She moves off the bed, putting too much distance between us.
“Don’t lie to me! You did it because you’re selfish and didn’t want me to fall in love with someone else before you had the chance to kidnap me. You wanted me alone because if you can’t have me, no one can? Isn’t that right?”
It takes every ounce of self-restraint I have not to grab her and throw her back onto the bed. To tie her up and keep her bound to this bed with me. Yes, everything she just said is true. No one can have her, only me. Yes, I’ve been selfish, and yes, I wanted her to be alone in a way. I never intended for her to feel as if she was at fault though, but there isn’t anything I can do about that now. Nothing of the past matters. She’s mine.
Anger fills my voice when I speak. “It wouldn’t have mattered if you had found someone. I would’ve disposed of him and took you anyway. You’re mine, don’t you see that?”
Dove’s tiny hands form into fists, and her body vibrates with unbridled anger. I wonder if she’s going to punch me, act out on her rage?
“I’m not yours! I’m a human being with feelings. Not a pet or a thing. I am not, nor will I ever be yours!”
As soon as the words are out of her mouth, I’m off the bed and across the room. My heart races in my chest, and I don’t think. I just react. Gripping Dove by the back of the neck, I hold her in place while staring down at her. Her body starts to tremble, and I know I’m scaring, her but maybe that’s what she needs. I’m tired of her being a brat. Tired of her being ungrateful for all I’ve done, for us, for her.
A coldness sweeps through me. How dare she say she’s not mine. She has been and always will be mine.
“You. Are. Mine!” I growl into her face. “I’ve killed for you, bled for you, sacrificed everything for you. You will be whatever I want you to be.”
“I never asked you to do any of that!! I never wanted this. I never wanted you!” Just like that, I snap. My patience is gone. All I feel at this moment is anger. Burning, red hot anger. My vision blurs for a fraction of a second.
I release her nape and sink my fingers into the silky strands of hair. With a fist full of hair, I tilt her head back, forcing her to see me, really see me. Her big, blue eyes fill with fear, but I’m too far gone to give a shit. I’m done. Lifting her hands, she plants them against my chest and pushes against me, but I’m a fucking mountain and don’t budge, not even an inch.
“It’s never been your choice and never will be. Fight me all you want. Cry. Beg. Plead.” Looking down, my eyes catch on her pulse, and I lean in, licking the sensitive skin, tasting her fear. “I’ll die before you’re ever free of me.”
“You’re hurting me,” Dove whimpers, struggling against my grasp. I’m tempted to shove up her nightgown and rip her panties off of her. To teach her a lesson. If I knew I could stop there, I would. But I know I wouldn’t be able to. Not even as she begs me to, so I do the last thing I want. I let her go. I release my hold on her hair and take a step back.
“I hate you!” Angry pants slip from her lips, and I can feel my own rage boiling over. I need to leave this room, get away from her.
“Hate me all you want, but that doesn’t change anything. You’re still mine, and you’re still going to be here even when the anger passes. So, hate me. It doesn’t change a damn thing.”
Leaving the room, I feel like I’m drowning in my own rage. When I reach the library, I close the door behind me and sit down in one of the chairs. I hold my head in my hands for a long time, trying to get my breathing and mind back on track.
Needing to think about something else, I walk over to the safe, punch in the code and pull out the computer and phone. Dealing with some shit from the outside world should help. I set everything up and then check my email and messages. There are numerous messages from Christian, and I feel all the better about my choice of kidnapping Dove with each one that I read.
Christian: Bring me the girl, and I’ll spare you.
Christian: I’ve sent my men to find and kill both you and the girl. You’re a good kid, Zane, but you don’t fuck with the mob.
Christian: Where the fuck is the girl?
Christian: You’re dead.
There are at least a dozen more texts just like these. Some mentioning torture and rape if I don’t give both of us up. I’m not afraid though. They’ll never find Dove here. Never suspect that I’ve hidden her. They don’t know who she is to me. Just like I don’t know who Dove is to Christian, but I’ll figure it out. Nothing remains a secret for long in the world we live in.
Some corrupt asshole will take the money I offer him for information. It’s happened before, and it will happen again. We just need to lay low for a while, and then I can reach out to some people and get the ball rolling.
I check the surveillance on Dove’s apartment. I’m not shocked to find the place completely ransacked. If she could see how her apartment looks right now, she’d be devastated, or maybe she would finally believe me that she is here for her own protection.
I’ve rescued her from the darkness, saved her the heartbreak. She should be thanking me instead of fighting me. Thinking about what she said angers me more, and I shut my thoughts down completely.
Locking up the computer and phone, I try to think of what to do next. I haven’t had breakfast or coffee yet, but I don’t think my stomach could handle either. I decide to workout. I need to get rid of this tension in my muscles. I need an outlet, and the punching bag is going to be my best chance of making it through the day.
19
It takes me a long time to get my breathing under control after he leaves the room. My scalp tingles where he pulled my hair, and my insides twist with pure rage. I’ve never been this angry. Consumed by hate. All I can do is think of escaping. I’m not a person to him. I’m an obsession, an object. Something he owns and that he won’t let anyone else touch.
God, I can’t believe he did that. All the people he took from me… Shawn. I can’t even imagine the sinister things he did to him, to them. Fear coils deep in my gut. He said I’ll never be free of him. Tears fall from my eyes and cascade down my cheeks.
He did this for his own sick pleasure. He’s not protecting me. He’s keeping me. Locking me up. I won’t be a victim. I won’t let him control me. I’m going to get out of this, no matter what I have to do. Swiping at the tears, I force myself to get dressed.
It takes me forever to put my clothes on and even longer to walk out of the room, but when I do, Zane is nowhere to be found. I feel this strange tug on my heart at not seeing him, but I push the feeling away. He doesn’t deserve anything from me, least of all, for me to care about him. He’s a monster, a killer, and a criminal. He may not hurt me, but he’s hurt others, and that’s the same thing.
The living room is empty, as is the kitchen. I continue walking toward the hall that leads to the gym and library. I do my best not to make any noise, and when I reach the door to the gym, I spot Zane. He’s doing push-ups on the floor, his complete attention on counting each up and down rep. I look to the free weights sitting a few feet away.
Now is your chance…