I blink at the soft hand on my face and then I lurch back, crushing myself against the barn wall to get away from Scott.
He frowns at me, his hands dangling between his crouched legs.
“What—” I try to speak but my voice cracks. I swallow. “What the fuck are you doing, Scott?”
His brows furrow, like I’m the crazy one here. Like he didn’t just kidnap me in broad daylight. “I’m doing what I always do, Lo. I’m keeping you safe.”
“By kidnapping me?” I shriek.
“Hey, shush, it’s okay.” He reaches out and runs his hand over my hair, cradling my head to his chest.
I seize up, holding myself still and trying not to hurl.
“I know this might be a little confusing for you right now, but I’m doing this for us, Lo.
“I kept you safe for years while we were traveling, made sure no one could ever hurt you, but I can’t keep you safe if you run from me.” He pulls back and I scramble into the corner, staring at this man like I’m seeing him for the first time.
“I don’t understand,” I murmur, my lips numb.
Scott stands up, an intensity to his gaze that scares me. “You were a mess when I found you, but I put you back together, Lo.” He starts pacing. “You weren’t ready for me straight away but that’s okay. I made sure no one else got close.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, even as I think of all the dates I went on when I was traveling. How none of them ever called me back. My stomach drops.
“Scott,” I say, my voice trembling. “You have to let me go.”
He shakes his head, manic. “I can’t do that, Lola. You’re not safe here. I tried to show you that. Carson was supposed to make you see that you’re better off with me.”
Nausea swims in my head. I’d thought Roman’s father had told Carson I’d framed him. I thought he was the only other person who knew. I’d forgotten that I told Scott everything.
“You sent the messages,” I mutter.
“You were supposed to come back to me!” Scott shouts and I jolt, scraping my head against the rough wood.
Tears push at my eyes, and I stare at the charred floorboards. “If you want to keep me safe, why did you bring me here? Here, of all places.”
Scott crouches down again, his hand coming to my cheek to brush away a tear. His face is soft and filled with pity. “I know, I know sweetheart, but you needed a reminder. I need you to remember what happens when I’m not here to protect you, okay?”
My chest starts rising too rapidly and I think I might faint. I tug on the ropes around my wrist and ankles, desperate to free myself but they’re too tight.
Scott strokes my hair. “I’m going to leave you here while I get ready for us to go and I want you to think about that night, okay? I want you to remember how helpless you were. And then you’ll know, you’ll know that you and I are meant to be, Lola.”
He curls his hand around the back of my neck and presses a kiss to my head. “I’ll be back soon, okay.”
The tears are blurring my eyes, distorting his figure as he walks out of the half collapsed front of the barn. As soon as he turns the corner, I shuffle away from the wall, pulling at the ropes that bind me.
I have to get out of here, but Scott’s words have opened a door to the past and suddenly I’m eighteen again, waking up on the charred floor of the barn.
I curl my fingers,my nails scraping against the burnt wood. I can hear Roman and Mase calling for me, but they sound so far away, like my ears are filled with cotton balls.
My head hurts and I’m scared. I don’t know why I’m scared but I’m so fucking scared.
“Lola? Lola!” The voices get louder and then Roman’s here, kneeling in front of me, his hand brushing the hair out of my face. “It’s okay, you’re okay. I’m here. I’ve got you.”
I pinchthe back of my hand, forcing myself back to the present. I told Roman I didn’t need him to save me, but I would give anything for him to storm into this barn right now. Because Scott was right, the last time I was here, I was helpless. I was drugged and drunk out of mind, and I couldn’t protect myself.
My head pounds from the memory and from whatever Scott used to knock me out. I can’t think properly because the man I thought was my friend is a monster, and I had no idea. Too much of this feels like it did that night, my bad judgements ending up with me in trouble.
Except it’s not the same, because I’m not eighteen anymore. Because I may be tied up but I’m conscious this time and I know this barn better than anyone.
