Page 74 of My Destiny

“Look, trust me, I know what I’m doing. If and when we need them, we’ll take that route.” I let out a deflated breath. I hired him for a reason: he’s the best at what he does. He’s proven that to me many times over the years.

Ending the call, I look down at my home screen. It’s a picture of us, taken on the day we spent at the private beach. Tears cloud my eyes as my fingertip runs over her beautiful face. She looks so happy in this picture. I make her happy, that I’m sure of. She may not realise that she loves me, but in my heart, I know she does. I feel it in every kiss… in every touch.

“I won’t rest until I have you back, my love,” I whisper into the night because I can’t fathom any other outcome.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Brooke

Opening my eyes, I find the room bathed in darkness. My head is pounding and my body feels weak. My left arm is numb and tingling from laying on it. Panic sets in the moment I realise my hands and feet are bound. The springs of the bed underneath me creak as I move around.

Managing to lift myself into a sitting position, I try to remember. Where am I, and how did I get here? My memory seems clouded, and I feel groggy.

My heart starts to race as everything slowly comes back. I listen for a moment, but all I hear is silence. “Help. Can anyone hear me?” I call out at the top of my voice. Am I in a house? Are people nearby? I have no clue, but I can’t just sit here and do nothing. If I have any chance of getting out of here, I need to at least try.

Scooting myself to the edge of the bed, I swing my legs over the side. Just as I go to stand, the door flies open and the loud bang it makes when it hits the adjoining wall startles me. The light switches on, and I squint at the brightness. It takes a few seconds for my vision to finally adjust, and my eyes zero in on the tall figure that stands in the doorway.

“Well, well, well. Sleeping Beauty awakes.”

“Jake.” Although this situation is less than ideal, the first thing I feel is sympathy as I take in his appearance. The last nine months have not been kind to him. His haggard appearance, long unkept hair, and a full beard, make him almost unrecognisable.

“How are you feeling?”

“How do you think I’m feeling? Did you drug me?”

He stares at me in silence for a brief time before approaching. I’m crippled with fear. The last time I saw this man, his hands were wrapped around my throat.

I start to scramble backward on the bed. “Don’t,” he says, holding his hand up to stop me, and my body freezes. I swallow hard as he sits on the edge of the mattress and turns his body to face mine. I no longer know this shell of a man before me. The gleam that once shone in his blue eyes has diminished to the point they appear almost lifeless. I can hear my erratic heartbeat thumping in my ears as I await his next move. He’s already kidnapped and drugged me, so I have no idea what to expect next. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he whispers.

I don’t believe that for one second. His eyes move down to my legs as his hand slides across the bed to rest on my upper thigh. A kaleidoscope of emotions bursts through me when my gaze meets his once more, and I see the sadness permeating his eyes.

“What happened to you, Jake?” I ask as a lump begins to form in my throat. Despite everything he’s put me through, I can’t help but feel saddened by what has become of him.

He bows his head, and I can feel the shame radiating off him. “I fucked up. I fucked up so much—my marriage, my career, everything…” You often hear how addiction messes up lives, but the gravity of those words hold so much more meaning to me in this situation. His raises his face back to mine. “I miss you, baby. I miss our old life together.” I have to look away. Any feelings I had for this man died a long time ago. “Have you missed me?”

I can hear the vulnerability in his voice, but I’m not going to lie to him. At the end of the day, he’s done this to himself, and had no consideration for my feelings when he decided to have an affair with that woman. My eyes dart back to him, and his slightly narrow as he waits for my reply.

“In the beginning, yes. You were my life once, Jake, but that’s in the past. Don’t forget you cheated on me and tried to strangle me.”

“I didn’t mean it.”

“You didn’t mean to cheat on me, or strangle me?”

“Both,” he says.

“You hurt me, Jake.” And not just physically. The pain of his infidelity still stings.

“I know. I didn’t mean for any of it to happen.”

His pathetic excuses only anger me. “How long had it been going on when we were together?” No matter what he says, it won’t change anything, but it’s something I’ve always wondered. Was it a one-time thing, or a full-blown relationship?

“With Jenny, or the drugs?”

“Both.”

He shrugs. “Probably a few months. I can’t really remember exactly.” I can’t believe how naive I was. Looking back now, all the signs were there. The late nights, his withdrawal from me, the mood swings.

“You were always so against drugs.”