She’d recognised him at once, of course she had, and recognised that look on his face, too. He wanted to hurt someone, preferably her.

With the element of surprise on his side, Darren managed to grab her, forced her to the ground, then sat astride her and she couldn’t fight free of him.

She continued to scream but he must have come prepared, because when she opened her mouth, he stuffed something in it, then banged her head so hard against the floor she felt her senses spin.

Darren watched her carefully as she lay there limply, not struggling now. Had he hit her head too hard? She looked dizzy and unfocused. No, of course he hadn’t. She’d be all right in a minute or two. Serve the bitch right if it hurt.

Her disorientation gave him time to haul her to her feet, holding one arm behind her back. He loved doing that to her. When she started to struggle feebly, he said, ‘Stop that! I can dislocate your arm in seconds.’

He kicked the front door shut behind them as he began to jerk her towards the rear of the house.

In spite of his warning she did start to struggle, but stopped with a smothered whimper when he gave her a sample of shoulder pain.

‘Do not make another sound and if you don’t do as I tell you, I’ll damage that shoulder big time. Now, we’re going into the kitchen. Walk forward slowly.’

The pain in her shoulder had been so sharp, Stacy didn’t try to escape again. She had no choice but to do as he said, and anyway, she still couldn’t seem to think clearly.

Once there, he dumped her on a chair and she tried again to yank her arm away. But he seemed prepared for everything and put one arm round her throat to hold her still from behind while he clicked a pair of handcuffs quickly on to one wrist.

In spite of his threats, that made her struggle desperately again to prevent him attaching the handcuffs to anything else. But he was too strong for her and managed to click the other end of them onto the chair arm.

She managed to spit out the gag and as she gave another scream, he slapped the side of her head so hard she went dizzy again. Before her head cleared, he finished the job of tying her feet and cuffing her other arm to the chair. Then he fastened the gag back in place with duct tape.

After that she was helpless – and very afraid.

He disappeared into the front room and she heard the front door lock click. When he came back, he studied her with a gloating expression. He’d never looked that vicious before or hit her so hard. Did he intend to murder her? Fear made her belly lurch.

He leant forward till his face was right next to hers, holding her head still by her hair. ‘I’m going to enjoy this. You’re not. But first I’ll draw the curtains. At certain times a man likes privacy.’