Ellie left him a letter pinned on her pillow. God, how she cried while trying to write it. Now, she knew he might try to get her at her apartment. She was rushing to pack as fast as she could. She had quite a bit of tips saved and the 500 dollars Morgan had given her. She hadn’t spent it. Now she felt glad she hadn’t. No, she had no real plan. She just hoped he wouldn’t find her. She couldn’t face him.
School? She had to go and she knew this. She couldn’t waste the opportunity. It was almost Spring Break and she could hide out and maybe Morgan would be so angry with her by that time and she could go back without fear he would show up. Yes, by then, the professor would have followed through with the film of her in chains. She knew there were parts that showed her struggling, but the professor had already explained how he would just focus on the parts where she wasn’t. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
How could her life get so bad? She tried to tell herself it wasn’t any worse than what it was before Morgan. She would still have school. OH! She wouldn’t have a job though. He would be sure to go there. Maybe Joanna would allow her a week off? Then it might be safe.
Sniffling, she zipped her last bag up. She’d already had her books and laptop in her car. She gazed around and felt such grief. She remembered when Morgan had first brought her here. She looked over at the door, remembering…
“You ready?” Morgan had asked before unlocking the door.
Ellie had taken a deep breath and nodded.
Morgan had opened the door and ushered her into her fully furnished, sleek, modern, new apartment. The entire east wall was floor to ceiling glass, allowing the early morning sun to brighten up the entire living and dining area.
Ellie had gasped.
“What do you think?”
After a brief moment, she’d turned to Morgan and said, “I think this is amazing. I can’t believe you did all this for me.”
He reached out to stroke her cheek. “I’d do anything for you, Ellie.”
She had leaned into his hand and reached her arm around his waist…
Now, Ellie blinked back tears. “I’d do anything for you, Ellie.” It echoed in her head and felt like a knife in her heart. He would too—he would even kill for her. This she knew and that was why she was leaving. He couldn’t ever know the truth.
Walking out for the last time, Ellie slowly shut the door. Her throat constricted as she swallowed back the tears.
She made her way down in the elevator and into her car.
First, she would head to the campus. She needed to let her counselor know she would be missing the last day before Spring Break started. She hoped to avoid Mr. Hillborn because she might just kill him if she saw him. Rage and misery battled for first place inside her.
She thought to avoid seeing anyone, or anybody seeing her as she pulled around to the back area at the college. She parked and reached for her phone. It had slipped off the seat when she’d made that last turn and she lowered down to grab it.
“HEY!” someone yelled.
She flinched and stayed hidden. Not just someone’s voice—it was Hillborn. She could never forget that voice. Fear raced through her. Was he going to grab her? Attack her here while she was alone in the back parking lot. Her body shook as she rose up just enough to peek out.
Her eyes widened as she spotted two men, hauling Hillborn to a van and tossing him in. The door slid closed and the van took off.
Ellie gasped. What the...? She started her Cooper and pulled out.
She followed the van from at least a 3 car distance, hoping they wouldn’t see her. She wondered what she’d just witnessed. Someone had snatched the man who had raped her. She was afraid these men might spot her, but dammit, she had to know.
It took a half an hour of skulking back and slowly following the van as it finally pulled into a warehouse lot. The warehouse looked well kept, not one of those old ones that were all over this part of Philly. She avoided the warehouse parking lot and paralleled parked on the street across from it.
Ducking down, she watched as they took a struggling and now hooded professor into the warehouse. Then she waited. She didn’t know what she waited for, but she also didn’t know what to do. Who were those men?
She heard voices and peeked out.
It was the two men who’d snatched Hillborn. They moved to the van, got in and left.
So did this mean they killed him already? Or were there more men in there?
She spotted a car heading down the street she’d parked on. A nice car. Like a Lexus or one of those types. Again, she scooted down low in her seat as it too, pulled into the lot. Slowly, she rose up and her eyes widened at the man who got out of the car.
Chance!
What the hell was this? She sucked a breath in. God, he knows and he—he had Hillborn grabbed! Ellie felt rage suddenly, as this meant that Morgan probably knows. She wanted to weep. Pausing, she bit at her lip as she considered what was happening. No. Morgan would be here with him if he knew. Nothing short of being knocked out would stop him. so…Chance has decided to take care of this on his own! She now remembered what he’d said that day they had Italian together. “He’s my best friend. We want the same things in life…at least we did at one time. We are in so many ventures together.”
So, he hoped to avoid having Morgan find out and ruining his life! He’s doing the very same thing I am! Trying to save Morgan from ruin. Ellie got out of the car and ran over to the warehouse door. She had no idea what she intended to do, but this was about her. The professor had done what he did…to her!
Ellie boldly yanked the door open and rushed in. The light was low in the place and she had to allow her eyes to adjust. When she did, she stared as her mouth dropped open.
OH. MY. GOD!
Morgan groaned. His body felt like lead. His head throbbed with a fuck of a migraine. He let out a breath and opened his eyes. He blinked a few times, as he stared at an unfamiliar ceiling. Wait, it was familiar. He tried to raise up and winced.
He looked around at the Hunt Hotel suite. “What the fuck?” How de he get here? Then he remembered. “Fucking Chance!” Hillborn and Ellie. His gut clenched. God, what he did to her! He let out a breath. So what the fuck am I doing here?
A buzzing sounded. He winced as if he was hungover and all sounds were amplified.
BUZZZ!
He looked around for the offending noise. A laptop sat at the foot of the large bed. It was buzzing. He got on his knees and weakly crawled over. A sticky note was on the keys.
PRESS ENTER.
Morgan wrinkled his brow. What kind of game was his supposed best friend playing at now? He shook the cobwebs from his brain and swiped the note off.
He hit enter.
The screen lit up and his eyes widened.
There in chains, in only his boxers was Hillborn.
“So, tell me again what you planned?” Chance’s voice asked.
The man was weeping as he stuttered, “I-I told you already!”
“Well, you need to repeat it again.”
“I-I planted cameras everywhere she w-was. I wanted her for myself. I told her I would ruin that boyfriend of hers if she didn’t keep quiet.”
“And the chains?” Chance walked up and rattled the ones he hung on.
Blood seeped from his lip as Hillborn tried to see him through a swollen eye. “She had lost her phone and I took her to my office?”
Morgan curled his hands into fists. He so wanted to wrap them around this man’s neck and…
“And then what?” Chance prompted in a low voice.
“I showed her the pictures of her and that playboy. I drugged her…”
Morgan felt his body grow rigid as he stared at the man that had hurt Ellie. “DAMMIT!”
“Then afterward, I told her it would ruin him if it went public and…I-I threatened to show the chains video where she came so many times for me. He would leave her then!” The man laughed like he was insane. “I bet he won’t want her now! He can get another woman; he’s had lots of them. He doesn’t love her. Even she knows it.”
“You SICK BASTARD!” Ellie yelled.
Chance looked over and his face paled. “Ellie?”
Morgan growled and moved closer to the laptop. “Fuck!”
Chance seemed to try to keep her from approaching any closer but she fought him off.
Stepping up to where the man hung, she glared at him. “You ruined it! You ruined my life!” Tears streamed down her rosy cheeks. “But you didn’t ruin Morgan’s! I wouldn’t let you. He knows nothing. All he is ever going to know is…” Her voice trailed away.
Morgan’s eyes widened. Is what? What Ellie?
“What?” The crazy professor laughed. “You think he’ll want you now? Used goods!”
“NO! He won’t and I made sure of it.”
Morgan felt confused.
The professor looked confused.
“You can’t hurt him through me anymore you sonof a…” She hauled off and punched him in the gut.
His sneer faltered as he gasped.
She stepped forward and grabbed his cock through his boxers. She twisted it and crushed it in her hand.
Hillborn screamed like a girl.
Chance grabbed her and pulled her back.
She fought him and was angrier than Morgan had ever seen her. Still, he felt proud of her. She hadn’t backed down, despite how this man had frightened her.
Hillborn whimpered a little as the chains rattled. He laughed again. The man was insane and it was apparent to all that watched him.
Ellie squared her shoulders and glared at him. “You aren’t half the man…OR half the person Morgan Hunt is. You’re right though…” She glanced over at Chance. “I’m not good enough to be with him.” She looked back at Hillborn. “If I ever see you anywhere near me. I'll kill you.” She turned and walked away.
Morgan could hear Chance calling after her. Not good enough? He felt tears form in his eyes. Oh, Ellie. It is the other way around.
Hillborn snickered. “Doesn’t matter. That playboy won’t have you or want you anymore, so I win!”
The hell I wouldn’t. I'll always want her and even this wouldn’t kill it. Morgan fumed. The man and it appeared everyone else, didn't seem to know how he really felt about Ellie.
Chance appeared again, and looked up at the camera “You need to find her. Her car is packed up.” He glanced at Hillborn. “Also, forget about being stupid. You will never see this miscreant again.” Chance reached up and the signal buzzed out.
Morgan sucked in a breath. She left me? He could see it now, why she did it. She was protecting me. His whole body shook. What she went through, keeping it to herself. Afraid to tell him. Afraid he would think…Fuck! He didn’t care. Yes, he did, but all he wanted was her. He wanted to take care of her. Love her.
Morgan got up and checked his pants for his keys and he knew just by the way the man operated that Chance had his car moved here, the man apparently was a step ahead at all times. Often, this was aggravating, but in this case, it was a bonus. Yes, his keys were there and his phone was in his other pocket. He rushed out of the suite.