“Sure, if you think you can give me something that won’t make me feel worse,” I said while shifting my position on the bed.
“I’m not the one who made you sick,” he responded calmly, turning to the table. “You know your brother can’t be trusted.”
“What,” I spat at him, rising from the bed and walking over to the table. “You know nothing about him. How can you make such accusations?” I asked as I slammed my hands down on the desk.
“Calm down,” Luder said as he moved and opened the fridge again to check its contents. “I can tell you more, but you have to calm down first.” He added.
“No,” I hissed as I walked up and down the small room. “You have nothing to say as you know nothing, so just stay quiet and make the food.”
He glanced at me over his shoulder. I had stopped and looked at the books on the shelf by the door. My mind was whirling with his words. I knew my brother, he didn’t, he had no right to say that. Keeping me locked up here wasn’t helping my anger either, as I felt the blood in my veins boiling. Glancing at the door, I remembered I hadn’t seen him lock it when he came in.
Looking back at him, I noticed him grabbing some meat from the freezer compartment and placing it in a pan on the small stove. I thought this might be my only opportunity.
He had just lit the gas and placed the meat in the pan. I moved slowly and quietly to the door. Turning the knob, I felt it was locked. Back at the table, he had just chucked his jacket over the side of the other chair. Moving back slowly, I leaned over the chair, pretending to be feeling ill.
Feeling through his pockets, I found the key. He was still busy with the meat, so I moved quickly. Unlocking and opening the door, I sprinted out and ran onto the dock. I knew he would be coming after me, but I had to try. I wasn’t going to stay. I couldn’t allow him to keep me here and then he dared to insult my brother as well.
“Skyler,” I heard him calling out after me. I was already on the dock heading for the gate. “Skyler, stop,” he called again. “There’s nowhere to go, hun.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw him on the dock. I had to run faster, I thought as I turned my attention back to the gate. Sure, it was locked, but maybe I could climb over it.
I felt my lungs burning as I reached the gate and started pulling myself up. My legs were tired, but I had to get out. I was about halfway up the gate when I felt two hands grabbing my ankles and pulling me down. I held onto the gate as long as possible, trying to kick while screaming.
My grip slipped as my hands became sweaty, and I plunged to the ground. Luckily, I didn’t hit the ground as the two guards pulling me caught me. They came out of nowhere, I felt sure they had heard Luder calling. If not for that, I might have made it.
I had no idea where I would have gone if I got over the gate. But I would have had a chance. I would have had a chance if I had just run into the bushes.
The two guards that had grabbed me held me upright as Luder came to a stop before us. I was still struggling and screaming in their arms as he straightened himself out. Luder grabbed me around the waist and thanked the guards before turning and heading back to the yacht.
“You know there is no one to hear you. Please stop screaming,” he said a bit out of breath and clearly irritated.
“You let me go, you have no right, let me go,” I spat as he dragged me along.
He pulled me back onto the yacht and down to the cabin. He locked the door and placed the key in his pant pocket before letting go of me. “Now then, did you enjoy your little run?” he asked. “You’re not sick if you can still sprint like that,” he added.
I suddenly realized the smell of burnt meat had filled the room, and so did he. “Look at what you made me do now,” he said as he stepped up to the stove and turned it off. “Now, neither of us has any supper.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I pushed my lips out into a pout as I walked to the window, staring out. “I don’t care,” I answered, hearing him making a call.
He called one of his men outside to get some Chinese take-out. While we waited, he trashed the burnt meat and cleaned the stove. Once he was satisfied with the kitchen, he started collecting all the papers he had thrown off the desk earlier. “Where’s my paperweight,” he asked.
I strolled over, quietly, and slowly. He didn’t look up as I came to stand beside him. Was he angry at me, I wondered. He had no right to be upset, I was being held against my will. But, if I intended on getting out, I would have to play along.
“I’m sorry,” I said softly as I knelt beside him and gathered some papers. “I’m not sure where the paperweight went, though.”
“No,” he replied dryly. “It’s no problem. You do you, and I’ll do me, okay.” He took the papers from my hands and stood up.
I felt his eyes on me as I walked back to the bed and sat down on the edge. After a while, there was a knock at the door, and I knew it had to be our food. Luder placed the papers on the table and walked over to the door. He unlocked it and collected the bags from the big man outside.
“Here,” he said, holding out the bags toward me.
I took the two bags and peeked inside as he locked the door again, I was not going to get out of there anytime soon, I thought as I glanced at him. For now, my fight is over. I felt my stomach grumbling as hunger made its presence known.
He had taken out plates while cleaning and held out a plate for me as I looked through the four meals he had ordered.
“No thanks,” I said, taking a box and a packet of chopsticks. “I can eat out of the box.”
He returned the plates to the cupboard and studied me for a while from across the room. I didn’t look up; I still felt angry at him because he was angry at me.