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25
Lyla
I soak in the shower, taking my time. It’s not as relaxing without Cole and his back rubs. I think I’m getting spoiled, but it’s the only good thing in my life right now. I keep my eyes closed tight and hold my head under the running water and wish it would wash away all the chaos.
I think back to my restaurant and how it felt to be arrested in front of all my employees. I remember what it felt like to be escorted to the airport with Marcus and none of my belongings after handing over the keys to my home. Then I think about Marcus and his face when he caught me and Cole in the kitchen. The betrayal written all over it after he’s done so much for me. The fact that he won’t speak to me or let me in the studio to explain to him how being with Cole is the only happy thing in my life at the moment. I wouldn’t stress him with the Howard drama.
Then I remember all that. The phone calls and text messages, the letter addressed to the warehouse that should have clued me in to not being safe there. With Cole, an army of gangsters could have knocked down the door, and my smart ass would have told them to bring it on. Then I remember the paparazzi and how they separated us and the douche bag almost pulling me away from him completely. I don’t think I’m strong enough to handle any of this without him.
The disaster that’s left of the retail warehouse makes me want to cry. I finally found something I could bury all my time and energy in and now it’s all gone. Ripped away so fast I almost got whiplash.
I turn the shower off, then get dressed in jeans and a button-up blue dress shirt, not sure what I’m doing today besides following Cole around. Surely, he won’t want to work from home again today. I head downstairs only to find myself alone. I check my phone for messages and spot a new email notification from him. It’s three locations from the new client. They must have signed the contract. I can’t seem to find any enthusiasm for this project, but I grab my messenger bag filled with my notebooks and iPad and head to the first address in an Uber.
He must want me to scout it out first because when I arrive, I’m the only one on-site. It’s just an old beat-down, never-finished building, rusty and gutted. Looks like someone started this one once upon a time and probably ran out of capital before they could finish. Not uncommon in this city and a great find for Cole. I pay my driver and sit on some grass, giving me a great overall view of the building. I reread the email and think about sending Cole a flirty message but talk myself out of it, deciding that I’ll get this done and let him work. It’s bad enough he stayed home yesterday for me.
I spend hours sketching and typing up a few ideas. It’s late afternoon and I think I’ve done all I can do here. I stand and brush off my jeans and put all my things away when I notice a black SUV pull into the property. This must be the new client. I straighten up my shirt the best I can after hours of sitting bent at the waist and walk over to introduce myself.
The passenger side door opens and an older man, maybe in his forties, with dark hair and a beard comes around. I stretch my hand out to greet him, but he opens the back door and when he takes my hand, he pulls hard and shoves me into the back, slamming the door behind me. Panicking, I turn to open it, but it’s locked and won’t budge. I’m alone back here, and there is blacked-out plexiglass between the front and back seat. I beat on it with all my strength, screaming and demanding they let me out, but nothing happens.
I feel the car start to move and fumble to find my phone to call Cole, 911, anyone and everyone. I find it and press 2 and forget it’s Marcus still and not Cole but leave an erratic message and pray he listens to it. My phone soon cuts off and is completely dead even though it was fully charged this morning.
I can’t remember if I pushed send on the email I was working on to Jack and Cole or not, and I start finding it hard to breathe.
What if no one can find me and these are the men who want Howard? I still have no idea where he is and can only imagine what they have planned for me.
