"I didn't sleep well," I say, forcing my voice steady as I glance pointedly at the filthy mattress."Have you seen that?"
"I'm sorry, precious."His voice drips with false concern."It's only temporary.Soon you'll have a beautiful room."
"Why did you kidnap me?"
"I didn't."His smile turns indulgent."I simply brought you home."
My mouth drops open as nausea hits in a violent wave.I press my palms against the wall to stay upright."Why are you doing this?Please, you need to let me go.I've got a family to return to."
His confident smirk makes my skin crawl."I'myour family!"
My knees nearly buckle.No, he can't be serious."I bet my friends and the police are searching for me."
His laugh – dark and soulless – bounces off the walls."Oh, they can search all they want.They will never find you."His eyes gleam with malicious pleasure."And if you hope Mr.Walker is coming to rescue you, you can stop expecting it.He's what I'd call...tied up at the moment."
Ice-cold sweat breaks out across my skin."Cole?Where is he?Did you hurt him?Please tell me!"
"Because you asked nicely, I'll show you."His voice carries a sick pleasure as he walks to the table, picking up a small remote.He pushes a button, and my eyes lock onto the black curtain as it begins to move.
The mechanical whir of the curtain seems to last forever.Then I see what's behind it, and my world stops.My hand clamps over my mouth, barely containing the scream that tears from my throat.I lunge forward as far as the shackles allow, pressing against the glass that separates us.
Cole.
He's strapped to a metal chair, bound like an animal.Dried blood cakes the side of his face.His left eye is swollen shut, angry purple bruising spreading across his skin.A deep gash above his right eyebrow still seeps blood.Grey tape covers his mouth, but his one good eye – that brilliant blue I know so well – finds mine instantly.
Oh god, oh god, what has he done to you?
"Are you okay?"The words come out choked as I press my palm against the glass.Cole manages a small nod, but I see the pain he's trying to hide.The need to touch him, to help him, is almost unbearable.
I start to speak again, but our captor cuts me off.His smug smile makes my stomach turn as he announces, "She's mine now, Walker.You'll never be able to touch her again."
Rage burns through my fear."I don't understand.If you want me, why did you take him?"
The man stands with his arms crossed, satisfaction oozing from every pore as he watches us like we're characters in his personal drama.
"What is your name?"I force myself to ask, knowing we need information.
His eyes light up at the question, preening like a peacock."I'm David."
Everything in me wants to scream, to curse, to call him every vile name I know.But I swallow it down.Think, Alisha.Play this smart.After taking a steadying breath, I step closer to the glass and say in my most gentle voice, "Hello, David."
The way his eyes sparkle at hearing his name tells me I'm on the right track.He moves to the glass, placing his hand against it while staring at me with an unsettling mixture of lust and adoration.
"You sent me a text through Cole's phone," I say carefully."How did you get it?"
He rubs his palms together, grinning like a child sharing a clever secret."As most people are creatures of habit, I investigated your behavior pattern.Placed trackers on your cars.For weeks, I tracked where you park, where you go on specific days."
"What?"Horror crawls up my spine at the thought of being watched for so long.
"Yesterday, I followed you to work.Watched him make you cry."David's face darkens."I was going to damage his car for hurting you, but then I saw his phone on the passenger seat.It was a sign."His expression turns reverent."I knew you would come when I texted.All I had to do was wait."
His eyes take on a dreamy quality that chills me to my core."Now I can finally show you we belong together.I'll treat you a million times better than that man."He spits the last word, glaring at Cole with pure hatred.
I glance at Cole, whose nostrils flare with barely contained fury.I need to keep David talking, need to understand what we're dealing with.
"If that's true, why did you beat me up in that alley?"
David's head snaps back to me, his mood shifting like quicksilver."I was upset with you.But I regretted it later," he shrugs, as if discussing the weather."So to make it right, I sent you a gift."
