* * *
I can’t believe all the good stuff I was able to get at the store though most of it my brother had to convince the owner to sell me since it’s illegal. All of it is in a duffle bag with Tristan. He shot Malcolm a text while we were shopping just to let him know that I was safe and with him. Since Malcolm didn’t call, I’m assuming he’s still sleeping. I know he’s going to be pissed that I went off and did this without him, but I feel good about it. I feel stronger just by taking this step. I’m sure I’ll never be able to fully get over what Dimitri did to me, but at least I don’t have to feel so scared all the time.
“I think I want to go in there to pick up a few things.” I look into a store with a lot of decorative t-shirts and bags.
“You go in. I’m going to wait right here.”
I turn to see Tristan yawn big and plop down in a chair. He’s falling asleep on me. I guess it’s time for me to get back home. There’s no way that Malcolm isn’t up yet. I have to go deal with him sooner or later.
“Just relax here. I’ll be right back,” I tell Tristan, and he nods, letting his head fall back on the chair. I think he’s asleep before I even get into the store. There are a lot of novelty shirts in the store that catch my attention, and I giggle, thinking about buying Malcolm a few of them. Just thinking about seeing him in a bright yellow shirt with a high SpongeBob or something is ridiculous to me. I didn’t realize I’d spent so long in the store until my arms started hurting from carrying all the shirts I’d picked up for myself.
“Wow, I guess it’s my lucky day.”
I spin around in the tight space and come face to face with Gaylord. I roll my eyes and try to step out of his space. I’m starting to wonder what it is that I ever saw in this man in the first place. He’s annoying with how hard he tries. I guess it might have been flattering when it first started but right now, I don’t think I ever want to see Gaylord again.
“Gaylord, I don’t know how many times I have to tell youwe’renot going to get together. There’s nothing that you’re going to be able to say to get me to change my mind. I’m with Malcolm now, I love him, and I’m staying with him.” My eyebrows jump up to my hairline when I hear my own words. I just said I loved him. It’s true, but I’ve never said it before. I shake off the shock and look back up at Gaylord. That polite smile that he was just wearing on his face is gone. Now he’s looking at me with a murderous sneer. I’ve never seen him like this before, and it makes the goosebumps rise on my skin. He’s freaking me out.
“How can you say something like that to me. I loved you from the first moment I saw you, Désirée. He didn’t protect you. He didn’t keep that bastard from stealing you away. I can keep you safe if you’d just give me a chance.” He grabs hold of my arm and tries to pull me toward him.
“Get the hell off of me, Gaylord. I don’t want to give you a chance. I don’t wantanythingto do with you. Get that through your thick skull, or I’m going to make sure Malcolm and my family make sure you get it through your skull. Hard,” I snap at him and turn to walk away. Gaylord quickly reaches out and pulls my back against his front.
“Hey! What the . . .” My breath catches in my throat when I feel the hard metal pressed against the small of my back.
“I didn’t want it to be this way, but this is the only way that I know you’ll hear me. They’ve got you brainwashed. They’ve made you feel like being with Malcolm is your only option. It’s not. I love you and can protect you better than he can,” he whispers in my ear.
“You think you’re going to get me out of here? My brother is right outside. It’ll never happen,” I say in a whisper back to him.
“Your brother is knocked out on the bench. He doesn’t pay attention to his surroundings as well as he should. It only took a second to slip a sedative in his coffee while you two were walking around shopping. He’ll be out for a long while.” Gaylord smiles against my cheek, and I feel my panic beginning to rise.
“You were following us?”
“Oh baby, you’ve never been out of my sight for too long. After we got you back, I made sure I was always close enough just in case you needed someone to help you. In case you were to ever need me. I care for you so much.” He kisses my cheek, and I cringe away.
“I’ll scream,” I say. Even if Tristan is down someone in here will come to my aid.
“Yeah, you can scream, but then I’m going to have to shoot one of these little teenagers. Is that what you want? To have a kid’s death on your conscience.
I look around the store, and there are at least three high school-aged kids in here. Why the hell aren’t they in school? He’s right. I can’t let them get hurt if I can help it. Just as I turn to say something to him, a woman with a small baby walks in, and that seals the deal.
“Fine, where are you taking me?” I ask him.
“You’ll see but first . . .”
I freeze when I feel his hands skimming up my leg. When he feels the knife, he pulls it off and continues his search until he finds the taser. So much for being able to protect myself.
“Now that I know you’re going to be a good girl, we’re going to go out the back way.” He pushes me toward the side entrance of the store, away from where Tristan is sitting. I see his car there, and I walk as slowly as I can toward it. He jabs me once in the side with the gun, but my mind barely registers it. This can’t be happening again.
“So what? You’re just going to keep me hostage? Are you going to beat and rape me too?” Why the hell would I ever want to be with someone like you?”
“Désirée, I would never do that to you. I’m going to make sure you’re safe and comfortable. I’ll take you to that bastard’s house so you can pick up a few things. Then we have a nice cabin waiting for us away from everyone. I just want us to spend some time together away from everyone. After we’re there for a few days, I’m sure you’ll see what I see. That we’re meant to be together. I just want to make you happy.” He swipes some hair behind my ear, and I have to clench my jaw, so I don’t snatch my head away from him.
There might be a way out of this after all. “You’re going to let me pick up a few things? I need clothes and my toothbrush.”
“Yes, of course, I want you to think of this as a vacation. I even made sure that asshole isn’t there when we get there. I don’t want him blowing your good mood. He’s good for that.” Gaylord shakes his head in annoyance, but a new wave of fear crashes into me.
“What do you mean you made sure that he’s not there? What did you do to him?” I don’t think there’s any way that Gaylord would be able to overpower Malcolm, but maybe he did something sneaky like what he did to Tristan. If he drugged him or something, he would be able to hurt Malcolm easily. “You didn’t hurt him, did you?”
“Oh, don’t worry yourself. Malcolm’s just fine. I only sent him off on a fool’s errand. We’ll be gone before he has time to come back. Come, let’s get a move on.”
I get in Gaylord’s car and try to figure out what I can do to help myself in this situation, and so far, I’ve come up with nothing. I don’t have a way to alert anyone I’m in trouble. Malcolm isn’t home. Tristan is knocked out, and I don’t have any of the weapons I bought. I’m right back in the same situation I was in before.
All I can do now is keep calm and do my best to leave as many clues as I can so my family will be able to find me. Hopefully, this time I won’t have to endure a month of pain and torture before they do.