“Oh good, you are awake,” a man’s voice says, stepping into the light from the open door. It’s a voice I know I’ve heard before, but I am a little groggy. Then I see his face and suddenly everything is clear.
“I am. Aaron? Where are we?” I ask. My voice is harsh like I haven’t used it in days.
“Somewhere where they will never find you,” he responds.
“What day is it? How long have I been here?” I ask, rubbing my neck like that will ease some of the pain in my throat from talking.
“It’s Wednesday. You’ve already been here two days, sleeping off what you were given. It has kept you quiet and pliant.”
Shit, shit, shit! Brendan must be losing his mind. My family too. The thought of them worrying about me pisses me off. I also have to pee so bad; I think I might float away.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” I decide that anger may be the only
way to approach him. I would never have suspected Aaron, though I should have. I’ve known him since childhood, but he’s a creep who thinks he can do whatever he wants. He’s crossed the line here. A line he knows he can never come back from, which causes me to panic. There can be only one outcome here—his death. The only question is, will Arabella and I suffer the same fate first?
“Shut the fuck up, Brynn. I warned you. I really did.” I keep my mouth shut because I have no idea how to approach this kind of situation. “You aren’t going to say anything?” he asks.
“What should I say to you, Aaron?” I ask. Every so often, my eyes drift to Arabella. I pray that she is just sleeping like it seems she is.
“Aren’t you angry? You should get mad at me,” he says, staring at me intently. He caresses his gun like it’s an extension of himself. He has to be unhinged or something. Only a crazy person would kidnap me. Or one who doesn’t care if he dies.
“I am not going to do that. I’m sorry. I just don’t understand. Why have you made a power play like this? What can you possibly hope to gain? Besides, anything I say or do to you is going to make you mad, so I think I’ll just keep my mouth shut.”
“That could make me mad too. You just don’t get it, Brynn. Beautiful Brynn.”
“It could, but I don’t care about that. I want you to explain it to me. Why are you making a move on my family? You know that they will kill you before the first word comes out of your mouth. Why risk it?”
“This has nothing to do with them. It’s you I want, and they will give you to me.”
“Why would they give me to you?” I ask incredulously.
“Rules of engagement,” he says.
“Like in war games or something?”
“Exactly. I took you from that Irish bastard who thought he could take you from me. You should have paid attention when we were growing up. I tried to tell you that you were mine, but you just didn’t get it.”
“I don’t remember that,” I hedge. My number one priority is my baby and Arabella. I have to keep them safe at all costs.
“You really are the dumbest book-smart bitch I know, Brynn. Your family will give you to me. There can be no other outcome.”
“I don’t think they will, Aaron,” I reply desperately.
“Oh, they will. I know it.”
“Wow. Your delusions run deep, Aaron.” They do run deep, they always have. He’s clearly insane and I don’t know why I never noticed it before.
“Don’t start your shit, Brynn,” he warns me by slapping me across the face. It stings, but it’s not terrible. Yet…
“You don’t have to do this, Aaron.” I read somewhere that saying their name makes kidnappers remember that they are human beings or something like that.
“Well, I have a gun, so I’m in charge.” He leaves the room, allowing me to get up and check on Arabella. Thank God she’s alive.
“Arabella?” I say into the darkness, gently shaking her awake.
“Mrs. O?” she says, sitting up.
“Yes, it’s me,” I say, gathering her into my arms. “Are you hurt, sweetie?” I can’t see well enough to check her over.
“No. Just tired. So tired and cold.” The cold concrete floor isn’t helping I am sure. I bet she was drugged too. Fuck, the baby! But I can’t dwell on that now.
“I’ll keep you warm,” I assure her.
“What’s going on?” she asks, I can hear the fear in her voice now. “What happened? One second we were on the sidewalk by the school and the next in the back of that smelly van.”
“I don’t know, Arabella. He’s after me, but you got pulled into this. I am so sorry,” I tell her, meaning it. I really could cry right now, but that shit won’t help anyone, especially Arabella.