27. Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Leon Aldon
Everything is set.
I scrubbed every inch of our home with a citrus and vanilla-scented cleaner, something all-natural that I know Maeve enjoys. I filled a vase with flowers from our garden, stocked the bathroom with all of her products, and cranked the AC down the last few degrees.
Everything should be perfect.
I even let the football star go.
I didn’t want to, but in the end, it would break the code that I’d made for myself if I killed someone who hadn’t done anything wrong yet.
So, I drugged him and dragged his ass to the hospital, pretending to be a concerned citizen helping a stranger in need.
It got me thanked by countless doctors and even a few phone numbers from some sleazy nurses.
The numbers were promptly thrown into the trash while they watched.
They’re not Maeve, why would they think I’d ever choose them over ma petite fleur?
Overall, my home is ready for my girl, and she’s the last piece that I’m missing.
I wait until it's dark out to drive over to Maeve's apartment.
I know that for Saturday night, her roommates will be out partying until the bars close, so she's home alone.
I hope she's okay, I need her to be okay, but I'm pissed when I realize that her roommates didn't even lock the front door.
I made myself a key, but I didn't even need it; they really don't care if Maeve is safe, and it’s sickening.
I sneak in, seeing the apartment is pitch black. I want to pack things I know are hers, but I don't know what is hers outside of her room.
Whatever, I'll just buy her new shit if she needs it.
With the little bit of light shining in from the street lights and headlights of the cars that drive by, I can see a birthday cake on the kitchen table. It’s half melted, half eaten, and there’s bread smashed into the little bit that is left.
Her roommates disgust me.
They know how much my girl hates bread, and yet they willingly ruined the only thing my girl has splurged on since I’ve met her.
I wonder if she got to eat any of it before they ruined her birthday for a second time…
No worries, I will buy her another.
I’ll buy her a thousand birthday cakes if it will make her smile like she did that day at the store when she bought this one.
I make my way upstairs, seeing Maeve is sound asleep in her bed.
She’s curled up in a little ball in her sweatpants and a baggy shirt; her hair is still partially wet and in that adorable bird’s nest bun that she always wears at home, but her eyes are puffy and red, and it’s obvious that she’s been crying.
Fuck, I hate that.
I hate that I wasn’t here sooner.
I slowly gather her ankles and tie them together with the sports tape that I brought, making sure it’s tight enough not to break free from but loose enough not to hurt her.
I’d never want to hurt my girl.
Next, her wrists. I gather them very carefully and secure them in front of her, giving the tape a light pull once she’s secured.
I want her to see that she’s finally being saved from this miserable life, but I also don’t want to ruin the surprise, so I carefully wrap a few layers of sports tape around her head to cover her eyes.
I sit back and admire my handiwork for a moment before deciding to end this beautiful sight in front of me, and I drag my knuckles down her cheek.
Maeve jerks when I touch her, harshly thrashing her head around when she realizes that she can’t see or move her limbs very much. “You’re not going to scream; I won’t hurt you.” I promise her.
I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but my girl screams.
A deep and guttural scream from deep within her chest that I’m almost certain people in the next town over could hear, so I quickly grabbed the ball gag I had packed as a precaution. “Open.” I demand.
Oh, so now she’s quiet.
“You know, if you would’ve just listened to me, we could’ve talked the whole way home.” I say with a sigh.
Maeve shakes her head and clenches her jaw so tightly that I’m surprised it doesn’t hurt.
Stubborn woman.
I pinch her nose shut, waiting a few seconds until she finally opens her mouth and sucks in a desperate gasp of air, and shove the ball gag into her mouth.
I take the opportunity while she’s subdued to pack her things. I gather up all of her clothes and her shoes, but she won’t need any toiletries. I’ve bought everything she enjoys and even a few nicer brands of things she might like.
I think she’ll be happy that she no longer has to use the store-brand shampoo or that her perfume came from a store that also sells carrots.
I think she’ll be happy to realize that every aspect of her life will improve once she’s with me.
She just needs a little time to adjust to all of the changes.
I also grab everything that looks sentimental: blankets, trinkets, pictures, her computer, books, and jewelry.
By the time everything is gathered up, my girl’s room looks empty, and she is hysterical on her bed.
“Oh, petite fleur, you’re alright. Things are only going to get better from here, you’ll see. Now you’re going to be very good for me, okay? If you continue to scream, I’m going to drug you. We don’t want that, do we?” I ask calmly.
Maeve shakes her head, still sniffling and crying, but she seems to calm down a little bit.
I stroke my knuckles down her cheek again, wiping away the few tears that hadn’t soaked into the sports bandage wrapped around her head to cover her eyes. “That’s my girl.” I coo.
I leave Maeve on the bed while I make trips to the car, filling my trunk and the front seat with all of her things until I’m out of space and her former room is finally empty.
I jog back up the steps to get my girl, seeing she’s obviously still where I had left her. “Alright, up you go, my love.” I say before picking her up and cradling her in my arms.
She seems to be taking this well up until the moment we get to the front door, and she feels the humid air of Texas hit her; that’s when she gets hysterical again.
Fuck.
I know she’s going to make a scene if I try to carry her outside like this; I have to drug her.