Chapter 8 | Bianca
Bianca
After a sleepless night, I snuck into my room and dressed before heading out for my early morning jog.
There was a path behind the house that offered privacy, and I relished the cold air as I stepped from the house that was no longer mine.
I hadn’t heard back from Leo or Michael, and I had no idea if Michael had even gotten my message.
I began my jog, craving the exercise. A sudden rustle of bushes caused me to turn my head, and I gasped before everything went dark. Someone slipped a bag over my head and I struggled to fight the aggressor.
“Calm down, Bianca,” a deep voice said. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
The man lifted me and I continued to squirm, but it was futile. He was much stronger than me, and shortly thereafter, I was stuffed into a car. I felt the leather beneath me, and then flailed my arms, trying to punch my kidnapper.
“Please don’t make me handcuff you, Bianca,” the man said. “We have a ten-minute drive and then I’ll remove the hood. I promise.”
My breaths exited in short pants as I leaned back against the seat, my fists clenched, ready to strike. True to his word, the man remained still at my side. Although I couldn’t see him, I could feel his presence as he sat beside me.
When the car came to a stop, the leather rustled beside me, and I assumed he was turning to face me. “We’re going to walk inside now. I’ll lead you and tell you when there’s a step, okay?”
“I’m not following you anywhere,” I said through clenched teeth.
His lips fluttered as he expelled a frustrated breath. “Look, if I wanted to hurt you or rape you, I could’ve done so in the last ten minutes. I don’t treat women like that, Bianca—”
“No, you just kidnap and blind them!” I interrupted.
A breathy laugh escaped his lips. “Okay, that’s fair. I promise not to hurt you. Come on.”
He placed my hand in his, and I squeezed, relenting as I allowed him to lead me from the car. We walked slowly until he eventually called, “Step!” and I stepped up onto what seemed like a front porch or patio. The man continued to lead me until I heard a door open and we entered a room.
“For god’s sake, Nick,” a deep voice said, and goosebumps rose on every inch of my skin. “You could’ve at least taken the hood off.”
“Sorry,” my captor said before removing the hood.
I blinked rapidly to focus, already knowing who the voice belonged to. Resting my eyes on his handsome face, I spoke the name that came so naturally to my lips.
“Michael...”