ALAYNAI open my eyes, but I see nothing. Oh my God!
“Hmmph! Hmmph!” I struggle in horror, but the arms around me are so firm, I can’t let go. Shivers travel my whole body. I feel my blood pressure rising, and my heart is violently pounding.
Cassius! Oliver! Casey! Am I being kidnapped? Is this how I am going to die? Is this man going to rape me?The thought instantly brings disgust all over my body.
No, I can’t go through that hell again!I struggle more against him.
“Hmmph! Hmmph!”
Let me go!Then my kidnapper suddenly releases me. The adrenaline slithers through me, and as I’m about to scream, the kidnapper spins me around and covers my mouth again.
“Hmmph!“Hey, hey, hey. Shh... It’s me,” he whispers, and he sounds too damn familiar. “It’s Brandon.” He takes his hood off and reveals his face.
“Brandon?” I say, and my eyes seem to have adjusted. I can somewhat see his face now.
“Hmm.” He nods. “I’m sorry I scared you.”
His hand is still on my back, and I’m pressed against a wall. Our bodies are attached. His face is so close it feels surreal.
“What are you doing here?”
“Okay.” He fondly fixes the strands of hair that are blocking my face. “Listen to me, Alayna. You have to leave this place now,” he says softly.
I frown. “Why? Everyone’s here.”
“You can’t be here!” he hisses. “Come with me. I’ll take you out of here.”
“No,” I refuse, shaking my head. “At least tell me why it’s so important I should come with you.”
He grunts. “Please, we don’t have time. I’ll explain everything to you later.”
“Is this one of your games now?” I ask, keeping my voice low.
“Fuck! Just listen to me. You can’t go back inside. Alayna, you’re being followed.”
“What? Why? And by who?” This already happened before... at his mother’s villa in Portland. I remember seeing the same tortured expression when he found out someone had stolen Betty’s phone and texted me—whoever they were. And he was close to me like this, just like before everything went crazy.
But damn, did he, perhaps...?
“Wait, Brandon. How long have you been here?”
A groan vibrated in his chest. “Half an hour.”
“How did you know I’m being followed?”
“I had someone watch you,” he murmurs.
I’m stunned. “What?”
“Hey, hey. Don’t shout.” He surveys the dark space around us, then sets his eyes back at me.
I remove his hand. “Fine. But, Brandon, you had me followed?”
“I’ll explain later. Let’s just leave for now, okay?”
“But what about the others?”
“I’ll call them. I need you safe first,” he whispers. His voice almost sounds like a song in my ears.... like he still cares about me.
He pulls my hair down, then puts a black cap on my head. His thumb brushes on my cheek. “Now wear this.”
“You’ll tell me what’s going on, right?”
“Yes, I promise. Come on.”
Even though our circumstances pain me, I can’t control my feelings for him. If this is the only time I can be with him, I’ll cherish every moment. After everything that has happened to us, even if I try to open myself to someone else, Brandon still holds my heart.
Suddenly, something vibrates in Brandon’s pocket.
“Damn it,” he curses. He draws out his phone and answers the call right away. “Oliver?”
But even in the dark, I’m aware of his furious expression.
“Who are you? Where is he? What else do you fucking want?”
I feel my body waver. I never heard him speak to Oliver this way.
“I swear, if you dare put your hands on Oliver, I’m going to kill you! I’m going to fucking kill you!” He cuts the call.
My body tenses at his reaction. I’ve never seen him so angry before. Who was he talking to?
“Brandon, what’s going on?”
“They’ve got Oliver.” He runs his hand through his hair. His eyes are ablaze. “They got him.”
My blood pulses violently in my eardrums. I’m suddenly dumbfounded.
Oh my God, Ollie...He’s just spoken to me this afternoon about my plan to leave and then his confession. Guilt and unwanted thoughts suddenly flood through me.
Why would they take him? Weren’t they supposed to take me?
“Come on. We’re wasting time.” Brandon grabs me by the arm and drags me out of the room. Two security men who are both dressed smartly in black suits appear and cover for us, leading us out of the place.
Four black SUVs are already outside the club, but Brandon heads to the Mercedes in front, shoves me inside, and drives off. Two cars follow closely.
“How about Casey and Cassius? Are they safe?” I ask when we get in the car.
“I don’t know, Alayna!” he snaps.
“Did they tell you what they want? You said I’m being followed. Were they meant to take me?”
“No!” he barks. “It is meHe presses his temples, then turns his gaze to me. His face is tormented. He grabs my hand, clasping it with his icy fingers. “It would kill me if anything happened to you, so I need you safe.”
My heart melts. His words and gestures are surreal. Maybe he does care for me... at least a little.
“What are you going to do?”
“Let’s get you somewhere safe first. Oliver needs me. I’ve got to find him.”
“You’re going to find him alone? No! What if we tell the police?”
“We can’t,” he says, his voice deadly quiet.
“Why? This is kidnapping. Oliver’s life is on the line.”
“We can’t involve the police. Some things are meant to be hidden. You won’t understand.”
“I think that’s the problem. You won’t tell me a single thing. How am I supposed to understand if you can’t open up to me?”
His jaw tenses. “Alayna, please.”
My stomach twists. “Fine. I just hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I’ll call Cassius.” He reaches into his pocket and dials.
Fortunately, Cassius answers. From what I hear in their conversation, Cassius and Casey are safe, but they are still in the club manager’s office.
“Listen,” Brandon continues. “Let’s meet somewhere safe. I’ll send you a text where. What? No... I already informed security. Keep an eye on Casey.... Yes, I’ll be there... I know, don’t worry... Alayna’s with me. I’ll explain everything to you later.” He hangs up, and our speed increases.
“Why didn’t you tell Cassius about Ollie?” I ask.
“I can’t tell him now. He’ll likely take action alone without a plan. I need him with a clear mind,” he explains with his eyes on the road.
“Where are we going?”
“Vermont.”
Watching him drive is not new to me, but he handles the wheel with confidence, power, and control now. He isn’t the man who hides from the world because he’s afraid anymore. He is a changed man. He drives fast but easily maneuvers the curves and planes of the city.
I wish I could hold Brandon’s hand or embrace him and tell him that everything is going to be fine, even if I’m not sure about it myself. But I have no right to do such a thing. Despite my unclear relationship with Cassius, I know something’s going on between us, and Brandon is with Pauline now.
“I’m going to get him back, Alayna,” Brandon says. “I will do whatever it takes.”
“You don’t want Cassius to take action alone, but you clearly want to do this all by yourself.” I shift my gaze back at him. “You need help from the right authorities. How’re you going to do this alone? It’s risky.”
“I’m not going to be alone, and whatever it is I’m doing, you just have to trust me.”
“How can I trust you when you can’t even trust me with the truth?”
He asked me to forgive him, but there are tons of reasons why I can’t. He hurt me, but I don’t want to be weak and give in to any of his empty promises anymore. No matter what I think, he still cares for me. I’m afraid that he might leave me again.
This is why I didn’t just fully give myself to any relationship. Only to him. But where did this take me?
Suddenly, to my astonishment, Brandon pulls over on the side of the road.
“Hey!” I shriek. “Why did you stop?”
“Alayna...”“But don’t you think I deserve to know why you are being like this?”
“This is the safest way I know to protect you.”
“By pushing me away? This doesn’t protect me. This“I waited for you, Brandon. You’ve been gone for a year without any single text or a call. I went to Athens to see you, but you didn’t face me. You shut me out. Am I not good enough for you? Is this because I’m just a lowly cook, and you are powerful? Or is it because your first love... you realized you still love her?”
“This isn’t....” He clenches his jaw. “Fuck, Alayna! It’s not like that. It’s never been like that.”
“Then what?” I demand. “What’s wrong with me?”
“Nothing’s wrong with you!” he exclaims. “We have to do this later. Oliver needs me, and we’re wasting time.” He shoves his hand through his hair. “I don’t know what else to say to you.”
My cheeks burn in anger and irritation. He really knows how to shut me up.
I close my eyes and try to focus my thoughts. Being with Brandon like this doesn’t make a difference. What pains me more is realizing that he is right. This is not just about him and me anymore. Oliver got abducted. Finding him is the priority now.
“Okay, fine. But one last thing: If this is your odd way of protecting me, then I don’t like it. Please just stop confusing me. It’s over now. I get it.”
Silence.
“Alayna, it is neverWhat?His eyes burn into me, and I’m foolishly compelled by him again.
“I hate that we’ve been apart,” he says. “I hated every moment you’re not with me. I hate every fucking second I have to use the excuse of doing what is needed—and that is staying away from you to keep you safe. Alayna, I hate that because of me, you are in danger. So please, baby...” He shifts his body so that he’s facing me. He reaches out and runs his thumb down my cheek and lower lip. “I’m sorry, and I want you to trust me.”
He leans forward and plants a brief, soft kiss on my forehead, leaving me reeling, my stomach twitching, anticipating his next step. My throat dries up.
“And If I’m...” he pauses. “If I am sorry for everything... I won’t be sorry for this.” He grabs the back of my neck and crushes his lips against mine.