Chapter 43
The assholes that had kidnapped and drugged them weren’t gentle when they dragged them through the house and into a large living room.
Shit.
She was back at the compound. Only this time, she was a prisoner rather than a guest. And she had Tyler to protect.
“What are we doing here?” Tyler asked.
One of the men glowered at them both before nodding over at the sofa. “Sit.”
Tyler scowled, but he was pale and swaying so she knew that he wasn’t in fighting form. Not that they were going to be able to fight their way out of this.
She grabbed his hand and drew him over to the sofa. “Sit.”
“Why would I do what they say?” he grumbled.
“Because you need to do what I tell you,” she said. “I’m taking the lead here. Plus, you look like you’re gonna fall over.”
“I am not,” he said as he stumbled back into the seat. “And I’m in charge.”
“No way,” she told him as she sat next to him to nervously wait.
Of course Aadan took forever. It was a power play and he definitely wasn’t above those.
Even though she was expecting him, she still jumped as he walked into the living room.
He was still gorgeous. But it was a cold, evil beauty. And any attraction she’d once felt for him had disappeared. He wore black pants and a white shirt that was half open to display his chest.
Every inch of him was carefully plucked and primped. He spent more time on his hair than she did. Of course, she could probably stand to spend a bit more time on her hair.
He stopped in front of the sofa, but he didn’t bother to look at Tyler. No, his gaze was entirely on her. And she felt an icy chill go down her spine.
“Aadan,” she said quietly. “Long time no see.”
“Yes, and whose fault is that?” he purred. “You left me.”
She gave him a puzzled look. “Your men took me to the airport.”
He grew very still and she gulped.
Oh hell.
That was not a happy look.
“What?” he whispered. “I was told that you ran.”
“I mean . . . well . . . I . . .”
She would have run if she could have. And what did she say now? She’d thought that he had let her go and now it seemed that he hadn’t?
Oh, things were so much worse than she’d thought.
He strode toward her.
Run, Caren!
But she couldn’t. Tyler was here. And then suddenly Aadan was looming over her, his hand around her throat in a clearly threatening manner.
This was bad, bad, bad.
A sense of déjà vu hit her hard.
“Who let you leave? Tell me,” Aadan demanded.
“I don’t . . . I don’t know!” she cried, trembling with fear.
“Tell me!” he roared.
She tried to back away but there was nowhere to go and her voice was gone. Even if she wanted to tell him, she was too fucking terrified to speak.
“Get the fuck off her!” Tyler yelled.
Suddenly, Aadan was dragged off her and Tyler had him pinned to the floor. Doors opened and men rushed in.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
They would kill Tyler! Before they could do anything, she leaped onto Tyler’s back in an effort to keep him safe.
“Do not hurt him!” she screamed as a foot kicked her hard in the side. Excruciating pain engulfed her she felt another boot slam into her thigh.
This was like nothing she’d experienced in her life. Emotional manipulation? Mental abuse? Heck, yes.
Physical pain?
Yeah, but not like this.
“Stop!” Aadan roared. “Anyone who harms her will die!”
Oh bollocks.
She was pulled off Tyler’s back with a cry of pain. She would have tried to fight the hands off, but she was too busy trying to breathe without passing out.
Aadan stormed over to her, his shirt ripped and his eye starting to swell.
Why had Tyler done that? Didn’t he realize how dangerous Aadan was? He was going to get himself killed. And then Travis would kill her.
She was already going to be in trouble. Without thought she reached for her necklace.
Oh no! Where was it? Travis wouldn’t be able to track her without it.
Despair flooded her and she wished she could cry but she was in too much pain. That would just make everything worse.
Breathing shallowly, she stared at Aadan warily. What was he going to do now?
Glancing around him, she saw that Tyler was being held by two big guys. A third man had his gun out and pointed at his head. Tyler looked even worse than before, blood was dripping down his face and there was more at the corner of his mouth.
“Please don’t hurt him,” she whispered to Aadan.
“Do you know why my men took him as well?” Aadan asked. “They thought that threatening him would keep you under control. They could be right, but I don’t like the fact that you care about another man. I don’t like it at all.”
Fuck. This wasn’t good.
“Because you’re mine, aren’t you, princess?” He reached out to cup her cheek.
She flinched, then moaned as the movement made pain lash through her. Was this what broken ribs felt like?
Aadan’s eyes narrowed. “Who hurt her? Well?”
None of the men said anything.
Smart.
“Do I have to kill you all?” he roared.
One guy stepped forward, looking sweaty and pale. “We were just trying to get him off you.”
“You never fucking hurt her!” Aadan roared, stepping toward the guy. He drew his gun and pointed it at the guy’s head.
Oh no.
No, no, no.
You’re the only one that can stop this.
“Aadan,” she said. “I don’t feel good. I need to sit down. Can you help me?”
Aadan breathed heavily. “You’re in pain because of him.”
“He was just doing his job, right? It was my fault. I got in the way.”
This could backfire on her. She’d never been in this sort of situation before. Where she was having to actually negotiate for a man’s life.
A man that had just kicked the shit out of her.
Kind of ironic.
She just hoped that Aadan didn’t get mad at her. What was wrong with him? He’d never been this unhinged before.
“Tie him up and then get out,” Aadan snapped at everyone.
One of the guys zip tied Tyler’s hands behind his back and they dumped him on the floor. She winced but didn’t say anything. Trying to read Aadan’s mood and mind was difficult when he was so erratic, but it was pretty clear that he didn’t like it when she showed that she cared for anyone but him.
Aadan helped her into a chair. This time he was so careful with her, treating her like she was made of glass.
These changes in his behavior made it feel like she was on a rollercoaster.
“My poor princess. Are you all right?” he asked her. “What can I get you?”
“W-water? Please?” Maybe it would pay to act weaker than she was. It would give her the element of surprise.
“Of course.” He snapped his fingers.
She jumped, groaning in pain as her ribs protested.
Getting kicked in the ribs was not something she recommended.
Out of the shadows, a younger woman appeared. Where the hell had she come from? How hadn’t she noticed her before?
Her stomach dropped. Maybe she should have worked harder to do something about him.
“Get some water,” he ordered.
“Thank you,” she said quietly when the woman brought back a glass of water. With shaky hands, she took sips.
“Here, princess, let me help you,” Aadan said.
Play along.
Don’t let him see your disgust for him.
After she’d taken a few sips, he set the glass aside. “Now, I want you to tell me about these men that helped you leave. Why would they do that? Why did you go?”
Did he not remember her telling him that she wanted to leave? The argument they’d had? The way he’d pinned her to the wall and she’d been scared he would hurt her.
“Why would they have taken you from me if they were my men? Did you ask them to?”
“No, I thought you asked them to.”
“Why would I ask them to?” he asked in a louder voice.
Shit. She swallowed hastily.
Tread carefully.
“Why would they have helped her leave unless you told them to?” Tyler asked. “This doesn’t really seem like a democracy where your men are taught to think for themselves. And they weren’t going to listen to Caren, were they?”
Bollocks.
Why wouldn’t he just shut up?
Aadan turned to Tyler. “I think my men should have just shot you. But, no matter, your body will be easier to dispose of now.”
“Why did it take you so long to find me?” she blurted out.
Shit. That sounded accusatory.
“I mean . . . I’m just surprised. If you didn’t tell them to take me to the airport, if you didn’t want me to go . . . then why not come after me? It’s been nine months.”
“Because I was stuck in a hellhole in Nigeria for over six months. Then when I was rescued, I came back here to find that my girl had abandoned me!”
Careful. Careful.
“I thought you wanted me to go,” she said quietly. “I didn’t realize . . . if I had . . .”
She couldn’t bring herself to say it, but Aadan wasn’t a stupid guy. Although, there was definitely something different about him. A strange look in his eyes.
What had that hellhole in Nigeria done to him?
He seemed even more . . . unhinged.
Which was a terrifying thought.
Just concentrate on getting through this alive. And keeping Tyler alive.
Although he seemed determined to get himself killed.
Which was really inconsiderate of him.
“I just thought the order came from you,” she added.
“It doesn’t make sense,” he said, frowning. “Why would they do that? And you don’t know who it was?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t. I never really looked at your men or paid attention to them.”
He nodded arrogantly. “Of course not, why would you when you had me to concentrate on.”
Do not gag.
“That’s right.” She forced a smile. It probably didn’t look pretty, but he seemed appeased.
Reaching out, he cupped her cheek again. Why did his touch make her shudder and want to vomit when Travis’s touch just made her melt?
“My beautiful girl, how I’ve missed you. I sat in that hellhole in Nigeria and thought of you, dreamed of touching you, tasting you.”
Dear Lord. She was going to throw up.
Do not do it.
Deep breaths. Nope. That hurts your lungs.
How would they get out of here? How would Travis find them? Actually, it was probably for the best that he didn’t. The compound was protected and every man here was armed. Travis could get himself killed.
That was the last thing she wanted.
“After my release, I found you had fled and I was so furious. I nearly lost my mind. I immediately tasked my men with finding you. But we discovered the name you gave me was wrong. Why would you do that?”
Oh bloody hell.
Couldn’t she catch a break?
She shifted in her seat, trying to get more comfortable.
Bad move. Pain engulfed her as the world spun slightly. Was that due to the drugs she’d been given? Exhaustion? The pain?
All three?
“I didn’t mean to,” she said. “It wasn’t technically wrong. It’s the name I used for years while working. My grandmother’s maiden name. You know I consider her my only family. But when I went back to the states . . . well, I wanted privacy. So I used my other name.”
He narrowed his gaze as he studied her. “So it wasn’t to hide from me?”
Caren forced herself to gaze at him innocently. “Why would I need to hide from you? I thought you wanted me gone.”
“Yes, yes, of course.” He nodded.
“How did you find me, though?” she asked hesitantly.
“I hired someone who is good at finding people . . . their software discovered the photos of you in the tabloids after your exhibition in New York. You were pressed up to another man.”
There was that dangerous glint in his eyes again.
Be careful.
“Oh yes. I grew up with him.” She didn’t want to say too much about Travis.
“Grew up with him? That looked like something more.”
“Did it?” she said. “So you sent some guys to get me? How . . . how did they know I’d be at that appointment with my agent?”
“Oh, the tracker I hired gave me your agent’s information. When my men arrived in New York, they thought they might be able to simply grab you, but you always had company.” He sent a look at Tyler. “And you were never at your apartment. Were you?”
Shit. Fuck.
He knew about her relationship with Travis. But she decided to ignore the questions in his voice. “Did they . . . did they use Oliver to get me to that meeting?” She remembered now that he’d changed it suddenly.
“I suppose so. I don’t know the ins and outs. Just know that they figured using the agent to get to you was the easiest way.”
But there was security in that building. How had they gotten in? Oliver would have had to put their names on the list . . . unless someone else had.
Oh God.
Isabel? Could she have helped them? But why would she do that?
How had they snuck them out of the building, though? There had to be another exit. Maybe Isabel hadn’t helped them. Perhaps they’d come in a back way and then threatened her and Oliver until they had no choice but to call her and have her come in to the meeting a day early.
That could explain it.
“What happens now?” she asked, glancing briefly at Tyler.
“Now, you rest, my princess. I’ve got a special visitor coming tomorrow. And then you are going to be mine forever.”
Oh God.
She didn’t like the sound of that.
At all.