So, I started talking. And talking. And talking some more.
“Look. You don’t have to do this. Remember the night we met? Well, I was out with my best mate, Talia. We grew up just down the road from each other. She’s like my sister. Honestly, I’m all she has. She has a very strict no new friends policy, so she will definitely miss me.”
When there was no response, I kept going.
“I have a gran. She’s older now. We found a nice place for her. Costs a bloody fortune though. I’m trying to come up with the extra cash to keep her there. She looked after me after everything with my mum, so I sort of owe her.”
Still no response.
“But I wasn’t going to be deterred. “I have a sister too. She’s getting married soon. I was with her and her fiancé Travis. When you took me. Please, she must be beside herself. Please let me call her. I won’t say anything or give anything away.”
God he was like talking to a stone wall. Zero emotion. Nothing but a hard, cold blank.
But then the dense silence was broken by his deep baritone. “What, no parents who love you? Neither of them are going to call and check on you?”
All courage and hope and will to try whooshed out of me then. He’d landed a fatal blow and didn’t even know it.
Terror and hopelessness made for a merry cocktail and wound around my spine. The first tear slipped down my cheek and despite myself, I couldn’t make then stop after that.
I knew. I was going to die and possibly no one other than Talia would worry about me for days.
A little over an hour later, we finally stopped.
Oh God. Where the hell were we?
He hauled me out of the car and cue the panic flailing. I dug my heels into the gravel driveway as he tried to haul me toward an enormous, ivy-covered Tudor manor.
Oh hell no.
He was not dragging me into some Beauty and the Beast type castle. With nothing else to try, I threw my head back, making contact with his chin. And giving myself a ringing headache. He must have been surprised, because his grip loosened.
The moment his vice grip loosened around my waist, I took off blindly. Running for my life with the literal devil on my tail.
I’d run track and field in school, so I had a quick start. But he was faster. And enormous. And I had no idea where I was going.
His stomping footsteps behind me had me darting wildly, but it was a fool’s errand. He caught me easily.
When he reached me, he yanked me back against him and hissed in my ear. "You try to escape again, and I'll shoot you myself."
I gritted my teeth together but I nodded sharply. I knew better than to test his limits again, wholeheartedly believing that he’d kill me.
He dragged me along as he walked up to the door. A tall, dark skinned man with hair that was more salt than pepper and a wide smile greeted me with a warm smile.
"This is Reginald's place," he muttered. "You’ll be safe here."
“As if I’d believe you, you overgrown donkey spawn.”
His lips twitched at the insult. “Believe me or don’t. I don’t care.”
I bucked in his arms. “Please don’t hurt me. I’ll give you whatever you want.”
He ignored me and carried me inside, introducing me to the older man. “Reginald, this is Daphne. She'll be staying with us for a while.”
The older man's dark eyes met mine and he gave me a warm smile. When his gaze turned to Drake, his eyes went harsh and his lips pressed together into a thin line.
"You're safe here," he said, offering me another kind smile. "No matter what Drake tells you. Just stay put, and you'll be home in no time."
Drake dragged me upstairs, not inclined to show off any conversational skills. He guided me to a simple room with modern decor and simple furnishings, But then before I could ask any questions he deposited me on the bed just before locking the door behind us.
I looked around the room warily, my gaze unfortunately settling on the bed. "Where am I supposed to sleep?" I asked, voice quivering.
"Here," He muttered.
My eyes widened in horror and I shook my head adamantly. "No. Where are you sleeping?"
"Don't worry about it."
Oh hell no. "You can't expect me to sleep in the same room as you."
I wiggled against him as he released my restraints.
"Behave," he growled, stepping away from me.
My eyes remained fixed on him as he strode to the other side of the room, glowering at me.
"If you try anything, I swear to God I'll scream, and Reginald will come in here with his shotgun."
He smirked at me. "I'll keep that in mind."
“Please let me go,” I whispered. All the fight leaving my body.
“No. You’re staying right here for the foreseeable future.”
13
Drake
"You need to feed her."
I scowled at Reginald. "She's fine. She can go another few hours."
Reginald Thornton had been a mate of my uncle's. He'd always been around the house. When my uncle was deployed and died in service, I lived with Reginald and his Jasmine.
When Jasmine died six years ago, the old man hit a low point, so I moved him out of the old house in Mayfair and gave him a fresh start. When I built this house for him, he'd said he wanted something like a farmhouse inside, but he wanted all the modern amenities. It made no sense, but fuck, the man sacrificed his life for me, so I gave him what he wanted.
His slightly lined, dark brown skin had barely aged in all the years I'd known him. He still looked vaguely fifty-something. Too young to be a grandfather type, but somehow older and wiser beyond his years. And right now, he was fixing me with a look that said you are a wanker.
"You knew this was what I was going to do."
"Yes, I knew this was what you were going to do, and didn't I warn you against it?"
"You did. But you knew I was going to do it anyway, so why are you giving me that admonishing glare?"
"Because I thought you were better than this."
"What am I supposed to fucking do?" I leaned against the counter in the kitchen as Reginald cooked. He looked like he was making a stew of some sort. It smelled heavenly and divine, and my stomach grumbled.
"If you're hungry, she's hungry too."
"I'll feed her, all right? I'm going to make her a sandwich."
I aimed for the fridge, and Reginald planted a hand on it before I could open it. I could fight him for it. But while he was old, he was shockingly strong, and I knew I’d have to hurt him to open it, which I would never do. "What the fuck are you doing?"
"You're not making that girl some sandwich. You're going to take her some of this oxtail stew. Do you understand me?"
"You're feeding her oxtail?"
"Just because I don't like you doesn't mean I don't like her. She's innocent in all this. She has done nothing, as you already said."
"It doesn't matter what she's done or hasn’t done. The point is, Massimo wants her. I thought you understood that."
"You don't listen to anyone. All you can see is what you want, boy."