39. Chapter 39
Chapter thirty-nine
— GILDED LILY BY CULTS
A loud thump startles me awake.
As I shift my arms beside me, I feel nothing but empty space. Vince must’ve fallen asleep at his desk again. It’s been a week since this became our new night routine, and I hate that he’s overworking himself like this.
He’s overdoing it because he’s trying to protect me, and since they have no new leads on Ralph, Vince has been searching for a crumb of anything to point to his hiding place.
Something about this entire situation feels off in my gut. Why would Ralph attack Vince’s men? Why would he leave them alive? Why go through all this trouble just for me?
I suppose it never made sense in my head, and I don't know why I thought it would make any sense now.
I grab my phone to check my messages, and sure enough, there’s one from Vince.
Vince: I’ll be up soon. Don’t stay awake for me; it’s going to be another long night.
That was about two hours ago, and I try to send a message back, curious if he’s still awake or asleep at his desk, but it won’t send. I try to reset my phone and see if that does anything, but it still doesn't work. I even try to send one to Liv at home, but that damn red error keeps popping up.
Maybe it’s the rain and wind blocking the signal?
“Ugh!” I say as I throw my phone down my bed. I rip my blankets off, and I’m about to throw my slippers on when I hear something ringing.
But it’s not my phone.
I’d know that ringtone anywhere.
Whistling. It’s the same exact cadence and tune.
My gut drops, and I search around my room to find it and destroy whatever is making the noise. My eye catches on a ripped-up corner of my carpet and something flashing on my wall.
Thank God my night light is still on. It’s just bright enough that another light blinking could catch my eye, but I still feel okay enough to get out of bed and rip my carpet up.
A small flip phone lies underneath, and someone is calling it.
Breathe, Bree, I tell myself before I grab it and answer the call, already knowing who’s on the other side of the line.
“I think you’ve got the wrong number.”
“Oh, little lamb, how I’ve missed your voice.”
A shiver shoots down my body when I hear him speak. I’m not cold, especially in my new satin pajama set, just disgusted with this person and everything he’s done to me.
He’s not making me a victim. Not again. Even if I have to fake it until I make it, I’m going to fight back.
“I haven't missed yours. Soon, I won’t have to hear it anymore since you’ll be behind bars again. I hope they saved your cell because once we find you, it’s over.”
“We, huh? ”
I have to get Vince. He’s right downstairs, and I bet I can keep Ralph talking long enough for Nico to trace the call. I go to get up off my carpet, but Ralph’s voice makes me pause.
“If you go near that bodyguard of yours, I’ll blow his brains out right in front of you. Stay where you are, Bree.”
The low, malicious threat makes my heart race. He can see me. He’s watching me. “You’re bluffing.”
“I shot at you once, Bree. Do you think I won’t do it again? How about we test that theory, and I’ll paint the walls of his office with his brains? He looks like he’s asleep, so maybe I’ll fire a warning shot to wake him up.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!
“Don’t you dare touch him,” I say as my head spins. “What the fuck do you want?”
He only chuckles over the line as if amused by the question. “Get in the closet, Bree. I’ll be up soon, and nobody is going to ruin it this time.”
“Good luck getting in here,” I say, trying to steady my shaky voice. “My place is surrounded. You’ll be dead the minute you step on my property.”
“If you don't do what I say, I’ll kill every last person you care about, Bree. And then when I take you, you’ll have to live with the knowledge that you could’ve stopped it. You’re making me threaten all this, Bree. Don’t you get that? Just do what I tell you like the sweet, innocent girl you are, so I can have my way with you how I know you want it!” His voice is low, almost like he himself is hiding, but I don’t know where. If he’s in my house, the alarm would’ve gone off, but it hasn't. Maybe he’s outside?
Fuck, I’m scared. Terrified. All the feelings from last time are coming back in full force, and I can’t do anything to stop them. “No.” My voice is barely a whisper, but I manage to get the word out .
“You can’t say no to me, sweetheart,” he says, and the phone pings a few seconds later.
Pictures come through—ones of Liv and Tristan at home, Teags outside on the tire swing at her mom’s house, another of Vince at his desk.
“One message to my guys, and all of them are gone, Bree. So get in the fucking closet, and wait,” he bites, and my head empties of anything else I have up my sleeve.
I could go get Vince. But what if he shoots him?
I could message them all a warning. But my phone isn't working.
Could I use the burner to message them? I doubt it, since Ralph bought it. He probably has some sort of bug in here that can view the messages I send.
I’m officially out of options. I can’t scream since Ralph will probably hear me. I can’t hang up because that will make it all worse, especially if he’s watching me.
Fuck!
“Don’t you dare fucking hurt them.”
“As long as you do what I want, they’ll be fine.”
I don’t believe you.
I lower the phone from my ear as I head to my closet and shut the door behind me. I try to look for any sort of shoe I can use as a weapon, but he’s much bigger than me. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’d get angrier and take it out on me if I didn't succeed in taking him down.
Fuck. My panic button is underneath my side table, and I didn’t fucking press it.
Maybe a hanger? No, that won’t work. They’re all soft and velvety.
Fucking hell, why didn’t I follow rule number five? If I had a knife, I could hurt him before I could make it downstairs. I’m sure a stab to the stomach would make him falter.
“I’m in the closet.”
“Good,” is all I hear, but it’s not through the phone. Before I can turn around and see where he is, his hand comes over my mouth, and he has me in a headlock. “Don’t make a sound, little lamb.”
I feel something prick my neck, and the entire world goes dark.
I feel like I got hit by a bus.
My eyes flutter open, adjusting to the darkness as memories of what happened rush back.
Vince is in danger. My family is in danger. Ralph was hiding in my closet waiting for me. I got lured into one of his games yet again.
God, I hope this is the end. I hope that whatever he has planned is over tonight, and I hope it ends with him behind bars or dead, and not the other option.
He might kill me this time.
No, he’s not going to win. He doesn't get to win anymore. Not after all he’s put me through. Not after all I have to lose.
I sit up, and what I see makes my body go cold.
I’m in my old house, the one where all of this started. The house my parents kept after Ralph assaulted me inside it.
It’s not just the house I recognize—it’s the room. My old room surrounds where I sit on my bed, and when I realize what he’s doing, I panic.
He’s recreating that night. He’s giving himself a redo. He’s keeping his promise.
“This isn't over, Bree. No matter where you end up, I’ll find you. If you can’t count on anything else, count on that. You’re mine.”
I shiver where I sit. When I look down, I notice he dressed me in the same pajamas I was wearing that night. The same book sits on my bed, next to my iPad. It’s all the same. Every detail cemented in my head sits in front of me.
For him, this night is the memory of when he finally got his hands on me.
For me, it was the worst moment of my life.
And both of us remember every detail.
I’m gonna be sick.
How long did it take him to do this? Did he recreate my old house just for this? I thought a family was living here after my parents sold this place, but I wouldn't know if it went back on the market. I’ve tried to erase this house from my memories. I don’t come back to visit, don't even drive near this street.
Is that why he spent most of this year taunting me instead of actually doing anything? He was waiting until the house was perfectly set up so he could make me relive it all. This is his final move. This is his endgame.
This is the grand finale.
I practically force myself to calm down. I don't feel his presence in the room yet or in the house, as a matter of fact. There's a stillness to the air that’s putting me more on edge, which was exactly his plan.
Ralph is taking my safety nets away. He’s not going to let anything interrupt us this time.
I try to move from my bed, but as I pull my arms from my sides, a rattling sound breaks the silence.
He handcuffed me to the bed. I try to move my feet, and the same sound comes.
I’m trapped. I can’t escape even if I wanted to.
I’m a sitting duck, and Ralph is coming for me.
Even if I try to scream, I doubt anybody will hear me.
A crash downstairs startles me, and memories of that night rush back into my mind .
At least this time, I know it’s him. He lost the surprise factor. I’m still afraid, but I know what’s coming.
But this is probably going to end differently, and that’s terrifying. I don't know his plan. Is he going to kill me quickly? Is he going to finish what he couldn't the first time? Is my family alright? He had pictures of them all, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he would follow through on the threat if I didn't cooperate.
“Bree,” I hear a voice say. “I’m coming for you, little lamb.”
I all but gag at the way his voice sounds, and then the whistling starts.
I can hear it more clearly since I’m not hiding in my closet, and as he ascends the stairs, the same step creaking under his weight, I look around for something I could use as a weapon. I find nothing as I hear his footsteps echo through the hallway, getting closer and closer as my breathing picks up.
I’m panicking. I’m falling apart. I’m going to die.
But this time, I’m not going down without a fight. Even with my legs and arms secured to my bed frame, I’m going to do anything I can to hurt him.
“I’m almost there, Bree. Are you ready for me? Are you shaking with excitement over being back here? I know I am.”
Don't throw up. Do not throw up, Bree.
He knocks on the door, no doubt another taunt because he knows I’m strapped down, before it creaks open, and he stands in my doorway.
He’s wearing the same outfit from that night, same boots, the same ski mask so most of his face is covered.
My pulse is thrashing underneath my skin, and I try to pull my legs to my body, but the restraints don’t allow me to move much. I want to hide, but I can’t. I try to shake my wrists out, but that doesn't work either.
I’m panicking. I can barely breathe, and he’s watching me struggle because he knows I can’t leave. I feel his gaze on me, and a few drops of cold sweat run down my face .
“God, Bree, do you know how long I’ve been dreaming of this? Of your fight? God, it turns me on just thinking about it.” He comes over to the bed and stands at the foot of it.
“The only thing I’ve dreamt about is you being dead,” I bite back, not wanting to play into this stupid game. I’m not his victim. I’m not the mouse he’s trapped and can do with as he pleases.
If he wants me to succumb to him, he’ll have to kill me.
He scoffs a bit, as if I said something crazy, and I lower my gaze from his, not wanting to look this sick fucking freak in his eyes.
“Sweetheart, I know that’s not true.” He comes closer to me, his hand grazing my face before he forces my gaze into his. His eyes are dark—almost black—as he looks at me. “God, you’re so beautiful, and it’s all mine . I’m the only one who will see you for the rest of time.”
That’s not true. No. Vince and Nico have to know I’m missing by now. It has probably been hours since Ralph took me, and they should’ve got an alert that someone was on the property, right?
Please be looking for me .
I should try to get some information from Ralph, but playing into this game of his is something I’d rather not do.
He lowers his head, and I flinch as he nips at my ear, my body shivering with nausea. “See? Even your body reacts how I knew it would.”
“How long was I out?”
“I only gave you a mild sedative so I could transport you here. It took me two hours to set everything up for your arrival. Isn't it perfect, Bree? Isn't it just how you remember it?” His eyes sparkle at his masterpiece, and I have to hold down my nausea as he looks around the room. “Everything is the same. We needed a redo, Bree, and this is it.”
I’m torn. Do I play into his games, or do I try to overpower him? Maybe if I’m good, he’ll uncuff me. Fuck it, I have to try, right ?
“I-It looks wonderful,” I choke out, my throat feeling like I swallowed cotton balls. “Exactly like I remembered it.” It’s not a compliment, but to Ralph’s ego, it is.
“God, I knew you would love it. I know you so well, little lamb.” His hand comes back to caress my face as he sits next to me. “We’re meant for one another, Bree. I know you know that now. I knew this would convince you.”
He kisses my neck, and my body starts to shake with fear. I don’t want this. I don’t want him touching me. “Get off,” I whisper.
“Bree, if you ruin this, I’ll fucking kill them. I’ll kill them all. So sit still and let me touch you.”
He’ll kill them .
“No,” I whisper. “You won’t kill them because then you’ll lose me.”
“I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep you here forever, Bree. Don’t fucking test me.”
I’m done listening to his rules. I’m going to fight, and I might die trying, but I’m not letting him do this to me again. I’m not letting him keep taking things from me. “Get the fuck off me!” I scream.
“Bree, don't you fucking ruin this again!” he roars as he slaps me across the face.
Fuck, that burns, but I keep fighting. I try to squirm from underneath him, but he’s too strong, and when I hear something rip, I think it’s my pajamas.
But then my mouth is covered, duct tape pressed against my mouth, and I can barely breathe as the panic sets in.
“You’re going to shut the fuck up, and you’re going to sit still so I can have my way with you!”
The last thing I hear before I pass out is Ralph mumbling something I can’t understand.