Safer With You

by Trisha Madley

  “You’re using me as a pawn, is that it?”

  “No, baby. I would never. But I have to keep an eye on you. As long as I’m within your eyesight, nothing is going to happen.”

  I’m so pissed. He’s right about one thing—everyone’s lied to me, including him. I need to leave. I’m going to my parents’ house, to my Dad. I should have only trusted him in the beginning anyway.

  “I’m leaving!”

  Jase pushes me against the table and holds my arms. “Nora, calm down. You’re not thinking clearly. I’m going to protect you. Everyone is working for the senator. I made the mistake of trusting him. I made the mistake of trusting these monsters.”

  I tip my head back and look at the dark ceiling. I can’t see all that well, but it is the only thing I can think to do. I can’t look at him right now. They all knew who attacked me; they were all in on it but me. All this time, he’s been trying to protect me, yet he deposits me right in the middle of danger.

  A loud knock at the door draws me from my thoughts. “Mr. Madsyn, you are needed, immediately,” Tucker’s curt voice says from the other side of the door.

  “Jase, I need a few minutes by myself. I can’t go out there right now.”

  He lets out a breath. “Fine. But Tucker will be outside this door to escort you to my table. After Samantha presents the senator with the check, we are gone.”

  “What about Isaac? Is he going to show up?”

  “My security team is here and waiting for him. We’ll make him think you’re still here if he shows.”

  He kisses my forehead and opens the door. “Don’t leave this storage room unless Tucker is with you. He will be standing out here until you are ready to return to the table.” Then he leaves before I can even respond. I’m left all alone to soak in this ludicrous situation.

  Screw this! Some lunatic is waiting on me while his family is in on it. What the fuck is wrong with these people? What did I ever do to Isaac? I didn’t tell anyone anything about what I saw in Luke’s office, not even Jase.

  I use the dim light to straighten my dress as best as I can and comb my fingers through my hair. Luckily, my bag is close by. Taking my cell phone out, I text Jenny that I’m leaving and heading back to Mom and Dad’s…alone.

  Ignoring Jase’s instructions, I open the door and peek my head out. I survey the area, no Jase, no Tucker, no one. It’s strange that no one is around, but, oh well, it’s better for me that way.

  I take the opportunity to leave the tiny room and head for the first exit I see. It doesn’t matter where it leads to, as long as I get the hell out of here. I tiptoe down the narrow hallway and round the corner. Bingo! An exit sign. I’m close to tasting freedom until Luke yanks me back.

  My body goes on alert as I feel his strong fingers wrap around my wrist.

  “Luke, stay away from me. I know all about you!” I struggle to break free from his grasp.

  “Calm down, Nora. What are you talking about?”

  I shove hard against his chest. If Jase is right, then I don’t want to be alone with Luke.

  “You son of a bitch, I know all about you, Michael.”

  “Nora, hush. Let’s go outside and talk. I’ll explain everything.” He yanks my arm again, but this time through the exit. My ankle gives and I stumble through the doorway.

  “Luke, stop holding me so tight; stop touching me!”

  He swings me around until we are nose to nose. “Stop this, please. Jase is lying, whatever he told you is a lie. You can’t trust him. He is the dangerous one; he is involved in something so much more dangerous than I have ever been.”

  “I’m not worried about him; I want answers from you. You are responsible for my attack, why would you ever hurt me like that? Why are you going along with your uncle and Isaac?”

  He looks confused. “What are you talking about?”

  “ Zack, Isaac whoever he is. He attacked me because you probably told him I was snooping in your office. How could you put me in danger like that?” Rage is coursing through my veins. I can’t ever recall screaming at someone like this. My mouth is dry and my voice is hoarse from all my screaming.

  “He doesn’t think of anyone but himself. I, on the other hand, have only thought of you.”

  Isaac appears from the shadows behind Luke. Isaac is calm, content even. I’m so struck by his sudden appearance that I don’t even notice the gun until it’s too late.

  As Luke turns, a gunshot rings out, and Luke falls to the ground at my feet.

  “Don’t make a sound; come with me. I’ve already had the privilege of making you bleed once. I have no problem doing it again.”

  His voice is low and there is evil behind his words. Isaac, at one time, was an attractive man, but right now he is the devil. His long black hair is pulled back in a sleek ponytail. He’s wearing an all-black suit, shirt, and tie. There is no life behind his eyes. No gleam or spark. Dark and blank.

  I look down from his face, no longer able to stare at him. I see that the gun is trained on me. I make the mistake of looking down further to the ground, where Luke is laying with blood staining his chest. I hear him moan. Thank God he’s alive.

  Somehow, I find my voice, “Let…let me call for help, then I’ll go with you,” I beg.

  “No, come with me…now.” He reaches his other hand out to take mine. “I won’t give you another shot. No pun intended,” he bellows and my stomach rolls. “I also know how to find Jenny if you’re not willing to cooperate. Besides, it’s not you I really want to destroy.”

  Who? Oh, God, I can’t breathe. All I can smell is smoke, gun smoke. The sound of the gun. Why hasn’t anyone else heard it?

  I’m shaking and I feel like my legs are going to give out. His hand is locked onto my wrist. I can’t make my legs move, but it doesn’t matter because he just drags me with him.

  I take a glance behind me, hoping someone will see, will help, but the only thing I see is Luke’s body and blood.

  Chapter Thirty

  Jase

  Of course, Samantha has taken this moment to make her contribution speech and to announce that our engagement is back on. I keep telling myself I will only be gone for a few minutes, then I can get back to Nora.

  God, I hope she listened and stayed in that room.

  My eyes roam while I’m up on stage at Samantha’s side. Everyone is where they are supposed to be, except Nora and Tucker are missing. I hope they’re together as I glance over the three exits of the room to check on the security personnel standing at attention.

  At Nora’s table, Jenny and Max are lost in their own conversation, and more notably, Luke is missing.

  This isn’t right; he would never miss this. Panic hits me like a bullet. He must have found Nora.

  Samantha has a death grip on my arm while we stand on the obnoxious stage with dozens of banners praising Senator Malone. I need to see if Nora is alright. I should have never let her come tonight.

  I rip Samantha’s claws from my arm and whisper in her ear, “I need to go.”

  With a fake smile plastered on her face she says, “No, you stay, or I won’t hand over the check.”

  Within seconds, I hear, “I want to thank the future Mrs. Jase Madsyn. She, along with the Harris family, are making a very generous contribution to this campaign.”

  The crowd breaks into applause. She lets go of my arm to have her time in the spotlight. My eyes land on the senator watching me with narrowed eyes. He mouths the words, “Where is Michael?” then breaks into an evil grin.

  No questions asked, nothing needs explaining. Luke has Nora. Luke was always going to give her over to Isaac.

  I dash off the stage without caring if I’m a distraction or not. Passing the tables, I see Max; he immediately stands and follows at a fast pace behind me.

  It seems as if it takes forever to reach the storage closet, but as I do, all the air from my lungs ceases. It’s open and no one is inside. She’s gone.

  I rush from the vacant room, stumbling do
wn the hall, rushing to find her. My eyes roam, looking for any signs for which direction she might have gone. When I reach the exit, it won’t open.

  Something is in the way. Max helps me push the door, and on the other side is Tucker, out cold, face first on the concrete. “Tucker!” I kneel down to roll him over. He is bleeding from his forehead. Luckily, he’s breathing. Luke must have taken Tucker down, and now he has Nora.

  “Fuckkk!”

  “Jase, over here!” screams Max.

  Jumping up and facing his direction, I see another body lying on the ground with a pool of blood around him and a crimson stained chest. Although I’m running as fast as I can, my world is playing in slow motion.

  Luke lays before me. For the second time in minutes, I kneel down next to a body.

  Luke moans in pain and his eyes grow wide when he sees it’s me.

  “Isaac…Nora—he has her.” His words are barely audible.

  “Luke, do you know where he took her? Are you in on this too?” I say with a fury I’ve never felt before, ready to kill.

  “SUV, headed south.” He croaks as I pull out my cell and throw it to an ashen faced Max.

  “Call an ambulance. Then get Uncle Joe on the phone and everyone who is available.”

  I take my gun from its holster under my tux jacket, cock the gun, and hold the gun to Luke’s temple. “If you know anything, you better tell me now. I won’t hesitate to kill you.”

  “I…I don’t know anything. She was yelling…at me…then he shot me.” His coughing interrupts his words, but he finds his voice as I push the gun harder into his temple. “I swear, Jase, I don’t know anything.”

  “The senator said you were going to take her to Isaac. Did you? Did you fucking hand her over to him?”

  Tears flow down Luke’s cheeks, “No! I swear, I don’t know anything. I love her too.”

  I believe the sorry piece of shit. The tears in his eyes tell me he’s sincere, or at the very least, doesn’t want to be killed.

  “Any idea where he’d take her?” He’s my only hope to find her.

  “No, but my uncle has a house south of here. Maybe he’s taking her there.”

  “I know it. Max, go get the car, have it waiting for me. I’ll be right back.”

  “Jase, Jenny. I need to check on her.”

  “Go! I’ll call if I need you.” He doesn’t hesitate and is gone before I can move.

  I can’t feel anything. I’m stunned and ready to kill. Not sure what to do, I run back into the hotel and see that Tucker is now awake with another member of the security team helping him. Tucker wobbles to his feet.

  “Sir, I’m sorry. That bastard hit me with a Taser.” Tucker has a white cloth pressed to his forehead. “Pussy mother fucker, if he faced me like a man, he’d be dead.”

  “Come on, let’s go see where the senator is,” I order.

  Samantha waits for me in the ballroom. “Where’s Nora?” I ask. I can tell by the smug look on her face, she was in on it too.

  I see the knowing look on her face. Walking closer, she leans her vile lips close to my ear. “Maybe I know, and maybe I don’t, fiancé. Let’s put on a show and maybe I’ll give you a hint of where you can find her.”

  “I’ll give you five minutes to tell me where the fuck she is before I walk out of here. Remember, I know all your dirty secrets. I know who your real father is, and I know he isn’t loaded.”

  Her devil eyes widen. “How did you know?”

  “I fucking know everything. Tell me where she is.”

  She looks around the room and spots the senator. She smiles and gives him a quick wave. “Fine, Jase, but you will marry me. You owe me.” She turns her back to the senator and urges me back towards the exit. “Before I give you any information, I will make sure you marry me, and Nora will be out of your life.” Her venomous eyes narrow on me.

  “Fine, I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll marry you when I find Nora, safe and sound.”

  Whatever the fuck she wants, she can have. I’ll ruin her later. She’s forgetting who she’s negotiating with.

  “Good. I’m glad you are so cooperative. The senator has already signed our marriage license. All you have to do is sign, and I’ll tell you where she is.”

  Samantha whips a piece of paper from her purse. Destroyed, they will all be destroyed by the time I’m done with them. I take the pen she offers and sign my name.

  “Thank you, Jase. This ensures your money and the power your name holds are now mine. I won’t need my family anymore, so your threat about telling my dear old daddy that he isn’t my daddy, is irrelevant.”

  “Just tell me where the fuck she is.”

  Samantha shrugs her shoulders and casually says, “Your girl is at the senator’s property and there is some kind of shed or room or whatever where Isaac has her. I’d go prepared for a fight. For whatever reason, he’s obsessed with the girl.”

  I don’t give what she says another thought. Tucker is behind me as we head out to find Nora.

  The black SUV pulls up, and I jump in the passenger side and Tucker slides in the back.

  “Tucker, how do you feel?” I ask.

  “My head hurts like a bitch, but I’ll be fine. Luckily, the bleeding stopped. Never thought a Taser would take me down.”

  “You’ll have your chance for payback. Head to the senator’s property,” I order Roger, Tucker’s right hand man.

  I fill them in on my conversation with Samantha. We sit in silence. I’m trying not to think the worst, but Isaac is a loose cannon. He flies off the handle easily, and if she’s his target, God only knows.

  My legs bounce up and down with the anticipation of finding her. I can’t sit still, and there is nothing I can do to get us there quicker.

  I promised to keep her safe and I failed. I prepared myself and my guys for worst case scenarios, but it was me who failed. I left her in that storage closet furious at me. I kept secrets from her, and now I may have lost her.

  I’m holding my cell phone when it rings from an unknown caller.

  “Madsyn,” I say.

  “She is beautiful when she is sleeping. I’ve seen her still with beauty on two occasions now. I hope you are on your way alone,” Isaac’s voice punctures my ear.

  “You’re dead, fucker; if you touch one hair…”

  “Hush. She’s just fine, but I won’t be able to say the same for you.”

  The phone goes dead, and so does my future.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Nora

  My eyes open and I have a headache. I groggily look around. Nothing looks familiar and my brain kicks in. Isaac.

  He brought me to a shack in the middle of nowhere. My hands were tied behind my back, my mouth taped, and I was blindfolded while we drove here. Wherever here is. He graciously took off the blindfold and retied my hands in front of me, so that I could crawl down the ladder that led to this dim little hole in the ground.

  He called it his dream room. I call it a dungeon. It’s a dingy cement block room. The room is sparse with only a folding table and two chairs in front of it. The table has several knives and a gun, but what I find scarier is that the table is covered with a lovely pink tulip table cloth and a tray with soda, sandwiches, and cake…beside the weapons.

  Maybe this is for my last meal. Tears spring to my eyes. I can’t think like that, not yet. Jase must know I’m missing by now, and he’ll find me. I was so stupid for not doing what he said, but he pissed me off by keeping what he knew about everyone from me.

  My mouth is taped again and my hands are tied behind my back while I’m sitting on a hard wooden chair. Thankfully, he took off the blindfold.

  I’m alone. Thank God. I take a deep breath of relief.

  The room smells like Clorox and is burning my nose.

  I have no idea where he went, but I’m hoping he stays gone for a while. I move the rope on my hands over the corner of the wooden spoke on the chair, hoping that maybe it will weaken with every pass.

 
; I have no idea how long I’ve been down here. I wonder what I will do if I actually get my hands untied. Coming up with a plan is the only thing that’s going to save me. Before I can think of anything, I hear the door’s latch open and the clunk of boots on the wrought iron steps.

  “Nora! My beauty is finally awake.” His sickly sweet voice sends shivers through my whole body. My stomach rolls at every syllable he speaks.

  With the tape over my mouth, I can’t speak, but his dark soulless eyes drill into mine.

  Then he grins like the devil he is.

  “You really are quite beautiful. Even in your ripped gown, bruised face, and mussed up hair. I bet Jase will love that look.”

  He releases his eyes from mine, stands taller, and walks towards the table. I’m sitting helpless in the middle of this concrete hell, racing with thoughts of what exactly he plans to do with those weapons.

  His back is facing me. He’s wearing a red, blue, and black flannel shirt, dark denim jeans and brown work boots. His long black hair is pulled into a ponytail. As I sit here, I remember Miami. I always thought Zack was an attractive guy, polite but quiet. He never said much to me, and I didn’t have much to say to him. Mostly because I blamed him for Luke’s behavior.

  “You know I always liked you, right? I know it probably didn’t seem like it, but it’s true. I never intended to hurt you. I think you are exquisite and beautiful.”

  He continues, but this time he turns to face me. His face is harsher and darker than I remember. His dark eyes narrow in on mine. My eyes wander down to his hands, and I notice he’s holding a knife. My stomach lurches at the sight of him. I keep calming myself by repeating Jase’s name over and over again in my head.

  “I know you think I hurt you because of what you saw in Luke’s office, I mean Michael’s. He is a lying bastard, isn’t he? Couldn’t even tell you his real name. I lied about my true identity for my father.” He takes the stool, sets it in front of me, and sits. I can smell his cologne and bile rises in my throat.