“Of course I love your hair,” the fucker breathes, a note of confusion vibrating his words. “Why do you ask? Did someone do it for you? Someone new?”
“No.” She beams, her spine straight. “I did it all by myself.”
“Oh, you’re such a clever little girl. I’m so proud of you. I just wish you didn’t have to do it by yourself. My sweet girl should be cared for, but I can’t stand anyone other than me taking care of you. I promise this will end soon, and you’ll be back home. You’ll be patient, won’t you, petal?”
“Yes,” she says, the tremor in her voice sending my stomach down to my knees.
I sit straighter, halfway out of the fucking chair, ready to smash the phone because I’m sure she’s left me.
She’s back with him.
My hellcat is gone, replaced by his sweet little doll.
The hold he has on her is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. He molded her back into his little girl with just a few short sentences.
“No, no, no, no tears, sweetheart, please. No tears.” He pauses and I’d give my right hand to see what he’s doing. “It won’t be long. I promise. Just a few more weeks. Don’t cry, sweet girl, you need to take care of yourself for me and tears only make your pretty little head hurt.”
“I...” she chokes, blinking the tears away from her eyes. “I couldn’t get the ribbon perfect.” Her eyes drop to her fingers twisting the frills.
I bolt upright, chest heaving, heart snapping ribs. My right hand twitches toward the handle of my gun, the other locking in my hair and pulling hard.
Sit the fuck down. He’s not here. He can’t hurt her.
But heis. Not physically, but mentally.
Emotionally.
“It’s okay, I’m not mad,” Anton says. “Wipe your eyes, sweetheart. None of this is your fault. I never taught you how to tie the ribbons. It’s okay that it’s not perfect. You did great, little doll. You look beautiful. Do you eat healthy? Drink your milk?”
“Yes, every day.”
“Good, that’s good. I think you deserve a treat for being such a good girl. What do you think? Chocolate?”
She lights up at that. Her whole fucking face transforms like the promise of sugar illuminated her veins and I’m fuckingshakingwhen I realize she hasn’t had any sweets since she moved in.
Not that there aren’t any. A bowl full of chocolates sits right there on the table, propping up the burner phone. Hailey always brings something sweet when she visits, and I dump it all there, snacking on whatever’s inside when I need an energy boost.
I haven’t felt like sweets lately, my energy gets boosted every time my eyes lock with Leilani, and it’s only now that I realize not a single chocolate is missing. She had them right there, could’ve eaten the whole fucking lot, but didn’t.
Every time she walked past this table, she must’ve felt the invisible leash around her throat. The voice in her head whispering:not for you, petal.
My fists curl, veins standing out sharp.
How deep does his hold on her reach that she subconsciously avoids sweets? She broke every rule he imposed and it’s like she knew she didn’t deserve a treat.
And I want to kill him for it.
Not a clean kill. Not a fast one. I want to break his body apart slowly while he begs for mercy he’ll never be granted.
“I had a feeling that would make you happy,” Anton says. “I’ll send your favorite, but remember to pace yourself, okay?”
“Yes.” Leilani nods eagerly. “Just one piece if I’m good.”
The call drags on, every second stretching into hours. He talks in that monotone way designed to rot her brain from the inside out, asking about her week, her food, her sleep. Leilani remains gentle, her voice so sweet I want to tear my ears off.He praises her every minute for doing thingsonher ownlikeit’s a fucking miracle she can brush her hair without his guidance.
I don’t sit back down. In fact, I step closer and closer, my feet moving on their own. She doesn’t notice, entranced by the man on the screen, her lips pursed.
I can’t fucking take that soft-spoken, timid, obedient version of her. I have half a mind to grab her shoulders and shake her back to herself, but before I make that mistake the lock on my door clicks.
