Page 55 of Bittersweet Redemption

“Where are you going to take us?”

“Don’t worry about that.” He takes a few steps toward me and then trails his fingers down my face. My jaw clenches, and I turn my head to bite his finger but stop at the last minute. He chuckles before he continues. “I’ve planned everything. All you have to do is show up.”

He makes it sound like I have a choice. “Does Nick know about this?”

He pulls his hand away and scoffs. “Of course not. He was all like, ‘We need to let her spread her wings,’ and ‘If it’s meant to be, she’ll come back to us.’” He rolls his eyes. “See what happens when we leave you alone? You run to the first guy you see. Tell me. Does he know that you told the police he robbed that store?”

I suck in a breath. “How’d you know who he was?”

“I’m not an idiot. I’ve done my research, Willa. Have you told him it was you?”

“He knows.”

“And he still fucked you? Wow.” The pain in my head pounds behind my eyes.

“Jake, do you think I could have some ibuprofen or something? I have a headache.”

“Yeah, sorry about that.” He looks over my face. “I had to make sure I got you here. I was waiting to get you alone. I’ll get you a pain reliever.”

“And some water?” He nods and walks out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

Oh my god. What am I going to do? How am I going to get out of here? Surely Kai is looking for me at this point. He had those security cameras installed at my house. Jake would’ve been in perfect view of the one by the door. Kai has to have seen it.

And Roman. My sweet boy. He’s probably freaking out. I’ve got to get home to him. There is no other option.

But how?

I look around the room for something to cut this rope with. I could easily fight Jake off if I could just free my hands and legs. He got me the first time because I wasn’t expecting him to bash me in the head. Who would ever expect something like that? And from someone they know? But I know how to fight. I took some self-defense classes when I was younger and even practiced on Nick when we were dating. I never thought I’d have to use them on Jake, but here we are.

I scan the floor. Besides the soda cans, there’s some stray laundry and a pair of shoes, but nothing that would help me. The desk is also pretty empty except for some paper and a pen. But I think I can make out a small pocketknife at the back of the desk.

I don’t have much time. He’ll be back soon, and I can’t risk him seeing me trying to get to the knife because he’ll hide it and probably fly off the handle that I want to leave. I’ve got to be patient.

My eyes stay trained on the knife until he comes back with the medicine and a small glass of water. I was hoping he’d untie my hands so I could hold the water, but he tells me to open my mouth, puts the pills on my tongue, and pours some water in, spilling some of it down the side of my face. I swallow it, and he wipes the corner of my mouth with his hand. He must not like my expression because he grabs my chin with more force than I was expecting and makes me look at him.

I’ve never known Jake to be violent. It makes me wonder how he’s been hiding this side of him all along.

“It’s you and me, Willa. You and me,” he repeats. “So get used to it.”

He leans down and presses his lips against mine. I don’t kiss him back. I move my head back as much as I can, but he just follows my mouth. I want to hurl. When he finally backs away, I make a point to wipe my mouth on my shoulder. When I look at him, the look in his eyes has a darkness I’ve never noticed before. Without thinking better of it, I spit at him, and it lands directly on his shirt.

“You know,” he says calmly while he wipes my spit off. “If you don’t behave, I’ll go after Roman next. Is that what you want?”

All the air leaves my lungs. “You’d do that to your own nephew?”

“I couldn’t care less about that kid. The only reason I tolerate him is because of you. But every time I look at him, it’s a reminder that Nick had you first. He knows what you feel like inside, and I don’t.”

“Jake, I don’t have those kinds of feelings for you. This isn’t going to work out the way you’re hoping.”

He shrugs. “You’ll learn to love me. Especially if your son’s life is on the line. And if we’re always together, you won’t really have a choice.” Ok, he obviously doesn’t know how love works. If he thinks I’ll willingly sleep with him. . . No, I can’t even think about that.

I try to switch tactics because reasoning with him isn’t working. “Please don’t do this. I’m sorry that Nick found me first; I really am. I had no idea you had these feelings for so many years. Why don’t you let me out of here, and we can talk about this? Please, Jake. I’m begging you.”

“You’re not going anywhere until it’s time for us to leave tomorrow.” Tomorrow. That’s not much time to figure out how to get out of here.

He grabs the duct tape from his bed. “You know they’re going to look for me. Kai will never stop looking for me.”

He laughs as he rips a fresh piece off. “I don’t think your pussy is as powerful as you think it is. Nick has already moved on. I’m sure it won’t take long for the neighbor to move on. And Roman will grow up thinking his mom left him.”