Page 85 of I'm Yours

Bryce.

Like the grand finale during a fireworks show on the Fourth of July, memories of our many arguments assault me all at once. Memories I worked hard to forget and put behind me.

“I’m warning you, girl, quit working at Eve’s. You’re mine.”

“Am I not enough for you? You need the attention of hundreds of men?”

“How often do you take men into the back room to screw?”Never. We didn’t even have aback roombut I couldn’t convince him of that.

“You love it, don’t you? Making me jealous? Having men drool all over you? They watch you dance for them and rub their dicks right in front of you and you get off on it. Knowing you have all the control.”

I want to say his name, ask him why he’s doing this, but I don’t want him to know I know it’s him. I may not have the upper hand, but it’s something. But who’s his uncle? Bryce and I were only together for a few months before he turned crazy and I called the police on him when he wouldn’t stop harassing me. Eventually I had to file a restraining order. He was banned from Eve’s even on nights I wasn’t working. He crossed the line only once, showing up on my doorstep and telling me that one day I’d regret it. Then he was gone and I haven’t heard from him since.

Another grunt from across the room. “What?” Bryce barks but it makes me wonder if he stood up because his voice is now above me.

“Back off. Not yet.”

“Why wait?”

“I said not yet!” the man barks and I have to cover up my gasp with a cry.

Sheriff Lee.

Lee’s Bryce’s uncle?

I’m going to be sick.

Is this a revenge thing? Bryce was mad that I broke up with him and placed a restraining order against him? But that wasyearsago. I haven’t seen or heard from him since then. Why now? None of this makes any sense.

Bryce grumbles and stomps away. I hear a door slam closed and wait. And listen. Am I alone now or is Lee still hear? Or did Lee leave and Bryce is still here?

I don’t move a muscle for what feels like hours but could only be minutes. I’m desperate to see, to somehow get the blindfold down from my eyes so I can look around.

Waiting as long as I can, I start to rub my face against my shoulder. The blindfold is tied tight but after several minutes, I manage to get it worked loose. It takes a few more minutes for my eyes to adjust to the light in the room. When I was taken, I’d just arrived at home and was about to get the towels we use at the studio out of my trunk. Before I knew what was happening, I had a blindfold around my eyes and my hands zip tied together behind my back. I’m pretty sure I was thrown in a trunk as they brought me to wherever this is. I have no idea how long my eyes have been covered, but it felt like hours.

Blinking several times, I take in my surroundings. The floor is concrete like I suspected and there are two small rectangular windows on one side. Behind me is a garage door and across the room a metal entry door. Cigarette butts litter the floor in the corner where I assume they were standing.

Nothing in the building would scream garage to me if it weren’t for the door and a few shelves on one wall.

But when I spin once more, my heart drops.

Two chairs.

A rope.

What looks like an old radio.

And…

A pole.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Reed

“She’s not picking up,” I growl and squeeze my phone so tightly I’m afraid I’ll crack the screen. I haven’t talked to Sadie since we were texting last night and I’m growing irritated.

Dad’s worried glance at my phone then up at my face doesn’t even hold a candle to what I’m feeling inside.

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