Page 28 of Hold Me

“What?” My heart skips a beat. My whole world seems to have tilted upside down, and it takes me a moment to be able to focus again.

“I was returning from a club when a van stopped right next to me and masked men grabbed me. I was taken to a man... Raphael’s friend... who made me his slave.” She grits her teeth. “You don’t know how many times I just wished he would kill me... and there were other times when... I hoped he’d just look at me with love in his eyes. Three months... three months of hell. Luckily, my father’s investigators found me and... saved me. My father paid a lot of money and he and my captor reached an agreement because I wasn’t just any girl. None of us wanted the press and the world to ever find out about what happened to me... I don’t think I’d ever be able to look anyone in the eye on the street if they found out the whole truth...”

“Oh God, Kat.” I go over to her and pull her into my arms.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I just... I couldn’t. I needed to forget and get back to my life as if nothing happened. And they forbade me to tell anyone... It’s a part of the agreement we made to get me my freedom back.”

“So the men who kidnapped you... and that man who... They’re still out there somewhere?”

She nods.

I sit next to her, my arm still around her as she leans her head on my shoulder. I can’t even begin to imagine what she’s been through and I want to hunt down the people who hurt her. When she came back from what I thought was just a vacation, she started drinking more and was no longer interested in serious relationships, just one night flings with different guys.

I thought it was just a phase she was going through, a new way of fun she’d discovered in Paris, but now... now I know the truth is far more horrifying. But if Katherine was able to keep the truth from me for so long, then it shouldn’t surprise me if Caleb is doing it too. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve known you wouldn’t just leave without a word.”

“You couldn’t have known, but I hope you’ll stay away from Caleb. I don’t know if he works willingly for Raphael, but you should stay away from all of them.” She pulls away from me, her eyes filled with unshed tears. “I tried to help one girl I met while I was... She’s dead. Because of me. Because I stupidly thought I could help. But she didn’t have any family or anyone who could look for her, so... no one even knows or cares that she’s dead.” She grabs my arm suddenly. “Promise me you’ll let this go. Don’t get involved. Nothing good will come out of it.”

I give her a brief nod, but I can’t really do what she’s asking of me. I can’t just turn my back on Caleb if he needs my help. I have to find out exactly what’s going on with Raphael, Caleb, and everyone else. Maybe Katherine doesn’t believe anything can be done, but I have to try.

Caleb leans against the wall, closing his eyes and resting his forehead on his arm. How could Lilith’s friend have recognized the tattoo? He’d never seen the woman before, and yet, what if Lilith decides to believe her? He doesn’t know how close the two of them are. If Lilith realizes what he really is... He clenches his teeth. No, she can’t. It would break his heart if she did.

She would probably never want to see him again. And if Raphael found out, he’d never let him out again. Caleb takes a shaky breath, and when he hears someone’s footsteps behind him, he quickly opens his eyes and turns around. He sighs in relief when he sees Isaac coming toward him. Isaac’s eyes are troubled, and there’s a fresh bruise under his left cheek, but he doesn’t seem to be bothered by it.

“What’s wrong?” Isaac asks.

“She knows,” Caleb says and chews on his lower lip. “She fucking knows.”

“What are you talking about?” Isaac frowns.

“Lilith,” Caleb whispers, eyeing the guard across the room. There’s no way the guard can hear him from that far away. “Her friend saw my tattoo and somehow recognized it.”

“You know what that means. Who’s the friend? One of Raphael’s?”

Caleb shakes his head. “I don’t think so. She wouldn’t have revealed the truth to Lilith for no reason. You know Raphael would never allow it. I’ve never seen her before anywhere and I didn’t recognize her voice. How can she know?” He raises his dark eyes toward Isaac.

“Maybe she was at a masked party. You wouldn’t have seen her face then, especially if she was at the other end of the room.” Isaac shrugs. “But if she knows everything, then she won’t tell anyone or let your Lilith tell anyone because that would be stupid.”

“I know. I just... told Lilith that we shouldn’t be seeing each other before she could ask me anything.” He glances at his feet.

“Good. If it was one of Raphael’s tests, then you did well.” Isaac claps him on the shoulder, a small smile breaking on his face. “If it were me, I’d have told her every single last detail.”

Caleb gives him a hard look. “And lost your life in the process.”

“Eh.” Isaac waves his hand. “It’ll happen eventually anyway.”

Caleb wants to tell him not to be so pessimistic, but he doesn’t, because he knows Isaac is right.

“That’s not what’s really bothering you, is it?” Isaac tilts his head. “You like her. You really like her, and now she knows the ugly truth. Or maybe she knew it all along, and that’s what hurts you the most. Maybe she’s only teasing you. I doubt she doesn’t know exactly what’s going on. Raphael’s clients always know and they don’t give a damn.”

Caleb shifts on his feet. “I thought...” He runs his hand across his face. “I thought she’d be different. When I’m with her, everything... everything is so normal. And now, I don’t think I can ever see her again. I don’t want to. I can’t look her in the eye, especially if she had me fooled the whole time.” He meets Isaac’s gaze. “Do you really think it’s just Raphael playing mind games with me?”

“I don’t know, but forget about her. Nothing good will come out of it.” Isaac freezes as more of Raphael’s men enter the room, and he takes a step away from Caleb, who quietly observes the men.

Still, somewhere deep inside, Caleb is hoping that Lilith isn’t like the rest of his clients. The thought that she tricked him is unbearable, and suddenly, taking one of the pills he’s stored in his room sounds like a great idea. All he can think about is her, and he wants to get her out of his head. Maybe she’s already forgotten about him and moved on to someone else, a decent guy. Yeah, that would be the best.

But picturing her in someone else’s embrace makes his blood boil. He doesn’t want anyone to touch her, even thought he knows he doesn’t have any right to feel that way. Without thinking, he finds himself on the way to his room. Making sure no one is around to see him, he finds his small stash of pills and puts one in his mouth. For a moment, he hesitates, rolling the pill over his tongue, but then he swallows and lies down on his empty bed.

Staring at the ceiling, he waits for the pill’s effects to start. But Lilith’s image keeps dancing in front of his eyes, and as he rolls over and buries his face into the pillow, he thinks he can smell Lilith’s hair, which is impossible because she’s never been in his bed. He slowly runs his hand across the covers, imagining Lilith’s soft skin under his fingers. He knows that he shouldn’t still be thinking about her, but this time he doesn’t feel hurt or upset.