“I'm the new owner, my darling. I bought the place in a new trust I set up. You didn’t really think anyone sane would pay that ridiculous asking price, did you?” He laughed, hard and cold.
“Still, I don’t understand why they would give you a key before I’ve moved out. Closing the deed transfer at the lawyers is next weekend as arranged.”
“You seem to have forgotten how persuasive I can be. And how trustworthy.” He puffed out his chest with pride, believing his own bullshit.
“What do you want, Nolan? It's still my place, and I want you out of here.”
He scowled at me, as if that was the dumbest question he’d ever heard. “I want you, pretty baby. I've always wanted you.”
“Well you shouldn’t have screwed that piece of ass who works for you then, should you?” I took a small step closer to him to try and reach Miu-miu without him noticing.
His mouth turned upside-down. “I told you that was a . . . mistake. Don’t be so hard on me. I said I’m sorry—what more do you want.”
I shook my head. “Sorry doesn’t cut it. It wasn’t just once. Before her it was the redhead.”
He swallowed hard. “You know about her?”
“Yes. But I really don’t care about any of that anymore. A few months ago it hurt. But I’m over it now . . . I’m over you. So I suggest you get your sorry drunken ass out of my apartment before I call the cops.”
Nolan laughed. “You’re so cute when you get angry.” He wagged a finger at me as if I were a naughty child. “And it’s no use calling that new boyfriend of yours. I have plans for us . . . and for him. He won’t bother us much longer.”
Reaching the end of my tether, I pointed to the door. “Just get out. I'm not interested in your stories—”
“I have a surprise for you. I know you love surprises.”
“I hate surprises.” My voice was filled with venom, but the prick still didn’t get it.
I fished the phone with the cracked glass from my purse. Savage. I’d call him to come help me. Surely he’d answer my call? I scrolled through my contact list, looking for his number, and as soon as I found it I hit the green phone icon. I hadn’t spoken to him since the incident with Jessica, and I tapped my foot impatiently as I waited on him to pick up.
Laughing, Nolan reached out and grabbed the phone out of my hand. He smashed the instrument against the wall and watched with glee as it bounced onto the floor before he stamped on it with his heel.
“What the hell are you doing?” I cried as the already cracked screen shattered further.
“You’re coming with me. I’ve planned a vacation for us. You always wanted to get away, saying I worked too hard. Now we are. Plane is waiting. Just you and me, dearest.”
“Fuck off, Nolan. I'm not going anywhere with you.”
In an unguarded moment, I snatched my dog and turned my body away from him while I stroked her head, soothing her with shhh sounds. I walked toward the kitchen and placed Miu-miu in her bed. I needed all my attention focused on Nolan, because I’d push him out of my apartment my damn self if he didn’t leave soon.
He had the nerve to follow me to the kitchen.
Damn. Further to push to the door. I was only a woman, but when I was angry I had strength in me that didn’t back down for anyone.
“Ahhh, that’s where you’re wrong. A romantic getaway . . . we’ll get engaged again, maybe married, and everything will be just like it used to be.”
I ground my teeth. The arrogant idiot wasn’t listening. “You’re being ridiculous. I'm not going anywhere with you. It's over between us. It's final.”
“Don’t make me force you. I brought my boys with me. You have a choice—walk out of here like a lady, or get carried out. No other options.”
Fear pushed up into my throat. “Jesus. Have you gone fucking crazy? Get the fuck out of my apartment and stay away from me.”
“Okay, option two it is then. I suspected as much, so I’m prepared.” He hit a button on his phone. The door burst open and three burly bodyguards stormed in, as if they were on a mission.
I broke into hysterical laughter. “What the hell is this? You’re not serious, are you?”
Nolan smirked. “You know I always get what I want. And I want you. It's simple really. No is not an option.”
I looked at the men, one by one. They avoided eye contact, staring at the wall behind me.
“Fellas, take her to the jet. Put her to sleep if necessary. Takeoff is in an hour.”
My heart lurched. My pulse speeded up and my palms went clammy.
Shit’s getting real.
“Guys, please. I don’t want to go. You can’t make me.”
Nothing.
Three pairs of blank eyes still studied the walls behind my head.
Fear gripped my insides. My heart beat hard and fast and my mouth went dry. I could hardly talk. “It's illegal . . . kidnapping . . .” One of them flinched. “What if I was your sister or girlfriend? Would you want this to happen to her?”
The guy in the middle cleared his throat. “Sorry, ma’am. We have orders to escort you to the jet. Please co-operate.”
The biggest of the three men stepped forward and gripped my upper arm. “Come with us.”
Miu-miu barked like a crazy dog, growling and snapping her teeth at the man. It was futile, but I loved her for it.
“No. Let me go.” I screamed, twisting my arm to break free. With every grain of strength in my body, I planted my knee in his balls. He groaned and let go of my arm, cupping his manhood.
“Bitch,” he muttered under his breath.
“Use the needle,” Nolan barked.
Jesus! Drugs?
“No, please. Don’t—” I sucked in the biggest gulp of air I could and tried to fight as a needle pierced my skin and broke into one of my veins. Burly arms held me around my waist, nearly lifting me off the ground. The last thing I remembered was the sneer on Nolan’s face as my knees buckled underneath me and blackness stole my consciousness.
Chapter 27 — Eva
“Hey, wake up.” The voice sounded far, far away. “Eva.”
The voice was louder, booming and controlling. “Darling, wake up.”
I don’t like that voice. Make it go away.
My head was bursting, and my throat felt like sandpaper.
Thirsty. Water. Please.
Nausea pushed up from my stomach, and I had to fight to keep the swirling contents down. I tried to open my eyes, but the lids were just too heavy and I gave up, drifting back into nothingness.
How much time passed between then and the sensation of drowning I had no idea, but I sat up with a gasp as icy-cold water hit my face. I licked my lips even as I sucked air into my lungs, desperate to catch just one drop to ease my parched throat and get rid of the metallic taste in my mouth.
What the hell is happening to me?
I tried to pry my eyes open, but they stayed shut. Maybe this was one of those surreal dreams I occasionally experienced since my mother died, and I’d wake up shaken at how real it felt.
Voices.
Were they real or in my head?
“That should wake her, sir.”
“Fuck, you didn’t need to be so heavy-handed.”
“Sorry, sir, you told me to get her awake immediately. That’s the best way.”
“Okay. Get out of here.”
“Yes, sir.”
Footsteps. A door closing.
“Eva, darling. Are you okay?”
That voice. I know that voice.
I kicked my legs, my arms flailing wildly.
“Stay the fuck away from me,” I rasped.
Slivers of bright light caused my brain to want to explode as I willed my eyes to open. Slowly, the face I dreaded came into focus.