I just looked at him, not giving away anything. I knew why I was here. This prick wouldn’t let me go, and because of that, Drew was gone.
Smirking, “Well, looks like the cat has her tongue.” Looking at the man beside him, “What should we do about this?”
Looking from the man to me, he was in deep thought. He was now tapping the pliers against his lips as he was debating the next excruciating thing to do.
Smiling from ear to ear, he looks at the man beside him one last time. “Say, you got your blade on you?”
The man pulls his jagged blade from behind his back and hands it to him. They exchange the weapons, and now he is slowly walking in my direction.
He leans down, next to the bed and stares at me. “If you scream, it will be worse.”
His eyes travel from mine, down my body and to the spot just above my underwear line. He takes the jagged blade and moves it to my right hip bone. His head pops up to mine and smiles wide as he is pressing down, deep, and dragging the blade across my stomach to my other hip bone.
I wanted to scream so loud, so bad…but I didn’t because I knew he was one to keep his word. Instead, I kept my eyes fixed on the ceiling above me, staring at the moldy spot above my bed and bit down on my lip.
I sat up abruptly and found myself panicking. Where the hell was I?
“Greer, it’s alright. You were just dreaming.” There was panic in my eyes.
I can’t believe I had fallen asleep, in his house. I finally got my breathing under control, and I knew I had to leave. I couldn’t be here any longer, and Thane needed to be out of my life for good. I couldn’t have another ‘Drew.’
“I’m sorry, I have to go.” I removed my feet from his lap, stood up and put my shoes on.
Placing his hand on the doorknob, “You don’t have to go. Just stay, for tonight, okay?”
I hesitated for a long time before turning around and looking at him. I wanted to tell him no so bad, but I knew he would attempt to follow me if I left. I could not let that happen. I needed to hatch a plan.
How could I be so stupid to lead someone on, I couldn’t believe this was happening all over again.
His brow clenched, etched with worry. “Let’s just see where this goes, please.” He was now resorting to begging.
Finally, “Ok, one night. Nothing more than talk.”
He was doing his nervous habit again. Staring at me, with those beautiful green eyes, that I was sure I would miss. “Want some coffee or tea?”
Smiling at him, “Yes, coffee please.”
I followed him to the kitchen. If I had to be here all night I would but, I didn’t want any chance of him following me home. Once the coffee was brewed and sitting in front of us, we began to talk, and my nightmares disappeared.
***
It was getting late, and I had no intention of staying. Looking up from my now empty cup of coffee, I caught Thane staring at me. He was prying, asking about my life and I didn’t like that. I was about ready to tell him I was heading to bed but, he interrupted me before I could speak.
“Let’s go for a ride and get out of here. We can make our way into town and get some drinks.” I looked from him then down to the clothes I was wearing. I was in no position to be going out in public, let alone in my “Got Milk” t-shirt. “I have some clothes upstairs that you might be able to fit into. My sister left them at my place last year and has yet to pick them up, that’s if you want to change.”
I wasn’t going to argue with him. By doing this, I could quickly try to head home at any time in the night.
Walking upstairs to the spare bedroom, Thane had three boxes of clothes. He left me to go get dressed. As I picked through the pile, I stumbled upon a light pink dress with spaghetti straps. Pink really isn’t my color, but it screamed, “wear me.” It was loose fitting just below the hips, and the cleavage area made sure it kept my girls in line.
***
As I looked out the window of Thane's truck, it was pitch black. We drove for a while and once we reached the city the only source of light was the dim street lamps every fifty feet or so. All I know is he was determined to get me out of the house. It could have been a ploy to get me to stay. After the near-death experience in the woods, I was apprehensive about going out.
Thane stopped in front of a bar, looking at me, "Ready?"
Although my mind wanted to stay put I continued out of the truck and started walking towards the building.
"Thane, what are we doing here? You know that this isn't just ANY club, it’s a God damn karaoke bar." Panic set in because I’m not in the best shape to be dealing with anybody if they spot me.
"Relax, you may think I don't hear you but, I do. Every now and then I heard you singing around the house today. You have an amazing voice, and you seemed happy and relaxed when you belt out a verse." Pausing before continuing, “I thought maybe whatever was stressing you out would disappear if you let loose.”
He grabbed my hand, paid the cover charge and zigzagged through the drunken millennials where we ended up on the second floor of the nightclub.
Sliding into a booth, "You don't have to sing if you don't want to. We can just sit here and drink." He had such a mischievous grin on his face, I couldn’t do anything but smile. He gave me a sense of security, but there was no way in hell I was going to let him know.
We were both feeling a buzz after a while and if he wanted to "let loose," I sure would accommodate. One of my favorite tunes started blasting through the speakers. Before he knew it, I was getting out of my seat and leading him to the dance floor. As I was swaying back and forth to the music, he just stood there smiling at me.
"Thane, what are you doing? Didn’t we come here to have fun?” He just stared at me with a look of embarrassment. "Thane, seriously, what's wrong?" By now, I was laughing hysterically at him because he was standing there, frozen.
If he wasn’t going to dance, I was. I found the closest table and hopped up on it. I could hear him, telling me to come down, but I chose to ignore him. He approached me, extending his hand to help me down. I accepted with a big grin on my face.
Instead of dragging him back to our booth, I took him back to the dance floor.
"Ok, I'll let you in on something, but you can’t laugh at me."
"Fine, what is it?" I was trying like hell to hold back the grin on my face. Whatever it was, it had to be good because his face was as serious as it could get.
As the words were coming out of his mouth, the song ended, and it got quiet before a new one came on. Shouting, "I can't dance!" He looked around, feeling embarrassed as if someone had heard him.
Everything I was holding back came blowing out all at once. "Okay, you can’t dance. You took me to a nightclub where you drink, sing and dance. What the fuck did you think was going to happen? Just sit around and watch everyone else?" I just stood there shaking my head at him.
He was the one who wanted to get me out of the house and loosen up. By God I did. He walked away and was heading towards the door to leave. I ran up to him and grabbed his hand and stopped him in his tracks.
"I'm sorry, don't leave." I truly was. I didn’t mean to embarrass him, it was just the location that caught me off guard.
He didn't say anything, just led me back onto the dance floor. A calming acoustic blues song started playing. I looked at him, he turned around and wrapped both of his hands around my waist. Occasionally he would lean in close, and I could feel his breath on my neck for just a few seconds. He’d slowly pull away, and I could feel his heart pounding in his chest. We swayed to the beat of the song until it was over.
At this moment, there was definitely a manifestation of sexual attraction between the both of us. Feelings came rushing to me, ones I didn't know I could have for Thane or anyone else, ever again. After a few songs and some shots of tequila later, he started to completely relax. His tension was gone.
As we made our way from the bar to our booth, the DJ came over the speakers ranting about Karaoke
time. Thane looked up from his drink, into my eyes, not saying a single word.
“Will you just spit it out for the love of God!”
“I think you should go up and sing.” The sparkle in his eyes caught mine. What the hell was he doing to me?
Getting up and walking away from the booth, I headed straight for the karaoke machine. Without turning around, I could feel Thane’s eyes on me. I’m glad his sister had a ton of makeup in one of those boxes because I was feeling confident in the way I looked. It covered up all the bruises.
I had the DJ play a song called ‘Rise.’ It was a person who had been through some rough patches but comes out fighting. The meaning of the song meant more to me than anyone could possibly think, it was how my life once played out and still is.
I was lost in the song as I kept my eyes on Thane. He looked me up and down as if I were naked. I didn’t mind at all. The liquid encouragement had taken me over and I didn’t realize the number of people that were cheering me on until the end. After that, Thane and I did a few more shots, had some laughs and danced more. It was getting late.
On our way, out the door, I turned and kissed him. The alcohol gave me a bit of liquid encouragement. I know I shouldn’t be doing this but…to hell with it. I deserve this.
Before I knew it, we had made our way to the alley next to the club, and he pinned me up against the building. I quickly undid Thane’s belt as he was wiggled out of his jeans.
Stopping me, “Greer, are you sure you want to do this?” Looking into his eyes, I nodded and pulled his head down and kissed him gently.
Pulling my head back I gazed into his eyes, captivated. I placed my hands on his chest and felt his heart beating, picking up the pace every time I moved closer to him. Thane slides both of his hands to my face, studying my reaction. As much as this can’t happen, I want this. His hand glides down my arm, to my stomach, down my leg, and under my dress. He looks at me with a grin, noting I wasn’t wearing any panties. Lust took over, and there was no stopping what was about to happen.
***
As we made our way back to Thane’s house, he looked like he had just had the best sex of his life. Or so I like to think.
“Greer, if you won’t stay the night with me, I insist I give you a ride home. Please, don’t make this an argument. If you stay the night, I’ll let you walk home in daylight all by yourself tomorrow.”
He’s such an arrogant asshole. Did he know I wasn’t planning on staying or was he just making the statement?
Looking from the passenger window to Thane, “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Fine, have it your way. I’ll stay tonight.”
As we pulled up into the driveway and made our way in the house, Thane sat down at the kitchen table. I needed to head upstairs and get this night over with. We had fun tonight, now it’s over.
“I’m going to bed, it’s late, and I’m tired.”
Getting up from the chair, that he just sat down in, he followed me up the stairs with Rem right behind him. Once in my room, I turned around and admired him one last time. After tonight, we would no longer see each other.
“Good night Thane and thank you…again.” Before I could close the door, he leaned in and kissed me, softly on the lips, and walked away. “Let’s go, Rem.”
After closing the door, I stood, staring at it for the longest time. After I snapped out of it, I rushed to change back into my sweats and t-shirt. I walked over to the window, that I had previously fled out of, the last time I was here.
There was no way I was going to let Thane find out where I lived. I had enough people looking for me, and I didn’t want to add to it. I knew it was a mistake coming back here but, I couldn’t stop myself.
Placing my hand on the drain pipe, I jumped out the window and held on. My abdomen was healing nicely but, every now and then when I overdid it, I would get a rush of pain. I held in the scream fearing that Thane would hear me if Rem didn’t already. Sliding down, slowly and quietly, I reached the paved rocks and headed in the direction of home.
***
Approaching the front steps, Summer was sitting outside, smoking and writing in her journal that she kept.
Closing it, “Hey you, what are you doing home? I figured with as late as it was you were just going to stay.”
“Summer, not now.” I gave her a nasty look that I didn't mean to give. With the pain and the long walk, my body reacted without thinking.
“Oh, hell no, I don’t think so!” She stood up and proceeded to stop me in my tracks. “You don’t get to come home acting like that. What’s your problem?” I could tell when she became serious, she had a habit of crossing her arms and her foot would tap. I could never take her anger seriously.
Smiling at her, I told her, “I love you, you know that, right?”
“Uh huh, nice distraction. Spill the beans, now.”
She wasn’t going to give up. “Summer, I just got done fleeing his place once again. I’m tired, and my abdomen hurts right now. All I can think about is a nice, hot bath and bed. Can I go now or do you plan on keeping me hostage outside all night?”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. And yes, to answer your question. Until you can answer me, we are going to be out here all night long. You dance around everyone’s questions and tell them what you want them to hear, and it’s far from the truth. From here on out, it’s gonna stop! Well, at least with me anyhow, got it?”
Damn, was she on a roll. “FINE! Yes, I have feelings for the man who saved my life. Yes, I fled because I was scared for various reasons, none being that I was afraid of him. Now, can I go in?” I know she worried about me.
She just stood there, not moving and not saying a single word.
“I know I’m complicated but, I’m like that for a reason. For as long as I have that charge over my head and…he…is still breathing, I’ll always be like this. I can’t afford to make a mistake, not with you, not with Easton and especially not with Thane. That is why, from here on out, no matter what I try to do to convince you, Thane can no longer be in my life.”
“Thank you.” She moved out of the way and went back to writing.
After my long, hot bath I dozed off. If I couldn’t physically have Thane, I’d let my dreams take over.
Screams came from the hallway. Loud, feminine, agonizing screams. Before I knew it, she was in my room.
She was tall, chocolate skin, messy hair and clothed just like me, underwear and a bra. She paused once she saw me in bed, still tied up to the ring above my head. She rushed over to the corner where it was the darkest and waited.
Not even a few seconds later I heard footsteps running down the hallway, in the direction of my room. A man I haven’t seen before pushed open the door and glanced at me and then around the room. He must not have seen her because he shut the door and left. She was hiding in the shadows.
A few minutes after he left she came over to me. “My name is Sasha.”
That was all she said, and she proceeded to untie my hands. Once they were free, they fell onto the bed. My arms were so numb from being tied up for God knows how long.
She silently walked to the door, “You coming?” Sasha had the door opened and was peeking out to see if the hallway was clear.
I paused, in shock that I was going to make it out of here, alive. “Yeah!” I rushed out of bed and was by her side in seconds.
With our backs to the wall, we slid our way down the hall. We made a few turns, and I was lost. My eyes were still trying to adjust to the light coming in from the windows. I had been in the dark, for what seemed like months, and my eyes wouldn’t improve quick enough.
Leaning against the cold, brick wall, my legs gave out from under me. My knees hit the concrete below so hard, and I wanted to scream out but, had no energy to do so.
“You need to get up. We have to keep going if we are going to get out of here.” Her big brown eyes were staring straight into mine.
Trying to form words with my cracked, dehydrated lips, “I can’t. I�
�m too weak.”
I found her staring at me with anguish ingrained on her face. If I looked as bad as I felt, she should just leave me right here, right now. If I was going to die, which I’m sure I was on the brink of it, I was glad to see a friendly face one last time.
“What’s your name?” She now was holding my shoulders, keeping me from falling to my side.
“Greer, Greer Robinson.” It hurt to talk. My throat was dry and my lips burned.
With tears in her eyes, “Well Greer, let me tell you something. You look like you’ve been to hell and back but, I’m not leaving you. I woke up here this morning, and I’ll be damned if I stay any longer.”
She just got here? “What’s the date today?” I needed to know how long I’ve been here.
“What?”
“The date. What’s the date?”
With a sad look, “May 6th, 2015. We really need to go if we are going to make it out of here.”
Damn, I’ve been here a little over two months now. “Okay.”
***
Walking downstairs, after that nightmare had me shaken, I spotted Summer making breakfast. She had three plates set out on the marble countertop.
“Three plates? Easton here?”
I must have startled her because the glass plate she was holding fell from her hands and hit the tile, shattering. She turned to me with a worried grin on her face like she was hiding something.
“Greer…you’re up…already? So soon? And I…”
Interrupting her, “Why wouldn’t I be? It’s eight thirty in the morning. I never sleep this late. Why are you acting so damn strange?” The pitch in her voice kept going up every time she uttered a word.
She looked down and refused to look at me, “This morning…when I got up…I went outside to do my daily writing.”
“Damn it Summer, get to the point.” I was in such a shitty mood when I woke this morning and now, poof, it’s to the max.
Looking up at me, “Umm, well…we have a visitor. He is outside on the deck.”
Turning around, I felt like the blood had drained from my face. Was I dreaming or was that a silhouette of a man standing on the deck? I don’t know if Summer was shocked by the panic on my face or if she was worried about what I might do next.
Rise (The Phoenix Series Book 1) Page 5
