Strange how, in the last few days with Zeke, I haven’t searched for a weapon. I haven’t been afraid that Zeke was truly going to hurt me. This just proves how wrong I was. He may not be the one to lay a hand on me, but he’s going to cause my suffering all the same.
Zeke’s reflection pops into the mirror, just after I stash the razor. I stare at him blankly. If he realizes I have the blade in my pocket, he doesn’t say anything.
We both stare, defying each other with our glances, but neither giving in. Any lust I felt for Zeke is long gone. I don’t know why I was attracted to him for a single second. Physically he might be beautiful, but his heart is black. It doesn’t matter how gorgeous he is on the outside, if he’s a monster on the inside.
Zeke turns, and I follow automatically. We both walk slowly through the house. The sunset warms Zeke’s appearance through the windows as we walk. He’s wearing his usual jeans and a T-shirt, but this time he’s added a leather jacket. I also see where he’s carrying a gun in the back of his jeans.
He doesn’t usually carry a gun; at least he doesn’t around me. When I was going through his house, I didn’t even find a gun locker or stash. Apparently, there are things in this house he’s still hiding from me.
If Zeke’s carrying a gun, it means he expects trouble tonight.
I’m not sure if that reassures me or terrifies me more. Julian is Zeke’s business partner. He shouldn’t expect any trouble going over for dinner to sell me to him. But he does. His steps aren’t as purposeful as they usually are, almost like he might falter and change his mind.
We reach the front door.
Please, stay. We don’t have to go. At least let me stay.
I feel his eyes cut back to me, but he doesn’t turn his head full around to look at me. Maybe if he did, he’d choose differently. But he doesn’t. He walks out to the truck, leaving me to follow.
Out of defiance, I leave the front door wide open as I exit. If Zeke notices, he doesn’t care since he doesn’t bother to go back and close it.
He just starts his truck and drives. Julian lives close enough that we could walk, but driving is probably better. I would purposefully walk at such a slow pace, it would take us all night to get there. Unfortunately, Zeke drives like he can’t get to Julian’s fast enough.
After parking the truck, Zeke gives me a look I can’t read, and then we both step out. Now that I’m here, I won’t show fear. I’ll walk in on my own will. And I’ll fight with everything I have.
Zeke knocks once. It’s loud enough to vibrate through the entire house.
I stand next to him proudly. I won’t cower behind him like I did last time I saw Julian.
Of course, Julian isn’t the one to open the door. That would be beneath him, so one of his men does. He nods at Zeke and holds the door for us to enter.
My eyes dart all around. My heart thumps on high alert the second my foot crosses the threshold. I’m ready for whatever Julian is going to do to me.
But I never get to the second step. I feel hands go all over my body as multiple men grab me. My mouth is gagged. My arms are pulled apart in either direction, and my ankles are tied together roughly, reminding me the tiny bruise Zeke caused when he grabbed my wrist was nothing. This is what real pain feels like, what real fear is like. I’d been spoiled living with Zeke these last few days.
The men start dragging my body away. I didn’t even get to fight. I didn’t have time to grab my weapon before I was ambushed.
Zeke doesn’t even realize what happened until the last second, as I’m being dragged away.
His eyes connect with mine to witness my terror. Instantly, I force my pupils to change. You did this. This is your fault. You knew better than to bring me here. Any pain I experience is on you. I hope you can sleep tonight knowing my pain is your fault.
And just before I’m yanked out of his view, his eyes change too. Maybe it’s my own stupid hope imagining the split-second change in his expression. Or maybe it’s real. But I swore he promised me he wouldn’t let anyone hurt me.
When I’m pulled into a dark room with half a dozen men, I realize it doesn’t matter if the look in his eyes was real or not. Zeke won’t be able to keep that promise.
20
Zeke
“Where is he?” I say, as I tear through the house looking for Julian.
One of his servants runs next to me, terrified. He tried to lead me to a sitting room, where he said Mr. Reed would join me in a minute.
I don’t think so. I want to see the man—now.
I march up the stairs and find a locked door at the end of a hallway. A door I’m sure leads to his bedroom.
He better not be naked or fucking a woman right now, or I’ll kill him. Nothing would stop me.
I kick the door down in one swift kick. He’s not naked on the bed, thank god. I march through the room to the bathroom and find Julian spraying some aftershave on his face like nothing is happening—fucking moron.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?” I’m fuming. I thought I could hold back some of my anger, but I can’t. I never agreed to Julian tying up Siren and dragging her to god knows where as soon as I entered his house. I agreed to bring her. I agreed to show her off in front of potential clients—nothing more.
Apparently, my rage isn’t afraid of ruining everything by throwing a punch at this man. I do it anyway.
The crack of his jaw is music to my ears.
But one punch isn’t enough. I grab his shoulders and shove him into the closet door behind him. His head bounces off the door as his eyes see stars.
I snarl. The man may be the leader of a criminal organization, but he can’t fight for shit. He hasn’t defended himself. He hasn’t tried to throw a punch. He hasn’t even reached for a gun.
He starts sliding to the floor, but I grab his shirt collar and hold him eye to eye with me. His feet dangle on the floor.
“What. Did. You. Do?” I growl. I’m not letting him go until I get some answers. And depending on his answers, I still might not free him.
He spits blood out to the right as he cracks his neck and takes his time answering me. I’ll give him credit—he’s not cowering in front of me like I’d expect an inexperienced man to.
“Put me down, and I’ll tell you,” Julian says, adjusting his jaw side to side.
I place him on his feet, but don’t let go of the collar of his pristine white shirt. Somehow I managed not to get a drop of blood on it. I’ll change that quickly if he doesn’t start talking.
“I needed to make sure your pet was secure while we had dinner,” Julian says.
I shake my head. “She’s obedient to me. You didn’t need to tie her up in order for her to behave herself.”
“But then you might be distracted, and I need you on your game in order to convince these men to place a big shipment. Getting the deal with Oscar means nothing if we can’t sell the women for a high price.”
“You had no right to touch her. She’s mine. I’m the one who has been slowly breaking her in. I’m the one who paid millions of dollars to enjoy her, not you.”
“And I’m the one who cuts your paychecks so you could afford to buy her in the first place.”