I can’t believe she fucking ran. My blunt fingernails dig into a tender part of her waist as I drag her body back to the house, with my hand gripping her hip. She’s not walking fast enough, not making this easy, but at least she’s not fighting.

“That wasn’t a smart thing for you to do, sweetheart,” I mumble under my breath. I’m pissed off. I’m really fucking pissed off. I’m trying to help this girl. I’m going out of my way and risking my own ass for hers. If she got out… My blood runs cold thinking what would happen. For a split second, the choice is obvious. I can’t allow it to happen. There’s only one way to make sure she never talks. I don’t trust that she got a high enough dose. And neither will the familia.

I shake my head and pull her closer to me. “Walk with me, Elle. Stop making this so fucking hard.” My voice reflects my anger. She quickens her pace and I take a look at her as we near the porch. Her face is red from panting, her cheeks stained with tears. Her shirt’s ripped from falling down earlier, and there are scrapes on her knees.

My heart sinks in my chest. I’m such a fucking asshole for being angry with her. I’d run, if I were in her shoes. First chance I got, I’d fucking bolt. How can I blame her? She has no idea what’s going on. Other than the fact that I’m not letting her go, and that some people in the familia want her dead.

I look down at her feet. She lost one shoe somewhere back there, and her bare foot is dirty and bleeding from running through the forest. My poor sweetheart. I stop at the door and sigh. “Are you going to listen to me?”

Her wide, frightened eyes dart to mine. She slowly nods her head. She’s fucking lying. I can see it written on her face. “Don’t make me chase after you again, sweetheart.” I move my hand up to the nape of her neck and fist her hair. I pull slightly, which gets me a small whimper, and lean down to let my lips barely touch her ear. “Next time I won’t be nearly as nice.” I whisper my threat and let my hot breath send a shiver down her body. I let go of her and open the door with my back to her, giving her the chance to fucking defy me. Again.

The sound of her heavy, shaky exhale make my chest hurt. I feel like such a fucking asshole. But what the hell am I supposed to do? It’ll be better tomorrow. As long as she doesn’t remember what she witnessed earlier at the bistro, everything will be better. If she remembers though, I’m fucked. She can’t remember any of this shit. And that reminds me about the tablets in my pocket.

I unlock the door and walk in, holding the door open for her. She sways slightly on her feet and looks behind her. A low growl vibrates through my chest, making her head snap back around as she looks at me with wide eyes.

“Come on in, sweetheart.” I can’t help my narrowed eyes and threatening stare, but at least my voice isn’t completely menacing. She swallows loudly and slowly walks in. I can see she’s tired. She’s fighting this shit, even though it should’ve knocked her on her ass. That makes me worry even more. She walks in slowly and at an angle. She keeps her eyes on me but keeps her distance, staying more than an arm’s reach away.

I shut the door and lock it. The loud click of the lock makes her eyes dart to the doorknob. I practically see her heart beating out of her chest as her breathing picks up. I can tell she’s on the verge of a panic attack. If only she’d just sleep. Just go to bed and make this easy on both of us.

My heart twists with agony as I watch her eyes dart around the foyer like something’s going to come out of a dark corner and attack her. I need to help put her at ease. As much as I can, anyway.

“Are you hungry?” I’ve got this place stocked with food, no fresh stuff though. I’ll pick some up when I get Rigs. I clench my jaw. I’m gonna have to tie her up to do that. She’s not going to like it. But there’s no fucking way I’m risking anything at this point.

She’s quick to shake her head no.

“Did you eat before you went out tonight?” I ask calmly. She tilts her head to one side as though she’s thinking. “Do you remember?” I prompt.

“I’m not hungry.” Her voice is small, but even.

“That’s not what I asked.” I manage to keep most of the irritation out of my statement.

“Yes I remember, and no I didn’t eat,” she responds quickly.

I nod and take a step towards her, but she takes a step back. She’s cornering herself in, but she has nowhere to go anyway. She won’t be getting away from me now.

“I want you to eat something, and then I have to leave for a bit.” I watch as her eyes light up at the thought of being alone. It pisses me off. All of this pisses me off. If she hadn’t been so damn eager to leave earlier at the bistro, I could’ve had her cumming on my dick right now. Instead she’s scared of me, when I’m the one busting ass to keep her alive.

“Stop running from me,” I practically snarl. I take in a deep breath through my nose as my anger rises. I reach out and grab her waist before she can back away, pulling her small body to mine. Her hips press against mine. “Let’s get one thing straight, Elle.” I wrap my hand along her upper neck and use my thumb to push up her chin so that she's forced to look me in the eyes. “You fucking wanted me, before all this shit happened. You wanted me, and then you left me. You got yourself into this shit, and now I’m saving your ass.”

Her eyes widen as though she’s surprised. And I’m not sure which part triggered that response. I lower my lips closer to hers. “The least you can do is make this easy on me.”

Her light blue eyes stare into mine. She parts her lips and all I want to do is take them with my own. I want to make this easy. I want to make it right. But when she speaks, it ends that desire.

“I don’t trust you.” The softly whispered words hit my chest like fucking bullets.

It fucking hurts, but I can’t say that I’m too surprised. It takes a lot for me to trust a person, too. “Fair enough. Maybe you can make it easier on yourself then and stop pissing off your captor.” My stomach drops as I refer to myself that way. But that’s exactly who I am to her. Not her fucking savior, that's for damn sure. I’m the enemy.

“Does that sound like a smart thing to do, Elle?” I ask her as I tilt my head.

“No.” Her plump lips stay parted as she answers me, and her eyes fall to my throat. A sadness washes over her. Her eyes stay on the dip of my throat as she asks, “What are you going to do to me?” I can hear the obvious defeat in her tone. I suppose in a way that’s good, but it crushes me. I don’t want to kill the bit of spitfire she has.

“I’m going to feed you.” I tilt up her chin again to make sure she gives me her full attention. I repeat, “I’m going to feed you, but then I have to tie you up again so I can leave.” She takes a quick inhale and her nostrils flare, but she keeps her mouth shut before nodding at me.

I pull back and walk away from her towards the kitchen. I turn to look over my shoulder. “Come.” Her feet move obediently at the command.

“When you wake up tomorrow, this will all be over. Everything will be perfect,” I say, trying to sound reassuring. I listen to her feet moving slowly behind me as I enter the modern kitchen. I turn to look at her as I reach the pantry. “You won’t remember anything, and everything will be just as it was.” I fill a glass with water and set it on the counter. I debate against showing her what I'm about to do, but ultimately I decide to show her. I don’t want to trick her.

I reach in my pocket and pull out the bottle with the tablets. I pop the top off and drop one of the tablets into the glass.

I pick up the glass and watch as the tablet quickly dissolves into nothing. Her full, plump lips frown as I take a step toward her. “Drink this, sweetheart.” I hold out the glass and her small hands reach out to accept it from me. Her fingers overlap as she lifts the glass to her lips. I’ll have a good hour to hour and a half with her before she should pass out with this dose.

She stares at the glass for a moment and I consider pushing her, but I don’t. Thankfully she puts it to her lips and downs the water completely. With the glass empty, she gently places it on the counter, with her eyes on the floor and drenched in defeat.

Her mouth opens as her fingers toy with the loops on her shorts. But she slams it shut and instead focuses her gaze on the slate tiles on the kitchen floor. She looks so beaten down. She looks hopeless. She’s covered in dirt and scratches. I’m going to need to bathe her. She can’t wake up like that.

Her eyes reach mine with sadness and her mouth opens and then closes again. “What is it?” I ask, with patience and comfort.

“Please don’t touch me.” Her shoulders rise and her body trembles as she swallows thickly and moves her gaze back to the floor. She clasps her hands in front of her. My forehead creases with confusion, and then I realize the meaning of her words. I close my eyes and give myself a moment.

When I open them, her hands are covering her face as she stands there in the middle of my kitchen. She doesn’t belong here. It’s so fucking obvious to me that this is fucked up.

“Elle, sweetheart...” I walk over to her and wrap my arms around her so that she can lay her head against my chest. She’s stiff at first, but I rub up and down her back with comforting strokes. “I would never do that to you.” I kiss her hair and continue rubbing soothing circles on her back.

“I promise you. I won’t hurt you.”