Page 19 of Murder & Mayhem (Bloody Desires #9)

Dominic backed up a tiny bit, but his hand was still around my throat.

His fingers flexed, only slightly, but it was enough for me to flinch.

Immediately, he let go and fixed me with a sad smile.

“When I can touch you without you flinching and expecting the worst, then I’ll be there.

But you need to come to me.” Dominic took a deep breath, some of that fire finally dying down.

“That first time, beautiful, you need to be the one to initiate, and then after that, all bets are off.”

Dominic turned from me then, leaving me speechless and flustered, still pressed against his dresser. He grabbed his pillow and his phone, one of his knives.

“I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight. You can have my bed.” He stormed toward the door, throwing it open with more force than necessary.

I couldn’t let him leave without saying something, but I had no idea what.

I wanted more of what he’d given me, but I was still fucking terrified.

I didn’t want him to leave but could admit that we both needed space.

I was fucking pissed, and turned on, and somehow felt more seen than I ever had in my whole damn life.

“Dominic.” My voice was barely above a whisper, throat dry and clogged with emotion. I cleared it, wanting to try again, but never got the chance.

“I’ll leave the door partially open if you need me.” Then he was gone. He might’ve only been in the next room, but it somehow felt like miles.

It was dark. So dark I couldn’t see my hand in front of me.

And cold. The kind of chill that seeped right into your bones, and no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t stop shivering.

Where was I? The ground below my bare feet was hard and damp, uneven, like I was outside.

But it was too dark to be sure. There was no noise except a drip, drip, drip from somewhere in the distance.

I spun in a circle, eyes squinting, trying to adjust to the darkness, but it made no difference.

“Hello?” I called out, but was met with silence.

I wrapped my arms around myself and felt only skin.

I looked down, but the darkness was so all-encompassing, I couldn’t even see my own body.

My hands ran down my torso and onto my legs.

I was naked? But I’d been dressed earlier.

I was sure of that. Baggy sweatpants that I’d had to roll up twice and a long-sleeved shirt.

Clothes Dominic had given to me. I’d still been wearing them when I’d finally managed to fall asleep from pure exhaustion after tossing and turning on that huge, lonely bed for who knew how long.

But they were gone now. I didn’t remember taking them off.

Where did they go? At least that would explain why I was so cold.

I hugged myself tighter, but it did little to fight the chill.

I took a step forward into the never-ending blackness . . .

The scene changed. I was standing in a nearly empty room, but I recognized it instantly. The mattress on the floor, the radiator that didn’t work, except as a good spot to handcuff victims to. Usually, I was the one on that mattress while I waited for Joey’s clients.

“Jamie?” Bailey was there instead, wearing only underwear, lying on his back, his hands cuffed above his head. “Jamie, help me!”

“Bailey! Hang on, I’ll get you out of there!”

“Jamie, I’m so scared.”

I choked on a sob, my heart breaking for my brother. For me.

“I know, Bails. I’ll get you out of there.” I ran toward the mattress to find a way to free him, but no matter how hard and how fast I went, I never got closer. He was only a few feet away, but the distance dragged on.

“Jamie! Why won’t you help me, Jamie? Why did you leave me?”

“No! I didn’t! I’m right here. I’m coming!”

I was panting from the effort, my chest burning as I ran faster and faster.

My legs were shaking and a cramp was forming in my side.

I kept pushing, desperate to get there. Just a little farther, a little longer and I’d be able to free him.

I couldn’t give up. No matter how much it hurt, how pointless it seemed.

I wouldn’t. Sweat dripped down my face and into my eyes.

It stung, and I tried to blink to clear it, but it only got worse.

I couldn’t see Bailey anymore. I could hear him though.

He was crying, asking why I would abandon him.

I tried yelling to let him know I was still here, that I wasn’t leaving him.

I’d never leave him, but suddenly no words would come.

I screamed and screamed, soundless and desperate.

My legs gave out then and I collapsed onto the cold, hard ground.

Still, I didn’t give up. I tried to crawl.

My legs were useless, dead weight behind me, but I pushed myself forward with my arms inch by inch. But Bailey kept getting farther away.

“You left me, Jamie. You promised you’d never leave, but you lied.”

The scene changed .

I was on the mattress now, Bailey nowhere to be seen.

That was fine. That was good, even. Maybe that meant he’d gotten help.

That he was safe. I was tied in an X position, my arms above my head and spread, my legs attached by some invisible chains on the corners of the mattress.

I tentatively pulled at them, but there was no give. There was nothing I could do but wait.

The door opened, and I lifted my head as much as I could, trying to prepare myself for whatever nightmare was coming next.

It wasn’t a monster that filled the doorway, however, but Dominic.

He was wearing the suit he’d had on when I’d first seen him, but it was covered in blood.

He was totally drenched in it. His face was a mask of red, making his dark eyes stand out in contrast.

“Dominic?” I asked tentatively, trying not to hope. He had a bloody knife in his hand, the same one he had given me for protection. Blood dripped down the blade and onto the floor. So much fucking blood.

Dominic was staring into the distance, like he couldn’t see me, but his attention fell on me when I spoke.

He smiled, but it wasn’t sweet and full of the gentleness that I craved like air.

It was dangerous and not in the good way that made me squirm, like when he’d held me by the throat.

It was deranged, very similar to the way he’d looked at Joey or that guy at pirate pervert’s house. My heart sank.

“Dominic, please. Please, it’s me, Jamie. Can you help me?”

He tilted his head to the side. “Now why would I do that, beautiful? Not when you look so perfect like that.”

He took a step toward me, and I screamed.