When I finally stopped, I was shaking. I pushed his hands off me weakly, then laid down on the floor of the bathroom and just tried to breathe. He knelt beside me and went to touch me again, I had enough.
"Stop touching me," I growled. "I don't know you. Don't touch me." He gave me a sweet smile.
"You know me, I'm your soulmate," He told me gently. Yep, he really was nuts. "You'll see in time. That's why we're here at the cabin, to give you time."
"For what? Stockholm syndrome to kick in?" I asked, sarcastically. He chuckled as he ran a hand down the outside of my leg.
"You're so funny, Alexis." He smiled to himself. The room was slowing down.
"Don't call me that, "I grumbled. The drug was wearing off. My body was slowly becoming mine again.
"It's a beautiful name. it's much better than Lexie," He informed me, in a condescending tone. What an ass. He kept talking. "Beautiful, like the paintings you make. I made sure to pick up your art supplies before I brought you here." What? He was in the house? That...
"Hades," I said. He frowned at me. "My dog, Hades, what did you do to him?" I asked. If he hurt my baby at all, I was going to kill him.
"I left him in your car," He said. My temper spiked as I glared at him.
"It's, like, twenty degrees outside," I pointed out.
"It's a dog. You don't need a dog," He snapped, his fingers biting into my thigh. "You don't need anything or anyone but me," He said, his voice warning me. I needed to figure this guy out, I needed him to take me to town or somewhere with people, and I needed to do it without getting hit anymore. Feeling stronger, I went to sit up. He reached out to help me.
"Don't... just... don't," I all but snapped. His eyes flashed. Okay... not a good start. I softened my voice. "My body aches. It hurts when you touch me." His hands pulled back as he winced.
"I'm sorry. It was-"
"Necessary. You said that." I moved until I was leaning against the tub. Clay reached out, flushed the toilet, then closed the lid. "What about Dylan?" I asked carefully. "Putting those photos on his computer, was that necessary too?" He closed his eyes and hung his head.
"Yes. It wasn't hard to get into his computer and use IP address," He murmured. "I'm sorry to betray your trust like that, but the police don't understand," He said. I blinked. Betray my trust? Did he seriously think I wanted him to...? There was a muffled sound, he pulled my cellphone out of his pocket. He checked it, his face darkened. His expression made me swallow hard.
"Ethan Turner just texted you. He's looking for you. You apparently have band practice tonight," He announced, his voice tight and sharp. I stopped myself from smiling. The guys must have realized I was gone, they were checking on me. "Well, you're not singing in that band anymore," Clay stated. His cold eyes met mine. "What's your nickname for him? I know you have one for all of them." His voice was hard and shaking, he didn't like that at all. I swallowed hard.
"Blue eyes," I told him. "I call him blue eyes." He frowned at me. His hand shot out and grabbed my face in his hard grip. I yelped in pain as his fingers dug into the bruises on my jaw.
"He doesn't have blue eyes," He growled.
"That's the joke!" I yelled as I fought to pry his hand off me. He let go, looked away from me, and took deep breaths. Inside, I was shaking. This guy was fucking psycho, beyond anything I ever imagined. I had to get away from him before he killed me. In fact, I felt stronger and ready to give him hell. I stayed limp against the tub as I sized him up, he was Zeke's height and half his size. Shit, he had reach and strength. All he had to do was grab me. I was going to take Zeke's advice, run and don't get caught. His pleasant face slipped back on.
"Fine. But that's going to stop," He ordered as he texted Ethan back. I looked around the bathroom. There was a small window above the toilet. Small, but big enough for me. I looked back to him. "My fiancé doesn't need other men in her life," He stated. I fought the urge to argue. My phone vibrated.
"He says: 'I get it, at least you got to try something new. See ya soon,'" Clay bit out through his teeth. His eyes were hard when they went to me. "You won't be seeing him anymore." I nodded as if I agreed with him, when I was actually remembering the GPS locators on me. One in my shoe, the other in my bra. I eyed my phone; that had been in my bra before I passed out. What else did he...? My stomach rolled as I pushed the thought away and concentrated on survival. The guys were coming or sending help.
"I need a private moment," I said in small voice. He looked conflicted. "Please," I begged with my eyes wide, I was more than willing to use every girl card I had. His face softened with understanding.
"Of course, my love," He said sweetly. He got to his feet and stepped out the door closing it behind him. I got up immediately and turned on the faucet.
"I just don't want you to hear me," I explained in a shy girly voice.
"I understand completely," He called through the door. Yeah, I just bet you do you fucker. I looked down at my shirt, it was untucked and several buttons unfastened. Fear rolled through my mind, but I pushed it away. It wasn't going to help right now. He said we were at a cabin, which meant a road. I ran my hand over my bra, I didn't feel the tracker. I pushed back panic as I checked my right boot, it was still there. I sighed in relief as I tied my boot again. I was getting out of here, now. Heart racing, I quietly opened the window. The cold air washing over my face cleared my head even more. I stepped onto the toilet and climbed out carefully. I dropped silently to the snow, the cold bit into me but I didn't care. I got to my feet and ran to the tree line. Arms pumping, my heart pounding, I circled the cabin and found the drive way. I ran through the tree line following it, staying under the trees to where the snow wasn't so thick, where I could touch dirt and not leave such obvious prints. It wasn't long before he realized I was gone.
"Alexis!" His shout echoed through the woods. I fought for breath as adrenaline surged through me, pushing me. I pumped my arms harder and ran faster, silently thanking Zeke for all those miles he made me run for cardio. I kept moving, it was all I could do. I was leaving footprints behind in the snow, all I could do was stay out of his reach now.
It wasn't long until footsteps were behind me. I cursed, I swerved to the right through the trees and tried to use the underbrush to trip him up. It didn't work, I was hit from behind, my face hit the snow. I tried to scramble out from under his weight, but he had a good grip on me. He rolled me over onto my back so I swung and made contact. He cursed as he straddled my waist. I brought my hands up into one fist and slammed them down towards his groin. He blocked my arms, then grabbed them in a harsh grip. I raised my pelvis trying to shift him enough to make him let go. He was too heavy.
"Fucking let me go!" I grunted at him as I tried to get an arm free. His eyes were wild as his fist shot out, I tasted blood as the world went black for a moment.
"You think you can leave me?" He shouted before hitting me again. My head felt like it exploded, the world spun. "I own you," He snarled his hand going to my neck. He started squeezing. Through the haze, I realized what was happening. I reached up and scratched my nails down his face taking skin with me. He cried out, let go of my throat to pin my arm. I took deep gasping breaths as he cursed at me. I could barely understand as the darkness faded from my vision, his weight disappeared. Before I could do anything, he grabbed a fistful of my shirt and dragged me to my feet. I staggered as he pulled me with him back toward the cabin. I fought against him the whole way, until he pinned me against his chest with his hand around my throat. His rich musky cologne filled my nose and was thick on my tongue. Anytime I tried to resist he'd squeeze until I couldn't breathe. "I know you're only fighting because of them, Alexis," He told me patiently, his voice still sharp. I really had pissed him off. A big part of me thought 'good,' the other thought 'stupid.' I didn't know which was the right reaction.
"In time, you'll see. Our marriage will be perfect. Our children will be beautiful," He said confidently.
"Planning to rape me?" I snapped throug
h my teeth. His free hand moved over my body to my breast. He squeezed hard, my stomach rolled as fear filled me.
"This is already mine," He growled in my ear. Nausea tore through me as his hand left my breast and move between my legs to grab me. I shuddered. "This is mine." He squeezed hard, pain shot through me. I whimpered and pushed at his hand. "I'm giving you time because I know those fuckers used you," He hissed in my ear as he let go. I was shaking as he forced me to walk again. I didn't fight this time, I just wanted his hands off me. With terror tightening my throat, he got me back to the cabin without a fight. He shoved me into a wooden chair then lifted my chin. His cold eyes ran over my face and forced my eye lids up. "No damage." He mumbled as he went to the fridge.
"No damage except my throat," I bit out, my voice scratchy. "Oh, and the beating." I couldn't seem to shut up. The guys are coming, they are sending help, I'm not alone. I just needed to get through this without him touching me like that. I focused on that. I'd do whatever he fucking wanted if it would keep him from touching me like that again. My stomach was beyond knotted, and I felt like I was going to be sick, but no luck.
"Because of that stunt, you've lost any right to privacy," He lectured. "Until I can see that you're you again." I didn't know what he meant by 'the right to privacy, ' and I didn't ask.
Clay made an ice pack, grabbed a chair and sat in front of me. I tried to move away, but his hand went to my knee stopping me. He held the ice to my face, I held it there so he'd let go. He did, so I didn't move. I was too afraid he'd... His hand ran down my hair.
"I know you don't feel that you're my soulmate," He said softly. "But that's because of those so-called friends of yours." His fingers went to my braid and began undoing it. "They tried to keep you from me and they'll pay for it. But right now, it's about you and me." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring he sent me. He grabbed my left hand and looked into my eyes.
"Alexis, will you marry me?" He asked sincerely. I snorted.
"Are you kidding me?" I asked dryly. "You just beat the shit out of me out there. Then you groped me," I growled my temper rising. I wasn't thinking anymore, I was pissed. "You think this is love? You are more fucked up than you realize." His eyes darkened as he shoved the ring onto my finger. It hurt.
"You're my fiancé," He growled. "You'll see in time, when all the other distractions are gone." I smiled darkly.
"It's never going to happen, Clay," I said clearly. What the fuck was I doing? I wanted to stall him not piss him off! But I couldn't seem to stop myself. His eyes darkened. "I am not yours. And I never will be," I growled. He slapped me, I cried out as my eye felt like it ruptured.
His hands grabbed my shoulders and pulled me to my feet, his face inches from mine.
"I own you," He growled.
"Ownership isn't love, it's slavery. And I'm not meek enough to put up with someone who hurts me like this." He raised his hand to hit me, this time I was ready. I blocked his slap and struck him across the jaw. As he staggered, I went for the door. He let out a shout. He tackled me from behind, slamming me to the floor. I rolled out from under him and tried to get away. He snagged my foot and dragged me back under him. His fist went to my stomach, I grunted and instantly wanted to puke. I brought my knee up trying to hit his balls. He blocked then grabbed me around my neck, furious.
"You think a groin hit is funny?" He snarled. He lifted his weight and slammed his knee down between my legs. I screamed in agony as my body tried to curl up, but his body was in the way. He hit me with his fists again and again. Still in agony and seeing black spots from the groin hit, I covered my head and tried to protect myself, it didn't work. He kept getting through. His hands wrapped around my neck then he started to slam my head into the floor, all the while calling me names. His fingers tightened, I couldn't think, I didn't know where I was. I couldn't remember who he was. All I knew was pain and his hands tightening around my throat. I tried to hit them away but I couldn't... The world started to fade. All I could see was his face over me, feel his large body pinning me to the floor boards, the darkness was closing in. A loud crash sounded far away. A blur moved across what vision I had left, and I could breathe again. I took big gasping breaths as pain racked me. I rolled to my side, still seeing stars. Hands touched me. I cried out, my vision still dark, I tried to move away.
"Lexie!" A voice from somewhere called, I swung at it. "Pikachu, I choose you!" I went still. No one knew about that except...
"Miles?" My croak was barely audible.
"It's me, Angel, let me get you out of here," He said in that that quiet, silky timbre I loved. Relief filled me. Tears instantly poured down my face.
"Miles." My voice was barely audible over the fighting going on. Hands touched me, and this time I didn't fight. I smelled wintergreen and clung to him as he picked me up off the floor. My body throbbed in agony and the world spun, but they were there.
"Don't kill him, Isaac!" Miles warned before he took me into the cold. Sirens were loud outside, I buried my face in the smell of wintergreen as he walked. "Angel, I need to sit you on the trunk and look at you," He said before shifting me. I was put on something hard. I gasped as pain shot between my legs. Miles went still. "Lexie, open your eyes." I was panting through the pain as I opened my eyes. Miles’ emerald met mine, his eyes were wide, his face strained as he looked at me. "Tell me what hurts," He ordered.
"Everything," I sobbed. I couldn't stop crying, I couldn't... He held me gently.
"What did he do?" He whispered as the sirens arrived.
"Lots of hitting." I managed between deep breaths.
"Any bleeding?" He asked calmly.
"I don't know," I whimpered. He didn't ask me anything else. He just held me as the sirens arrived.
"He's inside, one of our friends might be killing the bastard," Miles announced his voice cold as a glacier. "Where's the ambulance?"
"It'll be here in a minute," Someone said. "Miss, can you-?"
"Don't touch her," Miles warned the cop, his voice cold and sharp. I barely noticed, I was too busy just trying to make it through the next minute. "She's in a lot of pain. You can wait until she sees a doctor," Miles snapped coldly. More sirens arrived.
"Lexie!" Rory's voice broke something inside me. I crumbled against Miles.
"She's conscious," Miles said. "She's in a lot of pain, though." Hands touched bruises. I whimpered and buried myself against Miles, the hands went away. "It's just Rory, Angel," Miles told me in his soothing voice. I took a deep breath and nodded that I heard him.
"Hurts," I explained in a raspy voice.
"The ambulance is here," Rory announced. "Kid, come here, let me see." I pulled back to look up at Rory. His amber eyes ran over me, his expression murderous. Another wave of pain tore through me as I moved on the trunk.
"Hospital, now," I whispered in a scratchy voice. Rory nodded then lifted me into his arms.
"You got it, kid," He said as he moved toward the ambulance. He ignored the other cops who were saying that they needed my statement. He climbed up and laid me down on something too hard to be called soft. He pulled back until I looked up at him, his face was strained, his eyes red. "We're going to the hospital now," Rory told me gently. I nodded, still crying too much to try to speak. He looked at someone out of my sight. "Give me that blanket," He bit out, he covered me in warm fabric. He left me long enough to go to the back of the ambulance.
"Miles get Isaac and call the others. Don't tell them what happened. Just say that she'll be okay," Rory ordered. "Have Asher pick her up some comfortable clothes. Don't tell Zeke any details. I’ll tell him when he gets to the hospital."
"I'll take care of it," Miles agreed.
"Thank you, Miles," Rory said, his voice thick.
"Don't leave her alone," Miles replied. Rory came back and sat beside me, his face was drawn and pale. Doors closed somewhere as he took my hand, I clutched his hand in a death grip. Tears fell down his face as the ambulance took off. I couldn't stop crying, I k
ept feeling his hands on me.
"I'm going to be sick," I muttered. Rory helped me lean over the side of the gurney. I dry heaved and sobbed at the same time.
"It's going to be okay, kid," He said his voice confident as he helped me lay back down. His forehead met mine as I kept crying. "It's going to be okay." I didn't believe him.
The ride to the hospital was a haze of pain. I don't remember how long it took, but I was in a curtained off section of the ER soon. A woman in scrubs was next to me, she had Rory leave. I didn't understand. My head was killing me, the world tilting here and there. The nurse was back with some cloth in her hand.
"My name is Lilly, and I'm a nurse here. I'm going to help you change," She said in a soothing voice. I didn't understand until she tried to unbutton my shirt. I knocked her hands away and tried to move away from her, but I only ended up groaning in pain. She pulled her hands back and ran her gaze over me again. Then she gave me a strained smile. "Lexie, is there something the doctor should know?" She asked quietly. I blinked up at her, my head was killing me. Huh?" I asked, confused. She sighed sadly and left the curtained off section. There was whispering on the other side of the curtain. Rory came back in and sat down in the chair next to the bed, his face was pale. After a little while, a woman wearing scrubs and a white coat came in. The doctor examined me without making me change. She was mostly concerned with my eyes, throat, and head pain. The nurse gave me an IV and some pain killers. The pain finally receded enough that I could think again. When the nurse noticed that I was more coherent, she went and brought in the doctor again and a female police officer. The doctor asked me several questions which I answered. Then the doctor looked at the police officer, she stepped forward and asked me what happened. I told her everything that I remembered. What happened when I woke up, what happened when I ran, and what happened when he got me back to the cabin. I told her everything. My voice sounded like a frog as I spoke.
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