Page 16

16

ELLA

I stared at the pretty woman in front of me. My best guess was that she was a few years younger than I was.

“Help me,” I pleaded in a hushed tone as I pressed my palm against the cold glass between us. My frantic gaze darted around the room, searching for any sign of Xavier, but he was nowhere to be seen. “I’ll give you anything,” I promised, desperation coating every word as I begged for her aid. “My husband is wealthy. I can pay you.” The weight of my plea hung in the air.

Suddenly, a blinding beam of light illuminated the space, followed by the thud of heavy footsteps. The woman’s expression turned to fear as she backed away from me and shook her head.

“Fiona, what are you doing here?” Xavier asked, his tone pinched.

Fiona turned her back to me as Xavier entered the kitchen.

He fidgeted with the front of his shirt before he continued. “I wasn’t expecting anyone.”

“Clearly. But if you knew I was coming, how in the hell would you have hidden that?” She pointed in my direction. “Are you fucking out of your mind? You’re smarter than that.”

Xavier stalked toward her, fuming. “Watch your mouth, or I will close it for you.”

She snapped her mouth shut so hard I heard her teeth click together.

Fiona reached out and gently touched his shoulder. “I’m sorry. That was mean to say. It just caught me off guard. Does the boss know you’ve kidnapped someone?”

Xavier sneered at her. “Oh, he knows. It was his idea. He gave her to me to love and protect.”

“So you’re keeping her in a cage against her will?” Fiona frowned. “Hon, you can’t do that. It’s not okay.”

Xavier turned on his heel and stomped away. “Who says? Society? What the hell do they know?” He ran his hand through his messy hair, his expression bewildered.

Please, please get through to him. My hope was dangling by a thin thread as she continued to talk to Xavier.

“You know I love you, and I don’t want to see you hurt. I don’t think the boss thought this through. I mean, what if she escapes? They’ll come for you and lock you up for the rest of your life. It would break my heart. You deserve better than … this.” She motioned to the shitty living quarters. “You deserve to be happy and see the sunshine.”

Xavier blinked at her as if she were speaking in a different language. “You’ve never said those things to me before. Fiona is usually catty.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “What do you want?”

Fiona’s chest heaved with her deep breath. “I came by to see if you needed food or supplies since you rarely leave this place.”

His expression brightened immediately. “Twinkies. I would love a Twinkie.” He clapped his hands like a little kid. Xavier strolled over to me and leaned down. “Ella, do you want a Twinkie too?”

I gave him a soft smile. “And milk?”

“Yes! And cookies so we can dunk them during date night. What’s your favorite?”

I pretended to think for a minute. I needed protein, not sugar, to keep my strength up. The measly soup he’d been feeding me wasn’t cutting it.

“Chocolate chip, but even more than that …”

He looked at me expectantly.

“I would give anything for a hamburger and fries. Do you know how to cook that? Maybe we could have a proper dinner on date night?” I suggested.

“He makes the best hamburgers I’ve ever eaten,” Fiona said from behind him.

“Really?” My mouth watered at the idea of a fat, juicy burger. “And do you like lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise?”

Xavier nodded, clearly excited with planning our meal and evening. At least for the moment, I was dealing with an innocent child. I wish I saw this part of him more often. It might be easier to talk him into letting me go.

“Xavier, I’ll help you make a list.” Fiona reached in her handbag for a pen and paper.

“I’ll go. I’ll shop for my future bride. The produce has to be perfect like she is.”

Fiona’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? You rarely leave here.”

“But I do. Just to see the boss most of the time. I can still drive, though.”

My pulse fluttered. Was he leaving? Now that I knew where the door was, it was just a matter of figuring out how the hell to get out of this goddamn cage.

As if Xavier read my thoughts, he trained his attention on me. “Be a good girl, Ella. You don’t want to know what happens to people who don’t mind me.” He looked behind him at the kitchen table where his family stared at me with a faraway look on their expressions.

“I wouldn’t miss our date night for anything.” I beamed at him, wondering how the hell I’d become so efficient at lying. Nearly barking out a laugh, I reminded myself that I lied every day to hide my husband’s secret as well as the Horizon Society. I’d become a professional and hadn’t realized it until my life depended on that detail.

Xavier and Fiona turned their backs on me, leaving without a single glance in my direction. With a deep, shuddering breath, I tried to calm my racing heart and tense muscles. I knew the danger of being near him, always on edge for his next outburst that could result in my death. Every moment with him was a ticking time bomb.

I allowed my thoughts to drift to Sebastian and the kids, my chest squeezing so hard it was painful. In my mind, there was no other possibility than to live through this horrid nightmare. As I imagined Death showing up and carrying me out of this hellhole, I frantically ran my fingers along the cold glass walls, desperate for any sense of escape.

Even though I would be surprised if one were there, I was hoping to find a vulnerability. My pusle raced as I desperately searched for a way out. My thoughts turned to a conversation I had months ago with Cami and Ryan, where they mentioned using forensic experts to locate weak spots in materials. The memory came flooding back to me as I frantically chewed on my lip and stared at my wedding band and engagement ring. I wondered if I could use an everyday metal to break the thick glass near the lock and escape. The thought gave me a glimmer of hope amidst the panic and fear that consumed me. With newfound determination, I moved to the door and began to test my theory, hoping like hell it would work before it was too late.

I removed the platinum band and held my breath as I tapped the glass, then paused.

The light from the entryway spilled into the room, and I quickly placed my wedding ring on my finger again.

Footsteps traveled down the stairs and to my shock, Fiona emerged from the stairwell. She glanced over her shoulder as if she were making sure she wasn’t followed before she came over to the cage.

“I’m not here to let you go if that’s what you’re thinking.”

I sank my teeth into my lower lip in order to not scream at her. Since I wasn’t aware of her intentions, I didn’t want to dig my own grave, so I made myself remain calm.

I crawled closer to the side of the container and looked her in the eye. “I understand. Xavier is …”

“You can say it.” Fiona sank onto the floor and crossed her legs.

“You know there are a ton of spiders out there, right?” I rubbed my arms, shivering at the idea of them crawling out of their hiding places to investigate the visitor.

“Yup. They don’t scare me.”

I swallowed over the ball of anxiety in my throat. “I can’t say the same.”

A silence fell between us, and I wondered why she was here.

“How do you know Xavier?” I asked, hoping to get some answers.

“We work together. Well, that’s not really true. I work for his boss. But Xavier and I have known each other for years.”

“Did you know his family?” I pointed behind her at the stuffed humans.

She frowned and glanced in the direction I was pointing. Fiona started to giggle, and I wondered if she was unstable like Xavier.

“His family?” She held her belly as she laughed. “Is that what he told you? That those dolls are his family? Oh my God, well played, Xavier.”

“Not exactly. He implied that he killed and taxidermied his parents and sister.” I found nothing funny about the situation.

She wiped tears from her cheeks. “Sorry, I have a twisted sense of humor and sometimes I can’t help myself.” She snorted.

I stared at her, trying to understand what she was saying. “Are you laughing because those people weren’t real, or because they weren’t his family?”

“Oh, they are … well, were real. He’s a very skilled artist, don’t you think? His mom, dad, and sister were his first victims. You should see the others.”

My legs trembled with the revelation. “Others?” I asked, my voice hovering above a whisper.

“He’s found his calling. The next families got even better. What do they say? Practice makes perfect?”

My stomach churned and my heart dropped with lightning speed to my toes with her confirmation that Xavier wasn’t only dangerous but had no problem killing and stuffing me. “I just don’t understand why me?” I had a sneaking suspicion that it had to do with Death and my research on his family, but I wasn’t going to offer that information.

“You can’t repeat this, and if you do, I’ll make sure you pay dearly, so don’t forget that.”

I raised my hands in surrender. “I won’t say a word.”

“After I saw you and Xavier, I talked to the boss. I wanted to know who you were and why you were stuffed in a glass box. Apparently, the boss asked Xavier to babysit you, get you out of the way, but … but you are bait, Ella. The boss gave Xavier strict orders not to inflict serious harm—like he could cut you up, but not badly enough that you bled out. Ya know, shit like that. I thought if the boss knew you were in a cage, he’d probably blow a fucking gasket. I was wrong since he doesn’t think there’s another way to contain you, so …” She gave me a small shrug.

I couldn’t wait to meet Xavier’s boss for myself and shove a knife into his heart and twist it slowly. Later, I would give myself permission to entertain that thought, but I needed to get as much information out of Fiona as I could. “I’m bait for who?”

Fiona glanced over her shoulder again, then she leaned closer to the glass. “Your husband.”

I pursed my lips together, ensuring I kept my mouth shut. If she didn’t know about Death, then that could work to my advantage.

“So the fact that some goons snatched me off the front porch of my home is actually payback from someone’s family my husband helped?”

She smacked her lips loudly, as if I’d guessed correctly. This is about the Horizon Society?

“There are some very twisted and dangerous men he’s pissed off. I’m guessing your boss is one of them.”

“Something like that, yeah.”

I tilted my head, still confused why she’d returned.

“Fiona, why did you come back if you weren’t going to help me escape?”

A creepy crawly moved across the floor, and I pointed near the couch. “One of your friends is coming to say hello.”

I watched in disgust as Fiona extended her hand and let the critter crawl up her arm like Xavier had. Sucking in a breath, I looked away. “I just can’t get used to that.”

“It takes a while.” She cooed at the spider as if it were the cutest little kitten she’d ever seen. “And to answer your question. I’m not sure. When I saw you locked up and realized that Xavier was in love with you … I guess I felt sorry for you. Having a date night with Xavier is kind of gross.” She scrunched up her nose in disgust.

“And I’m married, but that doesn’t seem to bother him.”

Her brow arched. “Why should it? In his mind, you’re never leaving him.”

“Do you know that I have nine-month-old twins? They need me home, Fiona. Please. I’m begging you, just open the cage, and I’ll do the rest.”

She set the spider on the floor, then stood slowly. “I can’t. Xavier and my boss wouldn’t hesitate to kill me. I’m not suicidal.” She pursed her lips, her eyes flickering with regret. “I’ll try to stop by again soon. At least you’ll have a good meal when Xavier returns.”

“How long will he be gone?”

“He should be back any minute. I should go.” She hopped up and then spun on her heel and practically ran out of the underground hole, leaving me behind once again. I couldn't help but think about what Fiona had said regarding Xavier being a killer. She was clearly having a good time fucking with my head. I stared at the lifelike dolls again. One thing was confirmed from her visit— Xavier was a murderer and dangerous, and I couldn’t afford to let my defenses down.

I drew my knees up to my chest and rested my chin on them. Deep inside me, I understood that my time was running out. Xavier was growing more obsessed with me, and my chances of escaping were dwindling. I stared at my wedding rings. Maybe … just maybe my band would be what set me free.

The sound of the door creaking let me know that I’d have to wait until I was alone again to try my idea. I just hoped it would be soon enough.