Page 69 of Taking Adalisa

“We are going to get this water boiling, then put the pasta and some seasoning in it, and then I’ll feed it to you,” Matthias says as he starts to prepare the soup.

I watch him carefully, wanting to make sure he doesn’t do or add anything that I don’t know about. But he doesn’t try to hide anything. He explains everything he is doing and what the ingredients are, like he knows it’s going to calm me down.

“All done!” He dishes some out in a bowl and places a couple of ice cubes in it. “We’ll give this some time to cool off, and then I’ll feed you.”

“You don’t have to,” I mumble, feeling all shy.

I absolutely loved it when he fed me the other day, and I wan more of it.

“I won’t have any of that.” He boops my nose. “I will be feeding you, and you will do as you are told.”

I nod, not having much fight in me. Not that I want him to stop.

“Such a good girl. Do you want to sit in the dining room or right here?” he asks.

I think about it for a second. If we go sit in the dining room, anyone walking by will be able to see us, but if we stay in the kitchen, no one will unless they walk in here. I look at Matthias, wanting to stay in here, but what if he wants to sit down?

“How about we stay in here. You look really comfortable,” he offers, like he knows what I really want.

I relax against the counter, taking a deep breath as I wait for Matthias. True to his word, he tests the soup against his lips before bringing it up to my mouth.

“The temperature is just perfect for you,” he tells me.

I close my eyes as I swallow, prepared for my body to fight me on this. I didn’t cook this. I didn’t buy any of the ingredients. But my body doesn’t do anything, surprising me.

“Good girl,” he whispers, and I look at him. “Such a good girl for Daddy.”

I am a good girl for Daddy. Taking another bite, I relax onto the counter, leaning my head against the cabinet. Matthias continues to feed me until all of the soup is gone from the bowl. Matthias quickly places everything in the sink before turning to me.

“Come on, let’s get you in bed so you can rest while Rolo figures out where your brother is.” Matthias pulls me into his arms and starts walking. “He’ll work everything out, and then I’ll take care of your brother. You don’t have to worry about anything else.”

But I can’t help but worry. I am going to because Gerard found me, and I don’t know how. I made sure not to live in the limelight, not that I would like that. When I moved to New York City, I for paid everything in cash.

I must have done something wrong.

“You’re okay,” he whispers into my ear. “I’ve got you. Nothing is going to happen.”

Matthias keeps reassuring me like he knows something is going to happen and wants to convince me that. Should I be worried?

“Adalisa?” a voice I recognize shouts out.

My head shoots up, looking in the direction of the door, and my eyes go wide.

“Margery?”

CHAPTER 27

ADALISA

“Ican’t believe you are here,” I whisper as I wrap my arms around her. “I thought you were dead or had disappeared. I looked around the city, trying to figure out where you were.”

“She landed herself in the asylum looking for her.” Matthias shakes his head, and I pull away from Margery, keeping close in case I need to do something to get us away from them.

“Only because I told her about it. I wanted to know whether she was in there or not,” I point out as Ethan looks at me strangely.

“I didn’t know you were seeing Matthias. How long have you been keeping this from me? Is he who you met at the speed dating thing?” Margery asks, grabbing hold of my hand.

“Yes, he is. I didn’t know who he was or how dangerous, but he captured my attention, and I couldn’t get away.” I keep my fib from weeks ago going.

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