Chapter Forty-Seven
Kiyah
I jolted awake and flew right up—a catastrophic mistake.
Sharp and immediate pain bloomed behind my eyes.
The pain was so intense that I had barely sensed the familiar iron taste of blood on my tongue.
My fingertips pressed against my temples, and the ringing in my ears made it difficult to think.
My jaw and nose felt like they were on fire.
Gently, I pressed a finger to my nose, pulled it away, and grimaced at the blood.
I glanced around the room, and my heart seized when I realized where I was, and my memory pieced together like a film reel.
I was in my old bed… in Todd’s home.
The mattress was the same plush firmness I remembered; the sheets were soft, high-thread-count, smelling faintly of lavender and whatever detergent the housekeeper favored.
And for half of a blessed second, I thought maybe I was dreaming.
I wasn’t. I was living in a nightmare that I thought only happened on the silver screen.
I closed my eyes and remembered it all: the call that I was now certain was orchestrated, the collision, the gun, running, and…Todd.
And this time? I don’t know if I’ll be able to escape him.
I swung my heavy legs over the side of the bed, and the room tilted so hard that I had to brace myself against the nightstand to keep from toppling over.
My heart slammed against my ribs as I pushed myself upright and crossed the room on unsteady legs.
The furniture was exactly where it had always been, with an upholstered chair by the window that Todd claimed Anna loved and saved from an antique thrift shop.
I reached the window and stopped cold.
There were bars.
Thick, black metal bars were fitted neatly into the frame, close enough together that I couldn’t slip my hand through no matter how hard I tried.
I touched them, and they were real. Logically, I knew, but somewhere in the realm of “there’s no way this could be happening” and “my life might end here,” I thought I owed it to myself to try.
I gravitated from the window to the door. My hand trembled around the handle. I twisted it, and a chill slid down my spine when my suspicion was confirmed. It was locked, and I was Todd’s prisoner.
“Help me,” I whispered hoarsely, knowing any attempts to scream were futile. Help wasn’t coming, and the only chance in hell I had to make it back to my family was by fighting my way out.
Grant….
The devastation overcame me as I considered what my disappearance would do to him. He’d spiral into an abyss he wouldn’t be able to claw himself out of.
No, I can’t think like that. All of this is temporary because he’ll come find me. He’ll know that I wouldn’t just up and leave him like that—not after committing to making it work.
I paced the room for what felt like hours when the lock clicked. I turned just as Todd stepped inside, and the bastard had the audacity to look pleased with himself. He glanced around the room like a man admiring a successful renovation.
“I was hoping you’d be awake,” he said, closing the door behind him.
My pulse roared in my ears as he strolled farther into the room. He took his time—like a predator, and swept his eyes over me like I was a prized artifact on an auction block.
“I considered putting you in the basement, but I thought to myself, basements are so… unimaginative. And then I figured you’d be more comfortable in your bedroom—with a few adjustments, of course.”
“You kidnapped me,” I said. My voice came out rough, but steady. Todd did not scare me, but his reach did.
Todd smiled. “I did not kidnap you, Kiyah. I merely retrieved you. You belong here with Pete and me. He has been asking for you.”
He stopped in front of me, close enough that I could smell his luxury cologne that nearly made me gag.
“And don’t get any ideas about fleeing. You’d have to know I’m keeping a close eye on your family.”
My face remained unchanged at his revelation, and I could tell from the slight twitch of his jaw that he was pissed that I wasn’t sliding down the walls and begging for my family’s safety in exchange for my compliance.
“How is Daisy recovering?” he asked, cool mask returning.
“She’s doing well. I take that back. She’s louder and bossier than before—thanks for that.”
He smiled tightly. “Daisy is stubborn, and I’m beginning to believe all Baker women are.”
I didn’t answer him. I knew what this was. This was the part in his villain arc where he tried to unravel me by using my family against me. The best thing I could do was let him talk until he grew bored with me.
“I’m three men down because of you and your sister.”
I stared at the wall opposite me. He clicked his tongue in frustration.
“Maybe I should send someone to finish the job.” I rapidly blinked back tears.
He slid his hands into his pockets and started to slowly pace the bedroom.
“Maybe… I’ll have Daisy helplessly watch while my men entertain Nori before ending them both. ”
Todd glared at me, waiting for a response, but I refused to give him one.
He checked his watch and clicked his tongue.
“It’s a crazy world we live in, Kiyah. A world where two affluent women of color could be minding their business, taking a brisk evening stroll in their favorite park, when a rabid masked assailant throws acid on them.
” He dramatically hissed through his teeth as a violent, bone-deep chill seeped into me.
“Your mother is absolutely stunning, if you don’t mind me saying.
” He stopped before me, hands still in his pockets.
“She has aged gracefully throughout the years, and it would be a shame if her beauty were taken away from her so viciously. Wouldn’t you agree? ”
When that didn’t work, Todd moved on.
“Grant’s not coming for you.”
“He will,” I whispered defiantly.
He crouched in front of me, and I recoiled when he placed his hands on my thigh. “Grant’s not coming because he already knows you’re mine.” My brows narrowed. “He found the burner.”
“What burner?” I murmured, finally meeting his eyes.
“The one that Mr. Stone left in your couch when you and Grant left to discuss his services. By the way, in case you were wondering who owned Sentinel Security… you’re looking at him.
” My mouth dropped ungracefully. “The messages on that phone between us were convincing. You expressed regret about being with him and desired an escape. I had gathered enough information from cloning your phone to make the messages believable. I imagine that Grant is halfway through a bottle of scotch right now.”
I swallowed around the emotion that steadily climbed up my throat. There was no way in hell Grant would believe that bullshit.
I smirked. “You’re gonna have to try harder than that.”
Todd grinned wickedly, standing to his feet. “Hold that thought, Kiyah.”
He sent a text, and a minute later, the door opened, revealing Desi and Pete. Todd approached Pete, grabbed him by the arm, and dragged him further into the room. Pete’s face was pale, and his eyes darted wildly.
“W-what are you doing?”
“This, “Todd said, resting a hand on Pete’s shoulder, “is what happens when you disappoint me, Kiyah.”
“No,” I said, launching myself off the bed. “Don’t—”
The sound of bone breaking cut through the room.
Pete screamed and crumpled to the floor when Todd released his little hand.
The child’s cries were sharp and lodged themselves deep in my chest. I snatched Pete off the floor and inspected his fingers.
My heart bottomed out when I noticed his right pinky and ring finger swollen and bent awkwardly.
“It’s okay. It’s okay,” I repeated, trying to soothe Pete and myself. Nothing was fucking okay as long as Todd was still breathing. Pete sobbed, burying his face in my neck.
“If I can do this to my own flesh and blood,” Todd said calmly, wiping his hands, “what do you think I’ll do to you and your loved ones?”
I was shaking with fury. “You’re sick.”
“Maybe,” he agreed. “But I have everything I want. A successful political career, a beautiful son, and an adoring first lady.”
“Fuck you,” I spat.
Todd smiled tightly. “Pete has more fingers, you know?”
He snapped at Desi. Desi approached me, and I tightened my grip around Pete.
“Hand him over, Kiyah.”
I backed into the corner, refusing to give him Pete.
Bored, Todd left, leaving Desi behind. Desi’s shoulders visibly dropped when Todd left.
“There are cameras in here,” Desi spoke through his teeth without moving his lips.
“You need to rest and reserve your energy. Hand Pete over so I can administer medical care.”
“You must be as delusional as Todd if you think I’m—”
I stopped speaking when I noticed Desi angling his body and signing. My breath caught in my throat as his fingers moved rapidly.
“H-how do I know I can trust you?” I whispered.
He needs to be stopped, he signed.
Reluctantly, I handed Pete over. He cried harder, and I grappled with whether I was making the right decision.
“I will bring you something for your headache,” Desi said before leaving.
When he was gone, I finally allowed myself to cry.
The moment the door clicked shut, everything I’d been holding together split wide open.
The first sob caught me by surprise, folding me forward, and the next one stole my breath entirely.
I tried to swallow it down and stay quiet, but the magnitude of my situation shook me to my core.
My hands hit the floor before I realized I’d dropped to my knees. My stomach twisted, and I gagged on a breath. The nausea from earlier had surged. My stomach nearly touched my spine as my knees bore into the hardwood. I vomited until my throat went raw.
Desi returned, carrying a small paper cup and a glass of water.
“What is that?” I croaked, picking myself up.
“For your headache,” he murmured.
“I don’t have—”
“For your headache,” he repeated, easing the cups toward me. I didn’t trust him as far as I could throw him. It could be a trap—one of Todd’s sadistic games, but there was sincerity and pain in Desi’s eyes that couldn’t be imitated.
I took the cup with zero intentions of swallowing any pill he gave me. Something caught my eye as I tapped the pill into my hand. There were five small, neat digits written on the inside of the rim.
8-8-3-1-0
My pulse spiked with anticipation.
Desi’s gaze flicked to mine for just a second.
“Tonight, Mr. Branson wants to meet you in the parlor for a nightcap to discuss your role as first lady. Pete will not be in attendance, but he will be nearby.”
I nodded, pretended to take the pill, and handed the cups back to Desi.
“Don’t think for a second that you’re some saint. You have blood on your hands, too.”
He nodded and left without another word. The numbers raced through my head until I was certain I’d never forget.
I lay back on the bed and stared at the familiar ceiling of my grand cage, mentally preparing for my escape. If Desi wasn’t fucking with me, then I read his message loud and clear.
Leave and take Pete with me.