Page 52 of Lost In The Dark

“Better. Thank you.”

“Do you want something to eat? I made some white chocolate and macadamia cookies?” he offered and I smiled as I shook my head. Ever since the movie night when I had overeaten on all of the sugary snacks Jordan had gotten out, Adam had been baking sweet treats to tempt me, and it was working. While I still struggled with meals, I always had room for one of what ever delicious item Adam laid out on the counter.

“I’m good, but do you have your cell?” I asked instead. He nodded and pulled it out. “Can you take some notes to give to Asher? I remembered a few things for the FBI.”

Asher had a contact at the FBI who he was sending any information I could remember to. It was only little things I remembered, but I would do anything to help all of the innocents who were trapped and suffering as I had for those two years.

“We don’t have to do it right away, Addy. You should take some time to catch your breath first.”

“No,” I argued. “I don’t want to forget anything.”

“Okay. Tell me and I’ll get it all down,” he agreed.

“I was held for a week in that warehouse. The van that they moved me in….I saw it again. It was old and rusting and it was a sort of sky blue color,” I began. “Some of the women who were held with me, they were foreign. I think maybe Eastern European, but I’m not good with that sort of thing. There was a woman from Nevada too. Her name was June.”

“Just take a few breaths, Addy. Take your time,” Adam prompted when I got breathless. I nodded and did as he said. It was hard to go through the memory again, but I knew I had to. Those monsters likely had more victims as I sat there. I was glad when Adam moved from the table and sat beside me, placing his warm hand on my knee over the blanket.

“I remembered the first place they took me,” I continued. “It was a club…a strip club calledWild Cats. I don’t know where it was, but it was hot when we got there. It had big neon signs with a picture of a woman. Inside it was skeevy. I didn’t see the club, but we…we were all led down a corridor. I…I think it was somekind of brothel,” I admitted as I lowered my eyes to my lap. A tear slipped free and dropped onto the blanket, making that one spot on the light gray wool turn dark.

Adam put his phone down on the sofa and pulled me into his body, wrapping both arms around me tightly.

“I’m here, baby. I’ve got you,” he whispered. I sank against him without thought, laying my head under his chin on his chest and allowed a few more tears free. He just held me while I tried to pull myself together, which, eventually, I did. When I felt ready I lifted my head, but didn’t pull out of his arms. I felt too comforted right there to move and Adam didn’t seem to mind.

“There was a guy…I think he owned that club, or at least the illegal side of it. He was tall and lean, but strong…r-really strong.” My voice wobbled but I pushed on, just wanting to get it all out. “He was middle aged and almost bald, with a tiny little line for a moustache over his top lip. Joe. He said we could call him Joe. H-he told us that we belonged to him…that he’d just shoot us if we caused any trouble.”

“What happened? Tell me, Addy. It will feel good to get it out,” he urged and I looked up at him through my tears.

“He s-said it was a trial. I knew he was going to pick me first. He kept looking at me again and again, and I…I just knew,” I whimpered. Adam held me tighter and I pressed myself even snugger against him, but I didn’t stop talking. “He said he’d break me in. He gr-grabbed me and took me to the desk. He ripped my skirt and….oh God! The other girls…they were there and they…they h-had to watch, knowing they could be next. I was s-so scared, Adam…so scared.”

“I know, baby. I’m so sorry,” he told me emotionally, then he was softly kissing me, laying kisses on the top of my head, and on mytemples – anywhere he could reach as he held me just the way I needed him to. I was crying hard as I clung desperately to him, and by the time I calmed down I realized he had pulled me into his lap at some point. I was straddling his thighs and my arms were wrapped around his shoulders, my face buried in the gap between his broad shoulder and neck.

I sat up and took a deep breath as I moved one of my hands to wipe at my face.

“I’m sorry,” I sniffled.

“Never apologize for feeling comfortable enough with me to let go. I consider that a privilege,” he told me as he brushed wild strands of hair from my face and tried to tame them behind my ears. We both just chuckled when they popped right back out.

“My hair has a mind of it’s own,” I told him with a watery smile.

“It’s beautiful, just like you.” He was staring at me hard and I couldn’t take my eyes from his. There was moment and a definite spark between us. I felt it and it felt good, but after what happened with Kane I didn’t trust it. I told myself Adam was just being kind.

“I’m a mess. I should clean up,” I bumbled as I backed up off of his lap and almost tripped over the blanket the second I got to my feet.

“Steady!” Adam cried as he reached for me, but I managed to keep myself upright on my own.

“Sorry. I’m so clumsy,” I laughed nervously as I pulled free of the blanket and tossed it on the sofa. “Will you finish the notes?”

“Yep. I’ll send them to Ash so he can contact that guy at the FBI.”

I nodded and started for my room, desperate to put some space between us so I could think straight, but then I remembered one more thing. I paused at the foot of the stairs and looked to Adam, who was watching me already with a whole slew of emotions across his face.

“The guy…the one in charge of the warehouse…they called him Bull. Asher already has his description.” I wanted to try and understand what Adam was thinking, but I was too chicken to look at him any longer, so I turned and ran up the stairs breathlessly.

Maybe moving in there wasn’t such a great idea, I realized. Adam, Jordan, and Kane were going to send me over the edge of insanity with how badly they confused me.Maybe I should work on my ‘crazy dog lady’ plan sooner rather than later.

CHAPTER 17

ADDY

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