Page 31 of Tempting Fate

I see streaks of light as my vision tunnels to a pinpoint.

I feel the return of an old, familiar nemesis.

Pain.

Then, I feel nothing…

When I come to, I have one blissful moment where I think the hands stroking my face are Zeke’s. That thought dies when I inhale, and Alex’s cologne overwhelms me. Once upon a time, I enjoyed that scent, now it just makes me sick because I know that it’s a trick. An expensive fragrance that disguises a monster with a warped version of love that will either kill me or add to the scars I’ve already got.

Because I’m not with Zeke.

I’m not home.

I’m not safe.

I’m on my own.

Zeke-less and trapped with my nightmare.

“Open your eyes, angel.” A warm finger strokes up and down my nose. “We need to talk and then we need to leave.”

My stomach recoils at his repulsive touch. I try to push him off me, but my arm pulls tight. Trying my other arm, I discover both of them are secured in this position. When I peer above me, I find my hands have been handcuffed to the middle bar of the antique wrought iron bed frame. On my left hand sits the commitment ring Alex tried to give me when I was seventeen. He’s clasped the matching tennis bracelet, an unwanted gift from my eighteenth birthday, around my right wrist and added a necklace to the set.

While I was unconscious, he systematically stripped me of my identity and adorned me in the jewels he once tried to use to brand me as Maddison clan property.

I thought I was being mature when I mailed the jewellery back to his mother upon my release from hospital. Turns out, I was giving Alex another weapon to use against me when he returned to exact his revenge. If I knew I’d end up wearing them once more, I would’ve flushed them down the toilet. At least then I wouldn’t be lying here, handcuffed to a bed, draped in ugly jewels, while a madman attempts to negotiate with me.

Alex kisses my forehead. “We’re running out of time… so if you want to reach a deal, then you need to talk now. Otherwise, I’m going to instruct my men to booby trap the perimeter while the team watching the hospital capture the tiny, delicate, little blonde target I sent them to retrieve. Oh, the fun that we can have with her.”

He’s threatening the men I love and my best friend.

My heart races at the possible consequences of my plan to delay our departure.

My eyesight wavers in fear.

I can’t fight him without hands.

I can’t allow him to hurt the Shamrocks sent to save me.

I can’t sit back and risk Nadia’s life.

The dozen ways that sticking to my plan could backfire bounce around my skull. I shake my head to clear the confusion and the movement causes my eye to throb. When I try to speak, blood runs over my lips and my nose flares with pain.

I think he broke my cheekbone, maybe my nose.

Licking my lips, I discover that the top right corner is torn and bleeding.

After I blink, the vision in my left eye turns blurry. It’s swelling, already partially closed from his punches. The skin pulls tight when I try to talk, stinging like a bitch, but I persevere.

“No booby traps and your men will leave Nadia alone.”

“And what will you give me in return?”

“My submission.”

Alex nods. He runs his chocolate gaze over me, narrowing his eyes as he scans my face with concern. “How do I know this isn’t a trick?”

“You don’t.” I tug my hands to show him that I’m the one who’s trapped. The movement makes my tattered shirt fall open, and Alex’s expression darkens at the sight of the tattoo covering my ribs. A new plan pops into my head. I make an instantaneous choice to move full steam ahead with it. “Do I look like I’m in any position to negotiate?”

---