Ch 73
Lisa felt her stomach knot up when Paul came into the nursery. He came up behind her resting his hands on her hips.
"Having a kid sure didn't ruin your body," Paul whispered in her ear wrapping his arms around her pulling her against him. "You're still as sexy as ever. Come on time to go to bed."
"I want to stay with the girls. Rose will be waking soon for her feeding," Lisa tried to push him away.
"You'll hear her when she wakes," Paul picked her up carrying her into the adjoining room. "There are pajamas in the top drawer of the biggest bureau. I'm going to get a shower." He left her alone for the moment as she changed in a hurry. She quickly hurried through the house looking for a phone. She couldn't find one. She remembered about Paul's cell phone heading back into the bedroom. She searched all over not able to find it.
Damn it he must have taken it into the bathroom, Lisa thought going towards the door slowly pushing it open seeing he was still in the shower humming. She saw his clothes lying in a pile. She quietly went through them finding his phone. Lisa took it with her going out onto the porch. She fumbled trying to dial Mark's number realizing Paul had the phone locked. She tried to remember pin numbers Paul used trying them at a fast pace.
"Give up angel, you'll never guess it," Paul grinned at her from the doorway wearing just his work out pants. "You think I would be stupid enough to use a pin you might figure out." Lisa didn't say anything as he ripped the phone out of her hand. "Get your ass to bed now!" Paul yelled at her making her jump as she ran for the bedroom climbing into bed trembling. Paul followed her stripping down to his boxers before getting in next to her. She moved as far away from him as she could but he put his arm around her waist pulling her close. "I've missed holding you like this. Don't worry I'm not going to force myself on you." Lisa felt some relief hearing that. She stayed on her side refusing to look at him hoping he would fall asleep. She silently prayed Mark would find her soon.
Glen found the note from Christina saying she was going to the mountains in New York and would call him when she got there. She apologized for leaving without telling him but she had to do this on her own. Glen was furious at her for not telling him. He could have helped her. Maybe I can still help her, he thought rushing to make a call hoping it would work out.
Mark felt like he was losing his mind as the minutes ticked into hours and he felt no closer to getting his family back. He had threatened Nash repeatedly getting nothing in return. When Glen pulled him to the side telling him they had to take a drive Mark was more confused then ever.
"Tell me what is going on right now," Mark stopped in the hall.
"Christina took off after Paul," Glen said as Mark gave him a told you so look. "It's not what you think she left me a note telling me she was going to New York. I called the rental car company and found out they have a theft device like Lojack on their cars. The detective on the case was more then willing to track Christina. They are keeping me up to date and we are going after her."
"Glen, thank you so much," Mark was touched by how much Glen was helping him. "Let's go find my wife and kids." Mark hurried out the door to the car.
"We are coming too," Shane, Adam, and John called after them. All five men piled into the SUV as Glen checked the map one more time starting on their drive. Glen looked at the clock figuring Christina had about athirty five minute start on them and he had to find some way to catch up with her without breaking every speed limit along the way.
Christina pulled over into a gas station to refuel and stretch her legs after being caught in traffic for over a half hour. She needed a break before she fell asleep behind the wheel. She was finishing pouring a cup of coffee when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She whirled around almost spilling the coffee. Christina was stunned seeing Glen staring down at her.
"We had a deal and you broke it," he firmly said.
"I didn't mean to break it. I wanted to face Paul on my own," Christina pressed the lid onto her cup heading to the register with Glen right on her heels.
"You promised no more bullshit. How could you take a foolish risk like this? You know you're no match for Paul," Glen didn't care if he was making a scene he wanted her to understand how big of a mistake she had just made.
"I can handle Paul, trust me," she gave him a side glance as she headed out the door running right into John.
"Trust you that is kind of tough right now," John stared at his sister, "I'm glad you finally told the truth but you still are a long way from forgiveness and trust."
"I know you don't have to remind me," she deeply sighed feeling Shane watching her from Glen's truck. She couldn't bear to look in his eyes and see all the hurt in them.
"What are we all stalling for?Let's getting move and have her take us to my wife," Mark was trying not to raise his voice.
"Mark, she might not be there I'm just going on a hunch I have," Christina didn't want Mark to raise his hopes too much.
"It's the only thing we have right now," Mark got into the truck slamming the door covering his face with his hands in frustration.
"Mark, we will find her," Adam patted Mark's shoulder trying to reassure him everything would turn out for the best.
"Leave your car here and come with us. Here is the map draw out the way," Glen wasn't asking her he was demanding it of her. She had no choice as far as he was concerned. Christina knew better than to say a word as she climbed into the Expedition sitting next to John. She quickly drew a line on the map to their destination handing it up to Shane. Her fingers lightly brushed against his filling her with sadness. He pulled back like he had been shocked handing the map quickly to Glen. Glen studied it then gave it to Mark to be the navigator. Mark was relieved to see they were only about twenty minutes away from their destination. He sat back in the seat watching the sun slowly start to creep up in the sky hoping Lisa and his girls were okay. He glanced at his watch seeing it was almost time for Rose to wake for her morning feeding and Kelly would be up in an hour looking for her cheerios. Mark felt tears sting his eyes as the ache and longing to be with his family overwhelmed.
"I'm coming darling, please stay strong for me," he silently thought wishing there was a way to tell her he was coming.
Lisa was lying with her eyes closed feeling exhausted after not being able to sleep at all. She jumped every time Rose or Kelly made a noise. Paul kept getting annoyed when she took forever to come back to bed. He would give her about twenty minutes before dragging her. She fought the first time making him throw her roughly into the bed after that she didn't try to fight anymore. Now she was glad he was asleep leaving her alone to try to think of a way out of the whole mess. Suddenly she started to feel like Mark was close that he was coming for her. She felt a new surge of hope course through her.
"Mark," she softly said his name calling him to her. Paul's tired eyes immediately popped open. He jumped on top of her pinning her to the bed with all his force.
"Paul, stop you're hurting me," she felt his weight crushing down on her making her fully alert.
"Whose name did you just say?" Paul tensed up grabbing her chin squeezing it tightly till she looked at him.
"I'm sorry I was dreaming," Lisa tried to push him away.
"I told you I don't want to hear that bastard's name anymore!" Paul screamed at her making her angryinstead of scared. She was tired of letting her fear control her. She needed to do something to get her and her children out of there.
"Mark! Mark! Mark! He is my husband not you. He is the man I love not you. I will never love you. You can keep me here till we are old and grey. It will never change I love him and hate you," she yelled in his face
"You bitch," Paul raised his hand to slap her. She used the moment to gather all her strength knocking him off balance to the floor. Lisa scurried out of the bed not sure where she was going as she ran into the hall looking for anything to use as a weapon. Rose started to cry making her stop dead in her tracks. She turned to go get her baby when Paul caught her slamming her hard against the sofa.
"Don't you ever do that again," he gripped her arm hard.
"I have to get Rose," Lisa tried to break free from his grip.
"No, you have to make up for what you just did. You have to learn I'm your man now and forever," Paul refused to let go pulling her close against him. "One kiss and I'll forget about this whole incident." She shook her head no trying frantically to get away from him.
"Suit yourself," he grinned slapping her sharply in the face. "Now are you ready for that kiss?"
"No!" she refused to give in to him. She blocked out the stinging from the slap fighting against him as he got ready to slap her again raising his hand high into the air. He changed his mind the last minute deciding hitting her wouldn't work. He had to do something more drastic. He tugged her roughly towards a locked cabinet against the wall. She struggled as he held onto to her tightly unlocking the cabinet pulling out a gun. Lisa froze at the sight of it feeling the cold metal against her skin as he ran it down her arm.
"One more thing to prove I'm not playing Lisa. You will forget about Mark or I will hunt him down and…" Paul paused getting an evil grin as she trembled shaking her head no. She couldn't let anything happen to Mark.
"Please leave Mark alone. You have already hurt him enough with all your twisted and sick games," Lisa stopped struggling feeling helpless. She couldn't do anything without someone she loved getting hurt at Paul's hand.
"Good girl, now I want that kiss right now," he whispered near her ear turning her to face him. Lisa felt her stomach churn as he came close to her. I can't do this, Lisa's skin was crawling feeling his breathe on her skin. Suddenly the sound of shattering glass echoed throughout the room stopping Paul dead in his tracks.
