Byron pulls me out of the closet and tosses me onto the floor of the bedroom. Coming out after me with thunderous steps, he begins unfastening his belt. I crawl backward again, trying to get away from him, while knowing that there is nowhere to run.
“You know,” he begins, “I wanted to wait until we were married to consummate our wedding vows, but you’ve proven to be unworthy of my patience. Therefore, I should fuck you now. It’s also never too soon to try for a baby, baby.”
“No!” I screech. “Get away from me!”
He doesn’t.
He comes closer and closer, his feet touching mine. Reaching down, he grabs me by the arm and pulls me up, then pushes me back until I’m lying on Cal’s bed.
A lump lodges in my throat, and I swallow it down, tasting my tears on my tongue.
Fight, Bella.
Each movement he makes has me slithering farther up the bed until I hit the headboard. When there’s nowhere else to go, Byron blankets my body with his. I snarl in disgust as he begins kissing my neck.
Crying and writhing beneath him, I try to fend him off, but it’s no use. He’s made it clear that he gets what he wants.
With my head turned to the side, I see a lamp on the end table.
Byron reaches down between us and cups my crotch while I reach my arm out to grab the lamp, but it’s too far.
I reach farther, hoping he doesn’t notice, and when he begins kissing my neck again, I know he doesn’t.
Just a little…bit…farther.
In one swift motion, I pull the lamp, unplugging it and taking the cord along as I bash Byron over the head with it.
His body goes limp, and I shove him off me. Another shove sends him falling to the floor and I jump off the bed. Instead of leaving immediately, I grab the base of the lamp, go over to where he lies, and hit him in the head again to make sure he’s knocked out cold.
I reach into Byron’s pocket and take his phone.
Then I run like hell.
Tearing open the door, I go straight for the elevator in a panic. My pulse never slows as I tap the elevator button over and over and over again until the doors finally open. Once I’m inside and riding down to the main floor, I swipe the screen on Byron’s phone. My hands shake uncontrollably, forcing me to grip it harder out of worry I’ll drop it and never have the chance to pick it back up.
“No!”
Stupid fucking passcode.
Wait. There should be a way to call for help from the lock screen.
I try everything. Pressing buttons at the same time, swiping up and down. Nothing works.
I feel defeated as the elevator comes to a stop. I slam the phone down on the ground, ready to stomp on it, when I pause, my foot in midair.
I just have to wait for a call to come in. Once it does, I’ll be able to answer and hang up right away, which will leave me on the home screen and able to call for help.
I’ll just hide somewhere until that happens.
I go out the main doors and the light snowfall has turned heavy and blustery. A gust of wind has me hugging my chest as my bare feet sink into the accumulating fluff.
The cold snow doesn’t even faze me as I make my way to the side of the castle, leaving a fresh trail of footprints. Fortunately, the snow is falling heavy enough that they should be hidden before the sun rises.
Without stopping, I keep going, until I’m hidden among untended bushes and weeds that have overgrown. Then I crouch down and I wait.
Someone will call soon. Hopefully long before frostbite takes hold.
CHAPTER SEVEN
With my phone held out and a picture of Byron pulled up, I ask the nitwit for the umpteenth time, “You're sure this was him?”
“Yes, sir. That’s definitely the guy she was with.”
I continue to rummage through the hotel room, looking for something. Anything. “Fuck!” I shout, tossing the comforter to the floor. “Nothing. There’s not a damn clue as to where she might’ve gone.”
“Look. I’m sorry, Boss. After the girl broke my nose, I lost her.”
I feel my jaw clench as I spin around and grab the imbecile I hired by the collar of his pretty-boy shirt. “You had one fucking job! One job and you screwed it up.”
His cigar-infused breath hits my senses and I toss him back, allowing him to crash onto the bed.
“She’s a feisty bitch. I’m telling ya—”
My fist meets his jaw, hoping I broke it to match his nose. “You ever call her that again and I’ll shatter every bone in your goddamn face. You’re fired. Now get the hell outta here.” His eyes widen with surprise, and he just lies there propped up on his elbows. I point at the door. “Now!”
Crawling off the bed like the lowlife he is, he walks out with his tail between his legs. I slam the door shut behind him and immediately pull my phone out of the pocket of my pants to call my other, recently hired, man, hoping like hell he has more brain cells than this guy.
“Any word?”
“Nothing, sir. We’ve scoured every street she might’ve crossed, and there’s not a single breadcrumb.”
“I’m searching her car. Keep looking and call me the minute you find something.”
I end the call and slam my phone down on the bed. “Dammit, Bella. Where the hell are you?”
I kept my distance for her protection. Watched from afar to make sure she was safe. I’ve had eyes on her ever since I gave Peter the orders to get her home. I didn’t want to let her go. I can barely fucking breathe without her, but I had no choice.
Bella’s life is more important than my own.
Byron took everything from me. Made my men believe I was dead and showed them that he was now in charge of Ellis Empire. The bastard is even spending my money already.
Fortunately, I had an offshore account and was able to tap into it to hire my own temporary crew. I’ve also made contact with Anders, my original head of security. The search for Bella is now underway. Unfortunately, these new guys are all amateur ass-kissers and I can’t tell if they’re keeping their eyes on my girl for the money or because she makes their dicks hard.
I snatch my phone off the bed and leave the room. It’s been three hours since he lost her. Three fucking hours that she could have wandered to God knows where. Or worse, been taken.
I swear on everything worth a damn, if anyone touches a hair on her head, I will murder them in their sleep. Or maybe while they’re awake, so I can look into their sorry eyes as I do it.
My thunderous steps take me down the hall, knocking into a housekeeper’s cart and sending a tray of food to the floor, but I don’t stop.
“Excuse you.” The lady growls as I punch the down arrow for the elevator.
Once I’m in the main lobby, I stop at the front desk and slide the clerk my business card with a hundred-dollar bill beneath it. “If the guest in Room 280 returns, you call me immediately.”
He picks up the card and money, taking a look at it before nodding. “Yeah. Sure thing, Mr. Ellis.”
I tap the counter, then head out the revolving door into the parking lot.
There’s a chill in the air that has me slipping on my black, leather gloves. The entire city is lit up in an array of red, green, and white lights. It’s a miserable reminder that it’s New Year’s. I’ll be thankful once this day is over and the holidays have passed.