Oh, my God, he’s delusional! How can he possibly think I would ever want him like that? How can he think that after all he’s done that I would go with him willingly?
Or maybe, he doesn’t care if I’m willing.
I have no time to dwell on all of this when he suddenly lets go of my hand and starts heading in an unknown direction to what I presume will be an old farm.
Can it get any worse?
“You are being very quiet. Too quiet. Say something. I don’t know how you’re feeling. You do want this, don’t you? I don’t know what I’d do if you said no to me.”
Oh, God, please help!
Through my scrambled thoughts, I try to come up with something that I know will appease him. “You were right to take me away. I have been hurt in the past, and I need someone just like you to protect me. I’m sure you can do the job and do it well. Thank you, Tony.”
I try to smile at him, but I feel too miserable, and I’m too angry with him to pull that one off with much believability. He doesn’t seem to notice, though, and he reaches over, squeezes my hand again, and beams at me. “I knew you would see sense. Everyone tries to take you away from me, but I have you now. I’ll take special care of you. I promise you that.” He lets go of my hand again and concentrates on the road. All I can think about is Jake and how distressed he will be once he finds out I’m gone. Will he even know who took me? Shit! This is—by far—the worst day of my life. I thought Alan was bad, but Tony is in a completely different league of his own.
Once we are on I-495 heading south, I start to contemplate how I’m going to escape this. I have no one to help me, and no one knows where to find me. Do I try to jump out of the car when we stop at a set of lights? Do I try to see if I can flag someone down somehow without being noticed by Tony? My head’s awash with decisions and possible outcomes of my decisions. Whatever choice I make could mean life or death. In the end, I decide it’s best to see if an opportunity arises where I can get myself out of this mess. Maybe once we’re there, I can gain his trust enough to escape and run to the nearest house—or person—I can find.
We get on to the I-95 south towards Powhite Parkway. Lord only knows now where I’m going. The journey seems to go on forever and ever, and the farther away we travel, the more the panic sets in.
“My English rose, what is the matter? Are you afraid of me?”
I jump at the sudden sound of his voice and try to calm myself. “I’m just nervous. I don’t know what to expect. I’ve never had someone want to take care of me the way that you do. What is it you feel for me? Is it love?” I know full well it isn’t. Love wouldn’t be as sick as this.
He looks over briefly and grabs my hand. “I have loved you since the very first day I met you. I have tried to be patient and wait for you to come to me, but it obviously seemed necessary in the end for me to come to you. All your life you have had men abuse you and treat you with disrespect, and you deserve better than that. This is the start of our life together, and I know you probably don’t love me as much as I do you, but in time I think you could learn to love me. I will be a good husband to you and a great father to our children. I promise that to you. All you have to do is promise me that you’ll try, and then the rest is up to me. Will you try for me?”
It’s then I realize that I have to attempt to push my fear away somehow and try to make an Oscar-winning performance for Tony. If this is what it takes to survive, then this is what I have to do. Survival instincts kick away my fear as I try to relax.
“I will. I promise.” I smile sweetly at him, and his face lights up. For a moment he has the most angelic look about him. It is so hard to comprehend that what seems to be the most charming and gentle person is really just a façade … something he displays on the outside, and he is actually a really fucked up monster underneath.
26
After what seems like an age has passed, we veer towards VA-76, still heading south. I imagine that if I were to be here under normal, less frightening circumstances, I would probably be enjoying how beautiful this area is. The trees seem to go on for miles, and the fields are awash with an explosion of colors. It does seem like an ideal spot to live and raise children—with someone else anyway.
“We’re almost there. I think you’re going to love it.”
My curiosity is piqued. “Is this place we’re going to yours?”
We pull onto a driveway which goes on for a while before a house starts to emerge in the distance. The white house looks quite picturesque. It even has the white picket fence to match. Its size is moderate, but then again, it’s surrounded by acres upon acres of land.
“This house and the land around it are ours now. I inherited it from my father when he died just over a year ago. I have dreamed of bringing someone out here to start a family for ages, but I never found the right woman,” he pauses and smiles as he says, “until I met you, that is. All other women seem to be after just one thing. Compared to your innocence, those women and their twisted priorities sicken me. You exude purity from your every pore. You have a beautiful soul, and it makes people want to look after you. Unfortunately, the wrong sort of people live to take advantage of anyone with those attributes. I won’t ever allow my delicate rose to be crushed by anyone like that.”
He looks like he’s getting angry again, so I try to calm him and the situation, especially since we have finally stopped, and the car is now in park. I gently place one hand on his knee. “It’s okay. We’re both here now, and that’s what matters. I would really like for you to show me around the house.” I give him my most winning smile, and he visibly relaxes at my touch.
“Let’s go then. I have been waiting a very long time for this.”
As I get out of the car, he comes running to my side. I don’t know if it’s because he wants to be close to me or if he’s afraid I’m going to run off. How could I possibly run off when he has a gun, and I have nothing?
We climb the three stairs necessary to reach the porch. Off to the left, I see a table and chairs. Towards the right, there are two rocking chairs. The scene looks like something straight out of a movie. Everything is meant to be perfectly placed, perfectly romantic, and perfectly relaxing. In reality, however, this setting isn’t any of those things.
Tony retrieves a key from his pocket and unlocks the front door. We walk in, and the smell of stale air hits me immediately. It isn’t an oppressive scent. I think the house has just been vacant for too long.
The stairs are in front, and there’s a door to the right that leads to the living room. The kitchen, I assume, is down the hall at the end of the house. It looks cozy while simultaneously managing to appear modern. I feel anything but cozy, though.
As I glance around, I notice a display cabinet with pictures. In the center is the biggest photograph. My blood runs cold when I see that the picture is of me and Tony at the Christmas party last year. We’re smiling like a happy couple, with his arm wrapped tightly around me. I pick it up.
I feel his presence behind me. “This is my favorite photo. You look beautiful, but then again, you always do.”
Placing it back down again, I smile. “It’s lovely.” I remember that night all too well.