Page 182 of Don't Leave Me

“Invite her to the party. Saturday at 7 PM at the Bowery. We’ll let her see for herself how happy we are,” he smiled smugly.

I nodded and looked back down at my phone and began to type again. “I would love for you to come to our reception party at the Bowery this Saturday. 7 PM. I love you.”

I looked back up at Jack for his approval. He nodded. “Send it.” And then I did.

We were back in the Lower East Side by 10:30. I was dreading walking back into Jack’s loft, but to my surprise, it didn’t feel so scary anymore. It felt like it did when I first walked into it that night in November, with awe and with a burning desire to fuck Jack.

* * *

Billie.

My plan to get close to Hana again had worked, and all it took was a lengthy text apology after I had three glasses of wine by myself at home on a Tuesday night. I had no idea if she or Jack would trust me again after I went to the police with the information she gave me, but I was prepared to spend as much time as it took to gain it back. They invited me to their reception party that weekend so of course I had to go – I had to see Hana and Jack in person, see how they were with each other, see if that was all real. I was still not 100% convinced that Hana had chosen this life for herself.

But Michael, on the other hand, was still not convinced that Hana hadn’t really left him. I didn’t want to keep giving him all the details of the research I was doing because every time I said her name, it looked like it stung him, and I couldn’t keep dragging him into this twisted story. Once I had it all figured out, I would present him with it and get him involved, but only when needed. He was already hurting too much.

I couldn’t wait for Saturday. I wasthrilledeven. I was one step closer to figuring this all out.

* * *

HANA.

To my utter surprise, Jack had left me alone on numerous occasions during the week that led up to our party. He left on Wednesday to go record some music he and Adam were working on and was gone for 5 whole hours. Of course, he didn’t let me have my phone, and I was locked in the loft, but I still had alone time. I kept myself busy by reading, cleaning the loft, watching the news. I was doing everything I could to keep my mind busy – I didn’t want to think about Michael. Now that we were back in the city, back in the real world, my thoughts were consumed by him again. I couldn’t believe it had been 3 weeks since I had been in his arms. I wondered if he bought the story about my lying about the whole kidnapping thing. I wasn’t convinced that Billie was – I was even hopeful that she was coming up with some grand plan, planning to get close to us and then snatch me up and put me and Michael in a safe house. I wouldn’t mind hiding forever with Michael. It would be worth it.

I must have fallen asleep on the couch at some point because it was dark out when Jack arrived back home. I could hear the bolts of the locks turning and the heavy door opening, only the light from the TV flickering in the loft.

“Hello, sweetheart. Napping, are we?” Jack teased me as he turned the lights on from the kitchen, the brightness blinding me.

“I think I just fell asleep,” I sat up, my voice hoarse. “Where have you been?”

I felt like I was nagging like a real wife.

“We’ve been in the studio this whole time. I told you, sweetheart, we’ve got some new music to give our new label,” he raised his eyebrows at me with delight. “I can’t wait for you to hear it.”

“It’s just you and Adam?” I asked curiously.

“Yes. Adam on bass with his many, many petals and myself on drums. And I sing as well,” he explained, clearly excited.

I was surprised. I didn’t know he could sing as well. “Wow,” I smiled, getting up from the couch. “A singer as well. What can’t you do?” I teased, wanting some normalcy and fun after being locked up all day.

I stepped in front of Jack and looked at his lips, longing for them to be on me. I may not have been hypomanic, but I still wanted him 24/7. He was just one of the many distractions to keep me from thinking about our reality.

“Well there’s not much, is there?” he boasted, playing along with me, shrugging his jacket off and laying it across the kitchen stool.

I put my hand up to his chest, his tight black thermal showing off his toned arms and chest.

“Why don’t you show me what youcando?” I widening my eyes, my voice husky.

“Oh, gladly,” Jack smiled, then lifted me up and carried me to the bed.

50

Chapter 50

Jack left for a few hours again on Thursday and Friday, leaving me alone with just my thoughts and the endless books and TV shows I could have hoped for. I must have read at least 10 books since being with Jack.Since being kidnapped by Jack, I snapped to myself. I shook my head.You can’t think that way anymore. You have to survive by thinking highly of him. As I eyed through the many books on Jack’s huge bookshelf, I suddenly heard a knock on the door, making me jump up then freeze. I began to panic – who the hell could that be? What if it’s Michael?Oh my god, what if itisMichael?I hurriedly started for the door to peak out of the peephole and realized it was Emily. I was instructed by Jack to not let anyone know I was here and to not answer the door if someone came – but how would I even be able to answer the door? Wasn’t I locked in from the outside? But…wouldn’t that look suspicious?Maybe not. I’m sure it’s discrete.

“Han? You home?” Emily knocked again, calling for me loudly, making me jump again.

I stood frozen.I can’t answer the door. I’m not allowed to.I waited for what seemed like hours, and then could hear Emily walking away, sighing. I peeked out through the peephole again and she was gone. And then the thought crossed my mind:why don’t you just try to open the door?The worst case scenario: it really is locked. The best case? Maybe Jack forgot to lock it. I slowly reached for the bolt lock, ready to unlock it and really see if I could possibly escape, to be out in the real world, to finally be free. I had my hand on the lock, ready to turn it, when suddenly I could hear faint voices from down the hall. I froze again, listening on the other side. I cold hear Jack and Emily coming towards the door. I hurriedly ran to the bed and lifted the comforter over my head, out of breath as I heard Jack unlocking the door.

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