Page 18

18

ELLA

Xavier sang as he descended the stairs and into the kitchen. “I’m back. Are you hungry?” He set a few overflowing bags on the dirty counter.

“I’m starving.” My legs were cramped up, and I hoped he would let me out soon. “Can I help you put the groceries away?” It was strange how an ordinary chore meant something special to me now.

He turned slowly, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I’ll let you help, but not yet. I have a surprise!”

Dread settled like a heavy weight in the pit of my stomach as his words sank in. I could feel my insides churning, flip-flopping with unease. But I forced myself to nod, watching helplessly as he put away groceries and then disappeared into a hidden room that I hadn’t been shown before. Time crawled by as I waited and wondered what else he had kept secret from me. When he finally reemerged, he set down glasses and filled them with milk and then he grabbed cookies from the cabinet with an eerie calmness. My heart raced as he set everything on the table, his every movement calculated and deliberate. My body tingled with an odd sensation as I realized that something was off, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it yet.

After what must have been my first full day in captivity, my stomach growled painfully. I hadn’t eaten since Xavier fed me soup yesterday.

“First a snack …” He rubbed his palms together as if he were planning to take over the world. Sweat dotted my forehead, and I wiped it away with the back of my hand while my pulse raced and I waited for him to make his next move.

His brows creased and he nodded as if someone had just asked him a question, but I didn’t see anyone else. I suspected he was having a conversation with himself. He raced across the room and clapped before he turned on a small stereo. “Breezeblocks” by Alt-J played through the old, dusty speakers, making the song sound tinny and far away.

“I love Alt-J.” His eyes lit up with the music.

“Me too. I guess it’s something else we have in common.” I gave him a warm smile, hoping he was beginning to trust me. The second he let his guard down, I planned on kicking his ass and running for my life. I just needed the right moment to present itself.

Xavier produced the key and slipped it into the lock on my glass cage. Once it was open, he extended his palm, and I took it. I crawled out of the small area, then he helped me to my feet.

“Thank you.” I hated that those words held so much weight. I was truly grateful that I was out of my confined quarters.

He tapped his foot to “Left Hand Free” as Alt-J continued to sing to us. Xavier led me away from the cage, then gently spun me around.

“Dance, Ella. I know you love to.” He cackled as he insisted that I join him.

“How do you know I like to dance?” I asked as innocently as I could while fear and dread consumed me.

“I have eyes everywhere. The cameras that your friend installed? Child’s play,” he explained, pride seeping through his tone. “Signal jammers, loop feeds … your security was good, but I’m better. I spent months learning your routines, your blind spots. My boss taught me everything about staying invisible, plus my childhood instilled that in me as well.”

The music slowed and he pulled me flush against him. I fought back the need to wretch as he pressed his hips to mine.

A cold, hard knot formed in my stomach, and I wondered how long he’d been watching me. He must have been a pro because Xavier would have been easy to spot, and I definitely would have recognized him if I’d seen him before. Not to mention Dope would have detected someone piggybacking off his camera system. Then it dawned on me that he’d mentioned his boss was behind all of this. Somehow, I had to learn more.

He stopped dancing and tugged on my arm as he walked over to the table where the milk and cookies were waiting for us. To my surprise, he pulled out a chair for me.

My stomach gnawed at itself as I collapsed onto the seat, desperately craving sustenance.

“Eat,” he commanded, sitting next to me at the table.

I shoveled three cookies into my mouth and gulped down the milk, feeling its nourishing effects spread through my body like a jolt of electricity. My eyes flickered to him, remembering how my dark lashes and innocent gaze had affected Sebastian in the past. “Can I have some more?” I asked, wiping my lips hastily with the back of my hand. “I’m so thirsty.”

He snatched up the glass and returned to the kitchen, filling it once again with creamy goodness, his actions almost frantic.

“Thank you,” I murmured before grabbing another cookie and chugging the milk down without pause. I set the empty glass down with a satisfied sigh.

“That was … amazing,” I managed to compliment between bites. When I finally looked up, I realized that Xavier hadn’t touched his milk. My gaze returned to my empty glass and plate and fear and suspicion bloomed in my stomach. Something was wrong, and I’d allowed my hunger to take over my common sense. “Are you not hungry?”

Xavier stared at me; his expression unreadable.

A sudden wave of dizziness hit me like a freight train, causing the room to spin violently and my body to collapse onto the floor with a loud thud. Gasping for air, I tried to focus on the figure looming over me, but my vision blurred, and I could only make out the distinct smell of chocolate chip cookies from his breath.

“Why?” I managed to choke out, my voice strained with confusion and fear.

He leaned in closer, and his eyes flashed with anger and disappointment. “I know you went behind my back and begged Fiona for help.” He tsked, wagging a finger in front of my face. “Just when I thought maybe I could trust you … you betrayed me yet again. Well, if I can’t trust you to stay by my side willingly, I’ll have to take matters into my own hands.”

My mind reeled as I tried to piece together what he was saying. “You … you drugged me …” I muttered weakly, struggling to remain conscious.

His face twisted into a cruel smirk. “Not enough to knock you out permanently.” He sneered. “But just the right amount to keep you under control. You may be clever, Ella McCloud Fletcher, but you’re not clever enough.”

Through the hazy, drug-induced fog, I wondered what his plan with me was.

“Come, come.” He grabbed my arm with a surprisingly strong grip and jerked me up off the floor.

I stumbled behind him as he led me through the kitchen and into the dark area he’d never shown me. He flipped on the overhead light, and I shrank back from the brightness.

“Look! It’s your surprise!” He released me and bounced up and down on the balls of his feet like a little kid.

The room moved in slow motion as I looked in the corner. Next to a table, on a headless mannequin was a white wedding dress.

I licked my lips, suddenly feeling parched. “Who’s that for?”

“You, of course! I need to make sure it fits before our big day.”

Unable to move, my feet remained rooted in place. Somewhere in the back of my mind a little voice whispered to play along. Reminding him that a wedding wouldn’t be real since I was already married would only send him into a rage, and I didn’t have the strength to defend myself.

My limbs grew heavier by the minute, and Xavier strolled over to me. He gathered my dress at my hips and began to pull it up.

“Lift your arms.”

“I can’t. It’s hard to move.”

“Hmm, maybe I gave you too much. I’ll adjust the dose next time.”

My body turned to stone, every muscle frozen in terror as his rough hands grabbed at my shaking frame. My mind screamed for him to stop, but all I could manage was a pitiful squeak of protest. He roughly removed my dress, leaving me vulnerable and exposed. Goosebumps traveled over my skin as I stood shivering in only my panties and bra.

His tongue darted over his dry, cracked lips, and I tried to pull back and cover myself, but it was as if my limbs were moving through quicksand. His gaze darkened as his eyes raked over me from head to toe, a twisted expression taking over his features. Regardless of the date night talk and innocent kisses, there was something much darker and deviant lurking inside of him.

The wedding gown hung on the mannequin next to us, mocking me with its pure white lace and delicate fabric. As he guided me into the dress and pulled up the zipper, hot tears welled up in my eyes. It hit me then, with a cruel force—he had been planning this all along. Keeping me drugged and helpless, a prisoner in his sick game. I wanted to push him, to run and never look back, but my body refused to move. He stepped away, admiring his handiwork, and a sinister smirk spread across his face. My stomach twisted in revulsion as I realized what he truly wanted — to possess me, to own me. Without warning, my gag reflex kicked in, and I vomited down the front of the pristine white dress. A hysterical giggle bubbled up from my throat as the warm bile soaked through the fabric and onto my skin.

“You’ve ruined it!” He reared back, his open hand connecting with my cheek.

Unable to defend myself, I stumbled backward, hitting my forehead on the corner of a table as I collapsed. Something warm trickled down the side of my head as I peered up at him.

“No, you ruined it by drugging me. It’s making me sick.” As soon as the words left my mouth, my stomach cramped.

“You fucking bitch! How dare you ruin my plan. It was supposed to be perfect!” Furious, he grabbed a fistful of my hair and dragged me toward the bathroom, my head screaming with the movement and pain. I attempted to dig my heels into the floor, but he was too strong, especially with the drug in my system.

“You’re a fucking mess and you ruined your beautiful dress.” He sneered at me. “On your knees.”

Too weak to argue, I did as I was told. The cold cement floor bit into my skin as he jerked my head backward, nearly hitting the edge of the rust-stained toilet. His bony fingers pried my jaw open, then he shoved a finger in until it hit the back of my throat. He moved away just in time for me to puke again, landing in the toilet with a splash. Before I could recover, he repeated the vile action. My stomach muscles cramped and strained to get rid of any leftover remnants, but I was only puking up clear bile.

He washed his hands, then grabbed a green washcloth and wet it. The rough material scratched over my skin as he wiped me off. He rinsed it, then placed it on the side of the sink.

“Get changed, and I’ll get rid of the dress tomorrow.” He stared at me, sadness in his gaze. “The drug should mostly be out of your system. I’ll get something else that won’t make you sick.” Xavier knelt in front of me, cupped my chin, and ran his knuckles down my cheek. “I suppose it’s my fault since I didn’t dose you properly.”

Exhausted, all I could do was nod.

“Sleep now. We will have to resume our date tomorrow.” He traced his fingers down my neck and to the top of my breast that was peeking out of the dress. “You’re more beautiful than I could have imagined. The second you stood in front of me in your bra and panties, I knew our wedding night would be even more special once I was inside you.”

Suddenly, my body contorted in agony, and I vomited violently, spewing bile all over his face. Enraged, he stood up and roughly wiped his cheeks with a washcloth before turning to me with disgust. With a swift backhand, he struck me so hard that I fell backward, my ears ringing and vision blurring.

“You will learn to mind me and be more respectful, or you’ll end up at the table with the rest of my family, you stupid little bitch.” His expression twisted as his cheeks burned red.

I struggled to sit up, my head reeling from the impact of his hand.

Xavier grabbed my fingers and tugged on my wedding rings.

“No.” I managed to clench my fist so he couldn’t remove the jewelry, but I didn’t have enough strength.

With a sharp tug, he jerked them off and stuffed them inside his jeans pocket.

“There’s no need for those anymore. Soon you’ll …” His jaw clenched, then he stormed out of the tiny bathroom.

Grabbing the lid of the toilet, I lowered it, then used it to pull myself off the floor. My vision blurred through my tears, then I spotted what I hoped was an answer to prayers I was sure had fallen on deaf ears. I glanced over my shoulder, a burst of adrenaline clearing my foggy brain long enough for me to do what I needed to.

A few minutes later, he stomped back in and took my hand again. He shoved a black wedding band onto my finger.

“Whenever you look at it, you’ll remember who you belong to. Forget your past life, Ella. It’s over. The sooner you admit it to yourself, the happier you’ll be with me.”

My mind wasn’t working quickly enough to fire off a smartass remark, but it was for the best.

Ten minutes later, I was out of the wedding dress and wearing my sundress again. He shoved me into the cage and locked the door behind me. I crawled across the cement floor and collapsed, landing on the pillow he’d given me a few days ago, or at least I thought it was a few days ago. I wasn’t sure anymore.

The sound of banging pots and pans penetrated my aching head. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been asleep. My best guess was a few hours, and I was relieved that I was feeling better than I had earlier. My stomach seemed to be a lot calmer as well. Slowly, I sat up and looked around and winced from the light in the living room. For some reason, Xavier had all the lights turned on. He was furiously scrubbing something at the kitchen sink. The wedding dress. He was trying to save it. A wave of disgust washed over me.

“It’s useless!” He picked up the gown and threw it on the floor before he marched over to me. “This is your fault!”

I cowered away from him even though the glass cage wall was between us. Last night he’d admitted he was to blame for drugging me and making me sick, but it seemed as though he’d changed his mind.

“You’ll pay for this.” He stared down at me as he removed his cell from his back pocket and tapped the screen.

A phone ringing filled the speaker before a familiar man answered.

“Hello?”

“Little lamb?”

Death! His voice was music to my ears. My emotions stumbled over themselves as I shifted from fear to imagining the sweet taste of revenge. A sadistic smile eased across my face as I glared at Xavier, wondering if he knew who he was talking to this time. “One. Two. He’s coming for you,” I whispered, the sound barely audible but filled with hate.

Xavier stared at me, and he clucked his tongue, his expression filling with understanding as he rubbed his hands together like a greedy child waiting for dessert. “I have what you want.” He cackled. “No one calls Ella ‘little lamb’ except for Death. Welcome back.”

“Death!” I yelled. “Please hurry.”

Xavier’s features twisted in anger as he pinned me with a look full of hatred.

“It doesn’t seem you’re as smart as I thought you were,” he said to Death. “Your time is running out and so is hers.”

“If you hurt her, I’ll fucking spend the rest of my life hunting you down. When I get ahold of you, I’ll cut your goddamn dick off and stuff it down your throat. Then, I’ll cut off each finger and toe. I’ll make you suffer slowly until you bleed out and you no longer see my face. But I promise you this, I will be the last thing you see before you fucking die.”

“Promises, promises.” Xavier rolled his eyes. “You have eight hours to find her, or she’ll be joining my family.”

Fear gripped my heart as my attention landed on the three stuffed people at the table. Xavier was definitely capable of killing. Fiona had confirmed they had at one time been his family—alive. The thought of her pissed me off. She’d visited just to fuck with my head, nothing else. For all I knew, it was her idea to drug me in case I tried to run since I’d asked her for help. Fucking bitch. She better hoped I died because if I made it out of there, I’d come back for her and bury her alive.

“Here’s your last clue. Remember you have only eight hours left.”

A feral growl filtered through the phone, and a maniacal grin eased onto Xavier’s expression.

“Where your childhood screams still echo, she whispers her last goodbye. The wall between memory and salvation is thinner than you know.”

“That doesn’t make any fucking sense,” Death yelled. “The —”

Xavier disconnected the call in the middle of Death’s sentence.

“I have something very special planned for tonight.”

My head was reeling with the riddle, and I missed what he’d said.

“Huh?” Holy shit . An idea tickled the back of my brain trying to piece together where I was, but I had to be certain before I said anything.

“You’ll see. For now, enjoy your day. I’ll be back soon.”

“Don’t leave me here!” I yelled as he walked away and picked up the dress from the floor before he climbed the stairs and disappeared.

Hope bloomed to life inside my chest. I was grateful he was gone, but I couldn’t let him know that. My attention landed on the wedding band that encased my finger. I slid it off and held it in the palm of my hand while I offered a meager prayer to the heavens that my plan would work.