Page 36 of Taking Adalisa

“Like I was saying. If something happens like a robbery and you are wearing the bracelet, they will know not to touch you or they will have to deal with the Montgomery Syndicate,” he reiterates.

“Those last two words,” I mumble, my whole body feeling weak.

This can’t be happening.

“Montgomery Syndicate,” Matthias repeats, realization flashing across his face. “Ah, you’ve heard about them.”

I weakly nod. I’ve heard about them all right. Who hasn’t? They are one of the notorious groups in New York City. It always makes me wonder when I’m walking down the street if anyone is part of them.

“We are ruthless. We all like to kill, but we don’t hurt innocent people. We help them,” Matthias says after some time. “You don’t have to be afraid of me.”

“I don’t have to be afraid of you?” I slowly ask, trying to see if he is playing a trick on me.

“You never have to be afraid of me,” he gently says, cupping my cheek. “We are together. We are meant for each other, and nothing will stop us from being together.”

I pull my face from his hand and take a step back from him. No. I can’t do this.

“Adalisa,” he warns.

“I’m going home, and you aren’t going to follow me. You are going to stay far away from me. I don’t want to see you. I sure as hell don’t want to talk to you either, so just leave me alone.” I glare at him.

Matthias takes one big step toward me, grabbing my neck and keeping me in place. My eyes go wide as I look around, waiting for someone to rescue me from this crazy man, but everyone looks away and pretends they don’t see us.

His grip around my throat is firm, cutting off a little airflow, but I know it could be a lot worse.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do,” he growls, his face inches from mine. “You are mine, and I am yours. We will always be together. The only thing that can separate us is death.”

“N-no,” I whisper, taking a deep breath in.

His fingers tighten a little. “You don’t get to tell me no.”

Matthias lets go of me and pulls me in, wrapping his arms around me. I melt into his body, loving the heat coming off him and the way his arms feel around me, keeping me safe. I shouldbe fighting him and trying to get away, but a couple of seconds won’t hurt me.

“Now, I’m going to walk you home and make sure you get in there safely. When you leave your apartment next, I want you to wear the bracelet,” he gently says.

It’s weird hearing Matthias talk this way. He is anything but gentle, and it almost puts me at unease.

“Good. Now, normally I don’t like to say this, but as we walk back to your apartment, I want you to eat the muffin and drink your coffee. Don’t get used to it. You won’t be walking and eating ever again. Not unless it’s absolutely necessary,” he tells me.

“You could just carry me,” I mumble, not brave enough to say it any louder.

Do I want to continue to have his arms wrapped around me? Absolutely. But should I? No. With every second he has his arms wrapped around me, I feel myself succumbing to whatever he wants.

If he asked me to move in with him while he was holding me, I would probably say yes. I wouldn’t be able to say no, not when I feel the safety and comfortableness of his arms wrapped around me.

It’s everything I wanted in life and hoped for as a little kid. To feel safe and comfortable for the rest of my life. I never thought I was going to have it, but maybe with Matthias I will.

No.

This is not going to happen. I am not going to get with him, no matter what. I need to keep reminding myself that, so I don’t wake up one day in his house unable to leave.

“If that’s what you want,” is all he says before I’m in the air, his arms underneath and around me. “Eat and drink like a good girl while I walk us to your apartment.”

CHAPTER 13

ADALISA

Worry churns inside me as I pace up and down the side of the store. Where is Margery? Why isn’t she answering any of my texts or calls? It’s been a week since I heard from her, and I’m starting to get worried.

---