CHAPTER 8 ELODIE
ELODIE
“I’m going to make you a superstar.”
“No, please, no!”
I’m screaming, fighting, thrashing to get away from them but I’m not getting anywhere. The metal cuts through the skin of my wrists and ankles as I desperately try to free the cuffs from the frame.
A glow of red, a glimmer of silver metal reflecting in the dim blood-like lights.
“Oh, how I love it when you scream.”
Panic rips through my chest. I have to get out. I have to run.
“Please, I’ll do anything, just let me go!”
Claws press deep into my inner thigh, pushing me open wider, and unfiltered fear shreds at my insides with its razor-sharp talons.
“It’ll only hurt if you struggle.”
The pair of dark, glimmering eyes the colour of flames and burning wood come closer to me, looming in the darkness. “Hold still, little Elodie.”
I jerk upright with a yelp, eyes springing open, and I see the familiar setting of Caden’s bleak bedroom.
My heart’s hammering in my chest as I clutch it. A blanket of cold sweat coats me and sends a racking shiver all over my body.
By the position of the sun outside the window, it’s mid-morning. Caden hasn’t appeared in his room to “check” on me. I will my heart to calm down, to realise we’re alone and we’re safe.
I’m glad he didn’t stick to his word. Seeing me in this state would only show him weakness.
I hope he’s stewing in his shame for assaulting me, too consumed with guilt to look me in the eye. And his fucked-up friend.
I’m used to the physical assault. The choking, the slapping.
But my body reacted horrifically to Caden.
I put it down to not being touched in any way other than to cause pain.
And Caden was not out to cause me pain last night.
I don’t care what he was saying, how threatening he was, he lost himself in me last night.
And his words before that… I could hear the desire as he looked at me, despite the marks, despite the horrific sight of me, he got aroused. And it was sort of thrilling.
I’m not taking it personally, though. From what they said, they’re currently celibate. It wasn’t my incredible sex appeal any more than it was his own blue balls.
It mortified me that he saw my arousal. He probably thinks he’s got some power over me now, but honestly, anyone probably could have touched me that way and I would have got wet. It’s what happens when you’ve been deprived of it. Same for him, clearly.
Once I’ve caught my breath, I scoot backwards to lean against the bedside table, awareness swimming back to me.
I’m still aching terribly, every inch of my body still hurting and sensitive, but before my nightmare, I think I slept beautifully.
A couple more of those and I think I’ll resemble somewhat of a normal, functioning human being.
I scrub my face with two hands that are only slightly shaking now.
Last night might have triggered the nightmare, but it still didn’t come close to the real thing.
During the situation with Caden, I didn’t feel much fear.
I certainly wasn’t flung back into that glowing red room of hell.
But who knows? The brain is a wonderfully complex and terrifying thing.
Maybe it’s what that Fiz guy did. I mean, who bites a clit anyway?
Let alone someone who’s unconscious! Those two are fucking animals.
While I use the bathroom, my mind drifts back to last night.
The utter coldness in Caden’s eyes when he wanted to know where my wounds came from.
If I truly am the slut everyone claims me to be.
What would it change? Probably everything.
I could see it in his face. He won’t have a whore for a wife.
There’s no way he can know. If he treats me this way already, God forbid he finds out what I did.
I’d be done for. He can think what he wants, I just have to keep my mouth shut and never confirm the truth.
He can think it was Dad, even if it wasn’t just him.
He can’t exactly kill or do anything to him because he’s part of the business.
I’m betting his dad wouldn’t take kindly to that.
I wander downstairs, not sure of who or what I’ll walk into.
It’s so weird, walking around in a house where I don’t belong, didn’t grow up in, don’t even know my way around in.
I pass all the doors Alfie pointed out to me, the ones he told me not to go in, the one that he told me was his own bedroom.
I wonder if he’s still inside, sleeping.
I wonder how he looks when he sleeps. If that angel face is even more angelic when he’s dreaming.
Don’t get caught up in this, Elodie, the darkness whispers wearily.
“It was just a thought,” I mutter.
We have a plan.
Right. I shake my head and continue down the hall.
After a couple wrong turns and a few spasms of my joints, I find my way to the kitchen. It’d be good to get some proper food in me, but the thought of it still makes my stomach turn.
I stop in my tracks at the sound of male voices. Flattening myself against the wall and inching closer, I eavesdrop.
“I’m telling you, I can’t deal with it.” That’s Caden.
“Is Cadie admitting he has no self-control?” That’s Fiz, with his ridiculously smooth voice.
Honestly, if he wasn’t such a creepy asshole, I’d find him attractive. He’s very pretty. Flawless complexion, sharp jawline, perfect angles of his cheekbones.
In fact, if he hadn’t bitten my clit last night, I could admit he looked rather hot between my legs. But… never again.
“Fuck all the way off,” Caden says. “I have self-control. I’m not attracted to her, nor do I have any interest in being near her. It’s the disrespect and the fucking vulgar behaviour I can’t deal with.”
Prince Charming strikes again.
Fiz lets out a wholehearted laugh. “You’re painting her as some vicious beast.”
“Because she is! Did you know she fucking spat in my face last night?”
A splutter of a laugh, then Alfie’s voice comes in. “That’s fucking class.”
“Yeah, the lowest class possible,” Caden mutters.
He really doesn’t like me. I clasp my hand over my mouth to stifle the giggle.
“Ah, don’t be such a sourpuss,” Fiz says. “You’re just annoyed that you’ve found a woman who hasn’t immediately fallen at your feet. But see it for what it is: you have a challenge! A real challenge, it’s wonderful.”
“It’s annoying and unnecessary.”
“Anyway, moving on from this incredibly boring conversation,” Alfie cuts in. “What’s going on today? What are my orders this time?”
“I don’t know,” Caden says. “I’ve got a day off, so I’m working on the bike. I need a distraction. You do whatever you want with her. Fiz, I need you down at the club. A couple of security things need running over.”
“Me? Why do I have to go? It’s your club,” Fiz whines.
“I can’t be bothered to go anywhere today. I can’t remember the last time I had a full day at home.”
“He just wants to stay and be around his little lady friend,” Alfie teases, and I pinch my nose, stifling another giggle.
“Urgh, don’t start.”
It’s weird to listen to them like this. Caden sounds different.
Like the hard, unbudging tone is one he puts on for me.
Right now, he seems calm, like he’s having a normal conversation with normal people.
There’s no strain, no coldness. It’s strange.
It’s hard to picture that man as anything other than evil and murderous and horrible.
I don’t hear the pitter-patter of paws until they stop right in front of me.
My head lowers in slow motion, and then my eyes grow wide.
Well, good morning, Bob.
He stands at my feet, looking up at me, then lets out a small bark that has me yelping and my soul nearly exiting my body.
Snitch.
Fiz’s head pops round the doorway and then a smirk appears on his lips as he catches sight of me. “Well, well, well.” He comes into full view, leaning on the doorframe, hands sliding into his pockets. “Looks like we’ve got a little spy under our roof.”
He’s got on a baggy grey tracksuit this morning, a white gold chain rimming his neck. His black curls all dishevelled, dark brown eyes heavy with sleep, with a devilish glimmer in them. Lax but curious, tired but menacing.
I cross my arms and scowl.
“You care to join us for breakfast?” He cocks a brow at me, reaching to pat his dog on the head. The dog who is still glaring at me and probably contemplating which limb of mine he wants to eat first.
“No,” I say, wondering what I’m actually searching for, then the bitter, roasty aroma wafts through the door. I almost shiver. “I’m just after some coffee. If you demons run on caffeine.”
He chuckles. “I run on the blood of my enemies and the sweet juices of pussy.” His eyes make an unsubtle drag down my body, giving me the sense of being naked. His tongue even pokes out and wets his lower lip. My knees wobble a bit. “But, sure, we have coffee too.”
He stands there, leaning on the doorframe and just… stares at me, with a wicked smirk on that smooth face.
I square my shoulders. “Wonderful. Where can I get some?”
He purses his lips, stifling a grin, making me wonder what’s going through that head of his to make him look so scheming.
He pushes off the doorframe and hooks his finger inside Bob’s collar and tugs.
“Come on, boy, she wouldn’t fill you up anyway.
” He makes another dramatic scan of my body. “Too bony.”
I chuck my middle finger up at him, which he laughs at, then pulls his dog back into the kitchen.
Gingerly, I step to the door and over the threshold.