Page 8 of Lustfully Yours

“Boss, are you sure? He seemed to really fit and has proven himself many times,” my head of security says.

“I hear what you’re saying, but I’m looking at him standing in between my woman and our men,” I tell him, continuing to type away, looking for that one thread of information that we missed when I hired him.

“Boss, I’ll get things done, and he’ll be waiting when you get here,” he tells me and cuts the line.

I watch as Lawrence tells the team that he searched the coffee shop and she’s not there. It takes everything in me not to throw my monitor at the wall when I watch my men walk away, and the smug grin pops up on his face. I know that my head of security will handle this. I need to focus on Lawrence because now he is the key to finding my angel.

Chapter Eight

Malia

I let a small smile slip when I see Lawrence standing at the edge of the coffee shop until I see the coldness in his eyes. With that one look, I know he is not on my side and, even worse, has betrayed Theo. I swallow the fear that wants to rise in me and walk into the coffee shop with my head held high. I can’t let Oliver or any of his men know I’m scared because they will feed off it, making this whole thing so much worse.

Once I step through the door of the coffee shop, I stop and look around, not one-hundred percent sure what I need to do. I inhale, breathing in all the smells around me, hit with the smell of coffee, sweets, and all the people. I walk up to the counter and order my usual to calm my nerves. I’m just about to pay when a black Amex appears in front of me, and Oliver’s smell swamps me. I take a deep breath, trying not to let the fact I am scared out of my mind show because he would only thrive on the fear.

“It’s on me, and make sure it’s to go; we have somewhere special to be,” Oliver says.

I see the awestruck look on the young girl’s face and have to restrain myself from slapping her because she has no idea what kind of monster he is. Once the card goes through and she hands it back, the sneer she gives me because he is paying for my coffee makes me sick. Little girl, you can have this sadistic man if you want.

“I‘ll get right on it, sir,” the barista coos and sashays away.

Oliver wraps his arm around my shoulders, guiding me to the end of the counter. We don’t say a word while we wait for my coffee. She brings it to me but refuses to hand it to me, passing it to Oliver instead and brushing her fingers across his. Oliver winks at her before handing me the coffee, turning me, and guiding me through the back of the store without a fucking word. The silence is really getting under my skin. We make it to his car, and I could cry when I see the same guys Oliver has always had around him waiting for us. Not a single one of them has changed in the last three years. Meaning I’m completely fucked unless Theo and Poppa can find me first. I make it into the car, and that’s when I feel the prick in my neck.

“Nighty-night, my sweet doll,” Oliver whispers as everything goes black.

* * *

I wake to the smell of mold and wet. I hear whimpering all around me and see the space is lined with what looks like cages, and some even have women in them. What the fuck is Oliver into, and how could I have been so damn stupid to not see this? I test my arms and legs, figuring out how much of the drug is still in my system. I reach out to my left, and the feel of a warm body causes me to pull back quickly. I turn to look and can’t help the cry of joy when I see it’s Lawson.

“Law. Oh God, Law!” I whisper, crawling over to her and turning her so I can see her face.

“Malia?” she questions, barely opening her swollen eyes.

“Yes! Oh, God! Yes, it’s me. Lawson, are you doing okay?” She lets out a harsh laugh and then groans in pain. I can’t see the extent of her injuries because it’s so dark. I try not to let her harsh laughter cut me deep because she is only in this mess because of me.

“I am doing fucking peachy, Malia. I’ve been beaten, drugged, and who knows what else. All because I couldn’t mind my own fucking business and keep my head down,” she bites out.

I can’t hide how that jab makes me feel. I fight the tears her words cause and push forward. Knowing that if I don’t get out of this, that’s fine, but she’ll make it out if it’s the last thing I do. I rub her hair and hold her as she breaks down. Looking around, I try to get my bearings and come up with a plan. I have no idea how much time passes before a door at the top of the stairs opens, causing me to flinch back at the sudden bright light. I don’t let go of Lawson as she shakes in my arms. I hear two sets of footsteps, seeing two of Oliver’s closest men come into sight.

“Boss is ready to talk,” Nelson says with a smug smile. “Even better news is he said you can bring little Lawson with you.”

“Nelson, quit being a fuck-wad, and let’s get them upstairs,” Owen growls, not looking happy at all.

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go, ladies; the boss doesn’t like to wait,” Nelson says, unlocking the cage and stepping back so we can get out.

We follow Owen as he heads up the stairs, and I’m a little taken aback by how nice the house we stepped into is. I shouldn’t be shocked; Oliver does nothing half-assed, especially where he stays. We walk down the dark-paneled halls with lush carpets and unimaginably expensive paintings on the walls. This is all just too much. Lawson walks slowly, almost dragging her feet like what will happen next she wants no part of. I have no idea what she’s been through, but I can imagine after only seeing him at his worst only one time. For me, that was one too many times.

We make it to a set of double doors, where Nelson pulls us to a stop. The sound of Owen’s knuckles making contact with the solid wood sends shivers down my spine and makes Lawson jump. A muffled “come in” has Nelson pushing through the door while throwing a smug grin over his shoulder. One day I’ll delight in wiping that fucking grin off his face.

“My sweet doll, you have finally come home to me,” Oliver sing-songs, like he didn’t just drug and kidnap me and lock me in a fucking cage.

I pull my shoulders back, standing to my full height before speaking. “Oliver. I’m here. No one followed me. So do as you said and send Lawson on her way; this is between you and me.”

It happens for only a split second, but I see it and know that my standing up to him and holding my own has caught him off guard. He was expecting the same naïve little girl that he was dating all those years ago. The thing is, you don’t beat the shit out of someone every other day for a week and not expect them to learn a few things. Just as fast as the shock is there, it’s gone, and the cool and in-control Oliver reappears.

“Now-now, my sweet doll; we have some things to cover first. And if I’m happy with your answers, she will be able to leave. So how about you both take a seat, and let’s get this started,” he says, pointing to two chairs across from a large desk.

I take a deep breath, keeping my shoulders back and doing everything I can to not show my fear. I nearly come out of my skin when I feel a quick, firm squeeze on my hand as Owen guides us to the chairs. I don’t look or react, knowing that it would just make Oliver suspicious. I always wondered how easy it was for us to get out and away with that one action from Owen. My mind races with possibilities. My heart also calms because I know Theo is on his way.