Page 13

13

ELLA

My jaw clenched as Xavier drew back, his touch turning my stomach. His long, dark eyelashes fluttered as his eyes opened.

“My first kiss. Ella is my first kiss.” His expression lit up and a sweet smile pulled at the corners of his mouth.

“Your first? You’ve never …” From my best guess, he had to at least be in his thirties.

“First.” He sank into his chair and stared at me like a lovesick puppy. “No one liked Xavier.”

What was happening? This was the only time I’d heard him refer to himself in third person.

“And to think I’m the lucky girl,” I managed to say with sympathy. Even though his touch revulsed me, maybe it was the key to talking him into letting me go. If he thought he was in love with me, then it might be beneficial.

“This calls for a celebration.”

A flicker of hope sparked to life in my chest. “It does? What do you have in mind?” I offered him the sweetest smile I was capable of.

“Another riddle.” Excitement clung to his words.

“I don’t understand.”

“Another riddle for Sebastian Fletcher. Another clue to where you are.”

“Oh.” I struggled not to ask him to let me talk to Sebastian again, but even hearing my husband’s voice would help me hang on to the possibility of escaping or being found.

“Yes! I love riddles. Then, Ella … then we will have our first date.”

“You’re taking me out of here?”

Xavier wagged his finger at me. “No, no. We will watch a movie together. I have lots of choices. We can kiss and snuggle too.”

My lips pursed into a thin line, but I managed to nod and lie through my teeth. “I would love a movie. Why don’t you pick it since you know what you have?”

He leaned forward in his chair. “Silence of the Lambs. It’s my favorite movie ever.”

I gulped. He would choose a twisted, fucked-up movie like that to be his preferred choice. “I love it too.”

He clapped his hands, then removed his cell phone from the pocket of his flannel shirt. Even though it was summer outside, it was cold in his underground hole. He tapped the screen, then put it on speaker and set it on the table. “If you behave, I’ll let you speak.”

“I promise. I won’t make you angry this time.” I nodded for emphasis. The ring of a phone pulled my attention away from him, and my pulse kicked up as it rang again.

“Hello?” Sebastian said, his voice tight with stress.

My eyes snapped shut in a desperate attempt to contain the ocean of tears that threatened to spill over at the sound of his voice and beautiful accent. My heart wrenched with conflicting emotions. I wanted Death, not Sebastian. I needed Death to come find me, to rid this twisted world of the evil that had stolen me from him and our children.

Xavier’s face fell. “I’m so sorry to hear it is still Sebastian Fletcher. I was hoping that Death would come out to play.”

“It’s only been twenty-four hours since you called last time. It doesn’t work like that, motherfucker. He doesn’t jump when he’s told to appear,” Sebastian barked. “Let me talk to my wife.”

My hands trembled with Sebastian’s words. Had I misunderstood what he’d said about Death not just appearing? If so, how? I couldn’t handle thinking about it right now. He’d also let me know how long I’d been away from him and my babies. Almost twenty-four hours. It seemed as though I’d been gone for days. Xavier glanced at me, jealousy flashing through his narrowed gaze.

“Please,” I mouthed. “Then our date.”

Xavier’s expression changed as soon as I mentioned the word date. He moved the phone closer to me. “No clues.”

I silently agreed. “Bass?” My voice cracked. “Hi, baby.”

“Ella. I’m trying, honey. I’m trying.”

“I know you are. I’m so sorry.”

“Why in god’s name would you apologize? I’m afraid it’s my fault that you’re … wherever you are.”

In order not to start blurting out more details about my surroundings, I shifted the conversation. “Are the babies okay?” If we talked about the kids, maybe it would reach Xavier on some level, and he would let me go.

“They miss their mom, as do I.” Sebastian’s voice was tight, and I knew him well enough to realize he was fighting back tears.

I glanced at my captor. “I don’t have any idea of who or why.”

“It’s all right. Just stay safe.”

With that, Xavier picked up the cell and tapped the screen before he held it to his ear. “Here’s your next clue.” He waited and then he spoke again. “Bound by threads invisible, yet tighter than steel, I’m a puzzle wrapped in shadows, what secrets do I conceal? Count the heartbeats, measure the breaths, her fate dances on the edge of depth.” Xavier’s high-pitched laugh echoed through the room, then he hung up. His gaze drifted to me. “Poor Ella, Death doesn’t want to come out and play.” He tsked while he slipped his phone back into his pocket. If I could reach it without him noticing, I could tap the redial button and call Sebastian … but what would I tell him? I had no idea where I was. Regardless, it was the only plan I had until I found the door that led out of this hellhole.

“Come, come.” Xavier stood and held his hand out to me. “Oh, wait. I have to untie you.” He laughed as if it were the best joke he’d ever told.

“Since you gave your word and didn’t give Sebastian any more clues to where you were … I’ll leave the ropes off, but first.” He turned his back to me and strolled over to one of the kitchen drawers. He opened it and retrieved a pistol. The sound of the safety reached my ears. “Locked and loaded, so don’t try anything. Even when you can’t see my gun, it’s always near me. Keep that in mind.” His voice was low, threatening. “I would hate to have to shoot you. It messes up the taxidermy.”

My heart hammered against my ribs. “I won’t give you a chance to shoot me. I promise.”

He studied me momentarily before he strolled in my direction, then untied my wrists and feet. I groaned as I rubbed my arms and legs, hoping they would wake up before I had to walk wherever we were going. Xavier waited patiently for me to stand, then he held out his hand again. I briefly hesitated and then I placed mine in his, imagining it was Sebastian instead. I hoped like hell it helped me get through this nightmare.

He led me over to the couch and grabbed the remote off a little side table I hadn’t noticed earlier. A loud bang sounded, then light spilled down a set of stairs the darkness had been hiding.

“Xavier!” A deep voice called. “Now.”

“No, no. It’s date night,” he called back.

Heavy footsteps traveled down the stairs and closer to us. “Boss isn’t asking. He said now. Take care of her, then meet me outside.”

The door . That’s the path to my freedom. My heart jumped with hope as my mind began to form a plan. But there was an additional problem. Xavier wasn’t alone. I just wasn’t sure if there were men guarding the outside or if they’d just stopped by to tell him his boss wanted a meeting.

“Don’t be sad, Ella McCloud Fletcher. We will have our date when I come back.”

Before I could brace myself, he kissed me again. “In the cage. Hurry, hurry. I can’t be late, or the boss will be angry. That’s very bad.”

I hurried toward the glass cell and crawled back in, checking for spiders as he secured me inside.

He briefly stared at me before he said, “You look tired. Be right back.”

I frowned as I watched him hurry off. A minute later, he returned with a yellow, dingy pillow. He unlocked the container and handed it to me. “Sweet dreams. I’ll see you soon.”

I took the pillow and hugged it to my chest, grateful for a softer place to lay my head. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed one along with the comfort of my bed until I’d landed in this shitty hell hole. My gaze traveled to his, and for the first time since I’d been here, my words were genuine. “Thank you, Xavier. This means a lot to me.”

His expression softened. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He stepped away, my attention trained on him as he hurried across the small room to the hidden staircase. Light and fresh air spilled in as he opened the door, then closed it behind him. The moment he was gone, my mind started to spin with ways to get his gun, shoot him, and then run. If there were more people waiting outside, then at least I could kill them and ask questions later.

I lay down on the cold cement floor and slipped the pillow under my head. The stench didn’t bother me, but I wondered if the man knew how to use a washing machine. If he had one, maybe I could work my way into his heart if I offered to do his laundry. Maybe his walls would crumble if I gave him what he’d apparently never had before—care and love.

I wasn’t sure how long I’d slept, but the sound of the door creaking woke me. After what must have been my third day in this hell, strange footsteps traveled down the stairs and closer to me. Sitting up, I waited to see Xavier appear from the staircase, but small black boots caught the edge of my eye, and I glanced up. My mouth gaped open at the sight in front of me.

“What the fuck?” the young, blonde-haired woman said as she stared at me wide eyed.