Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Josephine
My head is pounding, and I swear if I don’t get out of here, I’m going to scream.
I came to a few moments ago to find myself cuffed to a bed.
It’s not like I haven’t been cuffed before, but those times I was awake, and it was my man doing the cuffing.
Now isn’t a time I want to be cuffed. I also don’t want to be here.
Where is Scythe? I know he had cameras on the salon and a prospect on me.
Oh God, what happened to Gremlin? I hope he’s okay. He’s no more than a kid still. Well, he’s a few years younger than me and has that boy charm still going for him. Though you can tell, he’s coming into his masculine features.
I yank on my wrist, wishing to get free, but the cuffs only dig in, hurting me with each pull.
“Damnit,” I scream, frustrated and wanting to get out of here.
“I know you better than that, and that language is very unbecoming of you.”
I twist my head on the pillow to face my capture and sneer. “I should have known you were insane. No one talks about themselves as much as you do, Porter.”
“I only talked about myself so I could get your attention and show you all of my qualities,” he explains and comes over to the side of the bed. “Now, if you promise me you’ll be good, I’ll release you from the cuffs, but you have to stay in this room. Do you understand?”
“Yeah, sure, just uncuff me,” I snap and jerk my wrist, making the cuffs rattle.
Porter moves in, far too close for my liking, and runs his nose along my neck, sniffing me.
Talk about creepy.
The moment the cuffs clear my wrists, I jerk away from Porter, roll to the other side, and off the bed. I come to my feet and stare daggers at the man.
“Remember you said you’d stay in this room,” he says, pointing at me.
“Why are you doing this?” I demand.
“Because you’re mine. We’re meant to be together.” Porter’s eyes shimmer, and he gets this insane look in them I’ve never seen before. He’s a damn good actor, that’s for sure. He hid his insanity well.
“I’m not yours. And we damn well do not belong together,” I huff, rolling my eyes. “Just let me go, and I’ll make sure Scythe doesn’t kill you when he finds me.
“That asshole will not find you,” Porter yells and stomps his foot. “No one will find you or take you from me again. I can promise you that. I made sure no one knew it was me.”
“You think my man is stupid? Oh please, give me a break.” I start pacing and shake my head. “He already looked into you when I went on a date with you. I give him no more than an hour at most before he rains on your parade.”
“No,” Porter says far too quietly, eyes narrowing, and he shakes his head. His hands reaching up to grip his hair. “No. No. No. He won’t come. He won’t have you. He’s already ruined your light. He snuffed it out. I have to punish you and cleanse you of the dark.”
What the hell is he talking about?
“I’ll have to make sure he doesn’t get you,” Porter states, spins on his heel, and starts for the door. “I’ll be right back.”
I rush after him, but he spins and shoves me to the floor with enough force that I skid across the wood flooring. Getting back to my feet, I run to the door and start yanking on the handle, finding it locked.
Frustrated, I beat against the door and yell, “Let me out of here, Porter. Just let me go.” Tears of anger stream down my face, and I keep beating at the door.
I don’t know how much time passes, but when Porter returns, he smells like smoke and fire. He steps into my space and holds my arms tight.
“I’ve made sure no one will find us. Not you. Not me. We’ll be together and no one will take you from me,” Porter announces, shaking me.
My head feels like a bobblehead and I gape at the man. He’s really lost it.
“What have you done, Porter?”
“Made it so we’ll be together for an eternity,” he answers and releases one of my arms to wrap his arm around my waist. “I won’t let anyone else have you. I’ll get you cleansed of the darkness taking over and we’ll be together forever.”
It’s then I smell it, and not just on Porter. Fire.
“You lit the house on fire?” I whisper, panic starting to seep in.
“I told you, no one will take you from me. This is the only way.”
“You’re insane,” I snap. I jerk my knee up and at the same time, slam the palm of my free hand upward against his nose.
Porter releases me instantly as he groans and doubles over. I don’t waste a beat and rush out of the room and right into an inferno.
Heavy smoke fills the room along with the fire. I cough and try to see past the raging fire. I don’t know where I am, but I have to find a way out of here. I can’t be caught in this blazing building. I won’t die. Not today and not without telling Scythe just how much he means to me.
Moving through the house, I do my best to avoid the fire, but it’s everywhere.
Suddenly I find myself tackled to the floor.
“You won’t get out of here, Josephine, I won’t let you go,” Porter snarls and starts laughing manically. “We’ll be together forever. You’re mine. You’ve always been mine. Mine. Mine.”
Oh my God.
Kicking at Porter, I spin to my stomach and reach for something. Anything to get him off me. Away from me.
Finding a paint tin, I reach for it. I don’t care the metal singes my skin.
I grip the handle, and with all my strength, I hit him with it, knocking him away.
I clamber to my feet and stumble forward, coughing.
My vision becomes a blur, and all I see in front of me is flames.
I don’t know where the door is, and I feel like I’m going in circles, but I can’t be. Can I?
The crashing sounds mix with that of the flames. I look up to see the ceiling starting to cave in.
Tears spill down my cheeks, and my knees give out beneath me. This is it. This is the end. My only regret will be that I never told Scythe how much I love him.