Elijah
The cemetery is quiet as I look around and take in the number of memorials and graves. All people who’ve left families behind, friends, lovers. I bring my gaze back to the headstone with Raquel’s name on it. Beloved Wife. She was that and so much more.
“I have put off coming here for so long, but it’s time, my sweet.” I tell her. The warmth of the sun bathes me in its glow. As if she’s looking down on me and smiling. She had the most incredible smile. It could light up any room. “I spent years in the dark. When you died, I lost myself. I forgot who I was. There was no longer the strong, courageous Elijah Draydon. All that was left was a shell. I was a widower.”
Leaning in, I place the single red rose on the ground beside the headstone. I don’t feel pain as I do it. I no longer have an aching heart. That causes me to smile, a small one, but a smile nonetheless.
“You sent Riley to me for a reason. She’s all grown up now. A woman. Her name is Giana. I’m still not sure why she changed her name, but as we learn more about each other, I’ll find out the rest of her story.” Sighing, I glance around, I’m not sure if I’m waiting for an answer from her, a response of some kind, but I don’t get one. “I want to marry her, babe. I want to give her a family.”
Silence settles around me after I admit what I’ve been thinking. Each time I make love to her, fuck her, I spill my seed inside her, wanting and needing her to fall pregnant. I want that. The perfect family.
“You were the chapters of my life I’ll never forget. I’ll re-read those pages to Giana, but I know what you tried to do. Looking after me even when you were gone, you were always so selfless. A submissive even in death. Well, your plan worked. It may have taken a few years, but I’m happy. I’m content. And I’ve come today to say goodbye. Raquel, I realize I can’t move forward if I’m still holding on to you. It’s not fair to Gia. And it’s something I need to come to terms with. You’re gone. I’ll never stop loving you. In some way…” My words trail off as a car passes slowly. I glance at it, then look away.
I look toward the trees in the distance, wishing they’d allow me a glimpse of Raquel, but they don’t.
“Goodbye, my sultry Toy. Thank you for the years you gave, and the heart you saved. I’ll forever be grateful for you. I love you,” I utter the words and turn away. I may come back again someday, bring Gia along with me, but today I needed to do this on my own. I had to let go and know that I’m strong enough to finally lay my wife to rest.
When I reach the car, I press the key fob and slip into the driver’s seat. Before I can start the engine, my phone vibrates and I pick it up to find fifteen missed calls and thirty unread messages. Immediately my heart rate spikes. Opening the first message, I find Carrick’s name glaring at me.
*Get to Sins now. It’s life or death*
*Where the fuck are you, man? Gia is in danger. Get your ass here now*
I don’t read the rest, instead I dial Rick’s number while I start the engine.
“Jesus, Eli. Where the—”
“What happened? I can be at Sins in ten minutes.” He sighs and I wonder if he’s stalling because he doesn’t want to tell me, or if something more serious happened that he can’t tell me. “If you don’t tell me, I swear to God—”
“Her Dom, the one she escaped has her. He contacted her this morning and…” His words trail off and I’m ready to punch a hole through a fucking brick wall if he doesn’t explain himself. “William found her. She called me and I told her I’d have a car pick her up, but when I messaged her to tell her the driver was going to be late, she responded by telling me she was in the car already. She called me, but after a minute of talking, she went offline.”
“Her GPS—”
“I’ve tried. It’s been shut off. I can’t find her, Eli. I have men working on it.” My foot presses down on the gas, weaving through traffic with my body tense. Anger courses through me. Guilt. I left her alone this morning. I should’ve taken her with me. This man will pay.
“Find her, Rick,” I warn. I’m not angry at him, I know he’ll do what’s best for my girl, but deep down I’m angry at myself. Hanging up, I focus on the road ahead. All I see is red. I want this monster killed. If I have to spill blood, I’ll do it. Fuck the consequences. I’ve lost her once, I don’t intend on doing it again.
I promised to keep her safe. Just last night, I vowed to never let harm come her way and a day after, I’m already breaking that promise. “If you’re out there, Raquel, if you can hear me, even for a second, look after her. I’ll find her. And when I do, she’ll never leave my fucking sight again.”
I see the sign for Sins a few hundred meters away and I find myself breathing again. My chest aches, it feels as if someone has punched their way through my chest and they’re about to rip my heart right from its cage.
Pulling up to the club, I exit the car without killing the engine and race inside. When I step into the dimly lit space, I find Carrick with at least eight men on computers, phones, all dressed in black suits. They look like they’ve walked right out of the offices of the CIA.
“Eli,” he says, turning to face me as I stalk up to him.
“Have you found her?” He regards me for a moment before shaking his head. “Dammit!” I spin on my heel and slam my fist straight into the glass of the liquor cabinet to my left. The shattering of glass causes the men to stop for a second before continuing their work.
“Eli, I need you calm.”
“Calm? Are you fucking kidding me?” I’m roaring, but Carrick doesn’t even flinch. He merely watches me for a moment then he nods.
“I get you’re worried. I am too. I love that girl, but you slamming your fist into inanimate objects isn’t going to help. I have the best men on this job so please, I need you to relax. We will find her, and when we do, she’ll need you to be a foundation for her.” He’s right, so I acknowledge him.
“Fine, but I have to do something.”
“At this stage, I have my team working on it. Have a drink,” he says, shoving a bottle of whiskey at me along with a crystal tumbler. I grip the bottle, pouring a triple shot. Slamming the bottle down on the oak counter top, I lift the glass to my lips and swallow the whole shot. It burns, rendering me speechless and emotionless for a moment.
“I need her, Carrick,” I tell him, meeting his golden eyes once more. They shine like a predator’s, deadly and fierce, and I know that with him on our side, my girl will be saved.
“Elijah, if there was ever a time to trust me, it would be now. I saved her once, and I’ll do it again. Even if it’s the last thing I do.” His brutal honesty eases my fear, but deep down, it makes me wonder why he’s never settled with one submissive. If he’s so caring, so devoted to keeping girl’s safe, something must have happened to have pushed him away from taking on a girl of his own. Someone he could really care for.
He turns and heads to the men at the table, I follow, needing to be a part of this. Even though the alcohol has simmered my rage, deep down there’s a volcano brewing and I have a feeling it’s going to explode really soon.
“We may have a bite. The GPS on the phone has just been turned on again,” one of the men says, pointing at the screen. Both Carrick and I are on our feet, stalking over to the table. I notice the red dot flashing and my heart slams in my chest painfully. She’s alive. I’m so sure. I haven’t been surer of anything in my life.
The problem is, the spot in question is about two hours away.
“Let’s get your girl back. I’ll have the private jet fuel up, and wait for us at the hangar.” Carrick smirks. Something about this man tells me he’d easily kill someone and not look twice. And right now, that’s exactly what I need.
This is going to take too long. We’ve wasted time standing around, but I know there’s nothing more I could’ve done. I can’t help myself, my legs carry me as I start pacing the floor of the club. Sins is a decadent wonderland at night, but in the light of day, it’s just a normal bar. There aren’t any whips and chains, no sensual women dressed to kill, and no men in suits with roving eyes.
The tension in my shoulders tighten as my mind plays out all the scenarios I’m in for. Thoughts of what my girl is going through loop in my mind and the more they do, the more anger settles in my gut. My blood is boiling by the time Carrick returns from his office.
“Let’s go,” he says, stalking by me with five men flanking him. I didn’t notice it earlier, but they’re all armed. I don’t ask why or how Rick knows them, I’m just thankful that he does. Because if it weren’t for him, I’m not sure I’d be able to do this on my own. Frustration blooms once more when I think about how useless I am to her, to the woman I’m meant to protect.
We reach the car and I join Carrick in the back.
“We’ll find her, and don’t for one second think this is on you,” he tells me as if he could read my inner thoughts. Perhaps he can sense the guilt that’s certainly emanating from me. When I meet his gaze, I nod, not knowing what to say to him. “She’ll be okay. One thing about Gia is that she’s strong. And you’ll get her back. I promise,” I can’t respond because emotion chokes me.
After a long moment of silence, I finally admit it to him.
“I love her.”
He looks at me then, a smile on his lips. “I know.” He confirms. Perhaps it’s evident to everyone else. The car flies through the traffic, not stopping at traffic lights and I’m thankful for that. Each minute that ticks by is a wasted moment where I could be saving Gia.
I’ll find you, my sweet Toy. I love you.