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When I finally peel her fingers from my back, I throw her small fragile body onto the cot and step out of the cell, closing the door behind me before she can even get up from the bed. I only catch her eyes for a second… hurt, panic, and betrayal reflect back at me.
I know she doesn’t understand why I’m doing this.
Of course, she doesn’t.
She will never understand why I do the things I do. And that is why this can never work. My sweet little mouse will only ever be an example of everything I can never have.
“I’m sorry… Xander, I’m sorry for leaving the room. I should have stayed in there. I’m sorry. I just heard someone and…”
My fingers make their way into my hair, and I tug on the long strands. Her pleas are maddening. “Stop! Just… stop… I don’t want to hurt you… I really fucking don’t, but if you don’t shut up, if you don’t stop… I will, Mouse. I’ll hurt you.” My voice is strained and when I hear the soft whimpers escape her lips, I turn on my heels and walk back up the steps and away from her. When I reach the top floor, I hope and pray that the noise inside my head calms soon.
Chapter 9
Ella
I watch him disappear from my view and listen to his heavy footsteps fade away into the distance. I curl into a ball on the cold cot, wishing I was anywhere but here. Had I not been stupid enough to go searching for my sister, I wouldn’t be here right now.
My chest constricted with every breath I take. I don’t know what I did wrong but seeing Xander so angry with me hurt. It hurt like hell.
Why didn’t I just stay in the damn room? I know why… I was just so curious hearing a female voice right outside the door. I hadn’t had any interaction with anyone besides Xander, and his guards, who didn’t even look at me. So, hearing an unfamiliar voice, a female one at that, made me want to investigate… All I wanted was to talk to someone.
I bite my bottom lip to stop it from trembling.
How could I have known that I’d find that woman holding a baby? And that the baby was Xander’s son… Tears slip from my eyes and down my cheeks. Xander, the man cloaked in darkness, has a son, an innocent little boy.
The image of the way he looked at me when he saw me standing next to that woman… I can’t get it out of my mind. He looked feral, like a momma bear rescuing her cubs.
Still, the question lingered in the air. Why did he get so mad at me? Did he think I would harm his son? I had a lot of questions and no answers, and once again, I was in the cold, dark, basement. I forced myself to stop crying… swallowing down the fear that pumped through my veins.
He didn’t want to hurt me. I felt it in his touch and heard it in the pitch of his voice. I’m safe here and after our agreement is done, after I’d given myself to him, I’ll walk away free. I tell myself this over and over again, because if I don’t, I’m going to break down into a sobbing mess. Xander hadn’t promised me anything, but I felt deep down in my heart that he will let me go.
He’s an evil man, but I’m starting to realize I am his kryptonite. Snuggling deeper into myself, I close my eyes, trying to force myself to go to sleep, since that seems to be the only way out of here at the moment.
I only doze off for a few minutes before the sound of approaching footsteps has me sitting straight up on the cot, my eyes open and my body on high alert.
Who is coming? Is it another one of his men? The thought makes me feel dirty.
My heart rate picks up with every step I hear echo throughout the basement until finally Xander comes into view. I take a relaxing breath the moment I see him, but that relaxation is short lived. He is still angry. I can see it in his eyes, though the fury from earlier has simmered. He’s still mad, and that’s something to watch out for.
I trust Xander, even though I shouldn’t. After all, he’s given me no real reason not to.
I watch eagerly as he pulls out a set of keys and unlocks the cell. I want to jump up and fall into his arms, but I don’t want to be too hasty. He might not even be here to get me. So, instead, I just wait motionless on the edge of the bed, waiting for him to say something.
