Once Michael was gone, Sakura shut the door and headed over to the bathroom to draw herself a nice cool bath. She even put in a good amount of aromatherapy oil. Gosh, it smelled nice, and she smiled delightedly, finding she couldn’t wait to get in.
While the bath was being filled, she headed back into the bedroom to find her sleepwear. Because it was hot, she decided on a pair of shorts and a tank top. Heading back to the bathroom, she brushed her teeth, and by the time she was done, the bath was ready. Stripping herself naked, she eagerly hopped into the cool, aromatic water.
“Ahh…” She sighed with pleasure. “That feels good.”
She lay there enjoying the moment as her body relaxed. Of course, she consciously tuned out the sound of the storm echoing outside by occupying her mind with the thoughts of Sebastian and Darcy.
Tomorrow evening at the beach house, she’d be meeting with the two men. Her stomach flipped at the prospect as her heart skipped a few beats.
What will their answers be?
She shook her head immediately. No, she didn’t want to think about that now because it would put her in distress mode, dreading and worrying.
She sighed and closed her eyes as she inhaled the sweet scent that lingered in the bathwater and on her skin. She felt as though she were in heaven.
It was some fifteen minutes later when she thought she had better get out and get ready because Michael would be here soon to escort her to Akira’s bedroom where their night full of storytelling would begin.
She rose from the bathtub and then headed into the shower to wash herself off. She was just about to finish when she heard the door banging shut, and she wondered if it was Michael who had come into her room.
She called out, “Michael?”
No answer.
Sakura was curious. She hastily turned off the shower and rushed out. After quickly drying herself with a towel, she pulled on her clothes. Once done, she headed out, calling, “Michael? Was that you shutting the door?”
Once she came into her bedroom, it was to a sudden standstill of shocked surprise. With her heart now pounding vigorously in her chest, Sakura simply stood there, staring wide-eyed at the girl who had taunted and bullied her since she had been a child.
“Tara?” she said in astonishment as she shook her head, obviously not believing her own eyes.
Tara? How can she be here? Why is she here?
Tara, in skinny jeans, a hoodie, and a pair of sneakers, was standing in the middle of the bedroom and glaring at Sakura, her eyes deep and intense, full of malice.
The moment Sakura met Tara’s sharp gaze, she instantly registered what the presence of the woman meant. She took a step back as her eyes strayed to the door—the exit.
“It’s too late,” Tara said darkly, marching toward Sakura. “It’s too fucking late.”
Sakura rushed toward the door. She, however, wasn’t fast enough. In a flick of a second, she felt a pair of hands wrapping around her arms tightly, and then she was roughly pulled back. Her body smashed against a manly body, and Sakura felt her head spinning. When she managed to regain her senses, she looked up to see Ray Woods, the man Daddy James had told her to stay clear of, the man who worked for Mrs. Clark, imprisoning her in his arms against her will.
“You!” she said in alarm, her eyes wide.
Ray flashed her a handsome grin as he said, “Hello, Sakura. We meet again. It must be fate.”
Tara noted the smile and snapped in outrage, “What the fuck are you doing? Flirting with her?” She turned her attention to Sakura and said, “You! Stop fucking around with my man.”
Sakura blinked. Man? Ray Woods was Tara’s man?
Struggling to escape from Ray’s hands, Sakura asked, “What are you two doing here?”
Tara chuckled with amusement. “That’s a funny question, Sakura. I didn’t know you were that funny.” She cocked her head to one side. She’d emphasized the word wereto get her point across.
Sakura understood immediately and knew she was in danger. She knew in her gut there was no time to waste and she must escape these two’s clutches as soon as possible if she wanted to stay unharmed.
She lowered her head as she opened her mouth wide. Then she bit into Ray’s arm as hard as she could.
“Fuck!” the man swore as he let her go.
As she staggered back, Sakura took the opportunity and turned on her heel. Then she headed toward the door. She was just grabbing the handle when Ray caught her by the hair and yanked her back. Sakura screamed in reaction, her heart pounding in dread.
Once she was back in Ray’s arms, Tara came and bound her mouth shut with a cloth as Sakura struggled to free herself. Once done, Tara, pissed at the loud, annoying noise Sakura had made, sent the back of her hand across her face, smacking the girl’s cheek, her skin burning red.
Pain scorched hot on Sakura’s flesh as she heaved in a deep breath. Tears brewed in her eyes at the sudden shocking attack.
“Serves you right for stealing everything from me,” Tara spit out venomously. “You’ve fucked up my plans, my life. Ever since I was young, I wanted to be a Princeton. I wanted to be with them, the brothers, and, oh God, I was doing marvelously well, too. Until last year when you came crawling back and stole them away from me. Fuck you, Sakura, you fucking bitch.” She sent another slap across Sakura’s cheek, twisting the girl’s neck to the left.
Sakura struggled with all her might as tears streamed down her cheeks and her body quivered in trepidation. God, she wanted to scream out for help so badly, but it was impossible because her mouth was bound shut. The binding, too, was extremely tight about her face, tearing into her skin and mouth.
Coming close to Sakura, Tara said, a sneer playing about her beautiful face, “Let me tell you one thing, Sakura. Tonight is your last night. This is it for you.”
Sakura widened her eyes in dread as Tara brought out a handkerchief from within the pocket of her hoodie. Then she stuffed it against Sakura’s face.
Sakura shook her head as she struggled violently, fighting for release. For freedom. For safety. But the handkerchief smothering her smelled odd, and it wasn’t long before she realized what it was. By then, however, it was too late, as she blacked out.
Sakura went from fighting back and struggling violently to falling limp and dead silent. Fully unconscious, Ray lifted her in his arms and said, “Let’s get out of here and get this shit over and done with.”
Still glaring hatefully at Sakura, Tara nodded in agreement. Then she turned on her heel and moved to the door. There, she clicked it open and thoroughly scanned the corridor. Noting that the coast was clear, she nodded at Ray to tell him it was good to go. A few seconds later, the two headed out, Ray carrying Sakura’s limp body in his arms.
Just as they were moving silently across the short distance toward the door that would lead them out onto the balcony and then Alice’s garden below, Michael emerged from the main hallway into the west wing of the house. When the boy turned in that instant, he saw the two walking out into the storm.
He frowned, wondering why he thought he had seen the woman somewhere before. He was positive they weren’t one of the Princetons’ staff working on the island. He cocked his head to one side as he watched them acting rather suspiciously. That was when he saw Sakura in the man’s arms, and he gasped in shocked surprise.
“Sakura!” he said under his breath as he raced after them.
Once he rushed out the door and onto the balcony outside, rain poured down on him and the thunderous storm echoed in the distance. The boy ignored this as his eyes searched wildly in the dark for Sakura.
“Sakura!” he shouted. “Sakura!” He raced to the stairs and then ran down.
Lightning flashed, and in that instant, for a flick of a second, the light shone on the two rushing across Alice’s garden. Michael spotted them between some rose shrubs and the Cheshire cat bush. He raced down the stairs after them, his heart pounding in dread.
Why are those two taking Sakura away? Who are they? But he was sure he had seen the woman before.
He shouted into the night, “Sakura!”
Of course, the monstrous thunder vociferously roared above him, silencing his calling into nothingness. Michael, however, was adamant as he took his job as bodyguard to Sakura very seriously. Sebastian had asked him, after all, and he couldn’t afford to disappoint the man.
He shouted again, “Sakura!”
He was about halfway down the stairs, in such a hurry that he slipped and came crashing onto his backside. “Ouch!” He groaned in pain as he heaved in a deep breath.
His clothes now soaking wet and his whole body aching dully, he managed to get back up.
“Sakura!” he shouted again as he held tight to the rail, careful not to slip again. Then, because he knew he couldn’t go on after them in such weather, besides the fact that he didn’t know his way around the island, he decided to turn back and seek help.