Page 14

Zoriah

Hot, stabbing pain burns through my body. Screams echo through the room. I can’t make it stop. I can’t get away from them. Their hands and hot breath overwhelm me, but I can’t escape. Not this time. I am awake, but I cannot move. My eyes are closed, yet it all seems so fucking real.

“Riah. Wake up. Baby, wake up. Can you hear me?” Roman asks hurriedly.

My eyes snap open, and the realization hits me that I am the one screaming. I still can’t stop, and my body is violently shaking. Roman wraps his arms around me, and I roll into him as the sobs break free and the emotions pour out.

“I’m sorry,” I choke out through broken sobs.

“Shh. It’s okay,” he says as he pulls me into his lap to cradle me and gently rock us.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” Corbin says sleepily as he bursts into the room with Dad and Ben in tow. Seeing them sleepy-eyed and wobbly breaks me out of my panic, and I laugh through my tears.

“She had a nightmare. She’s okay,” Roman says. “I was right here. You didn’t have to get up.”

“You were screaming,” Dad says softly.

“I’m okay,” I say with a forced smile.

“I’m sober, Zor. I can see through the bullshit,” Dad says bluntly, making Corbin cackle.

“Okay,” I sigh. “It was like sleep paralysis. It’s like it was happening all over again, but I knew I was sleeping. I just couldn’t make myself wake up. No faces, just… I felt like I was on fire. It felt so real.”

“Lay down and let me check your back,” Roman says.

“Dreams can’t burn you, Rome,” I say. I giggle when he pokes my side.

“No, but your burn could have been hurting, and that could be what caused the dream to feel so real,” Roman says. “Lay down.”

“You’re so bossy. Jeez,” I grumble.

“Well, I am your boss,” he chuckles as I move to lie on the bed. He goes through the same motions of pulling the blanket over my ass before lifting my shirt up.

“Only in the office,” I say. “Here, you are just a bossy man who can’t handle me like he really wants to.”

“I’ll find a way,” he says as he works on pulling the bandages off. “Or I’ll just keep track and punish you later.”

“I feel like I missed something,” Corbin says.

“We are dating,” I say when Roman doesn’t.

“About time,” Ben says. “Tension was so thick in that office you could cut it open with a knife and fuck it.”

“I don’t think that’s how that saying goes,” I giggle. I wince when Roman pulls the bandage off, and they all go silent. “What? Is it okay?”

“Uh… No,” Roman says. “It’s getting infected.”

“Just add it to the list, I guess,” I say sarcastically.

“I hope the cream didn’t cause this,” Roman says.

“Oh, cream caused it alright,” I say. “Only it was the man cream all over that table I was tied to.”

“Ha. Man cream,” Ben laughs.

“That’s fucking disgusting, Zoriah,” Corbin says.

“Afraid of man cream?” I ask Corbin.

“I’m afraid of the words man cream and the thought of it on my baby sister,” he says.

“Just wait until Roman gets a hold of her,” Ben says, making me laugh.

“I’ll let Mom know it’s looking infected,” Roman says.

“What time is it?” I ask.

“Almost six. Why?” he asks.

“Just wanted to work on notes. I don’t think I’ll be able to go back to sleep,” I say as I sit up.

“Well, I actually need to go to the office and handle something. Corbin and your dad will be here, though,” Roman tells me.

“Can I come?” I ask. “The shirt is long enough that I won’t show my ass. I can just change into the clothes I have in my gym bag before anyone else gets there.”

“Are you sure?” he asks.

“I am. I really don’t want to sit around and do nothing. I’m not used to it,” I say. “Does anyone know?”

“That’s kind of why I have to go up there,” he says slowly. “Somehow the press got ahold of a story saying you were kidnapped and assaulted. I wasn’t in the office on Monday, so somehow people think I am guilty of something.”

“There will be press there at the building,” Ben says.

“So, we go by my apartment first,” I say. “We throw all of my clothing and shoes in a bag and then leave everything else.”

“If you are going to that apartment, I’m coming,” Corbin says.

“Having her and her family there will help,” Ben says to Roman.

“I will literally kiss you on live TV. I am not doing this bullshit where someone is blaming you for something you had no part of,” I say firmly as I stand up in front of him.

“Okay,” Roman says. “You do not leave my side at all for any reason. If you have to go to the restroom, we check it first. Alright?”

“Not worried about bugs?” I ask with a sweet smile, making him frown. “I understand, Rome.”

“You understand how big of a risk it is for you to be on television right now, right?”

“I do, but they are bound to figure it out anyway,” I say. “Huxley said they were moving underground, but if I cause a big enough scene, maybe they won’t make it that far, they will fuck up by trying to come after me, and we will get to find Huxley. Alive, hopefully.”

“Zoriah, making yourself a target isn’t—” Corbin starts to say.

“You didn’t see what they did to him,” I scream, scaring myself into a panic.

“I know what they’re doing to him. I know he is getting hurt because I got out.

He couldn’t even promise me he would see me again…

He told me they would kill him, and I left him there.

I didn’t try to help him. I should have helped him. I have to. I have to help him.”

Corbin is slowly stepping toward me, and the second I go to turn and run, he grabs me. “Riah. Stop.”

“Let go of me,” I cry and try to pull away.

“Son,” Dad says firmly.

“Hold on, Dad,” Corbin says. “Zoriah, stop. I am not hurting you. Listen to me.”

“Let go,” I whimper. He moves his hands to my face and makes me look at him.

“I swear on everything, we will find him. Okay? Huxley is my best friend, but you are my sister. I love you so fucking much, but I will lock you in a goddamn basement if I have to. I will not let you sacrifice yourself for his sake. He wouldn’t want that.

And you know it. You know he would be upset if you got yourself stuck there trying to save him like he tried to save Haley,” he says.

“We will find him, Zoriah. I promise I will bring him back to you. Please trust me.”

“They’re hurting him,” I cry. “I know they are. They make it look like we want it. They take and take and take, Corbin. He was so broken already…”

“I promise, Zoriah. We will find him, and you can help put him back together. Okay? You have to trust us and keep yourself safe, or everything he did to free you will be all for nothing.”

“Okay,” I sniffle. Corbin wraps me in a hug and squeezes tightly before letting go.

“Let’s go to your apartment,” Corbin says.

I feel like I might actually explode. We are sitting in the car beside mine, and my mind is racing.

I am fidgeting and cannot sit still. I want to crawl out of my skin right now.

I gasp when my door comes open but relax when I see it’s just Roman.

I didn’t notice him get out. He takes my hand and slowly pulls me up.

“How do you want to do this?” he asks.

“Fast,” I say. “If you give me time to think, I’ll run away.”

“Okay. Let’s go,” he says as he pulls me with him to the door. I try to stop, but Ben gently holds my shoulders as he walks behind me.

“You are doing great,” Corbin says as he opens the door and lets us pass. Roman eventually is dragging me to the door but stops and hugs me when we get to my apartment.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“Look at me, mi amor,” he says as he lifts my chin and cups my cheek. “You are safe. You are protected. We are the only ones in this apartment with you. No one is going to hurt you. Okay?”

“Okay,” I whisper.

“Let’s go in,” he says.

Roman steps aside, and Corbin already has the door open.

It takes me a moment before I can make myself walk forward.

When I step in, tears roll down my cheeks.

That night is playing like a movie in my head.

I am picturing everyone’s faces. Their words.

The memory is an old film playing on a reel, like the prologue to what should have been my demise.

They never intended for me to escape. That much I know.

They wanted to keep me forever, but I am here now.

I am standing in a space that I used to find comfort in.

I loved this apartment. It was the first place I got right out of college.

The day I moved in was the first day in years I had seen Dad sober.

He was so proud of me, and we stayed so busy moving and unloading that he didn’t get a chance to slow down and drink.

Maybe he just wanted to give me that one day to know who he was without pain in his eyes.

I slowly retrace my steps, letting myself follow the events in my memories.

It leads me to the hallway. I lay my hand on the wall and close my eyes, making myself feel this.

I’m trying to not let it consume me, but it is.

I can see a familiarity in Richard’s face that I hadn’t seen before now.

It’s as though my brain has smashed all my trauma into one scene that played out in this hallway.

I never told Haley the things her dad did on that road trip after high school.

She never knew because something inside of me knew she wanted it to happen.

I never told her about the comments he made about my body from the time I started getting breasts at ten or how he commented about birthmarks and scars hidden beneath my clothing he had yet to tear off.

I knew the answers, but I refused to ask the question.

Richard Fields is the man who has haunted my nightmares since the night he stole my mother from us.

I shove the feelings down and abruptly turn and go to what was my room.

They all follow and watch as I get bags out and start piling my clothing in them.

I get shoes next but make a point to leave everything Haley ever gave me.

Once I am done there, I grab the book I was reading off the nightstand and pack that away.

They are all watching me, but they don’t know I’ve managed to shut myself down to stop feeling this.

“Zoriah,” Corbin says as I slip past him with clothing in my hand.

“What?” I ask simply.

“What’s on your mind?” he asks.

“Getting dressed,” I say simply before turning and going to the bathroom.

When I have the door locked, I stand and look at myself for the first time since before I was sacrificed.

It looks like me, but it doesn’t feel like me.

I pull the shirt off, and it still smells like Roman.

The smell of him is a reminder that I will never be free.

Good things are only temporary, and Richard has done a good job of reminding me, that without allowing me to connect it all.

I swipe away what I am vowing will be my last tear before getting dressed in black leggings and a dress that comes to my mid-thigh.

I toss all of my makeup into a bag and grab all of my shower items before walking out.

“Got everything?” Dad asks.

“Yep,” I say as I walk to the door and put my makeup down inside another bag. “Ready?”

“Yeah,” he says, studying me.

“Well, let’s go then.”

We pull up to the office, and I get out before anyone can get to my door. The parking lot is full of people, and they all turn and look at me. “You sure you are ready for this?” Roman asks me.

“Yes. Do you want people to know we are dating?” I ask.

“Yes,” he says without hesitation. Instead of saying anything, I just offer him my hand.

He smiles and interlaces his fingers with mine before we walk toward the door.

When we get to the building, we stop and turn to the crowd.

The flash from the cameras makes me flinch and almost shy away, but Roman gently wraps his arm around my waist and gently turns my face to look at him.

“I’ll stab you on national television if you are doing this just for the press,” I mutter, and he smiles sweetly. I break out of my numb state and match his smile.

“You’ve got this, mi amor,” he says softly.

“Thank you, Roman.”

“You’re welcome, Zoriah,” he says. He cups my cheek for a second before turning to the crowd.

“Good morning, everyone. I am Roman Tolson with Tolson Capital Group. This is Zoriah Kingston, Ben Lawson with Lawson Tech, Corbin Kingston, Zoriah’s brother, and their father, Jim Kingston…

It has come to our attention that there are some rumors being spread about my involvement in Zoriah’s kidnapping late Friday night…

Zoriah is not only my girlfriend, but she is also my executive assistant.

I feel that it is important to tell the entire story if we are going to tell it at all…

Zoriah was taken from her home with the help of someone she trusted deeply to keep her safe, but instead they handed her off like an object…

I will not tell Zoriah’s story, and I also do not think it is anyone’s business what happened.

Authorities are aware of the situation, and proper measures are being taken.

She is trying to find normalcy in life right now, so we ask that you give her space and respect her efforts to heal from this horrific situation. ”

“If you are innocent, why are you talking for her?” A man shouts.

“Seriously?” I snap before Roman can say anything.

“You don’t have to say anything, love,” Roman says softly.

“What he is telling you is that someone I thought was my friend set me up to be kidnapped and raped for three days by a group of disgusting people who are hiding behind religion to do awful things to people. People I care about. Do not stand there and demonize Roman without reason. He has been nothing but amazing, and it’s disgusting that the moment you all get a chance, you jump to accusations…

If you want someone to blame, blame the cult that had me raped in the name of God,” I say harshly.

“Was it a cult? Who are they? Who assaulted you?” The questions are hurled at me, and I don’t know what to say. I look at Roman, and he smirks.

“Whatever you want to answer, just say it,” he says.

“Is this bad? Did I…”

“It was bad the moment you escaped,” Corbin says. “Tell your story, even if no one wants to hear it.”

I nod and turn back to the crowd. “I was taken by a cult, and my friend of almost twenty years helped set it up,” I say. “Roman is not the villain here. They are. I ask that you leave us alone. If there are updates to give, we will give them. Until then, just leave us alone.”

When I stop talking, I turn and hug Roman. “Let’s go grab some food, hmm?”

“Yeah,” I say with a smile.