Chapter 35
THIRTY-FIVE
Danika
My hands shake, not because I’m afraid but because this will mean I’ll finally be free. Does this make me a monster like him? The fact I can take another life without hesitation.
No. I’m nothing like him.
He bores into me, his emotionless eyes piercing straight through me with the slight raise of his lips. I don’t even know his name. And I never want to know it.
“You don’t have it in you, little rabbit,” he curses out, spitting blood on the floor.
Liem’s fist curls at his side but doesn’t put himself in the situation. He’s giving me this. Allowing me to break free for myself.
“You took everything from me. My soul. My willingness to be carefree in a fucked-up world. You took that away from me. Not even giving me a choice.”
I will never have that choice.
To hold their tiny hands in mine. To raise a human being whom I grew inside me. Nah, he took that from me. And I’m taking his poor excuse for a life.
He scoffs, as I stare down at him. His knee and leg twisted in an unnatural position as he struggles to drag himself back against the wall. A trail of blood left on the hardwood. “Your cunt was the best I’ve ever had, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
Liem twitches forward but it’s too late. I pull the trigger and the loud bang echoes off the walls and ceiling. The devil in disguise falls limp, his head lolling to the side, chin tucked into his chest.
As hard as I try, I can’t seem to move. The gun still pointing at the monster I’d just killed.
My breathing evens out but is still heavy when the dizziness starts to penetrate over me.
My hands tremble.
A warm body presses up against my back and Liem slowly reaches around, taking the gun from me.
“It’s okay. It’s done. It’s over. You did good and I’m so proud of you.
” He sets the gun down on the arm of the couch and turns me so I am no longer looking at the dead body, but at him instead. And I instantly grow calmer.
“I killed him.”
“You did.”
“Does that make me a monster, too?”
He levels his eyes with mine. “It makes you free. And brave. But you’ll never have to do that again. I promise you.”
I swallow, looking down but Liem tilts my chin upward. He begins to say something but a small click behind us sends Liem reaching for his gun, only it’s too late.
“Move and I’ll put a bullet in her pretty head.”
I don’t turn, but Liem’s eyes widen, and his jaw moves.
“Both of you, up against the wall. Now.”
I spin, the voice belonging to a man in a suit, another one beside him. And standing in the doorway is a woman. She’s tall with blonde hair pinned up into a tight bun. Heels like skyscrapers and a fancy pant suit.
Liem goes to position himself in front of me, but the suit guy holding the gun steps closer. “No fast moves.”
We’re weaponless. The gun and Liem’s bat are out of reach. Not that a bat holds competition with guns aimed at our heads.
The woman approaches. Her heels clink under the wood beneath us. Who the hell are these people? What kind of shit is my roommate involved in?
Her eyes stay locked between mine and Liem’s before she turns her focus to the dead body on the floor. “Mmm. Such a shame. Though he was a loose cannon.” She angles her body at us now, and my stomach sinks.
“You killed one of my guys,” she says casually while flashing a wide grin. Almost proud like.
“Who are you?” I shake as I ask and Liem presses closer to me, telling me to keep my mouth shut, but my mouth hadn’t caught up to my brain yet.
She smiles. And I hate that she’s beautiful. Whoever she is, she’s not one of the good guys, so how dare she get to be pretty while surviving off an ugly heart.
Her green eyes hold my blue ones. “Apparently at the wrong place at the wrong time. Or maybe it’s the right time.”
I peer over at the two guys who still have guns aimed at us. “Are you going to kill us?”
She looks back at her men then to me. “Kidnapping isn’t really my thing, but… you two are now involved in my business. Not to mention you have my guy lying on your apartment floor. Dead. It would be foolish of me to just let you both walk away from this.”
“Let her go. Take me.”
Her gaze darts to Liem and she smirks. Nothing innocent behind her devilish grin. “You sure are a beautiful man.” Her acrylic, manicured nail skates over Liem’s cheek down his jaw and circles his chest. Liem unfazed by such a gesture, keeps his eyes trained behind her.
My blood turns hot at the sight of her pawing at him. “Don’t fucking touch him,” I blurt out, my foot making a step forward, but her bodyguard lounges for me.
Liem shields my body with his and growls him down.
She holds out a firm hand to the guy Liem is about to put down then lets out an amused chuckle.
“Oh? I see.” She steps back, crosses her arms over her chest, her red painted full lips tilting into the bitchiest grin.
“You’re both coming with me until I figure out what exactly it is I’m going to do with you.
You’ll both make me some pretty money. Though that’s not my line of business.
I could kill you, though that’s messy, too.
” She taps her finger on her upper arm darting between us both.
She then snaps her finger and her guard by the door proceeds on me and grabs me by the arm, hauling me against him.
“Let me go!”
Liem tries to get to me but as soon as he twitches to move, the top of a gun presses into my temple and I freeze. The blood rushes from Liem’s face.
“Move and I’ll kill her.”
I lock eyes with Liem and for the first time, there’s panic in his expression.
The other guy grabs Liem’s shoulder, pressing a gun to his back. I have a feeling it’s for his protection and not for forcing Liem into orders who stays quiet, almost assessing the situation.
I would fight harder, but the metal pressing into my skin is petrifying.
“Shall we then?” The woman steps around us heading toward the door first.
Who the fuck is she?
“Let’s go, I don’t have all day.” Her voice changes to song.
I cast a glance over at Liem who is still pinning me with a terrified look in his eyes but there’s also a hint of sorrow in there too.
He’s worried about me and blaming himself.
My heart slams into my chest thinking the worst. How can I not? After everything, the worst is all I know. But the best will always be Liem. So as long as I’m with him, it’ll be okay. My heart will be okay no matter what happens.
We’re led downstairs. Two black SUVs are parked at the curb. The man holding my arm guides me to one of them and Liem is dragged off to the other. He’s bigger but he knows even if he gets away, I won’t be as lucky, so he’s sacrificing himself to stay with me.
We silently share a look before I’m pushed into the backseat. The tall blonde kidnapping us follows Liem, smiling at me as she slides into the backseat next to him. I scream. Scream out in anger. Scream because I don’t want her anywhere near him.
“Shut your trap.” The guy wraps his hand around my throat and squeezes. I thrash and claw at his massive hand that is cutting the air from my lungs, but stars cloud my vision, and before I know what’s happening, the world turns dark.
“Danika…”
There’s a soft whisper somewhere close, but I feel as though I’m in a deep like trance. My head is foggy, and my ears are pounding.
“Danika. Open your eyes for me, butterfly. Open your eyes.”
I do.
A blurry figure appears in front of me and Liem’s body becomes clear. He’s across the room, his hands bound behind his back, tied to a chair. I go to reach for him, but I can’t move. My hands are bound the same way. I’m also strapped to a wooden chair.
Both of us sit in the center of a cold, damp room. No, it’s a basement with no windows. I can see that now.
Liem trails down my body and back up, stopping at my neck. The pain registers and I just know there’ll be, if not already, bruises. I remember being in the SUV, being strangled before passing out.
“I’ll kill him,” he groans out.
“I know,” I say, trying to free myself, but no use in fighting. “Who do you think she is?”
Liem eyes the stairs off to the corner, then back to me. “She’s important. Some kind of drug Lord. And I’m assuming she’s the boss of the piece of shit lying on your apartment floor. Probably the boss of the guy killed in front of the diner, too.”
I study him, study the cement floor. “What does that mean? She’s a drug Lord around town?”
“We would have known about her. So she must be really good at her job. Trust me.”
I do and I scan the area, the cold chilling me to my bones. “Do you think we’re far from home. From the club?” A panic rises in my voice because what if his MC can’t get to us. What if they can’t find us?
It’s all too familiar. The warehouse. It feels like that again. Except I’m with Liem. And that’s the only thing that keeps me sane.
“They blind folded me, but it was about a half hour trip. So not far.”
I pause, blurting out my fear. “Are we going to die down here?” At least I’ll be with him.
His nostrils flare, a low growl sounding from his throat. “No. I won’t let that happen.”
“Unless you work miracles, we’re not getting out of these ties.” He smirks. My Liem smirks and I’m floored at his reaction. “You choose now to gain a sense of humor?” I scoff, but the side of my mouth turns up.
Liem chuckles and we pretend even for this brief moment, we aren’t fighting for our lives.
His once beautiful smile turns to a frown. “I will get us out of here.”
What little hope I have left, trickles out from under me. I know Liem would die trying to save me, but he’s one man and we don’t even know what’s waiting upstairs for us.
“Hey. Don’t do that.”
My eyes flick back to him. “Do what?”
“Give up. You don’t give up. You haven’t given up, and I don’t want you to start now.”
I nod, quietly agreeing because what else can I do? “To be honest, I’m not afraid. Not like before.”
Liem’s shoulders drop, the tension leaving them. “Good. That’s a good girl.”
I bite my lip, then run my tongue along it. “I am thirsty as hell though.”
The corner of Liem’s mouth twitches and it’s the only thing I concentrate on. But it’s the harshness in the way his eyes deepen that has me frowning again.
He starts counting aloud and when he stops at four, he opens his eyes, locking his now controlled gaze at me. “It helps to calm me down,” he answers, knowing I was silently asking.
We both have our own way of coping.
“Can I ask you something?”
“You don’t need to always ask me if you can ask me something, Danika.” His statement is a reassuring kindness, and I smile.
“Where did you go—”
A loud bang sounds at the top of the stairs, and I freeze. Liem gives me a reassuring nod letting me know he’s with me. We’re okay even if that may not be true in the long run.
Heavy footsteps descend until they stop between us. A large man, the same man who choked me until I passed out carries a water bottle in hand. “You need to drink. Orders by my Queen.”
I snort out laughing. It wasn’t something I attended for to happen, but I’m either hysterical from the situation or have completely lost my mind.
The dude flicks his head at me. “What’s so funny?”
“Your Queen? Do you hear yourself?” It’s so ridiculous it makes me want to gag.
“Danika…” Liem grinds out, but at this point, I have nothing to lose.
He snarls, walking toward me and then crouches down directly in front of my bounded body. Liem tugs at his binds, trying to get free.
“What did you say to me?”
Fuck this guy. I’m tired of it all.
“I said. Saying your Queen, sounds stupid, sick, and twisted.”
His face turns menacing and he throws his hand back landing a good blow to my left cheek.
A thunderous deep sound roars from behind him as Liem yells out in pure rage.
The man stands with a smile, my face burning like fire as he begins to prowl toward Liem. “She yours?”
Liem, without taking his murderous glare off the guy, says, “When I get my hands free, I’m going to kill you.” His words are calculated. “And to answer your question. Yes, she’s mine.” His voice dark with fury.
My heart thumps with adrenaline as my cheek burns.
“Sure. When you get free,” the guy mocks with a sadistic laugh.
Liem’s eyes turn darker, and he starts to disassociate.
Shit. “Liem. Hey, Liem. It’s okay. Look at me. I’m okay.”
His attention snaps my way, locking eyes, and the darkness fades.
Another sound comes from the top of the stairs and heels clink one by one as the same woman from before joins us. “Stop playing with the guests, Elroy and offer them some damn water.”
“I’m trying. You’d think they’d be grateful.” Elroy scoffs, sending a distasteful look my way and jerks my head back. “Drink, bitch.”
She rolls her eyes as Liem tugs savagely, moving the chair.
“Honestly. This is why you can’t send a man to do a woman’s job.” She snatches the bottle from Elroy and gently takes my chin in her embrace. Her hand is gentle and welcoming as she slowly pours the water into my mouth that feels like sandpaper.
I don’t care if she knows I’m enjoying it, the water is heavenly.
“Slow down gorgeous and save some for your man. He’s lookin’ a bit dry.”
I immediately snap my head away, too caught up in the moment. It’s selfish and Liem needs the hydration, too.
“No.” He shakes his head. “Give her the rest.”
She clicks her tongue. “Ah but there’s plenty. I don’t need you dying on me.” Her hips swing with each step as she struts away. “Drink, pretty boy.” Using her manicured nail, she lifts Liem’s chin.
I ignore the urge to yell out in a crazed madness watching her seductively pawing at him. He needs to survive, and I can’t let my emotions get in the way of it.
“Good. That’s good,” she purrs.
Liem’s throat bobs as he swallows, Elroy eyeing him like he wants to castrate him. Jealously will eat anyone alive. There’s a touch envy too as he watches them.
“That should be enough for now.” They start to leave us, but I call out in desperation.
“What are you going to do with us?! You can’t just leave us down here!”
She traces me up and down with an oddly sincere smile. “I haven’t decided yet, babe.”
They disappear back upstairs leaving us in the cold, damp, dungeon once more. A dungeon that reminds me of the very place I’d rather die than relive.