Page 9 of Taking Adalisa (Montgomery Syndicate #2)

ADALISA

“ Y ou’re okay,” I whisper as I press the elevator button in my apartment building.

I really don’t like this elevator. It’s ancient, and the doors open really slowly. Sometimes they get stuck, and it takes forever for it to reach the floor perfectly.

I hold on for dear life as I ride it to my apartment. I’ve never got stuck, but I’ve heard several people getting stuck in it before. The hours it would take for them to fix it and get me out are too much to even think about.

Maybe I shouldn’t take it today, but as I look at the stairs, my legs protest. This afternoon was filled with walking back and forth in the shop, putting things away and helping customers, never leaving me time to sit down.

Then, walking to my apartment afterward was brutal on my feet.

I just want to lay down in my bed and not get up until the morning.

“Come on,” I whine, pressing the button impatiently again. “Hurry up.”

The universe seems to be against me today, or really this week. Nothing seems to be going my way, and it is exhausting.

“Finally,” I sigh as I walk into the elevator.

I grip the railing as I face the doors, which start to close. Everything is going to be okay. Everything is going to be all right. I’m going to get to my apartment floor and make it out. Nothing is going to happen to me.

I suck in a breath as the elevator starts to move.

“See,” I mutter. “Everything is o?—”

I scream as the elevator stops, my grip on the railing becoming tighter. Everything is still okay. Maybe someone else is waiting to get on the elevator, and we are just stopping.

But as the seconds pass, I realize that’s not the case. I punch the emergency button, praying and hoping someone is in the building to hear it, so they come and get me. I slide down to the floor, wrapping my arms around my legs and slowly rock back and forth.

“Everything is okay,” I whisper to myself. “Everything is going to be okay. They’ll be here before I know it to get me out. I just need to be patient and stay as calm as I can while I wait.”

I take a deep breath in, trying to keep myself calm, but the minutes tick by and no one answers, I realize that no one is coming.

No. I can’t panic. Everything is going to be okay, it has to be.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

I cry out in pain and surprise as my head hits the wall, and I quickly grab my phone, answering it without seeing who it is.

“Adalisa, where are you?” Matthias’ voice comes through the phone.

“I’m in an elevator,” I whisper shakily as terror starts to crawl its way through me.

“Little bit, where?” His voice is deep. “Where are you?”

Tears prick my eyes, and I suck in a breath.

“Adalisa, I need you to listen to my voice,” Matthias says, encouraging me. “Can you do that for me? Can you listen to Daddy’s voice?”

I nod.

“Adalisa?”

“Yes,” I whisper, closing my eyes tightly as I try to concentrate on him and nothing else.

“Good girl. You are such a good girl for me,” he purrs. “Can you tell me where you are?”

“Elevator in my apartment,” I quietly rush out.

“I’m on my way. We’re going to stay on the phone until I get there. I’m going to get you out.” He talks me through what he’s going to do to rescue me. “You are going to be okay, and nothing is going to happen. Do you understand?”

I nod.

“Words, Adalisa.” His voice is firm.

“Yes, I understand,” I reply.

My breathing becomes easier as he continues to talk to me, distracting me from where I am. His voice is soothingly deep, and if I weren’t in an elevator, I would fall right asleep. Maybe I should call him when I’m having a hard time falling asleep.

“No,” I mumble.

“What was that?” Matthias asks. “No to what?”

I suck in a breath. “Nothing,” I whisper.

I need to not think about falling asleep to his voice. I need to not talk to him. I need to stay away from him, yet he coming is to rescue me.

But it doesn’t mean anything.

After this, I’m going to go back to not talking to him. I have to. I don’t want him. He’s dangerous, and I don’t need that in my life.

“Adalisa.” His voice holds warning. “Tell Daddy what you were saying no to.”

“I can’t,” I squeak, my hand slamming onto the ground. “I need out.”

I look around the elevator, feeling the walls closing in on me.

“Adalisa!” he growls. “Focus on me. Close your eyes like a good girl and listen to my voice. Nothing else matters right now besides you obeying me.”

I close my eyes and focus on his voice.

“Good girl. I’m almost at your building,” he gently reassures.

“I don’t know,” I whisper, feeling like an elephant is sitting on my chest. “Please.”

“You’re okay. You are doing such a good job, and you will continue to do a good job. It’s what I demand of you,” he states.

“I’m not always going to follow what you say,” I grumble.

If he were here right in front of me, I would be glaring at him. I would also punch him in the arm and tell him fat chance of me doing anything he says. But that was all if he was here, which he isn’t.

“You will,” he says. “My voice may sound a little further away, but I’m still here. I’m just going to try to open the elevator doors.”

He continues to talk about everything he’s doing, letting me listen to his voice. Every once in a while, it strains as he tries to open the elevator doors, but then it goes back to normal. How much longer am I going to be in here for? Will he be able to get me out?

“Open your eyes, Little bit.” Matthias’ voice sounds so close yet so far away. “Come on, Adalisa.”

I crack my eyes open and stare into his chocolate-brown eyes. A smile breaks out across his face.

“Such a good girl,” he whispers. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Without thinking, I launch myself at him, wrapping my arms and legs around him.

“Wow, you’re okay.” He holds me close. “I’m right here.”

He stands. and I grip him tighter, not wanting to let him go.

“You’re okay,” he coos in my ear. “You’re out of the elevator. We’re on your floor.”

“I never want to take that elevator again.” My voice cracks, and tears pool in my eyes. “Never again.”

I never want to go into another elevator, period. There is no way anyone can pay me to get into one after that terrifying ordeal.

Nope.

“You don’t have to go back on it if you don’t want to. No one will make you,” Matthias tells me. “I won’t force you to do that.”

He takes several steps before stopping and running his hand up and down my back.

“Keys,” he mumbles.

They are in my hands, but I don’t want to let him go to try and give them to him. It would require me to leave some part of his body, and I’m not ready for that.

“It’s okay,” he tells me. “Take your time.”

I clench my jaw, inhaling deeply, before I make myself open my hand and give him the keys. It doesn’t take him long to get into my apartment and set me on my bed.

“I’m going to get you some water. I want you to sit here and get comfortable with the blanket wrapped around you,” he gently says.

I hold my breath as I let go of him, watching him walk away into my kitchen.

My mind starts reeling about everything. Matthias has my phone number. Matthias got me out of the elevator faster than I thought I was going to get out of there. He came for me when I needed him. I shouldn’t want that. I shouldn’t be happy he did that.

“Here’s that glass of water,” Matthias announces, walking back into the room. “Are you okay?”

I look at him, not knowing what to say. He hands me the glass, and I just look at it. How am I supposed to answer that question?

“Adalisa.” He sits next to me. “Are you okay?”

“Am I okay?” I repeat his question. “Am I okay?”

His face is blank, but his eyes have worry flowing through them. “Yes, Adalisa. Are you all right?”

I shrug, looking down at the water in my hands. “No, I’m not okay. Nothing about today has been okay!”

Matthias stays silent, and I take that as my cue to continue speaking.

“The sex was amazing. You taking me out to breakfast was not how I planned it to go, and not really what I wanted. You buying me breakfast and having it delivered wasn’t either.

You shouldn’t be doing this. I shouldn’t want this,” I quickly grit out.

“You need to go. You need to leave my apartment right now!”

I place the water down on the nightstand and turn to Matthias.

“Get out. I don’t want you here anymore,” I point toward the door. “Get out of my fucking apartment.”

He rises from my bed and cups my face. I try to get out of it, but his grip tightens, keeping me in place.

“If you go out, make sure you wear the bracelet. It will protect you,” he reminds me.

“Protect me?” I laugh. “How will a tiny bracelet protect me? Everyone has one of these.”

It’s a simple bracelet; anyone on the street could have one of these. How does he expect something like that to protect me?

“Trust me, it will,” he replies. “You know I’m a dangerous man; I have enemies. My boss has enemies. Wear the bracelet when you go out. Promise me.”

I yank my face out of his touch and glare at him. “I’m not promising you anything. Now, get out of my apartment.”

He sighs and stands to his full height, giving me a pointed look before he walks out of my room.

I hold my breath and wait to hear my front door open and close.

My shoulders sag as I hear it does, letting go of the breath and picking up the glass of water.

Bringing it up to my lips, I pause right before drinking and pull away.

Has he drugged it? I didn’t see him make it or hear him pour the water.

I don’t know Matthias at all and he was just in my apartment… again. I was so out of it, and he could have done anything. Did he place cameras in my apartment? I shake my head. He wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do that. Unless I was really out of it and lost track of time.

I place the cup down and fall back onto my bed, taking a deep, steadying breath. Too much is going on, and I can’t fully comprehend everything. Will I ever be able to when it comes to Matthias?

“I don’t know,” I whisper, looking up at the ceiling.