Page 63 of Unbreakable Bonds (The Boston Romance #2)

ALISHA

A thin layer of sweat coats my skin as adrenaline courses through my veins.

Five days. Five endless, suffocating days in this concrete box of horror.

I make my way out of my glass prison on shaky legs, my newfound "freedom" – David's reward for being a good girl – feeling like ash in my mouth.

Yesterday, he removed the shackles from my ankles with such tenderness it made bile rise in my throat.

Fucking bastard.

The scream building inside me threatens to tear free.

Raw, pent-up emotions expand in my chest like a balloon ready to burst, taking up more space with each passing hour.

Without daylight or clocks, time bleeds together in this basement.

Day and night exist only in David's words, in his sick little games of control.

My eyes drift to Cole, and my heart cracks all over again.

He sits bound to that metal chair, angry red marks carved into his wrists from the constant strain against the cuffs.

Dried blood and bruises paint his face like some twisted artwork.

The only time David lets him up is to use the filthy toilet in the corner, and even then, only with a gun pressed against my temple.

Cole's lips are cracked and bleeding, dark circles haunting his eyes, but that fierce protective look never leaves his face when he watches me.

Thank God I convinced David to give him water and food occasionally.

"If he stays hydrated and fed, he'll be fully aware of everything," I'd said, playing into David's sick desire for an audience.

To test my loyalty, he lets me enter Cole's cell every few hours.

My eyes burn thinking of those moments – helping Cole drink, mouthing 'I love you' while David watches, carrying a thousand unspoken words behind my eyes that I can't voice because that unstable bastard is always there, weapon in hand, ready to punish any misstep.

Walking out of my glass cage feels like standing on a mountain peak where the air is too thin to breathe. My lungs struggle for each shallow breath, but knowing Cole's watching my every move gives me strength. Even bound and helpless, his presence steadies me.

David stands at the table like always, waiting with that possessive gleam in his eyes. He pulls out my chair with exaggerated gentility, and everything in me screams to run. But I can't. Not yet. I force myself to sit, skin crawling as his hot breath skims my ear.

"You smell so lovely."

Lovely? I haven't bathed in days. I smell like fear and desperation.

I swallow hard and stammer, "Thank you."

His finger trails from my neck to my cheek, and Cole's growl echoes off the concrete walls. The sound is pure rage, pure helplessness.

David chuckles, the sound setting my teeth on edge. "There's nothing you can do, Walker. I'm the one in control." He straightens, satisfaction oozing from every pore as he moves to his side of the table.

I catch Cole's eye, see the murder written in every line of his face. To diffuse the tension before David decides to "teach him another lesson," I force myself to speak.

"How did you get Cole's and my mobile numbers when you sent that video of Samantha walking in the city?"

David's eyes slide to mine as he takes a bite of roasted potato. He leans back, crossing his arms with that smug satisfaction that makes my stomach turn.

"That was easy. His daughter hung out with a guy. And after following and observing them for a few days, it led to a genius idea."

He stalked them too. Oh god, Samantha.

"I met up with the young man and told him to check the girl's phone and get me your telephone numbers." His lips twist into that crooked smile that haunts my nightmares. "At first, the boy refused, but I can be... persuasive if I have to."

I stare at my plate, stabbing my fork into the vegetables with trembling hands.

The urge to drive the tines into his throat is almost overwhelming.

Poor Leo – he wasn't working with David at all.

He was just another victim of this psychopath, and sweet Samantha thinks he betrayed her.

I risk a glance at Cole, see the same horrified realization in his face.

"Tonight is a special night, doll face." David's voice shifts, taking on that dreamy quality that always precedes something terrible. "We're going to dance."

My fork clatters against the plate as my head snaps up. "W-What do you mean?"

His eyebrow rises at my reaction, lips pursing. "I bought a dress for you, and you'll wear it tonight so that we can have our dance without interruptions."

He turns that twisted smile on Cole. "And you're going to watch, Walker." Rising from his chair, he heads for the door. "I'll get your dress."

The moment the door locks behind him, nausea hits me in waves. I drop my head into my hands, trying to contain the tremors wracking my body. The thought of his hands on me, of dancing while Cole watches...

I can't do it. I can't let that monster touch me.

Cole's urgent grunts and muffled sounds fill the air, but I can't look at him. If I do, I'll shatter completely.

I dig my fingers into my scalp, desperate to release the tension building to unbearable levels. All my brave words, my determination to be strong – they feel like ash in my mouth now.

God, I thought I was tough, but I'm not. I'm not.

Approaching footsteps send me scrambling to wipe away tears. David's malicious voice fills the room before I can fully compose myself.

"Attention," he announces, stopping beside the table.

My jaw clenches as I force myself to look. He's holding a knee-length, sleeveless dress with a high split. Ruby red – like blood. Like warning signs. Like danger.

"And these are also for you." He presents a pair of black Louboutin heels that would normally make my heart race. Now they just look like instruments of torture.

A phone buzzes, breaking the moment. David pulls it from his pocket with a frown.

"Hm, I have to deal with this. It can take a while. Change your outfit in the meantime." He turns to leave but stops at the door, pulling out the remote. The gate to Cole's cell slides open with that now-familiar hiss.

"Be a good girl and give him a drink." He gestures to the water jar by his plate. "I want him to be hydrated and aware. But remember – no talking."

The lock clicks behind him, and I wait three heartbeats before grabbing the bottle and rushing to Cole. My fingers tremble as I work at the gag's knot, letting the fabric fall away. He stays silent as I bring the water to his cracked lips, but his eyes – god, his eyes say everything.

The bruises on his face have darkened to purple-black, dried blood still crusted above his eyebrow. When he pulls back from the water, I can't stop myself from moving to stand before him. Our eyes lock, and suddenly tears are streaming down my face.

I set the bottle beside his chair, trying to hide how badly my hands are shaking.

"Alex, look at me."

My eyes trail up until they meet his ocean-blue gaze, one still swollen nearly shut.

"Come here," he whispers, his voice rough from disuse.

I reach out with trembling fingers, gently touching his battered face. "You must be in so much pain."

He sighs. "I'll live."

The storm of emotions in his eyes breaks something in me.

Without thinking, I settle sideways on his lap.

His lips find mine instantly, and we both release a deep, shuddering sigh.

Just being in his presence soothes me in a way no drug ever could.

His aura wraps around me like a shield, and I cup his face between my palms, desperate to prolong this moment.

"I love you," I mumble against his mouth. He pulls back slightly.

"Listen to me, Alex." His voice is urgent, intense. "You need to stay strong. Don't let that bastard break you. You're stronger than him. You're doing so well."

My breath catches. "We need to get out of here. But I don't know how."

"Alex, you need to promise me that if you have the chance to get out of here without me, you'll take it."

I start to protest, but he silences me with another kiss, this one harder, more desperate.

When he breaks away, his eyes bore into mine. "Alex, I'm serious. David is unstable. He will go to extremes to punish me. He's infatuated with you, and you need to use that against him. Even if that means leaving me behind."

"No!" The word tears from my throat. "I'm not leaving this hell hole without you, period. I—"

"For fuck's sake, don't challenge me on this." Raw fear edges into his voice. "Whatever happens to me, I want to know you'll be taking care of Sam. She can't lose both of us; it will tear her apart. She needs a mother figure in her life. She can live without—"

I crush my mouth to his, cutting off those terrible words. "Don't you dare finish that goddamn sentence, Walker!" I pull back, sliding off his lap. Standing over him, I let my anger fuel my strength. "We're in this shit hole together. And we're going to leave it. Together."

I plant my hands on my hips, glaring until he releases a long, frustrated huff.

Bending to retrieve the water bottle, I soften my voice.

"Now, please, drink more before I have to put on that dress.

We need to figure out how to get that remote control and deal with that psycho.

His phone works down here – if I can get it, I can call for help. "

After helping him drink again, I walk out to change, knowing David could return any moment. Cole's gaze follows my every move, but he stays silent. When I turn back to face him in the red dress and heels, his expression shifts.

"He might be a sick bastard, but he sure knows what looks sizzling hot on you."

A small laugh escapes – the first in days – as I sway back to him, trying to hold onto this moment of normalcy. I stop before his chair.

"Hey, beautiful."