She still glared at me but took the sandwich and began to eat. I didn’t like binding her hands up, but for now, it was going to have to be a necessity.
“What did you do to Ashley?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me, Caleb.”
I didn’t answer her right away. She was everything I ever wanted and now that I had her, I didn’t want to give her up. Even if Earl hadn’t come through, I was going to move heaven and earth to make sure she could stay part of us.
Chapter Five
Emily
Before Caleb left me alone last night, he gave me enough room to be able to sleep. He hadn’t allowed me total freedom and now as I stood, dancing around the bed, I was so fucking pissed.
I needed to use the bathroom, like desperately, and so far, no one had arrived. Gripping the pole of the bed, I rested my forehead against the hard wood, breathing in and out, trying to calm my need that was only increasing as the seconds passed.
This wasn’t funny.
I knew without a doubt they’d made a deal or done something that involved Ashley, I just couldn’t figure out what.
Right now, my brain wasn’t working. I couldn’t figure anything out. Everything felt like too much. My focus just wasn’t working. In and out, I tried to breathe, not to panic or freak out.
All I could do was keep on moving. Pressing my thighs together and attempting to think about everything and nothing that would keep me from soiling myself. This wasn’t the plan I had for today.
Attacking the guys had been a big mistake, but my anger had gotten the better of me, along with my pain. They’d left me and now that they’d deemed it safe, they were back as if nothing bad had happened, and it pissed me off. They couldn’t just go in and out of my life like they had no care in the world. I didn’t accept it, but right now, I’d give anything for one of them to walk right into this room and to help me out of this fucking rope.
Time ticked by and when I thought it would be too late, the door opened, showing River. He stood holding a knife. His chest rising and falling as if he’d been for a run.
“About time. Come on, please, I need to pee.” I hated that I even asked him politely, but right now, I’d do just about anything.
I wasn’t afraid as he came toward me. He lifted the knife and sliced through the rope with ease.
Rushing to the first door, I found a closet, but the next door was the trophy. A bathroom. I slammed the door closed and rushed toward the toilet, pushing down the sweats as I sat down.
Of course, my peace didn’t last long as River walked right into the room.
“Please, some privacy.”
“I’m here to make sure you wash up.”
“You’ve cut the rope. Surely, you can trust me.”
He smiled, but it wasn’t a charming, sweet look on him. It was almost deadly. River had always had a darker edge around him. It was always like he was on the brink of danger, of waiting for the anger to seep into every single part of his soul. When he was young, he’d been taken, tortured, and because of that, he had an overwhelming obsession with blades, like now. He still held the blade as if it was a lifeline.
Taking a closer look at the blade, I was surprised to see that it was in fact the knife I once had, the one I’d embedded into an MC’s neck to save Gael.
“You didn’t get rid of it?”
“Why would I get rid of anything that reminded me of you?”
“I don’t know.” I didn’t want to think. After I finished on the toilet, my face on fire for having him listen, I went to the sink and washed my hands. “What’s going on, River?”
He stayed in front of the door. “You’re going to take a bath. I’m going to make sure you don’t do something you’ll regret.”
“So, you’re my own personal bodyguard.”
“From this day forward, you’re going to have one of us at your beck and call.”
Turning toward the bathtub, I frowned. “My beck and call? You mean you’re going to keep me here to protect me?”
“Let’s just say we’re taking care of our investment.”
This made me stand up. “Just tell me what the hell you did. What you agreed to?” I needed to know. I just knew I wasn’t going to like any of it, but still, I had to find out what stupid thing they’d done.
He stayed perfectly still, his gaze running up and down my body. In the sweats, I must have looked a sight, and I checked to make sure I didn’t embarrass myself with my overwhelming need for the toilet. There was nothing there.
“Why do you keep staring?” I asked.
When the bath had enough bubbles and water, I turned toward him.
“You’re not going to talk to me? You’re just going to ignore me?” I gripped the edge of the shirt and lifted it up and over my head. My guys hadn’t bothered to give me underwear, so I was completely naked beneath.
I didn’t wait for a reaction and kicked off my sweats. When I bent over to test the water, I did hear a groan, and I couldn’t help but smile. He could act all unaffected by me all he wanted, but I knew the truth. He wanted me and I was more than okay with that.
I hated my men, but that didn’t mean I also didn’t want them all with an equal passion. It was complicated. I didn’t understand my own feelings when it came to these men. They were not boys anymore; no, they’d ever been boys.
Sitting in the water, I leaned back, resting myself against the tub so I could look at him. “See, I’m doing as I’m told.”
“You and I both know you’re not going to do as you’re told.”
I chuckled. “I try.”
“No, you don’t. Not anymore. We made sure you didn’t have to worry about anyone or anything. You’re free.”
“You call this free?” I asked. “You took me from my home, and now you’re keeping me hostage.”
“We’re not keeping you hostage. We’re not bargaining you for anything.”
I took a deep breath. Sliding beneath the water, I soaked my hair and broke the surface again, lifting out and reaching for the soap, but it was already gone.
River had it in his hand, and he’d put the blade on the side of the tub. I didn’t know why he’d done that. Was it to test me? To see what I’d do? My heart raced as I stared at the damn thing.
“Go ahead,” River said. “Take it.”
“No.”
This time, his laughter sent a thrill down my spine. Looking up at him, I saw he no longer looked like he wanted to kill. There was a playfulness about him. “Are you just going to keep doing the complete opposite of what we want you to do?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Not to me, but the others might start to get pissed off.”
I took a deep breath, trying to convince myself that I didn’t care, but I did.
Gripping the edge of the blade, I picked it up. In my mind, I recalled how it felt sliding into the MC’s neck. I licked my lips and wondered what the hell to do.
“It feels good, doesn’t it?”
I went to put the blade down, but River stopped me. His hand covered mine, holding it.
“River?”