I sat on the toilet and stared at my hands shaking in my lap. I flexed my fingers as I took a few deep breaths in an attempt to settle my nerves.
“What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck…” I whispered to myself.
After using the bathroom, I splashed some water on my face, and downed a few aspirin I found under the sink. This whole thing felt surreal—like I was moving through a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.
Back in the bedroom, I couldn’t stop the tears from falling as I sank onto the edge of the bed and put my head in my hands.
I should’ve taken Cash’s warnings seriously—should’ve told him about the videos. But no, I stupidly held out hope that Marcus had some redeeming factor.
A soft knock at the door made me sit up.
“Amber?!” I blurted, staring at my best friend as she walked in holding two steaming mugs of coffee.
“Surprise,” she said, offering me one with a weak smile.
“What are you doing here? Did you help this nigga kidnap me? And where the hell are we?” I fired off questions as I took the coffee from her.
“Ay Dios,”Amber muttered, setting her mug on the nightstand. “Jas, you deadass? You think I’d help that man snatch you?”
“I don’t know! Up until twenty-four hours ago, I didn’t think he was even capable of doing this!”
She sat on the bed beside me, nudging at the coffee in my hands. I took a small sip while she spoke.
“He called Donny when he got here with you last night. Donny called me. We’re at his penthouse. Marcus’s been super erratic since he got back, so I convinced him to let me stay here with you. I told him you’d rather see my face first than his.”
“Facts,” I grumbled, taking another sip. “Do you have your phone? I don’t know Cash’s number by heart, but maybe I could DM Monica or something.”
Amber shook her head. “His driver made me hand it over before I came upstairs.”
“Fuck.” Tears welled up again, my throat tightening as my frustration boiled over. This was too much.
Amber pulled me into a hug, rubbing my back. “Hey, hey, listen. He didn’t touch you—other than carrying you up here. I changed you and stayed with you last night. I just went down to make coffee, that’s why I wasn’t here when you woke up.”
Her words helped a little. But they didn’t change the fact that Marcus had still violated me.
“Thank you,” I murmured.
“For what?”
“For coming. For staying with me.” I shook my head. “I don’t even know what to think. Is he even here?”
“Yeah, I’m here.”
Amber and I both looked up to see Marcus standing in the doorway.
“Bitch ass nigga!” I yelled, shoving my mug into Amber's hands and launching off the bed. Rage shot through me as I slapped him across the face with everything I had.
“You kidnapped me! Are you out of your fucking mind!”
Amber threw her arms around my waist and pulled me back before I could swing again.
Marcus barely flinched. He rubbed his cheek slowly, looking at me like I was a toddler throwing a tantrum. “You’re not a prisoner, Jas.”
“Word? Then give me my phone,” I demanded. “Let me go home if I’m so ‘free’.”
I tried lunging at him again, but Amber locked her arms around me tighter, dragging me back toward the bed.
“You are home,” Marcus said, stepping further into the room.
