Chapter Six #2
I make a mental note to give her the biggest tip she’s ever seen. Alfie is going to be furious.
He’s quick to answer, and as soon as I take a breath, his deep voice rumbles through the phone. “Austin, how is everything going?”
How is everything going? I really should have thought more about what I wanted to talk about. He’ll only have a limited time before his next patient or my battery runs out.
I get as comfortable as possible, given the chains, and keep my voice low.
“It’s . . . going well. Given the circumstances.”
“How does Olivia seem?”
“Surprisingly unfazed. She’s more than I thought she could ever be. I mean, I know I’ve thought about her a lot. Thought about us together and what that would look like. But I’d never imagined her to be anything other than...good.”
“And do you think that changes your fantasy?” the doctor asks.
“Yes and no.”
“Explain that for me.”
God damn, he’s so professional . If I were listening to someone telling this story, I’d get them to stop so I could make some popcorn first.
“She’s exactly what I thought she was: driven, kind, caring.
She’s actually taking care of me. It was a bit disconcerting at first. I mean I have the comfiest mattress, soft bedding, one of those pillows that molds to your head.
And the food, it’s been good, like really good.
She’s cooking homemade dinners and then eating them with me. We’re talking and, I think, flirting. ”
“Sounds like you’re enjoying yourself,” he says coolly.
“I mean, I am. I don’t want it to end. Is that crazy?”
He pauses for a moment before asking, “Why don’t you want it to end?”
“If it ends, the fantasy is over.”
“Hmm.” He pauses. “Is this really your fantasy, though?”
“I mean, for being kidnapped, it’s damn near perfect.” I laugh, attempting to rub my hand along the back of my neck, but the chains have tangled, preventing me from getting further than my collarbone.
“Okay, but every time we’ve spoken about Olivia in the past, you’ve always talked about the man you wanted to be. The type of man that someone like Olivia would deserve.”
“Yes, that's true. I want to be someone who is capable of being good.”
“And what do you think Olivia sees when she looks at you right now?”
I falter for a moment. Fuck. I look around the room.
It’s dark, dingy, and unkempt. I look down at my body.
It’s chained and aching. My beard is growing.
My hair is a mess. I know for sure I’ve got death breath.
My next deal with her is going to be a toothbrush.
I’m actually surprised she’s forgotten it.
“Austin?”
“I’m here. I’m just thinking.”
“Okay. I have another patient coming in. But I want you to think about that and then call me tomorrow. Do you have access to the time there?”
“On my phone.”
“Good. I’ll call you, and we can have a longer session. But one more thing before you go.” He pauses, waiting for my acknowledgment.
“Yes?”
“You sounded surprised when you said she was taking care of you.”
“Yes, I said it to Olivia as well, and she said it sounded like I thought I didn’t deserve basic comforts. ”
“Do you think that?” His voice raises slightly.
“The ledger isn’t clean, doc.”
“Austin, you’re making tangible steps to becoming a better person. To become a better man. I think a good night's sleep and some comforting food is exactly what you deserve.”
I take a deep breath, and the dust down here causes my eyes to prickle.
“Tomorrow, Austin.”
“Thanks, doc.”
Olivia
Can I physically torture someone? No, probably not. Can I let someone think I could torture them? Absolutely.
I’m not above mind games, and this is how I’m going to win this particular battle with Austin Black. That and the shortest shorts on the planet.
I’m at the hardware store picking up some heavier-duty cable ties—for emergencies only, of course.
The scent of sawdust and oil fills the air, and I inhale deeply.
There’s something so comforting about the smell of a workshop.
Maybe it’s the possibilities of what can be created with just a few materials and tools.
Taking something raw and sculpting it into something purposeful.
I panicked when Austin grabbed my wrist this morning.
He was so calm, not rough at all. His fingertips had caressed my skin to the point where I couldn’t move.
I was frozen, waiting to see what he would dare to do next.
Not sensible . And the only way I’m going to get me and Danny out of this mess is if I keep my head on straight.
No messing around with the guy I’ve tied up in my basement. No more talking, no more flirting, and absolutely no more checking him out.
Because despite the effort I’m putting in to be a reasonable captor—and fine, maybe make him like me a little so he’ll give me what I want—it’s not working. He’s well- practiced at the game that I’m still only learning to play.
Frankly it’s a miracle he’s still tied up down there. It’s a miracle I managed to get him in the car at all.
I can be smart about this. Everything he does is a ploy to get me to release him.
Sitting with his shirt off, licking the crumbs off his thumb when he finishes eating, the flirting, the softly spoken man who I know is a killer, the gratitude, the pleasantries.
The list goes on and on. And every single tactic is there to throw me off guard and let him go.
And I know what will happen when he gets free. I’ll die. Because you can’t abduct the head of The Unseen and not face repercussions. Even if he likes how I look in a crop top and bike shorts.
And that comment about the café... I’ve only ever looked at you in that café .
My heart raced a mile a minute when he'd said that. Of course I’d noticed.
It would have been hard not to. His presence in the café almost made me find somewhere new to get my matcha green goddess smoothie.
But Jenny makes the best smoothies, and I wasn’t going to let some man, especially the worst kind of man, stop me from doing what I wanted to do.
His eyes would follow me around the juice bar.
I could practically feel them staring at my ass as I placed my order.
They followed me as I took my usual seat by the window.
I swore one time I heard him growl at someone who tried to sit in my seat first. They quickly moved to the back corner, and his eyes were on me again.
But the second I looked back, his eyes would dip low, and he’d take a sip of coffee.
As soon as I stopped looking, his eyes would crawl back to me, watching me intently while I tried to focus on whatever book I was reading.
It wasn’t creepy; it was more curious. And I had to wonder why he hadn’t ever spoken to me, given that he seemed interested at the very least. I’d quickly determined he didn’t know who I was, despite me following Danny to his warehouse on a number of occasions. He seems very chatty now though.
After I finish up at the hardware store, I head to Squeeze the Day and take my seat in my usual spot by the window.
I can’t help but glance over at the chair that’s usually occupied by Austin.
“He must be running late,” Jenny says as she brings me my juice.
“Who?” I ask, but I feel the blush flow down my neck and spread on my cheeks.
“Girl, the hottie that you’re always having a stare-off with.”
“I don’t stare off with anyone.”
Oh god, she knows. I’m going to prison .
“Uh-huh, sure, and the beetroot smoothie doesn’t turn your poop purple,” she replies sarcastically, and I cough on my drink.
“Purple?”
“Fluorescent purple. Your pee, too. You know, if you’re ever trying to mix it up a bit.” She points down to my green kale smoothie, which fortunately does not turn my poop green.
“I’m good, thanks.”
“Between you and me,” she whispers, leaning down to me, “I think he only comes in here for you.”
“For me?” I laugh nervously. “He’s never even spoken to me.” As far as she knows anyway.
“Well, he doesn’t seem like a man of many words. He’s one of those strong, silent types. You know, the broody ones.”
He’s actually been rather chatty stuck in my basement .
“I think you’ve been on the mushrooms again. Seeing things that don’t exist,” I joke, my heart fluttering so fast my skin was practically humming.
“Well, he only happens to come on the exact days and times that you do. I think that's an unlikely coincidence.”
“Obviously, he has a routine.” I shrug.
“He practically stares at you.”
True.
“I haven’t noticed.”
“You have.” She laughs, picking up my straw wrapper .
“I haven’t.”
“You're blushing.”
Deflect, deflect, deflect.
“Is this how you treat all your customers?”
“If you mean whether I’ve been daydreaming about two of my most loyal customers falling madly in love in my café so that I’m mentioned at the wedding, then yes. Things get a little repetitive here, and my imagination helps pass the time.” She cocks her hip to the side and arches an eyebrow at me.
I grin up at her despite the smoothie feeling lumpy in my stomach.
If Jenny has noticed our animosity, then maybe others have too. Maybe someone knows about the girl in the café, and they’ll come looking for me.
She heads back to the counter and then returns with a coffee cup in hand.
I frown, and not because I don’t like coffee or order it.
But I just wouldn’t order it from here. I had it once on a particularly tired day, and let’s just say it isn’t their best drink on offer.
It does make me wonder if he’s ever actually had anything good.
“What’s this for?”
“If you bump into him, you should give it to him. He orders the same thing every time, so it’s the right order.”
“I can’t just give a random man a coffee,” I splutter.
“Not random, and who knows what might happen? He might end up being the love of your life.” She slides the coffee toward me using the tips of her fingers. Risky move, given how clumsy I know she is. She once spilled an entire drink on me.