“Maybe if you worked your legs at the gym instead of just your biceps, I wouldn’t have gotten the upper hand,” I spit.
Chuck lets out a bark of delighted laughter. “She’s got you there, Bulldog.”
The nickname is remarkably apt. Of the three, Bulldog truly does resemble his namesake.
Having finally got his breath back, the man I kneed in the balls appears, backhanding me so hard across the cheek that my neck snaps painfully to the side and I see stars. “Fucking bitch,” he snarls.
He raises his hand again to strike me, but Chuck stops him. “Enough. The boss said we weren’t to harm her, Butch.”
Butch glowers at me. “The fucking bitch kicked me in the balls.”
“That’s your own fault for letting a little girl get the better of you. Both of you should be ashamed of yourselves,” Chuck gloats, clearly pleased to have been the one to capture me without harm.
“Let me go and we’ll see who the little bitch is,” I growl. All I can think of is Mia. I’m a lioness protecting her cub, and I’ll take on all three men if it gets me closer to my baby.
Chuck laughs again. “I can see why Zeke likes you. Come on, your old man is waiting for you.”
“He’s not my old man,” I reply.
Chuck has unwittingly given me more information on what Zeke wants from me. It’s not just Mia he’s after. I wonder if Mary Beth knows that Zeke’s men seem to think I’m his woman. I can’t imagine she’ll be happy to share him with anyone. Not that I intend to be anything to that monster.
I reluctantly allow the men to lead me down the corridor of the decrepit house. To my surprise, much of the building is in a state of disrepair. Zeke must have recently renovated the room he’s holding me in. Most of the other rooms we pass appear to be derelict or in the process of being refurbished. The smell of fresh paint and mildew lingers in the air, a strange, nauseating mix. We reach a room with crisp white double doors, and Bulldog raps his meaty fist against the wood.
“Enter,” Zeke calls out.
A shiver of fear runs down my spine. It’s the first time I’ve heard Zeke’s voice since that night. Suddenly, I don’t feel so brave anymore.
We enter a newly decorated office. Zeke is sitting behind a grand, mahogany desk. I stifle a laugh as I realize that Zeke has modeled it on the office in the Godfather movie. Does Zeke see himself as some big Mafia Don? He’s a petty criminal and a rapist. Mocking him, if only in my head, bolsters my bravado.
I glower at him as his face, one that I once thought was handsome, but now I see only evil, breaks into a grin. “Lena, finally we’re reunited.”
I don’t respond. I’m still trying to figure out the best way to play this. Mia isn’t here, and I know that with Zeke, I’m better off playing nice than fighting.
“You can leave us,” Zeke says to his men, dismissing them.
“Are you sure? She managed to knee Butch in the balls and break Bulldog’s nose before I grabbed her,” Chuck says, making sure to take the credit while also warning Zeke.
Zeke looks at Bulldog and Butch, shaking his head in disappointment before turning his gaze to Chuck. “You think I can’t handle my woman?”
“Of course not… I just…” Chuck stammers, confused as to how he’s the one on the receiving end of Zeke’s wrath.
“I’ll be fine. Lena knows better than to try anything with me, especially not if she wants to see our daughter again.” Zeke looks at me when he says this; his message is clear. “You won’t do anything silly, will you, Lena?”
“No,” I reply through gritted teeth.
“There you have it,” Zeke says, gesturing with an open palm. “Now leave us. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”
His eyes rake down my body, and I feel sick. I don’t think I could handle it if he touches me.
Yes, you can, I tell myself,you’ll do whatever it takes to keep Mia safe.
Zeke stands up from behind his desk. He has gained weight since I last saw him. He doesn’t carry it well. It makes his face puffy, and he has a bit of a gut. I wonder what I ever saw in him. Zeke walks over, similarly surveying how I’ve changed since he saw me last. I’ve gained weight too, but I think it suits me, my body is now that of a woman, not a girl.
Zeke tuts. “You’ve let yourself go, Lena,” he chastises. “Nothing that a diet and a bit of exercise won’t fix,” he says absentmindedly, almost to himself.
“Where’s Mia? Where is my daughter?” I ask, ignoring him.
“You mean our daughter,” Zeke replies, emphasizing the word ‘our’.
