Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 64835 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64835 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Really? That’s the best he’s got after what happened the other day? I can’t help but notice the swollen bump on his head, the wound scabbed over. I do feel a little bad, I could have killed him after all.
“Me caveman, you little woman ... ugh ugh,” I mutter, standing.
His eyes widen and a ghost of personality flickers in those depths, but he quickly smothers it. I think back to the club, and how he charmed me with his fake smile.
“Keep the singing down, you’re drivin’ me fuckin’ crazy,” he growls.
Oh, that. I have been making a point of singing as loud as I can during the night, knowing full well it’ll send him over the edge. If he wants to lock me in a room, then he can sure as hell fucking deal with what I decide to dish out to him.
I shrug. “What would you do if a crazy man kept you captive in a small, horrible room?”
“I wouldn’t be so stupid as to get caught.”
Ouch.
“You drugged me, I hardly had a chance,” I snap.
“Didn’t your parents ever teach you not to take drinks from strangers?”
“My parents weren’t the darling couple you assume. My father was always working, and I’m fairly certain it was because he couldn’t handle my mother. They didn’t have time to teach me anything. Not that it’s any of your business.”
Jagger leans against the door frame and stares at me, arms crossed. “I didn’t assume anything.”
“You assumed I’m stupid for taking the drink.”
“I just assumed you would know better.”
“Well excuse me for finding a man attractive. I thought I was going to have a wild passionate night with a gorgeous dude, instead I got kidnapped by a fucking crazy person.”
He glowers at me, stepping forward. “Careful.”
“Or what? What are you going to do, Jagger?” I challenge.
His face hardens. “Do you have any idea who you’re dealing with?”
“I. Don’t. Care.”
He steps forward again, like a god damned lion stalking its prey, and I shuffle backward without thought. He smirks. I have learned Jagger’s smirk is so far from a smile, it’s deadly and dangerous, and he knows it.
“If you don’t care, then why are you shuffling backward?”
“If you want to hurt me Jagger, just do it and get it over with. You’re either a nice guy, or a bad guy, no one can be both.”
He spins around and walks to the door, then turns and looks back at me. “Can’t they?”
4
“Willow, you can’t keep doing this to yourself.”
“Why not, Jenny? You tell me, what is there to live for? Tell me. Because right now, it seems like nothing but an endless spiral of darkness and pain.”
“Life can be hard, and then it gets better. You just have to wait for those moments where it’s better, I promise you, they’re coming.”
“You keep saying that, but I haven’t seen them. I haven’t even felt them.”
“Maybe, but if you hurt yourself, one day there will be no coming back and you’ll never have the chance to experience them.”
I meet her eyes. “Maybe that’s what I want.”
She frowns and takes my hand. “It’s not what you want, you’re in a dark place but it will get better ...”
“Get out of there, now!”
The pounding on the bathroom door snaps me out of my intrusive thoughts, thoughts that are consuming my mind now more than ever. It has been another two days, and I’m in the bathroom, soaking in the soap less tub, refusing to acknowledge him. They’ve given me the essentials, a bar of soap, a toothbrush and, occasionally, they bring me a tiny bottle of shampoo and conditioner. So showering is easy enough, but having a bath isn’t. I decided today I was going to soak in the hot water, even if I didn’t have any bubbles.
My mind needed it almost as much as I did.
Another bang slams against the door, making the entire room rattle.
God, someone is moody.
Huffing, I stand and climb out of the tub, wrapping a towel around myself and walking over, opening the bathroom door. Jagger is standing, arms crossed, fury tight on his handsome face. His gaze drops down to my wet skin and his jaw muscle jumps. Did my kidnapper have a peek? I clear my throat and Jagger looks up to meet my gaze. He smirks and leans against the door.
“Tryin’ to get the smell out?”
Oh, he’s in one of those moods is he? Well, I’m not.
“Fuck off.”
His eyes widen and he loses the smirk. “You’re cooking for me tonight, it’s about time you started earning your keep.”
“Earning my keep? You’re joking, right? You haven’t given me a choice thus far, and if I had one, I wouldn’t be here. I don’t owe you shit.”
“It’s simple, sweetheart,” he growls, leaning in close, “you either stay in this room or you have the chance to come out and do something with yourself. What’s it going to be?”