“Right…” I look wildly from side to side, searching for answers that I can’t make appear out of thin air.
He laughs.“It’s me, baby.Your Dom, Cormac.Wow, you must be really tired, babe.”
“Right,” I choke out.“Cormac.”
He thinks he’s myDom?I want to scream at him and kick his creeper ass out of my house.But I can’t seem to move.He’s bigger than I am.He’s a foot taller, and more muscular.There’s a hungry leanness to him, but it doesn’t make him look weak; it makes him look desperate.
What is he even doing here?
I take a step back, in the direction of the front door.I try to recall whether I’ve already locked it, or if I’ll be able to turn the handle and bolt back outside.
I think I locked it.Fuck.
Still, another step back, another step closer to freedom.The door is still several feet away, but if I move slowly, maybe he won’t notice.
But he’s more perceptive than I thought.Eyes narrowed, he asks, “Where are you going?”
“Oh, um, I just need to get a bag of groceries from my car.”I force a laugh.“It might spoil, and I don’t want it to stink up the trunk.”
He cocks his head and takes a large step toward me.He’s so close, I can see a vein pulsing in his forehead.“You were out at dinner with your new friend, not grocery shopping.”
“It’s from earlier?—”
“No, no, no.”He lurches another step forward and grabs my shoulder, digging in his fingers.“I’d like you to come with me.We’ve been living here together for quite some time, Madison.Then I hear you’re inviting two other guys?To live inourhouse?”
“Please.”My voice is a whisper as I struggle in his grasp.“Please don’t do this.”
“Don’t be scared, Madison.”He smiles widely while squeezing my shoulder nearly to the point of pain.“I love you.I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Cormac, this is crazy.”Is this what Ford was trying to tell me?Was he trying to warn me?
If he was trying to warn me, he was probably trying to do it in a way that wouldn’t get Cormac in trouble, I realize.He didn’t tell the police, he didn’t put anything overt in a text message.He didn’t even confess to Nove, the asshole.
Because keeping Cormac out of trouble was more important than my safety and privacy, I guess.
And now here I am, trapped with him.
“Cormac, let me go, please.”
“You can call meSir, you know.It’s okay, I know you like it.I do, too.”
If he’s been here all along, he’ll have heard—orseen—me with Seth and Damiano.
I want to vomit.
I try dropping to the floor instead of twisting.It takes him by surprise, and he lets go.
As I get to my feet, though, he grabs me by the hair and swings me to the side.My head crashes against the wall, stunning me.I cry out at the pain radiating through my skull.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Madison.”Cormac’s voice is cheerful as he hauls me once again to my feet.“I just want to take care of you.And you want that, too—I know you do.Little girl.”
He grabs my shoulder again and leads me through the kitchen.My head is pounding, and little flashes of light flicker in front of my eyes.
On the kitchen counter are several of the things I’d bought for Danica’s visit.He has them set out on different platters, like he’s preparing a feast.
“I fixed us a nice dinner.”He laughs.“I know you already ate, but everything looks so yummy, I know your appetite will come back fast.Your Dom knows how best to take care of you.”
I don’t know what to say.He doesn’t seem to require a response, anyway, as he tugs me toward the pantry.He said he didn’t want to hurt me, but I can’t help but wonder why the pantry?So nobody hears me screaming?
