, yet grew more frustrated at the same time. Her frustration intensified as she looked at the clock. Time was slipping away from her, faster than she dared admit. She was thinking of going over to him, when he turned and walked back to her. He reached down for her hands. She took his and let him lift her into his strong embrace, almost too strong.

He had thought about it and knew that tonight had to be the night. He couldn"t wait any more. Tonight he would make Rose his... forever. Holding her tightly, he knew that she completed him and would for eternity-his soul told him so. Never before had his soul spoken so strongly to him. No time to dwell on that now though, he had things to do. The first was to get his Rose ready.

"Sweet Rose, my love. Are you ready to get out of this apartment?" he asked her, nudging her under the chin to look at him. "I"d like to take you out-away from this prison you"ve made for yourself-and remind you that the world can be a good place." He thought she would refuse at first, knowing full well she had every reason to be moody.

"I think I would like to get out of the apartment, but not so sure I"m presentable enough for any place nice. Maybe we can just go for a walk." She smiled shyly. Slowly backing away, she said, "I need to freshen up first. There"s a bottle of wine I was about to nurse on. Help yourself to a gla.s.s while you wait."

"Take your time, baby," he said with a slight chuckle. He knew she"d take a while. He headed over to the kitchen counter and poured himself a gla.s.s of the red wine. It wasn"t his favorite beverage, but he didn"t want to hurt her feelings. She was his fragile little flower and he would do anything to keep her smiling. Drinking wine, instead of a good, cold beer, was a small inconvenience he could handle.

Rose waited on the other side of the bedroom door and listened. It wasn"t long before she heard the distinct thud of a body hitting the floor. She shifted into high gear. There was a lot to do and not much time to do it in. She had places to go. Rushing out of the bedroom, she promptly rolled the tarp out over the bailing twine lines she had laid down first. Hastily, she rolled Dominic onto the tarp, wrapping it around him tightly, and tied the twine in the secure knots she had learned from a Navy man. Heading to the utility closet, she reached to the very back and popped open the secret door. She had installed it when Janice wasn"t home one weekend after they"d moved in. From within the s.p.a.ce, she retrieved the hospital laundry bin she had stolen during a very brief stint as a gift-shop volunteer. She hefted the body into the bin, popped the sides up, and then threw a batch of old towels she had collected on top of the tarp. She had brought a vehicle to the apartment the night before and tucked it away in the garage, near the elevator. She grabbed her purse and keys and left the apartment with her laundry... as far as anyone knew. Other tenants already deemed her a bit quirky.