Page 10 of Stolen

“I don’t understand,” Blossom said, looking at SynTanner.

“Was he abusive? Sexual and or otherwise?” SynTanner asked her. Blossom shook her head.

“No actually. He treated me perfectly. He didn’t raise his voice. Never hit me. Allowed me to spend copious amounts of money to satisfy me. He had the wives of his friends visit me. I was never chained. And he never—we never had sex. And he didn’t force me to either.” SynTanner shouldn’t have been so relieved to hear that she wasn’t forced to give a man she didn’t want a part of her body.

“So, he kidnapped you—yet he didn’t abuse you or mistreat you—but he kept you from leaving his home and if you ran, he followed you and retrieved you? Didn’t you have access to phones?” Preston asked.

“If I did, I surely would have made a call to someone to come get me away from that psycho!” Blossom snapped. SynTanner reached under the table and touched her clenching hands. Her body had tensed at the way Preston phrased his question and he knew it would rile her up. She immediately relaxed under his touch.

“Psycho?” Preston asked.

“Yes. He’s—on the surface he was the perfect man. Good natured, sensual, handsome, caring. But there was something—I don’t know—evil in his eyes. The look was always fleeting but it was there. If I had broken a rule, his threats were always so frightening. And I—I didn’t want anyone getting hurt at my expense so I thought being on his good side was the only way to ensure my own safety and the safety of others. But I—I didn’t know if he would be the same caring man the longer, he kept me. He never forced me to have sex but—” Blossom stopped.

“But what?” SynTanner urged.

“I walked into a conversation he was having with one of his friends. He was gloating about how I would be pregnant soon and we were excited to start a family. Chance wouldn’t tell such a lie like that without a plan. Everything he does has a plan and a motive. If he told his friend that I would be pregnant soon, then he was planning to make it happen. And he knew well that I would never willingly sleep with him. But he would always say ‘I’m not a rapist sweetie but I know how to get what I want.’ One way or another he was going to get a baby if he wanted it bad enough. Just as he wanted me bad enough to keep trapped in a house,” Blossom explained.

SynTanner clenched his fists. He had heard enough. They needed to get Chance Lore in a cell with no damn questions asked.

“Wait I know. Chance Lore is the operator of a charity that funds several homes for abandoned children in foster care,” Munn spoke up.

“Right! That is where I know his name.” Blossom sat back. She found herself inching closer to SynTanner. Were the officers going to let him off because he was a humanitarian? Did what he did even matter?

“Charity fund or not, he clearly held a woman against her will and where we all come from that is a crime. He can use his riches to get him a good lawyer, but he will see punishment for this,” SynTanner stated.

“We will apprehend both Chance Lore, and his staff and question them all. But we need an arrest warrant which we can’t achieve until the morning. For now, Ms. Freeman it’s best we call your family or someone to come and pick you up. Or would you like to be taken to the hospital?”

“I’m fine, I don’t need the hospital. But—why can’t you at least go and question him? You don’t need a warrant for that. Me being shoved out of a vehicle proves that he knew he was doing something wrong or else Deputy SynTanner’s threat would have mattered none to him. I know where he lives. I’ll give the address! You can’t expect me to just go home with him still out there! What if he’s waiting at my house?” The panic in Blossom made her voice begin to pitch higher. She was clenching SynTanner’s hand so tightly he felt his fingers were going to break. He immediately used his other hand to wrap around her wrist, trying his best to soothe her.

“I’ll send a patrol car to his home,” Preston said, realizing he wouldn’t be doing his due diligence if he didn’t at least do that for the woman becoming hysterical in front of him. Blossom readily gave him the address of Chance’s home. Preston ordered two patrol cars to head out to Chance’s home immediately.

“Now, we just wait for the report back, alright Ms. Freeman?” Blossom took a deep breath and nodded.

“Can we call anyone to come be with you?” Preston asked. Blossom shook her head.

“I live alone.”

“Friends?” he questioned. Blossom thought of Valorie. She wanted to call her friend badly but she wasn’t going to make contact until Chance was in cuffs.

“No. Just business associates and I don’t think it’s very appropriate to bring them into this matter.” Blossom said. “But don’t worry about it. I’ll be okay. I’ve been on my own for a long time.”

“Even though that’s unfortunate to be alone, but no worries. We will take care of you as much as we can. Now, I know you wish to stay by Deputy SynTanner’s side, but I need to speak with him privately. It will only be a few minutes, is that alright?”

“Um—” Blossom looked at Deputy SynTanner. The way his hand was wrapped around her wrist was oddly comforting yet dominating. She didn’t want to lose his touch but her acting that way was completely ridiculous. This man was a police officer. He was only doing this job. That was it.

“Ah yes, yes, it’s fine,” she stumbled out. She let go of SynTanner’s hand immediately. He smirked at her; his smile warm despite the rugged handsomeness of his face. As he stood, he caressed her arm.

“A detective will come keep you company and bring you something to eat,” Preston told her. Blossom just nodded, distracted by the fact that SynTanner’s warmth was leaving her. She watched him longingly as he strode out of the room. He was one fine specimen, built tall with muscles that were expertly carved into his body. Even with his muscles, he didn’t look like a brooding, doped up WWE wrestler. His body was tall and slender and from the way his jeans slung on his waist, Blossom could only imagine the deep V-line that cut into his stomach.

“Damnit Blossom, what are you even thinking about?” Blossom scolded herself. This was not the time to think about the incredible physique of a man.