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Theo.
I bet he’s as much of a mess as I am. I know he is. I can feel it. It sounds silly but we’re connected on such a deep level that even I don’t understand it. I can feel his pain as much as my own. He’s hurting.
I don’t know how long I lay there with my frantic thoughts but eventually I manage to drift off to sleep, hoping when I wake, I will be at my parents’ house or in Theo’s arms and that this is all just a bad dream.
* * *
I’m woken by the door creaking open. Sitting up, I push my back against the wall as Leo enters.
“I need to use the bathroom,” I say roughly. I’m desperate for a pee, and I’m not above begging if I need to.
He sighs like I’m some big inconvenience. “Up you get then.” He grips my arms and pulls me to a stand. My pulse kicks up as he holds me close and without thinking of the consequences, I push away from him, wrapping my arms around my waist. “I won’t hurt you.” He frowns.
I huff a humorous laugh. “Let me go then.”
“I can’t. Not until I get what I came here for.”
“And what’s that?” I can’t believe I’m having what feels like such a... civil conversation with my kidnapper. Anyone would think we’re discussing the weather and he didn’t take me against my will.
“You’ll see soon enough,” he says cryptically.
“How long have I been here?” I ask, because I want to know how many torturous hours my family, friends, and the love of my life have spent worrying about me.
“A day,” he states nonchalantly with a shrug.
“A day?” I stare at him, and he nods. It feels like so much longer. I lick my dry lips. “Can you take me to the bathroom?” I ask politely. My situation is bad enough, I don’t want to pee myself too.
“Come on.” He steps towards me, grabbing my arms. I resist recoiling because I know he’s doing what I ask. But I hate his hands on me. My legs are shaky. As we take a step he pauses. “You okay?”
I snort as I arch a brow. “What do you think?”
“Stupid question, huh? For what it’s worth, I am sorry.” I smile tightly. He can be sorry all he likes, but it doesn’t change the fact he’s holding me captive. I’m only glad they took me and not my sister. She is feistier than me and would have surely annoyed them enough that they may have hurt her.
Leo pulls me through the door, and we enter what looks like a family room; there are couches and a television, but the curtains are drawn, making it dark. He pulls me through there to a kitchen where five men sit at a table playing cards. They stare at me, and I wither under their intense gazes. If I wasn’t scared before, I am now. The severity of the situation has kicked in. Anything could happen to me and there is nothing I can do to stop it.
Tears fill my eyes and my lips wobble as I’m pulled through a door and into a bathroom. Leo frowns, then jerks his head. “Hurry up,” his tone is hard, but I see a softness in his eyes. I nod and he leaves, pulling the door closed but not fully. It’s not like I can go anywhere, there are no windows in here either.
Sighing, I make quick work of using the toilet, scared that if I don’t, he will come back in and watch me. I splash my face with water and freshen up a little. Why? I’m not sure, but I feel dirty, and it helps some. A few moments later, the door is pushed open. Leo’s eyes narrow on me. “Let’s go.” He grabs my bicep and pulls me back through the rooms to my little prison. Pushing me inside, he shuts the door, leaving me alone with my glass of water and mattress.
* * *
I must have fallen asleep. I wake to the sound of shouting male voices. I shuffle up the mattress and against the wall as they get closer. Is this it? Are they going to kill me?
The door swings open and Leo and Marcus step inside. I cower at the sinister looks on their faces. Up until this point, Leo especially has treated me okay, so this change in demeanor is putting me on edge.
Fuck, they really are going to kill me, and I never even got to live a life with my piccolo. Experience what we could have been.
Stepping towards me, the voices outside the room get louder but I tune them out, focusing on the men in front. I’m yanked to a standing position, and I flinch. Leo opens his mouth to speak when someone rushes through the door. My attention is pulled to the movement, my brows furrowing in confusion.
“You can let her go. I’ll do whatever you want. Just let her go.”
Eyes wide, I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
Bishop?
What does he have to do with this?
“Bishop?” I blurt past my sore throat.
