by Haley Ladawn
“Hmm…?” He pretended to look innocent and damn did it work. “A towel rack, you say?”
I didn’t get to say another word as he left the room. His laughter echoed down the hallway.
Chapter 13: Loose Lips
I started yanking at the ribbon that bound my wrists. It seemed so delicate, but it wouldn’t break no matter how much pressure I put on it. It was either stronger than my willingness to fight for freedom, or I was becoming weak from days of entrapment.
Even though the ribbon was soft, the binding constricted my wrists harshly. When my hands began to go numb from how tight the knot was, I started to panic.
I tugged. I clawed. I shouted.
Nothing happened…
I stopped to catch my breath and contemplate another plan. As I took a deep breath in, I glanced down at the clothes I was wearing. I was no longer wearing the skimpy lingerie. Instead, I was swallowed by an oversized men’s t-shirt and a new pair of black leggings that hugged me softly.
After I took a few deep inhalations, I pulled on my wrists with everything in my being. To my delightful surprise, the ribbon on my right hand fell to the ground, like the icy snow that just started to fall outside. I was free— or I almost was.
With my right hand released, I began working with the tie that was on my left wrist. I moved my fingers quickly, frantically pulling the ribbon apart. I clawed at my skin until the fabric finally frayed and shredded into tiny, little pieces.
I slid off the edge of the bed, and quietly began looking around the room for anything that could help me escape. I opened the fine oak dresser, looking for something, anything. The first drawer had dress shirts tucked neatly inside, while the next had designer socks. The one after that had boxer briefs. I ignored them as I moved onto the next drawer, and that’s where I found something I didn’t expect to find.
Money. Bundles of crisp one hundred dollar bills wrapped with tight rubber bands.
I knew Elliot Santoro had money, he was the head of a college for Christ’s sake, but who the hell left cash lying around like that. It wasn’t even in a safe.
Is he laundering money?
I’d heard of people doing that with the income made from illegal businesses. A lot of the time they had a legitimate business to hide their other money source that wasn’t exactly law-abiding. Besides running a college, what else was Elliot doing?
I brushed my fingertips across the bills, having an internal debate on whether I should pocket a bundle. I tried to justify taking the cash. He owed me a lot for this kidnapping gone wrong. For the lies, endless sexual innuendos, and the tacky lingerie.
As my fingertips swept across one of the rubber bands, my hand brushed against a cold surface. I lifted a bundle and was floored by what was beneath it. In tiny, plastic bags there were variant forms of drugs all individually packaged. There was a plethora of pharmaceuticals sitting in plain sight.
“He’s actually a drug lord,” I murmured to myself, closing the drawer quickly but quietly. Knowing the severity of this, I did not want to get caught snooping around. I’d seen what happened to people like me in movies. It never ended well.
I stared at the door for a long while, piecing together my thoughts. I was scared to open the door and leave, but I was afraid of staying in that room as well. Elliot would probably be back soon and I’m sure he wouldn’t be too happy to see me frolicking around freely. He would probably skip the ties next time and go straight for the chains.
I was just about to twist the doorknob open when I heard a phone ring. I figured it was coming from the hall, so I ran back to the bed to make it look like I was still tied up. That’s when I noticed an old phone on a nightstand.
Ring…
I can call the police! I can call my mother!
Before I called for help, I had a serious decision to make. Did I pick up the phone to see who was on the other line, or did I ignore it? Maybe it was the police calling to see if he had seen a girl who had gone missing. A girl named Lilith who interviewed with his company three days prior.
Ring…
Maybe it was Elisa trying to find Everet. My heart was broken from her deceit. Had Elisa been part of Elliot’s plan the entire time? How long had she been seeing Everet? Did she know about Connor faking his death? How could she let me think that he was dead for two years? It nearly killed me.
Ring…
I picked up the phone impulsively. I decided I needed to silence the ringing before anyone else heard it. That would end my escape before I even got the chance to enact it. I lifted the heavy end of the phone to my ear slowly, letting the coldness of it press against my cheek.
Before I could say anything, a male voice cryptically said, “Hello, it’s me…”
I had made a mistake. I should have let the phone keep ringing. I stayed eerily silent, trying to regulate my breathing. Maybe they didn’t know I was on the other line.
“Hello, are you there?” Connor’s voice cracked through the static. “I can hear you breathing.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, exposing myself. It didn’t matter what I did now. He knew I was on the other end of the line. The only thing I could do was hang up the phone, but he would probably dial Elliot’s number as soon as did and let him know that I had access to a phone.
After that, it would be a race against time. Who would get here first? Elliot or the police?
“What do you want, and why won’t you leave me alone?” I asked in frustration, running my hand against my temple in soothing motions. I crossed my arms, ignoring the rapid beating in my chest. It made me feel all the more anxious and worried.
My mind raced with unanswered questions. Why, after all this time, had he shown himself to me? Prior to Elliot abducting me, there was never a trace of Connor’s existence, except for shredded pieces in my memory. How was this even possible? Why now?
“There are important matters you and I need to discuss, but not over the phone.” A sigh escaped his lips, like he was truly conflicted. I frowned at the way he was handling this like it was a business deal. “Can I come to your room and see you?”
“Do you remember how well that worked out last time?” I scoffed in disbelief, narrowing my eyes, as if he could see me. “I almost had a heart attack! I thought you were dead for two years, Connor. Then, you just showed up nowhere at the house of the man who kidnapped me. This can’t all be a coincidence. I don’t trust any of you and I never will.”
“I didn’t get a chance to explain myself last night.” He paused to take a breath. “I just want to put all of my cards on the table to help you understand. If you don’t think it’s a winning hand, then you can go home.”
“Connor, I can’t even begin to comprehend the shit pile I stepped into.” I sighed, biting the inside of my cheek. “For example, I don’t even know if you’re really alive, or just some creature from a horror film? And don’t say things that you don’t mean. At least Elliot tells the truth. He said I’m never going home and I believe him.”
I tried to keep my voice down, but it was hard to do that when I was fuming with anger and frustration.
“I’ll tell you what you need to know, but I have to do it face-to-face,” he replied quietly, clearing his throat. “That way, you’ll be able to look me in the eyes to see if I’m lying to you or not. Give me five minutes. That’s all I need. Please.”
“Fine.” I gave up, feeling a muscle in my jaw clench. I figured he was going to barge in on his own anyways. It’s not like I could stop him. He wasn’t going to leave me alone with that phone. He was probably already outside of my door. “Come on over.”
“I’m already here.” He laughed hoarsely and I could imagine him shaking his head, letting his brown locks cover his hazel eyes. Then, the line went dead. It was the weirdest goodbye he could’ve chosen. I hung up the phone before the uncanny static could fill my ears.
Chapter 14: Together Once Again
I heard heavy footsteps descending down the long hall, approaching the door to t
he room I was being held captive in. The footsteps stopped for a moment, and then began moving again. It’s like they were having second thoughts about coming this way.
The door creaked open slowly, and I was met with an unfamiliar face. My heart skipped a little, before stopping completely.
The first time I’d seen Connor in that mansion, I was absolutely mortified. He looked like the Connor I used to know, but more mature and rough around the edges. He seemed much older in his tailored suit, his perfect skin, and muted hair color. He had grown up, filled into his body, but he still looked like the Connor I fell in love with.
When we were dating, he was every girl’s dream. A handsome, young musician who everyone wanted. He was charming, and I thought I was the luckiest girl to have snagged him.
But the boy I knew long ago was not the same man who stood in front of me today. He didn’t even look like the same person he had yesterday.
His eyes were black like coffee, but a few specks of hazel appeared as he stepped into the light. The skin underneath his eyes was darkened as if he was a man who never slept. His lips were now chapped and his skin looked about three shades paler. It’s like he was drained of color, even the rosiness in his cheeks had vanished.
The Connor I used to know was vibrant and colorful. This Connor was only darkness.
His silhouette lingered against the threshold, as if he needed the support. He was no longer wearing a striking suit, only scuffed jeans and a loose t-shirt that billowed in the breeze coming from the opened window.
“You look like you’ve been to hell and back,” I blurted out uncontrollably, wrapping my arms around myself to keep warm. He made me feel very, very cold for some odd reason.
“I have been to hell and back.” Connor’s hoarse voice cracked in the frigid air. “And I’m headed that way right now.”
He made it across the room before I could register what was happening between the two of us. He yanked me up against him, looking me square in the eyes. His chest rose and fell quickly, almost out of panic. “There are three rules here. Don’t fuck anyone, don’t sign any contracts, and don’t take what you can’t give back. Three easy rules. Think you can remember them, baby girl?”
“What kind of advice is that?” I pulled myself out of his violent grasp, putting as much space between us as I possibly could. He was reluctant to let me go, but he did after a moment of hesitation.
“The kind that matters.”
With those words, he left the room through a side door before he could be seen. This was all too strange for me to register.
Why was he hiding? Who was he hiding from?
“Do you talk to yourself often?” Elliot walked in the room a moment later, wearing a different suit to mark a different day. I booked it to the bed before he could turn around and see me standing up. “Are you in need of some company?”
I had a tough time getting back into the bed without him noticing it, but I regained my composure just as quickly as I’d lost it. I took a heavy breath, remembering to play the part of the helpless victim.
“No thanks,” I murmured under my breath. “I was enjoying my solitude and confinement before you came in here.”
“But you’re not really confined, are you?” He wiggled his dark eyebrows, inspecting me from afar. “How long did it take you to break those ties?”
“An hour,” I said in defeat, embarrassed by that time frame. Most people would’ve been able to get out in half of that time.
“Houdini would not be impressed, but I am.” He cracked a smile that almost seemed genuine. I rolled my eyes, failing to fall for it. “I didn’t think you’d be dumb enough to try escaping again. There’s something admirable about someone who refuses to give up.”
I exhaled, blowing a strand of hair out of my face. I just wanted to go home, but with each hour that passed, it seemed like it was becoming an impossible destination.
I sighed, rolling my eyes. “Why are you keeping me here, Tieri?”
“Is that the only part of my name that you remember? Got a bad memory, troia?” His gaze moved toward the phone that I forgot to put back in its place. “Who the fuck did you call?”
“I didn’t call anyone. Someone called me.” I frowned at his tone, my cheeks growing redder with anger. “I should’ve called the police! I could’ve called the police, but I didn’t and I don’t even know why!”
“Because you know what’s good for you.” He narrowed his eyes, only half-amused. “If you would’ve called the police, I would’ve had to kill you, and I don’t want to do that. I like you, fiorella.”
“It doesn’t seem like it,” I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. “Do you treat all the people you like this badly?”
“It’s tough love.” He shrugged playfully, stepping toward me carefully. Instead of cowering away, I stood up from the bed to meet him halfway across the room. “You like it rough, don’t you?
“Maybe, but you will never find out.” I shook my head, pursing my lips into a thin line. “Don’t you have better things to do than seduce an innocent girl? Like running a criminal enterprise? Or maybe you can go back to your precious college and take advantage of all the poor youth that desperately want a degree? Go do something… anything besides me.”
Without warning, he grabbed my wrists, pinning me against the door. This was escalating too quickly, and I wasn’t even trying to stop it. I didn’t even have the time to think about what was happening.
“That reminds me,” he said huskily as he tightened his hold on me. The skin underneath his palms was beginning to burn. “We have somewhere to be. So, I will go do something, but you’re coming with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I shook my head as I tried to pull away. His grip was relentless.
“I like dragging you places. Haven’t you figured that out yet?” He looked back only long enough to flash me a smile, and motion for me to follow him. “Come with me or I’ll throw your over my shoulder and carry you.”
He didn’t even give me time to respond, before he threw me over his shoulder, like I was a rag doll.
I kicked, I flailed, and I cursed, but he kept a hold of me by my waist.
I was draped against his back, smelling the clean fabric of his clothes. My hands fell down his spine as I tried to avoid touching anything else. Rather than providing me the same curtesy, he deliberately brushed his palm over my ass.
He was sending shock waves through my entire being. Waves of electricity fluttered through me. Maybe it was just the blood rushing to my head.
“You’re going to regret this,” I said bitterly when we finally made it outside.
Snow fell from the white sky, and it covered the ground as we walked toward a black limousine. I hoped that he would slip and fall, then I could make a break for it, but he was too graceful for that.
“Non mi pento di nulla.” He pushed me into the back, and shut the door behind me. His touch was brisk, cold and short. “Vedrai.”
I glanced around the inside of the limousine, as I waited for him to get in on the other side. It was sleek, dark, and shiny. The bar was stocked with European champagne that looked expensive. The doors were locked from the outside, and the tinted divider that concealed the driver was up.
I stared out the window when the car started moving, but there was no sign of Elliot anywhere.
My heart sank a little when I realized I was being taken somewhere alone.
Chapter 15: Taste Test
I knocked on the tinted divider with my hand, fighting back the urge to bust the glass with my bare fist.
I caught a glimpse of a built-in mirror on the opposite side of the limousine. I moved closer to get a better view of my reflection. My hair was a mess, and my lipstick was fading to a dull pink. The corners of my mouth were chapped from dehydration, and black circles were beginning to form underneath my eyes.
“You aren’t looking good, Lily.” I stared down at my reflection, shaking my head in disgust.
My gr
een eyes looked washed out and my skin seemed pale. As I stared into my reflection, I couldn’t help but wonder what day it could be. Possibly Monday? Time had slipped away, and I had lost track of how long I had been missing.
Was there anyone out there even looking for me? Does my mom know that I am in trouble?
Elisa probably told her that I didn’t get the internship, and that we were having a girl’s retreat to make me feel better about it. My mom would eat that right up. She liked Elisa. Hell, she loved her, like a second child. Thinking of Elisa’s betrayal made me twitch with anger, and I did the only thing that made sense to me.
I grabbed the bottle of expensive champagne. I downed a quarter of the bottle in about ten seconds. After I drank some, I chucked it at the glass window, pretending it was Elisa’s head.
Boom!
I was surprised when the glass shattered, and a girl with blonde hair appeared in the driver’s seat. I guess my aim was better than I thought, because the champagne bottle busted her in the back of the head.
“You just got served with some—” Elliot, in the passenger seat, picked up the busted bottle to examine it. “Goût de Diamants. Did you happen to get a taste when she busted you in the skull with it? It seems like it would be delicious, yes?”
“I could be bleeding to death and you’re worried about champagne?” She knocked the bottle out of his hands, keeping one of her palms on the wheel. Her gaze locked on the broken bottle. “Taste of Diamonds? That’s one of the most expensive champagnes in the world! Everet is going to kill her for ruining that.”
“Not if I kill her first.” Elliot shot me a wink before turning back in his seat. “Shouldn’t he be more worried the fact that you got hurt, instead of losing his precious champagne? Oh, wait! That’s right. You’re just his fuck toy now.”
“I hate your fucking guts.” She clenched her teeth, tapping the steering wheel in frustration. I expected her to backhand him, but she kept her composure.
“Same,” Elliot and I said in conjoined voices.