Page 38 of Hold Me

Heather. Her name is Heather.

Her sobs intensify and her whole body starts to shake. “Please,” she whispers. “Please don’t hurt me.”

“That’s entirely up to you,” Raphael says, and pulls out a gun that was tucked at the back of his pants. “Now get up before I lose my patience.” He aims the gun at her.

Caleb twitches and he can sense the two guards behind him like a threatening cloud. If he even thinks about jumping Raphael, the guards will get him before he can even make it halfway to the man.

Heather slowly pushes herself up, rubbing her arms, her head bowed. Her white dress with red flowers looks too big for her frail body. Through the tears, she defiantly raises her chin up and glares at Raphael as best as she can. “What do you want from me?”

A smile spreads across Raphael’s lips. “I want you to stand over there.” He waves his gun toward the big double bed to his right. “And take your dress off.”

Heather’s eyes widen as she strolls toward the bed, her hands clutched to her chest. “If you’re going to kill me, just do it already!” she yells.

Raphael looks bored. “I said, take your dress off.”

“No,” she says.

“Oh, so you’re playing shy now, aren’t you?” Raphael laughs. “That’s not how my man described you to me.”

Anger flashes across her features. “You sent Troy to seduce me, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, so what?” Raphael shrugs. “When I’m done with you, men and women will worship you. I know that’s what you secretly want. To be adored by everyone, and you will be.” He points the gun toward her head. “But enough small talk. I won’t repeat it again. Take off the fucking dress.”

“I’d rather die,” she spits out.

Raphael rolls his eyes and immediately turns the gun toward Caleb. “Fine. Then I’ll kill him.” His finger tightens on the trigger.

“No, wait!” Heather starts toward Raphael, and one of the guards immediately rushes to block her path.

“It’s okay, Ed,” Raphael says calmly, and the guard pulls back. “So, you were saying?” Raphael glances at Heather, the gun still pointed at Caleb.

“I’ll do it,” she says, swallowing hard. “Just don’t... don’t kill him.”

“Okay.” Raphael lowers the gun and turns toward her.

Caleb can feel his heart racing and he’s trying to come up with a plan, but there’s no way Heather and he can get out of this room alive. And what of Isaac and Jade? They are still trapped somewhere inside this building. Caleb averts his gaze when Heather slips the straps of the dress off her shoulders.

“Good,” Raphael says. “Nuh uh, don’t cover yourself. You’re beautiful. Caleb!”

Caleb’s head snaps toward Raphael.

“Get up. Strip.”

Caleb reluctantly pulls himself up to his feet. He glances at the guards, who are keeping their eyes in front of them, but he can see them eyeing Heather and him from the corners of their eyes. Raphael is still holding the gun and tapping his foot.

Caleb knows that if he doesn’t obey, the gun will be pointed at Heather. Determined to keep everyone safe, he pulls the thin light blue shirt Raphael has given him over his head. His fingers hover over the waistband of his pants. Raphael and his men have already seen him naked many times, and yet, he keeps his gaze on the ground as he pushes his pants down and steps out of them.

“Go over to her,” Raphael says, then turns to Heather. “Do you like him?”

Caleb finally lifts his eyes toward Heather’s. She’s no longer crying, and her eyes have turned hard.

“What does it matter?”

“You’re right. It doesn’t,” Raphael says. “You’re going to have sex with him anyway.”

Heather gasps.

“No,” Caleb says. “I won’t do it.” His whole body is shaking with anger, his fingers curling into fists. Raphael can do whatever he wants to him, but Caleb refuses to hurt an innocent person for him.