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“I will.” He sighs. “Look, Ben…it’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“But you were right. It is my fault.” The crushing weight of failure slumps my shoulders, the words drying up before I can tell him why.
I can feel his agreement through the phone, even though he doesn’t say it. “Text me your parents’ address. We’ll be there within the hour.”
38
SARA
Aheaviness settles in my body, making the effort to wake up feel like I’m swimming through mud. What the fuck did I do to feel like this? God, my head is aching, and I swear I swallowed a bag of cotton balls. I try to move my arms as pins and needles buzz under my skin. A clanking noise has me looking up at my hands. They’re hanging from cuffs attached to a headboard.
No wonder my arms feel like they’re dead.
Oh, fuck.
Memories of the attack come flooding back into my brain, making my whole body tighten in panic. My gaze darts around the room, taking in every detail I can while my heartbeat pounds in my ears.
Shabby blinds let in plenty of sunlight, which hopefully means it’s only been a few hours since I was taken. The room itself is shabby, too. Old, peeling wallpaper hangs in random places, the ceiling fan is broken, and the splintered wooden door is closed. Too many details pile on top of each other, making them blur together.
I try to pull my hands down, forgetting for a moment they’re still stuck. How do I get out of this? My defense classes did not include getting captured.Maybe they should.Not the time to be thinking about teaching.
The doorknob turns, and fear spikes through my system so quick my vision fades for a moment.
The man who attacked me comes through the doorway. He’s so big he has to turn sideways to get through the opening. Now that I’m no longer in the throes of self-defense, his features are clearer to me.
His blond hair is long, hanging by his ears that stick out from his head. He also has a long beard that’s darker than his hair. He’s the epitome of a lumberjack without the hipster connotation.
“You’re awake.” He smiles, showing me crooked teeth. “I’m so glad I can finally talk to you. It’s felt like ages since you were last awake.”
“You drugged me,” I accuse him.
His shoulders slump. “I didn’t want to, but you didn’t give me a choice. I needed to make sure you came home. It was the only way.”
“But this isn’t my home! I don’t want to be here.”
“I know it’ll take some time to get used to, but we’re going to be a family. It’s going to be wonderful. You’ll remember how much you love me, and I’ll just keep loving you until you remember.”
“You sent me presents.”
His eyes light up at my statement. “I did. That was me, Gabe.” He taps his chest with his hand. “I wanted to put my whole name on there, but I was told I couldn’t, so I just put ‘G’. I knew you’d figure it out.”
“You tried to take me before.”
He bobs his head. “Yep. I did. We were always supposed to be together.” His eyebrows pinch together. “That guy ruined it, though. He’s been ruining everything. I shouldn’t have left you that last time. Then he wouldn’t have taken what’s mine.”
Gabe says all of this to himself, seemingly angry that Ben saved my life, and we got together because of it.
This whole situation is weird. He hasn’t threatened me or hurt me. Even when he was trying to grab me, his strikes weren’t meant to hurt. Just subdue me. None of this makes sense.
“What are we doing here, Gabe?” I grit out. His name feels like razor blades in my mouth.
“We’re going to be a family. We’re going to get a new house. I’m happy about it. I don’t like this place. It’s ugly. You deserve so much better.”
“Where are we going?” If I can keep him talking, maybe I can figure out where we are right now. Then I’ll know the best way to get out of here.
“I don’t know. Somewhere better.” He smiles again. If he wasn’t a six-foot-five giant, it would almost seem childlike.
“Do you think you could get me a glass of water? I’m really thirsty.”
