Page 30 of Love is Blind

Digging through the backpack some more, I find a small slip of paper at the bottom, a single address written down. “Well, that’s why we are going to blow the place, and then you’re going to make the call. If you mess this up, I’ll skin you alive just for fun.”

“I’ll make the call, and you’ll let me go, right?” I glance up at the others, then nod. The man does the same, studying our faces before nodding back. Deep down, he has to know he isn’t walking out of here alive, but I’ll let him believe whatever he needs to, to get my hands around Adrian West’s neck. Handing him his computer, I turn to watch the fireworks.

“Blow it.”

Chapter twenty-three

WREN

Ihavenoideahow long I laid here and cried, but I have nothing left at this point. Why haven’t my men come for me yet? What does Adrian even want with me? I’m just an object to him, but I’m more of damaged goods. I shake my head, of all my useless thoughts. I need a plan to figure out how to survive, not just for me but for my child, because I can feel it in my soul that my men are coming for me. We just need to make it long enough for them to find me.

I recall the basement in my mind again. Worktable, stairs, windows. I was seated in a chair, which means they probably keep a chair down here. Maybe I can use that as a weapon. It’s worth a shot. I push myself past the pain and slowly crawl across the dirty floor. This will be the fastest and most efficient way to scan the room. I scan my hands in arches with each step. Sweeping them out in hopes of feeling for the chair or anything else helpful.

I don’t know when Adrian will be back to torment me, but I can’t lose any more time than I already have. Moving in a straight line, I find nothing before hitting the far wall. Turning, I do it all again. Continuing this several times until I’m on my fifth pass and I finally feel something. I jerk my hand back on reflex.

The unknown is scary, but it gets scarier when your sight is gone. You can’t see the danger when it’s right in front of you.

Taking a deep breath, I reach forward again. My fingers graze something cold, but it’s not a chair. I trace the shape of the object a few more inches before a scream lurches from my throat. A body. From my guess, a woman. I’ve been down here with someone this entire time.

“Hey. Are you okay?” I call out, but then I remember how cold she was. Taking another deep breath, I reach forward again. The moment my fingers touch bare skin, I have to force myself not to react. Slowly, I move my hand up, and I find a face before moving to her neck. I check for a pulse, but I already know there won’t be one. A tear falls from the corner of my eye. This is going to be me.

The door unlocking sends me scattering across the floor to the closest corner. Pinning my back to the wall, I wait.

“That’s great news. Send me over the video. My guest would love to see it.” Adrian lets out a deep laugh as the stairs creak from his weight. The click of the light sounds before more steps descend. “Well, she can’t see it, but she can listen. I have to go, but I’ll have your money ready when you get here.” There’s a long pause before he speaks to me.

“Dolly, no more hiding. We have something to celebrate, after all. Now, come sit down so I can share it with you.” I hear him shuffling around before I hear a small thump like something being dropped.

I shake my head, not wanting to celebrate anything with him. I know how he celebrates; I have scars to prove it. So instead, I stall. “Who is she?” I point toward where I felt the body. Adrian lets out another sick laugh.

“Oh her. She was just a fling, baby. She meant nothing to me. Honestly, it was just a business transaction.” I frown because he knows that’s not what I asked. I want to know who she is. She must have someone who cares about her, who’s looking for her. Then again, Adrian likes all the control and attention. His “woman” isn’t supposed to have friends or even thoughts of her own.

“But who is she?” I ask again.

“It was a gift to you, Dolly. Tiffany wanted you out of the picture. Like I said, it was a business deal gone wrong. She wanted those men, and I wanted you. So, we worked together. Tiffany gave me information and every once in a while, when I was missing, you, she would let me fuck her senseless. But I thought of you the whole time, Dolly. Tiffany decided she wanted more, until I found her making plans to hurt you. I couldn’t let her do that. You’re mine Dolly.” The dead woman is Tiffany, the guy’s ex fuck buddy. She was with Adrian at the gala and I knew she was a bitch, but no one deserved what Adrian probably did to her. “Like I said, she’s my gift to you, Dolly. To show you how much I love you. No one else is good enough for me.”

“You’re wrong. You need help Adrian.” I plea, because he’s talking crazy. Talking about love like hurting someone you supposedly love is okay. I thought that was love once upon a time, but I was wrong. I know what love is now.

“Shut up!” he screams before my arm is suddenly jerked up, my body following as he drags me to where he wants. He shoves me down into a chair and I have to force the flashbacks away. I’ve been in this position in this basement with this man and almost didn’t survive. “Now. I have something I want you to listen to. This is my apology gift.” Confusion fogs my brain. What is he talking about?

The next thing I know, I can hear an audio clip playing and a man talking. “The targets are entering the warehouse now. Three…two…one…boom.” A loud blast makes me flinch as Adrian laughs again. The sound manic like. “I wish you could see this, Dolly. The moment the warehouse goes up with all three of them in it. We won’t have to worry about them anymore.”

“Them?” I ask, hoping, praying it’s not who, I think.

“Of course, them. Those assholes that stole you. That tried to brainwash you, Dolly. Xander, Jaxon, and Maverick are finally gone.” I shake my head. Tears I thought were long gone, forming.

No, no, he’s lying. They can’t be gone. They can’t. No.

Adrian roughly pinches my chin and forces my head up. “Are you crying for them?” I stay quiet. “Answer me. Did you love them?” he snarls, jerking my head even further up to the point of pain.

“Of course, I love them. They weren’t monsters like you.” I scream. I should have expected what came next, but my heart was breaking. Who knew heartbreak like this hurt so much more than actual physical pain?

One moment I’m sitting in a chair, the next, I’m slapped so hard across the face, I’m landing on the floor again. I don’t bother trying to get up or even fighting anymore. Without my men, what’s the point? “Oh Dolly. I thought we could work this all out, but I think I was wrong. I think you’re too far gone now. They ruined you.” I can hear Adrian pacing back and forward. “This is all wrong. You ruined it. You ruined everything.” He yells. “I just needed you to be my Dolly again. My perfect Dolly. You just needed to behave and give me an heir. That was all.” And like a switch, it hits me.

This child is them. The last small piece I have of them. I have to fight for them or at least die trying, right?

It takes all the strength I have to turn in Adrian’s direction and grin. “I will always love them and choose them over you, so go to hell.” I rasp out. Adrian lets out an inhuman roar of fury before advancing. There is little to nothing I can do as he grabs my legs and drags me across the floor before kicking me in the back. I cry out in pain, but my only thought is of my unborn child. In the next second, Adrian is straddling me, his hands going to my throat and squeezing. I gasp for air, and claw at any part of Adrian I can reach, but it’s no use. I’m not strong enough.

“You stupid fucking bitch.” Spit flies into my face as he screams at me, but I can feel my body going numb. My mind is getting fuzzy, and I try to fight it. I give it everything I have, but it’s a losing battle.

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