Chapter Seven
Worthy
You can do this. You can do this.
I thought if I told myself often enough, then I might believe it. So far it was only half working. He’d untied me from the chair and escorted me from that room of death. I had no illusion what had happened in that room before and probably would again in the future. My goal was that it never happened to me.
When he told me he wouldn’t hurt me anymore, I didn’t believe him. I wasn’t stupid, but I was playing along until I could figure out my next move. I had no idea where we were, how to get away, or what he’d do if I tried. I decided to bide my time and see what happened. I was in survivor mode now. I would do whatever I had to do to stay alive.
I was taken to a guest room, but it reminded me of a playroom Terrence had taken me to once in a BDSM club. The iron bed and the obvious toy chests and restraints did not make me feel warm fuzzy thoughts about what was in store for me here. I braced for the worst once we walked into the room, but nothing happened. He didn’t even touch me.
He showed me my duffle bag that was packed with all my belongings from the cottage, told me to take a shower and that dinner would be ready in half an hour. It wasn’t all cordial, though. Before he left the room, he leveled those silver eyes on me and gave me a warning.
“Do not try to leave this place, Worthy. Your phone is in a safe place, where no one can track it, and there’s no other way to contact anyone, or for them to find you. As long as you’re here, you’re safe, but once you leave, you’re at the mercy of the elements and whoever your ex decides to hire after me. I’m canceling the contract, but that’s just me. There will be someone after me, I’m sure, but I’ll do what I can to keep you hidden for now. I’ve got some research to do on your asshole ex, but I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt right now. Don’t prove me wrong, or you’ll regret it.”
After his speech, I still didn’t believe him when he said he wouldn’t hurt me again, but I did believe I was safe here for the moment. If nothing else, he seemed to have a very clear cut moral code. As long as he believed I wasn’t guilty, then I should be okay. Maybe?
Jesus, I was so confused.
My intuition was telling me he was telling the truth, that no matter what he’d done to me today, he was what I’d thought he was in the beginning. I still felt a sense of safety with him, and that made no fucking sense at all! He’d kidnapped me, beat me, called me names, and knocked me unconscious twice. But I still had a deep feeling that he could be trusted now. Maybe he’d hit me harder than I thought and I had a concussion.
I couldn’t think straight, so I turned my brain off and took a shower. I stood under the scalding water so long it ran cold. I didn’t feel one bit guilty. He had beat the shit out of me, and even if he hadn’t slit my throat, he hadn’t exactly apologized either. If he had to take a cold shower, it served him right.
After I washed all the blood away, I examined my ribs and all the other places I’d been kicked and punched. In addition to the bruises, I had various scrapes and cuts all over my body. Although it wasn’t great, It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Even still, I’d be bruised for about two weeks. I had years of experience treating bruises. Truth was, I’d had worse than what he’d given me today. Between him and Terrence, I would choose him at this point.
I searched through my duffle and found a pair of jeans and my favorite new sweatshirt. It was black and had a golden retriever puppy smelling a flower. It made me smile. I decided when I first went shopping for myself after leaving, that I wouldn’t wear anything that didn’t feel good and make me happy from now on. I didn’t care what it looked like or whether it was fashionable. Fuck fashion. I wanted to be happy. I had earned it.
Having dressed, I tentatively made my way to the living room and then to the kitchen. I stood nervously in the doorway for a few minutes just watching him go through the motions of cooking. He chopped some vegetables so quickly with his chef’s knife that I couldn’t help imagine what he could do with that knife in other situations. His knife skills were stunning, and I found myself adjusting my completely inappropriate semi, so it wasn’t noticeable. I was so fucked in the head to be standing in the kitchen of a kidnapper wondering if he could cut me the way I needed.
Maybe I deserved all this. I was sick and deserved to be hurt.
“Worthy, I’m glad you got cleaned up. Now, stop standing in the doorway and come in. And quit looking at my kitchen knife like you want to run away from it and at the same time lick it. We need to eat dinner before we talk about our agreement.”
I did as he said. Looking away from him, I walked over to the kitchen table to have a seat at one of the place settings. Then I had a thought before sitting.
“Which is yours, I don’t want to take your place.”
“Don’t worry about that, I don’t have a favorite place, just don’t take the end seat, because Snow prefers to sit there.”
As I had a seat at the table, I almost asked who he was talking about, when a stunning petite white cat came slinking into the room and started to weave around my ankles. I reached down to scratch her between the ears and heard her start to purr loud enough to be a motorboat. She was perfectly pristine and beautiful.
“You must be Snow. Hello, pretty girl. Oh, you’re so soft. You feel like a bunny rabbit, don’t you, sweet Snow?”
I knew my high pitched voice was silly, but I couldn’t help using that voice with animals. I kept up a one-sided conversation with Snow until I felt eyes on me and looked over toward the cooktop. He was standing there staring at his cat and me with a bemused look on his face. It wasn’t exactly a smile, but it wasn’t a frown. So, he didn’t mind me petting her. I was glad. It was a good sign that he had such a well-kept pet.
He finally finished at the stove, plated our food, and brought it over to the table. Normally I would have offered to help cook, but this situation was anything but normal. Plus, the aches and pains from my beating earlier in the day were setting in. I was starting to hurt and feel stiff, so moving wasn’t my favorite thing right now.
We ate in near silence, the only sound an occasional meow from Snow followed by a pat from her owner. I would have been endearing in any other situation. Well, to be honest, it was a tad endearing, but I wasn’t willing to admit it yet. I was having a hard time coming to terms with the two polar opposite pieces of this man’s personality.
Kidnapping killer and kitten lover.
Our dinner of a chicken and vegetable pasta dish with a light lemon butter sauce was utterly delicious, but I was hurting too much to fully enjoy it. I ate woodenly and very slowly.
“You don’t like it? I can make something else.”
The gruff words startled me, and I almost dropped my fork. Getting it together, I fell back on my manners but wound up rambling.
“No, it’s wonderful. It’s been forever since I’ve had anything so delicious. I wasn’t always allowed to eat good food. Most of my meals had to be quick. I would be punished if I took too long. Sometimes, he’d take me for a nice dinner out with vegetables and bread, and then he’d even order us dessert. As soon as we got home, he’d make me throw it up saying I’d done something wrong at the table and didn’t deserve the food he’d bought me. I was glad when he didn’t do that anymore and kept me at home. I’m lucky I was allowed to brush my teeth so at least I still have those after all that stomach acid coming up. Later, I usually had to sneak food if I wasn’t given anything for a few days.”
