We stand there quietly, just staring at each other, waiting to see who will make the first move. I don’t know how long we stand there before my phone rings, breaking us out of whatever stand-off we were locked in. I turn to get my phone and stop in my tracks when I hear Malia say, “This isn’t over yet.”
I grab my ringing phone off the end of the bed, where I dropped it when I came into the room. Fuck all, it’s Mason. This can’t be good. I look up at Malia as I bring the phone to my ear, answering.
“Mason, my man! What’s going on?” I ask and can’t hide the smug smile when I watch the color drain from Malia’s face.
“She’s gone. Fuck, they’re both gone!” Mason says in a tone that gets all my attention.
There are only about three people in this world that would cause him to react to this caliber, and one of them has gone from ghostly white to franticly searching for her clothes, trying to hide the fact she heard him. That would mean that his mom and dad are missing, which in turn means we are fixing to burn Nashville to the ground trying to find them. I come out of my musing of the amount of pain I’ll cause the people who did this as I ask the question:
“Do we know who has Mom and Senior?” I ask him.
“What the hell are you talking about? Mom and Pop are fine. Malia and Lawson. They were last seen at that fucking club. Now they’re both gone, and Pop is about to lose his shit,” Mason says, and by the sound of his dress shoes hitting the hardwood floor, I can tell he is pacing.
“Mason. First off, Malia is fine…” Before I can even finish that sentence, Malia screams in such terror and fear that I drop my phone, pulling her to me, trying to find out what the problem is.
“Malia, Angel. Talk to me. You have to talk to me,” I say, trying to console her and figure out what the fuck is going on. She says nothing, just continues to shake in my arms. I give her some more time, but I can’t just let her stand there, closing in on herself.
I turn her toward me and run my hand up her arm, slowly wrapping my hand around her throat and tilting her head until she looks me in the eye. Once our gazes connect, I give the column of her long neck a slight squeeze, causing her to come back to the here and now. I’m praying I haven’t made a huge mistake. When I see the walls and fear fall away, I know she is perfect for me. I watch as a little excitement and defiance swirl through the caramel eyes that I crave.
“All right, Angel. Tell me what has you not only screaming but shaking like a leaf. I know you, and you don’t get rattled like this unless it’s completely devastating. Now, what is it?” I ask in the sternest tone I can while still trying to comfort her and hold the fear that is still trying to make its way back in.
“Lawson. She… she… she’s been taken! They’re hurting her and want me as a trade. The pictures—they’re—I can’t fucking—Oh my God! Theo, these pictures,” she stammers as the tears streak down her face.
“What pictures, Angel?” I ask. Without a word, she shakes so bad I know if it wasn’t for the arm I have wrapped around her waist, she would fall to the floor.
I apply the smallest amount of pressure, and she calms just slightly. Her shaking eases while she leans ever so lightly into me. I can’t stop the sliver of satisfaction that crawls up my spine, knowing that she responds to me this way. I know this is not the time or place, but one day soon, I will find out how far she is willing to let this go.
“Hand over the phone,” I say as I pull the phone out of her shaking hands. “Go take a long hot shower while I call your brother back and figure out what we’re going to do,” I tell her and watch the fight flow into her eyes like a tidal wave.
“My best friend is not only missing but being tortured, and you want me to just take a shower?” Malia asks in a tone that worries me.
I fortify my walls because I know right this second she needs me to be the asshole that has gotten me to where I am today. Later, when I’ve had a chance to get things in motion to get Lawson back, I can be the man she needs me to be. I just hope this doesn’t change the way she sees me. I’m fixing to become the asshole that makes the bogeyman hide. No one hurts the people I love without consequences.
“Yes. You will go shower and put on the clothes I had delivered for you. I’m going to my office to start looking for Law while talking to your brother. When you are done, we’ll eat and go to your parents’ where I know you’ll be safe. Do I make myself clear?” I ask her, and I know I sound like an insensitive ass, but this is who I am.
I’ll never hide from her, and I’ll never treat her like she’ll break at the slightest upset, but I will protect her from everything and make sure that the world is as beautiful in her eyes as it can be. I use the grip that I still have on her neck to pull her to me, doing the one thing I’ve wanted to do for years.
Chapter Four
Malia
I stomp to the shower, knowing I look like a child, but I don’t care. I’m not only scared out of my mind but pissed at my brother for calling Theo before me. Most of all, I’m pissed at my body’s reaction to that infuriating man. I was lost in the worst panic attack I’ve had since I was a little girl the day my dad and his men had to rescue me. That was when he decided I needed to be able to protect myself.
Yet, when Theo slowly ran his hand up my arm and around my neck, all the thoughts and panic settled, and I was grounded. The black void that was spinning around me, ready to swallow me whole, was blown away. All I could do was focus on him and do what was asked of me.
Now that his hands are no longer on my body, I’m back to feeling like I’m going to be lost forever. How can only one touch, one command, make you crave a person like this? Fuck, I’m a strong woman who doesn’t take orders from anyone. But that man has always had some kind of control over me, and now that I see what just one touch can do to me, I’m craving more. Not only to keep from succumbing to the fear and panic trying to drown me but because the lust that he has ignited in me burns so hot and bright that one time with him will never be enough.
Once the bathroom fills with steam, I strip off the few pieces of clothing I put on before my world was turned upside down and step into the shower. I hiss as the water pelts my back. It takes only seconds for my body to adjust, and I’m able to relax a little, so I can come up with a plan to save my best friend. What they were doing to her, I can’t imagine the pain she is in. I shake the images away and concentrate on washing away last night and getting out of here. I think back to what the message said and know this has nothing to do with the “family” and everything to do with why I transferred schools at the end of my freshman year of college.
This is all your fault!
It can all stop.
All you have to do is come back to me
My sweet doll!
I told you that running would never work!
