Chapter Ten #2
Luca . Danny had mentioned him. He’s someone from work. But how the fuck did he get in my house? I quickly turn my back against the door so I can still hear, but dart my eyes around the rest of my house so I can check for any other “employees” that may be lurking.
“Boss...I’m sorry. We’ve known each other for a long time. You’re like my brother.”
“Then why are you questioning me now?” Austin hisses, using a tone I don’t recognize. This is the man I’ve been afraid to meet.
“Because you’ve got to admit, this is out of character for you.”
“Well, I’m shaking things up. Things need to change, Luca.”
What things ?
“You’ve stalked this girl for two years.”
Stalked me?
“I didn’t stalk her.”
What the hell?
I draw my hand to my chest, like one of those cartoons that’s trying to push their heart back in their chest when it’s pulsating out.
Except this isn’t love I’m feeling. I feel.
..scared? No. That’s not it. I can’t put my finger on it, only that my body is taking charge; my brain needs a second to catch up.
“Fine, you turned up where you knew she would be for two years. Never said a word. Never made a move. And now what? Now you’re playing house.”
“We’re hardly playing house, Luca.” I hear the chains clink together, and I can picture him holding them up to him.
“No, you’re letting her think she has an out. And she doesn’t. If this gets out, you're done. I won’t be able to protect you.”
“This isn’t going to get out, because it’s going to be resolved by Friday,” he hisses.
“You’ll take care of it?”
“Yes, Luca. I’ll take care of it. Now can you please fuck off? It’s the middle of the day, and she’s upstairs.”
“I’ll help clean up the mess. Give me a call when you’re ready.”
I hear a grunt and sharp smack of wood hitting wood, which I have a strong suspicion is the basement window. Could someone really fit through there?
My heart sinks into my stomach, and I have a strong sense that I may just vomit again. I’m such an idiot. Of course he’s going to kill me. The mess will be my body. Danny’s never going to know what happened to me because his psycho boss will dispose of my body, so he’ll never find it.
I chew my nail, feeling so fucking pissed off. To think I liked him. Have I got such awful taste in men? Travis is one thing; I didn’t know who he was when we first met. But surely I’m not stupid enough to be duped by someone I knew was bad when I met him.
I’m not one to sit on things. In fact, I’d rather get this over with. I shoot a quick text to Danny, letting him know I love him. I try to keep it casual, but really, what can I say?
I move down the stairs quickly, and I hear him scramble for the chains. When I reach the bottom step, I see him holding them in front of him with a small metal stick in one hand. He’s not trying to get loose...He’s trying to lock himself back up.
“Olivia . . .”
His eyes dart between me, the window, and then down to the chains in his hands. He looks at them like he’s holding a pile of snakes that might bite him at any moment.
I thought I’d still have some semblance of control here. But no. He’s free to pounce as soon as he’s ready. He swallows hard, and I watch his throat roll. Panic laces his eyes as his mouth grimaces. Maybe he feels bad about what he has to do next.
“I heard you talking to your friend,” I mutter, glancing down at the chains in his hands.
“Loose word for what I think of him right now.”
“You’re going to kill me,” I whisper.
“No.” He shakes his head, his eyes imploring.
If I’d been a weaker woman, I would have believed him. I don’t let him finish. “Let go of the chains, Austin.”
“Olivia, let me expl—”
“Let. Go. Of the chains.”
He drops them to his feet. His eyes pierce mine, boring into me, penetrating my mind and body.
His body is perfectly still; he somehow seems even bigger now.
Like the chains have constricted him these last five days.
Finally, he can stretch, righting himself to his full height.
He keeps his hands folded in front of his stomach, as if he’s about to kneel and pray.
But I know the man that’s inside. I heard it only a few minutes ago.
He can flip at any moment and I can’t be here when that happens.
Despite his stillness, I can feel my heart pressing so hard against my chest I might just break a bone.
My chest is heaving, my shoulders moving to allow more room for the oxygen I can’t seem to get in.
And for the first time in my life, after fighting for everything I have for so long, for everything Danny has, I run.
I spin on my heel, grab the wooden banister, and take the stairs two at a time.
“OLIVIA!” Austin bellows.
He’s quick to chase, but he doesn’t know my house.
I reach the top of the landing and slam the door shut. I don’t try to turn and lock it because I can feel him a breath away from me. I keep going. Running through the hallway, I reach the living room. I find the drawer I’m looking for, pull it open, and grab the taser.
He’s quick on my tail. Seemingly knowing the layout of my house—maybe his friend has let him know.
“Olivia, just listen to me for one second!”
I turn, and he’s only a couple of yards in front of me. He holds his hands up, his bare chest finally showing some signs of exertion from the chase. He breathes in deeply, holds one palm up, and says, “Give me the taser, and then I can explain everything.”
“I’m not fucking stupid, despite what you and your friend think. I know...I know you’re going to kill me. And it’s no more than I deserve for what I’ve done. But I...I just thought...”
“Thought what, baby?” His voice is soft. This is the Austin I’ve grown to know. The lie I’m so eager to believe.
Playing with your food.
I flip the switch on the taser, and it crackles menacingly.
A flicker of uncertainty meets his eyes as he glances down at the taser. He must have some sense about him, as he raises his other hand in surrender as well.
“I just want to explain what’s going on.”
“What’s going on... Austin ,” I spit, “is I kidnapped you . I chained you up . I have a taser, which I’m going to use on you .”
He has the audacity to grin. “Oh, I don’t doubt you could, baby. I know you like it a little rough.”
The air is sucked out of the room as my body betrays me. My breath deepens, and the heat between my legs spreads to my belly. I’m on fucking fire right now, and I need a cool douse of water to calm down.
“This isn’t funny. This is my life.”
“And I’m telling you, your life is not in danger. Not from me.” A part of me wants to believe him. But that’s crazy, right? This whole situation is fucked-up.
“You’re a liar.”
“I’ve never lied to you. Not once.” He steps closer.
“I don’t trust you.”
“I’ve only ever been honest with you.”
“You stalked me.” I’m whispering now; the hurt laces my words, and he has the decency to look chagrined as he stares at my worn floorboards.
He hesitates, running a hand over the beard he hasn’t been able to shave in my basement.
“Technically, I only went where I knew you would end up. I never actively followed you anywhere,” he explains.
“That’s just semantics, you fucking psycho.” My words aim to hurt, but they lack the impact I’d imagined in my head.
His face softens more still.
“I only ever went to Squeeze the Day. I never followed you anywhere else.”
“I don’t believe you,” I whisper, my hand falling just slightly. “You let me take you, didn’t you?”
He takes another step forward until he’s so close he can reach out and touch me.
I could jab the taser into his stomach right now if I wanted to.
But I don’t. I don’t want to hurt him. The realization hits me all too hard, and I try to shake the thought.
Have I lost all sense of self-preservation?
I grip the lifeline in my hand tighter, steeling myself to go against my very nature.
“Olivia,” his voice steady, he says my name like an oath, like a promise .
I peek up at him through my lashes. He’s crowding me now, and half of me is screaming to run. He’s caging me in. It’s a trick. It’s a lie. But I don’t care. I deserve what he’s going to do.
“I promise you. If you could put down the taser, I’ll explain everything.”
My hand lowers again. I want to believe him. I want to be able to trust him.
He lunges quickly, grabbing my wrist. He shoves me hard against the wall, and my breath leaves my lungs, the back of the taser squishing into my stomach.
With every bit of strength I have, I push the back of the taser with my hip and thrust into him.
The crackling hits his bare stomach, and he convulses in front of me.
His body revolts, jumping away from me. I watch his head nod up and down rapidly, his jaw jutting out as the electricity vaults through him.
I cover my mouth with my hand, trying not to laugh.
I can’t move; I’m part scared of him killing me, part scared he’s going to taser me right back for laughing.
“Are you fucking laughing at me?” he groans once he regains control of his body. He’s keeled over still, hands on his thighs as he tries to compose himself.
“Yes, you look ridiculous.”
If I’m going to die, I’m going to die. At least I can make him feel like an idiot before I do.
A manic smile pulls up his lips, his eyes deranged. “You’re gonna regret that, Killer.”
He grabs the taser from me, presses the button, and jabs me as swiftly as it pulls away.
“FUCK!” My hand grabs my thigh where he stung me. “THAT REALLY HURT!” I scream at him.
He throws the taser across the room, and it skids across the wooden floorboards, crashing against my bookcase.
He leans one hand against the wall, one hand clutching his side where a pink cluster of angry veins are collecting. He leans down, his height becoming all too smothering against mine.
“Now that we’ve got that out of our system, let’s talk.”