Chapter 14

Kristen

I groan into the empty room, throwing the remote onto the cushions beside me as I stare unseeingly at the television.

This is bullshit.

Watch Netflix? Really?

After the day I’ve just had, this guy actually expects me to sit on my ass and watch TV like nothing happened? Like I’m not currently holed up in his apartment, suddenly having become one of his possessions?

I think fucking not.

It’s been hours since Leo left, and I’ve yet to hear a word from him. Nothing. Just radio silence and way too much Netflix.

I think it’s safe to say that I’ve officially lost my patience.

The really shitty thing is that I actually tried. I stayed put; I didn’t cause any trouble…and look at the thanks I get.

Left alone to rot in his stupid apartment while he’s off doing who knows what.

All I need are three screaming kids and a box of Bonbons to complete the image of neglected spouse.

Well, fuck that.

I don’t know who Leo thinks he’s dealing with here, but I’m sure excited to prove him wrong.

I don’t have to stay.

I don’t have to obey him.

He may have bought my freedom, but at the end of the day, I belong to no one. Least of all the guy who kidnapped me to begin with.

Feeling suddenly decided, I stand, not bothering to shut the TV off as I hightail it out of the room.

I really can just go. It’s not as if there’s anyone here to stop me.

If Leo wanted to keep me here, he really should have stuck around. How long did he actually expect me to stay based on his instruction alone?

Maybe he was counting on my being too afraid to leave. I can’t help but smile at the thought.

I would have expected him to know better after tonight, but who knows. Some people are just slow learners.

If that’s the case here, then I think he could use a lesson.

I know that he found me once, but that doesn’t mean he will a second time. When he grabbed me at the party, he had the distinct advantage of my complete unawareness. That, unfortunately for him, isn’t the kind of thing that’s going to happen more than once.

If he wants to track me down again, he’s gonna have his work cut out for him.

All I need now is a getaway vehicle—and I’ve got a feeling there just might be one around here somewhere.

I make a beeline for Leo’s bedroom, storming in through the door. I know men like him.

Well, actually, I don’t, but I know men in general, and any man with the kind of money he threw around tonight definitely owns more than one vehicle.

I just have to find the keys.

I tear into his room, searching drawers, checking shelves, I even go so far as to look in the closet before moving on to the next. Systematically, I go through the entire house, searching desperately for a mode of transportation and snatching up any useful supplies along the way.

I grab some clothes from his room, some toiletries from the bathroom, but it’s the kitchen where I really hit pay dirt.

I stock a bag full of goodies, not knowing exactly where I want to go when I hit the road but knowing that straight home is probably not an option.

He’d be expecting that from me.

No, I think I might need to evade for a while before I try anything as obvious as that.

I’m just leaving the kitchen, passing through the doorway in fact, when the unbelievably obvious occurs to me.

I stop in my tracks, swiveling to look at the wall nearest the stove.

Sure enough, there they are.

A whole ring of keys, hanging invitingly from its own tiny hook.

Jackpot.

I grab for the glistening embodiments of my freedom, tapping my chin idly as I try to discern which does what.

Of course, I couldn’t be lucky enough to get kidnapped by the labeling sort of criminal, but this is probably easy enough to solve.

Keys in hand, I head for the door, feeling more assured in my decision with every step.

So what if this guy saved me? He also technically endangered me to begin with. I mean, he roofied me, for fuck’s sake!

I don’t owe him a damn thing, least of all my time.

Though, after his reaction to what happened between us earlier, I’m not sure my time is really what he’s after.

I push the thoughts from my mind, not liking the way his earlier behavior disappoints me.

There’s no point in dwelling on it.

After tonight, I won’t ever have to see him again.

I raise my chin, walking down the hall with determination. I’ll get the car, figure out a place for tonight, and go from there.

Simple enough.

I’m almost to the front door when an idea suddenly occurs to me.

Slowing, I glance down at my own hand, staring fixedly at the loop of keys clenched within it.

There’s just one last thing I’d like to do before I leave.

I turn back around, giggling quietly as I head back for Leo’s oh-so-top-secret-door.

If he didn’t want me going in there, he really shouldn’t have mentioned it at all.

Now that he’s made it a mystery, though, I just can’t help myself.

Honestly, how could he even expect me to?

I stop just short of the door, dropping my bags to the floor as I start to flip through the various keys.

Some are clearly too large, such as the couple that seem they’d fit cars, while another two or three are obviously too small.

Which leaves just two more.

I try the first, managing to slip it half way into the lock before it sticks.

Not that one then.

I smile mischievously down at the remaining key.

“Here we go,” I say aloud, reaching down to slide it into the lock.

Of course it’s at this exact moment that the front door slams open.

I hesitate, frustration tearing through me at the interruption.

I really wanted to see what he was hiding in here. Not to mention, I also very much wanted to escape.

“Kristen?”

It’s definitely Leo, I’m sure of it, but his voice is odd, strained.

I consider making a run for it or maybe even hiding so he’ll think I already did. If he leaves to look for me, I can definitely make a clean break.

“Kristen?” he calls again.

This time, I’m sure of it. Something’s wrong.

My feet are moving before I’ve even come to a decision, carrying me quickly down the hall and towards the sound of his voice.

The moment I set eyes on him, my breath catches in my throat.

“Oh my god, Leo!”

His shirt is stained with blood, his skin ashen even in the dim lighting. He stumbles slightly as he walks toward me.

“Are you okay?” I ask, rushing forward.

“Fine. Yeah I’m—I’m fine.”

“Bullshit.”

“Fuck, don’t start,” he says, actually laughing a little.

“What happened?” I demand, finally closing the distance to stand before him.

“Don’t—don’t worry—” he begins, swaying as he tries to force the words from his lips.

“Leo?”

I actually see his eyes roll into his head as he takes one last, shaky step forward.

The next moment, his legs seem to give out entirely, his body slumping quickly towards me.

I barely manage to catch him in time.