Chapter 21

Amber heard the door open, but assuming it was Lexi she didn't bother turning around. "That was quick. Guess Hunter decided he didn't need you after all?" When her question met silence she stopped rooting through her bag and straightened her spine. "Lexi?" She turned and shock froze her in place. "Brad?"

"Amber." He leaned against the door, blocking her exit..

"W-what are you doing here?"

"I came to see you." He reached behind him and flipped the lock, then pushed off the door and stalked toward her. "Aren't you happy to see me?"

Despite the fear now coursing through her she managed to notice his absence of a limp or the cane he had before. "What happened to your limp?" she asked.

"Oh that." Brad waved a dismissive hand at her. "Call it a miraculous recovery."

"You were playing on people's sympathy," she replied, shocked that he'd stoop so low. "Seth never really hurt you that bad."

"Very astute of you." He reached into his back pocket and a moment later produced a switchblade. "I had hoped the limp, combined with my remorse over what I'd done to you would be enough to make people turn on Rollins, but no..." He shook his head. "He and his boys are the flavor of the moment, so they're untouchable. You however," he rocked the blade back and forth. "You're just another Diva...a slut to be used and tossed away."

Amber shook her head as she took a step back. "That's not true. Management wouldn't do that and neither would Seth."

Brad's eyes narrowed upon hearing Seth's name. "Ah yes, your little bad boy. Do you really think he has true feelings for you when there are so many other, more beautiful women here?" He cocked his head to the side and advanced on her. "All you are to him is a little fuck buddy. I on the other hand would have treated you like a queen."

"That's not true," Amber argued as anger slowly began to boil at Brad's description of Seth. "He loves me."

"Is that what he told you?" Brad tisked. "And you actually believed him?"

Amber took another step back until she could go no further. With her back against the wall, she stared at him wide eyed. "I don't understand what it is you're trying to accomplish here."

"You'll see what I'm trying to accomplish," Brad sneered. "You know, I tried to get to know you when you first arrived, but instead of reciprocating those feelings you turned on me."

"I did not."

"Yeah, you did." He waved the knife in the air. "You threatened to press charges against me if I went after Seth." Anger flared in his eyes. "That motherfucker puts me in the hospital and you take his side?" His shook his head. "I thought about making Seth pay, but then I realized I could make you both pay if I focused my efforts on you."

A fresh shot of fear slithered up her spine. "What do you mean?"

He held the knife out. "You've been screwing Rollins," Brad spat. "It's obvious by the way he fawns all over you. Since he has feeling for you, if I kill you then poor Seth is heartbroken. He's paid for his transgressions and so have you."

"You just said that Seth didn't have feelings for me, so what would killing me really accomplish? Besides, I wasn't even dating Seth when you first came on to me," Amber argued, trying to buy time. Eventually somebody would realize she was alone and they'd come. She just had to keep him talking. "I wasn't dating anyone. And that whole pressing charges thing was Hunter's idea."

"Liar," Brad yelled and advanced on her.

"No, really." Amber pleaded. "He didn't want a scandal for the company so he thought if he could keep it internal by keeping the police out of it. I had nothing to do with that decision."

"You didn't oppose it either." He stepped closer and the tip of the knife pressed against her flesh as he leaned in close. "I'm so very disappointed in you, Amber. I thought you were different than the other women who come through here. Yes, you're beautiful, but you seemed so sweet and sensitive and just a little shy." Amber turned her head, trying to avoid him as he leaned in close and mouthed a kiss along her neck. Her stomach turned and she closed her eyes, desperate to be anywhere but there.

"I was upset that you originally chose Seth and I let my temper get the best of me. Guess I should apologize for calling you a slut."

Her eyes flew up at his revelation. "You painted that vile word on my door?"

He pulled back just far enough for her to see his twisted grin. "Well, not me exactly, but it is amazing what homeless people will do for a few bucks, including sneaking into a building and dressing up as a hotel maid."

"Did you set that fire too?"

"Like I said, it's amazing what people will do for the right amount of money. Though the fire didn't quite go as planned. You see, he was supposed to paint the word on your door again and this time set it on fire." His smile widened. "I had this fantastic image in my mind of the word slut written in flames. Apparently, that bungling idiot I chose to carry out my plan knocked over the fuel and let the damn fire get away from him."

Shock and anger rolled through her as she listened to his confession. "You nearly killed me and others."

"It's not like I had any way of knowing that the sprinkler system was broken," he replied. "Your death would have been very unfortunate, especially since I wouldn't have had the pleasure of ending it myself, but hey, shit happens."

His free hand covered her breast through her ring gear and Amber shuddered at the contact. "Unfortunately-" He licked a trail along her neck. "My accomplice has spilled the beans, so I'm headed to jail." He nibbled at spot just below her ear, all the while pressing the knife against her stomach. "Only I'll be damned if I'm going to let someone lock me away. That leaves me with only one choice, but I'm not going alone."

"You don't want to kill me," she pleaded. "They'll put you in jail."

"Wrong. Like I said I refuse to be locked away like some animal, " he replied as he shifted his body and pressed against her, his erection evident.

"Then you'll go straight to hell," she said.

"And you'll be right there beside me as I burn." He laughed, the sound eerie and maniacal. "You are my final prize. I take you now, make you mine and then you'll join me in the afterlife and we'll be together forever."

Flashbacks of her father flooded her mind sending her back to that horrible night. She'd dug deep that night to find the will to fight, could she do it again? Continue being a victim or stand and fight. If there was one thing she'd learned from being with Seth was that her life had value and it was worth fighting for. She brought a knee up, catching Brad in the groin.

He howled in agony and the knife he held cut into her skin. Ignoring the pain, she gave him a shove and raced for the door. Before she could flip the lock he was on her again. "You fucking bitch," he spat as he grabbed her by the hair and pulled her against him. With his free hand he brought the knife to her throat. "Bad decision sweetheart."

Amber swallowed hard as the cold steel rested against her flesh. With the door locked no one could come to her rescue. Which meant if she held any hope of surviving she had to save herself.

"Now here is how this is going to go play out," Brad whispered against her ear. "I'm going to bend you over that table and take what belongs to me. Then I'm going to release you from the confines of this world and meet you on the other side."

Desperate to free herself she clung to his arm as her brain scrambled for a solution. She'd be damned if she was just going to allow him to rape and murder her without putting up a fight. For the first time in her existence her life had meaning and purpose. She had a bright future with Seth and she'd be damned if he was going to snatch it away.

A sudden loud thud hit the door. "Amber!" Seth's muffled voice carried through the steel barrier and the pounding began again, presenting the distraction she needed as Brad turned his attention to the door. Digging deep, Amber summoned every bit of strength she possessed. She stomped on Brad's foot, then wedged an elbow into his stomach. Pain bloomed in her neck as the knife sliced through flesh, but she didn't care. Either way she was facing death, at least this way she'd go down fighting.

Stumbling away from Brad, who was now bent over gasping for breath, she rushed for the door. With shaky fingers she flipped open the lock and pulled the door open. Seth's eyes widened in shock and then horror filled his face. "Oh God!"

"Brad," she gasped as she fell into his arms. "It's Brad." Roman and Dean rushed forward and took Brad to the ground, disarming him.

Seth stared in horror at the blood flowing from Amber's neck. "It's Brad," repeated as she reached for him.

"I know, baby." He grabbed her and immediately pressed a hand over the wound. "Lexi I need a towel right now."

Lexi nodded and raced into the room then returned with a clean towel. "Don't move, sweetheart." Seth ordered as he removed his hand and replace it with the towel. His stomach churned at the sight of blood free flowing from the wound.

"Brad," Amber whispered and her body began to shake.

"I know, baby. I know. Roman and Dean have him. Let me take care of you." He cut a sideways look at Lexi. "I think he might have cut her jugular. She needs medical attention now."

Lexi nodded, turned and race up the hall in search of help.

"Lean against me," he ordered and he continued to hold pressure against the wound as he watched the police arrive.

"I-" she stammered. "I don't feel so good."

"What kind of not feel good?" he asked as he glanced up the hall. Where in the hell is Lexi with help?

"Weak and tired," she replied.

Seth turned his attention to where he pressed the towel against her wound. The white micro-fiber was now red with her blood. "Stay with me, baby."

"I need to sit," she said. "Can we sit?" Before Seth could reply she crumpled in his arms and Seth went to the floor with her. "Where in the hell is Lexi with help?" Seth yelled as he cradled Amber in his arms. He looked from her up to where the guys now stood and noted the fear in their eyes. It was the same fear currently tearing through his system.

"Seth," she lifted a hand to his face, her palm cradling his cheek.

"Yeah, baby?" For the first time in his adult life tears welled in his eyes as he stared down at her.

"I love you."

"I love you too. Stay with me, Amber. Come on, baby. Stay awake."

Her eyes drifted closed and her hand went limp, slipping from his face.

"No. No. No." he pulled her closer. "Baby, please don't do this. Amber!"