We get to the faded, grey door of our room. We’re discussing our plans for tomorrow and talking about what we would like to do. I don’t really notice Callan standing there until Emilia stops walking. I turn to see him looking angrier than I’ve ever seen him. There’s a harsh power emanating from him that seems as if it makes the air hard to breathe. He moves away from the building and stalks toward us. I resist the urge to turn and run, but it was a near thing. The fury Callan is displaying is palpable.
“Callan?” I ask. My mind is racing with things to say, but that’s all I can manage to get out. His eyes cut into me, his appearance is haggard in a way that I’ve never seen or expected to see from him. There are bags under his eyes like he hasn’t slept in days, his hair is mussed and his usually short, trimmed beard looks rough around the edges. He’s wearing slacks, but they’re wrinkled as is his dress shirt.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he barks at me.
I step back. I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t to be attacked by him. “I could say the same thing to you,” I tell him, letting all the hurt I’ve been feeling burn into anger.
“Shut it, Zoe. You’ll listen and not speak. I’m not in the mood.”
I gasp as I place my hands on my hips. “Well, I’m not in the mood either and you can just go fuck yourself. Emilia and I are going into our room to have supper. We have plans for later.”
Callan motions in front of him silently. Emilia and I look back to see two men in dark suits get out of a large SUV and start walking toward us.
“Take Zoe and get her belongings out of this damn room. Take her back to my house. Do not let her out of your sight.”
“Who the hell do you think you are?” I screech. “I’m not going back to your place.
Suddenly, Callan is in front of me with his hand on my neck. He literally manhandles me, moving me until my back hits the door so quickly it takes my breath. I hear Emilia gasp just as I cry out in shock. Fear rolls through me. I don’t think Callan would hurt me, but I also didn’t peg him to be the type to have a list of bedroom demands with a harem of women waiting to fulfill them.
“Zoe, I haven’t slept in a week. My world has exploded around me, and I have way too much on my fucking plate for you to tempt me right now. You need to hold your fucking tongue because although I like the way you challenge me, now is not the time,” Callan warns. “You walked out on me, disappeared just when I needed you the most and I’ve had it!”
“I don’t give a damn. No one plays me for a fool and—”
Before I can get the rest out, he crushes his lips to mine. I stubbornly keep my lips sealed shut, denying him entry into my mouth. His hand reaches up, twisting my nipple painfully. My half gasp half moan gives him entry as he kisses me hard, fiercely. It’s so rough and harsh that I know my lips are bruised.
“Do as I ordered,” Callan barks out as he pulls back, not taking his eyes off me.
“But Emilia—”
“Niko needs Emilia and trust me, Zoe, she’s a lot safer with him than you are with me right now.”
He turns to Emilia and takes her hand, “Let’s go.”
“Callan, what’s wrong?”
“We will talk in the car,” Callan tells Emilia, his voice gentler. “I have some things to talk over with you.”
I watch them walk off without sparing me a glance, leaving me with the two men I don’t know. They grab mine and Emilia’s things from our room, before marching me to the SUV. They don’t say one word to me, and I don’t speak to them either. I think I’m still in shock.
I had hoped to talk to Callan again. But not like this…
Chapter 23
Zoe
I’ve been isolated for the past two days in Callan’s home, with not one but two guards who don’t speak—at least to me. I have no idea what’s going on. They sure aren’t going to tell me. They can’t even answer a simple question about what their names are. I’ve nicknamed them Mutt and Jeff. They hate it, which brings me some small sense of satisfaction in my alternating world of panic, confusion, and fear that I’ve lived in since Callan found me.
I’ve demanded to go home, but my captors ignored me. I’m not even allowed to call my dad. I’ve tried to devise a way to escape, but they watch me like a hawk, going so far as to take shifts so that one of them is always watching me, making it impossible for me to leave.
Callan is insane. That’s the only explanation I have. Who kidnaps someone and holds them hostage for days, giving them no information whatsoever? I keep hoping my father will find me, but clearly Callan has lied to him about me. He had to because there’s no way my dad would go this long without contact from me otherwise. He’d be over here at Callan’s screaming and demanding to talk to me.
If I ever get free, I’m going to make Callan pay. Being locked in a room all day has to be against a law or two. I only get to come out for meals. I’ve been kidnapped. That’s exactly what I will tell the police. Then, I will sue Callan for emotional damages. That will show him!
The biggest thing I’m dealing with, however, has nothing to do with me. I’m worried about Emilia. I’ve not heard from her either. Are Callan and Niko keeping her prisoner, too? I don’t know what to think or believe after all this. I know my best friend. She would be moving heaven and earth to find me.
If she could.
The door opens and I start to tell Mutt off—he’s always the one on night shift—I stop when I see Callan. He closes the door behind him before facing me with his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes narrowed and boring into me. For some reason, all the anger I had withers under his stare, leaving me nervous as I wring my hands together. I have no idea what to expect from him. Two days ago, when he held me by my neck, he scared me. Later, I realized the bruising kiss he gave me hurt more than the way he was holding me.
At one time, I thought he was one of the gentlest men I’d ever known. Of course, I also thought he was honest. Now, I’m pretty sure I never really knew him. I squirm under his stare until I can’t stand it anymore. Finally, I speak up with the biggest worry I have.
“Is Emilia okay? She hasn’t called.”
“No, she’s not okay, but she’s safe and that’s what matters.”
“What do you mean safe?” I ask, my heart kicking into my throat as I pick apart his words. “Is something wrong? You have to let me go to her. She’s my family.”
“You’re not going anywhere until we have this out, Zoe. Maybe then I will allow you to see your friend.”
“Allow?” I squeak out. “You have no right to talk to me like that, Callan. In fact, everything you’ve been doing to me is against the law. You could be arrested for the things you’ve done.”
“Shut up, Zoe,” he growls.” You’re on very precarious ground right now.” I can’t help but listen and snap my mouth shut. His voice is so commanding that chills move through me, but it’s more than that. There’s an awareness, an electricity that charges my entire body. “Get that look off your face. I would never hurt you, but I will punish you.”