by Alice Ward
“Pull it out. This shit isn’t looking good.” He leaned back in his seat and turned his face from mine.
I hated like hell to call Jon Mills, but with Alisa possibly in trouble or in harm’s way, I had no choice. I dialed his number and turned into the parking lot at Alisa’s place. He answered on the first ring, his voice pinched with anxiety like I’d only heard him sound a few times.
“Zek.”
“Jon, tell me where Melissa is. You know I didn’t do that shit to her, and she’s out of the hospital—”
He cut me off. “Shut the fuck up and find your girlfriend. Melissa showed up this morning talking crazy and acting like she used to when Dana didn’t give the girl her medicine.”
“Where is she now, Jon?” I parked the car and got out as I pulled the phone from my pocket and pressed it to my ear. I lost a bit of what he said as the phone reconnected to the hand-held device, but cut him off. “Tell me that again. I lost part of it.”
We ran toward Alisa’s apartment to find the door slightly ajar. I didn’t pause, but raced in to see her purse on the floor and no sign of her.
“I said that Melissa has paranoia-schizophrenia and is bipolar. She’s not stable, and where I would defend her to the end because she’s my daughter, I’m telling you that she’s after you. I should have called the cops, but I couldn’t. I was praying they would find her without my help. I didn’t need any more guilt on my shoulders.”
“Find her, Jon. Alisa is missing.” I hit the end button and dropped the phone in my pocket as I moved through the tiny apartment. “Alisa? Baby? Where are you?”
Insanity threatened to steal my voice as the room grew darker. I pressed my hand to the wall beside me and turned to find Ronald standing in the kitchen.
“Something went wrong here, Zek. Her purse is all over the floor and the door was open? I don’t like it.” He moved down the hall, but I couldn’t force myself to follow.
“She down there?” I called out with a shaky voice. My whole upper body was starting to shake due to the heavy dose of adrenaline pumping through me.
“No, man. She’s nowhere in the house.” He walked back into the living room as my phone rang.
I pulled it to my ear, grateful that she wasn’t dead somewhere in the apartment, but still at a complete loss for where she was. I was desperate to find her, or at least hear her voice.
Lizzy’s was the voice I got instead. “She’s not at the office for sure. We’re here now. Did you talk with her brother? Have you made it to her place?”
“Clark’s helping me look and will make sure she’s not at her mom’s, but I’m pretty sure something went wrong here.” I took a deep breath and forced myself to walk to the door. “The door was ajar when we got here, and her purse is spilled out across the floor. We need to call the cops. Now.”
“We’ll call since you’re not supposed to be there. We’ll head that way.”
“Lizzy, I need to know if you can think of anything that might help us. There’s no fucking way I’m believing Melissa took Alisa against her will. Alisa is a tough girl and doesn’t put up with any shit. Like none.”
“None!” I heard my brother’s voice in the background.
“There had to be someone who helped her. I need to figure this out. Jon’s a hot mess because Melissa was there this morning.” I started to talk again, but Lizzy cut me off.
“I don’t know of anything else, Zek. I sent Dillon over there to tell Alisa about Melissa, and he would have been the last person to—”
“Dillon? Who the fuck is Dillon?” My heart almost stopped in my chest. I pressed my back to the wall closest to me. “Oh shit. Don’t tell me you guys hired Dillon Starling.”
“Wait. What? How do you know Dillon? He’s the newest member of the firm. He—”
“Fuck, Lizzy. Dillon is Jon’s stepson. He’s Melissa’s brother.”
CHAPTER TEN
Alisa
I woke up to someone petting my face rhythmically. I would have assumed it was Zek, but the touch was rough, too rough.
“There you are.” Dillon’s voice was filled with an odd calmness that left me jerking back and letting out a muffled scream.
I was in the middle of someone’s living room, tied to a chair.
Dillon was squatting in front of me, and I tried to kick at him, but my legs were tied up too.
“You’re alright, sweet girl. I tried to do this the easy way, but you’re so damn persistent on being a tough cookie to crack.” He smiled, and I could see a bit of the crazy in him I thought I’d seen in Melissa. Did they know each other or was my life so fucked up that I just happened to stumble on the situation with him all on my own?
I nodded, trying to think back to my psych classes where we were taught how to deal with all types of people with mental illness. I wasn’t sure he had been deemed sick, but looking at him now, I couldn’t understand how any of us missed it before. He was a chameleon, much like Melissa.
“I’m going to pull this gag off you, but only if you’ll promise not to scream. I’m not in the mood to hear you go crazy as if I’m the type of guy who’d hurt you. I won’t. Understand?” He brushed the back of his fingers against my cheek, and I forced myself to stay still.
I nodded and relaxed my jaw as he worked to remove the gag from my mouth.
“Thank you,” I whispered and glanced around the room, trying to determine if anything might give me a clue as to where the fuck I was. I’d never been in that room before, but that wasn’t much of a surprise. Dillon was new to the firm, and whoever was responsible for looking into his background would definitely be getting fired.
“You okay?” He slipped his hands around my face and forced me to look at him. “Hey. Stay with me, okay? You’re not getting out of this without my help, but I’m willing to help you.”
“Why? Aren’t you the one who kidnapped me?” I looked up into his beautiful blue eyes and couldn’t help but shutter at the monster that poked around the edges.
“Yes, but I didn’t want to. My sister left me no choice. She’s a hateful bitch. We need to wait until she’s asleep, and then I’ll help you get out of here. You have to make it look like it’s all you though. She’ll kill me if you don’t.” He brushed his thumb over my lips. “What is it about you that drives me insane? I can’t stop thinking about you.”
His eyes got a faraway look, and I had very little doubt as to who his sister was. He looked too much like Melissa now that he was in my face and staring down at me. Anger burned through me at Zek’s shitty choices for a few one-night stands. What was he thinking? Two quick fucks and my life was on the line and his had been stolen for a time. The insider trading was the reason for the jail time, but no one could convince me that the rape charges just a few weeks before didn’t sway the judge and everyone else in the fucking room that day.
“I need to go to the restroom. Is that a possibility?” I whispered roughly, as if fear had its bony fingers around me. In a way it did, but I was so full of piss and vinegar that fear could take a backseat to anger, and did most days.
“Yeah, I guess. Don’t make me regret this though.” He moved around and freed my hands and then my feet. My need to tackle him was almost overwhelming, but I needed a better sense of where the door was before I made my move and ended up trapped inside anyway. It would just leave him pissed, and something told me that with is unnatural obsession about me, I’d not get out of the situation unscathed.
“I won’t. I promise.” I moved just in front of him, tense and shaking slightly. He never touched me, and I wanted to give him credit for holding so tightly onto his self-control, but he was sick... much like his sister. “Why would you help Melissa with this? You know as well as I do that it won’t turn out well.”
He grabbed my arm and spun me to face him before pressing me hard against the wall.
Fuck.
“How did you know that Melissa was my sister? Did she say something to you?” His breath blew across my face, and the scent of p
eppermint filled my senses.
“No, but you look like her, and I can’t imagine anyone else wanting to hurt me but her.” I pushed at his chest softly. “Dillon. Back up a little. I was just starting to like you when all of this happened. I can’t see myself being with a villain. It’s just not possible.”
His expression softened. “But a hero?”
“Yeah. Exactly.” I moved out from in front of him and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind me and pressing my back to it.
“Hurry up. I don’t want to deal with her shit if she finds you up moving about. She wanted you tied up until she got to see you.” He tapped the door softly, but it caused me to jerk away.
I walked to the bathtub and reached up to see if the small window at the top of the shower would come loose. After flushing the toilet, I tried again, but the damn thing wouldn’t budge. Not that I’d be able to scale the wall to reach it either way, but I was willing to try just about anything to get away from Melissa.
Dillon was most likely the only rational one in the house, which was terrifying, and yet having built a small rapport with him over the last few weeks at Dellup had to help. That and the fact that he’d already married me and started a life with me in his head.
“This is so fucked up.” I flushed the toilet again and started to pace the floor.
“You okay? Your stomach sick?”
“Yeah. That happens to a person when they ingest chemicals and are kidnapped.” I rolled my eyes, hating how much like my father I was at the moment. I couldn’t just keep my damn mouth shut.
“I know. I’m sorry about that. Come out, and I’ll get you some water and a cold rag. I have to tie you up, but I’ll make the bindings loose and take care of you while we wait on Melissa.” He sounded kind, so much so that it made me sicker. He needed professional help, much like Melissa did. What the hell had Jon Mills done to his kids to have them both so messed up?
I opened the door and moved out as he reached for me and slid his hand into mine.
“Don’t tell Melissa that we’re in love. Got it? She won’t be okay with that. It will only make matters worse.” He moved me back into the living room, and I took my seat without being asked.
“Keep the bindings loose. Okay?” I leaned back and closed my eyes, trying to decide if running was a good option. If he didn’t tie the ropes too tight, then I could get free at any time. Did I really want to fully escape and leave Melissa free to go after Zek?
“Of course, baby.” He moved behind me as the door to my left opened.
Melissa stopped just outside the doorway and smiled at me. “Wow. You did it, Dill. I’m proud of you. I was a little worried you wouldn’t be able to go through with it.”
Dillon shot up and moved around to stand between me and Melissa, unfortunately blocking my view.
“I did like you asked. Easy as pie.” He shrugged and turned to wink at me before turning back to her. “I’m getting Alisa a drink. You want something?”
“No, and she doesn’t get a drink. Stop treating her like a fucking guest. She’s not one.” Melissa pushed at his shoulder and he moved out of the room, leaving me there with her. “You think you’re so fucking smart, don’t you?”
She leaned down and touched the tip of my nose as I jerked back from her.
“Keep your hands off me, you sick bitch.” I turned back in time to take a hard slap to the face. I didn’t flinch, but simply watched as the mask slipped off her face and the real lunatic came out to play.
“You have no idea how much I want to kill you and be done with it, but that’s not enough. I had feelings for Zek, and he wanted to be with me, but you fucked that up. He’s the only man who could have helped me, who would have taken care of me.” She was in my face, yelling so loud that my head began to hurt.
“Why do you think that, Melissa?” I spoke softly, keeping my expression completely calm. “Did he love you too?”
“He still does. You’re just a bed warmer until we can be together. I went to his house the night he was cut, but I didn’t do that shit.” She growled as spit collected at the side of her mouth. “He did it himself.”
“Melissa!” Dillon walked back into the room and moved to stand in front of me.
Melissa backed up and grabbed the water glass from his hand, tossing it behind her.
“No. The bitch doesn’t get anything.”
She pulled a phone from her back pocket and moved to stand beside Dillon as he started to plead with her. He was three times her size. Why in the world he followed her orders was a mystery to me.
I was lost to the idea of just how messed up these two were, but I wasn’t playing my cards very well at all. I couldn’t hold back my anger, but I needed to try harder. There was no end in sight for the situation if I didn’t get Dillon alone and start sweet talking him again.
“Let’s do this...” Melissa smiled. “I have your cell phone, and my favorite boy toy has been blowing it up non-stop. Let’s call him and let him know you’re good, but you’re not at all interested in him anymore. You wanna help me with that?”
“No. I’d rather not.” I flinched as she reached for my face, grabbing me just under the chin and squeezing hard.
“Did I ask? Oh right. I did. Ignore that. You’re doing it. You don’t have a choice. He belongs to me, and you’re the only thing standing in my way. Release him from the silly relationship you guys recently started, and I’ll let you go, but you don’t get to see him again. Ever.”
“Or?” I kicked myself internally as she hit the button to call Zek.
“Or I’ll kill him. And you. And Clark. And Ben.” She smiled as if proud of herself.
All the blood drained from my face as my heart almost stopped in my chest. She knew everyone I loved. How? What else did she know?
“Alisa?” Zek’s voice was frantic as he called out.
She pushed it toward me and mouthed, ‘talk’.
I shook my head. I wasn’t going to say a fucking thing.
Melissa glanced up, looking behind me and nodded. “Do it.”
I didn’t get a chance to turn around as Dillon pulled my hair hard. A cry left me, and Zek’s voice rose in volume, as did the panic in it.
“Baby? Where the fuck are you? Tell me where you are now. Alisa. Please.” His voice broke as tears filled my eyes.
“I’m okay. I’ll see you soon. Just take care of—”
Melissa pulled the phone back, pressed a few buttons and threw it at me as Dillon released my hair.
“You stupid bitch. That’s it. There’s no need for you to break up with Zek. I’ll just get rid of the problem and this shit will be over.” She pulled a knife from her back pocket and pointed it toward me. “Hold her still, Dillon.”
“What? You said no violence, Mel.” He touched my shoulders as I yanked my hands hard, but not getting anywhere. “You promised.”
“Well. I fucking lied.”
I closed my eyes as she lunged.
Continue on to read Part 5…
THE BILLIONAIRE PRISONER
PART FIVE
CHAPTER ONE
Zek
How everything had gotten so incredibly fucked up was beyond me. Not only was Melissa Mills free in the world with a few screws missing, but her brother had been accepted at Lizzy and Alisa’s firm. Dillon Starling was not only a playboy and a half, but he was cunning, conniving... he was just like his father.
I slid my hand up the wall just beside the front door at Alisa’s place and took a shaky breath as my sister-in-law went off on a tangent over Dellup’s partners not realizing they were hiring Jon Mills’ son. I pressed the phone to my ear and tried to think through what the hell to do next.
My hands were tied thanks to my house arrest, and though my parole officer, Ronald, was beyond laid back, I was pushing my luck as it were.
“They don’t have the same last name!” Lizzy’s voice bordered on something like hysteria. I’d never seen or heard the woman lose her cool in all the years sh
e’d been married to my brother.
“It’s Jon’s stepson, but he raised the guy.” I turned and pinned Ronald with a look, whispering, “We need to go.”
“We’re almost to Alisa’s. Get out of there and head back to your house now.” Lizzy growled softly through the phone. “I’ll have the cops there in a few minutes and we’ll continue the search. Melissa isn’t stupid enough to hurt Alisa, right? The girl isn’t that off her rocker, right, Zek?”
I let out a long sigh. “I don’t know. My instincts tell me no, but none of us really know this woman at all. Jon was a mess when I spoke with him a few minutes ago. She’s hell bent on taking me under, which I guess I understand, but Alisa shouldn’t suffer on my behalf.”
The phone buzzed as Ronald and I walked from the apartment. I’d have to leave the investigation part to the cops, but I wasn’t planning on returning to the house just yet. Jon Mills had been my lawyer for more years than I cared to count. I was hoping like hell Ronald would let me pay the old man a visit. We needed to see if Jon knew where Melissa was. He was our only hope for information, and though he was knee deep in his own agony over everything, he still had some good inside of him. He had to.
“Someone’s buzzing in, Lizzy. I’ll call back later.” I didn’t wait for her reply, but hit the button to answer the incoming call as I realized it was Alisa’s number.
“Alisa?” My voice broke, and I realized then and there that I could hide my fear from everyone else, but not to myself. The thickness of my despair was suffocating and hard to breathe past. A loud cry lifted from the phone and caused my blood to run cold. It was her crying out in pain. It did something inside of me. It broke me.
I stopped in the hall and pressed my hand to my face. “Baby? Where the fuck are you? Tell me where you are now. Alisa. Please.”
“I’m okay. I’ll see you soon. Just take care of—” I could hear the despair in her voice, though she seemed to be trying to mask it.
