Page 45 of Cheshire

He shook his head. “You’ll tell him yourself.”

Before I could answer him, white-hot agony splintered across my skull, and the world went dark.

Now, the room swam into focus, more clearly this time. Grimy walls closed in on me, and the air was thick with must and fear. I wasn’t alone. A few men huddled in the corner, their voices low, gruff -- predators just waiting to sink their teeth into prey.

But my father… he was absent. Where was he? What twisted game was he playing now?

“Hey, she’s awake.” One of them nodded in my direction. Their stares felt like bugs crawling over me.

I sucked in a shallow breath, bracing for what came next. Father’s goons, no doubt. But why wasn’t he here to gloat? What kind of hell had he left me in? Were they going to hurt me in his place?

“Boss has plans for you,” another said, chuckling darkly. My stomach churned. Plans. Always plans. Like chess pieces, we were moved on his sick board.

“Shut it,” a third snapped. “You’re scaring her.”

“Good,” the first retorted with a sneer. “She should be scared.”

Their laughter echoed in my ears. They were enjoying this, wanted me to suffer. Well, maybe not the one who’d tried to make them stop. Still, if he was working with my father, then he wasn’t a good man.

The men’s eyes were like daggers, sharp and cold, as they stared at me. They were my father’s most trusted dogs. The fear crept up like a living thing inside me.

“Pretty little Eliza, all grown up and still so fragile,” one of them sneered. His words felt like a knife twisting in my gut. Despair grabbed hold in a relentless grip. I was in deep, maybe too deep to ever claw my way out. If Cheshire didn’t find me soon, I had a bad feeling he never would.

The fact my dad had brought me here -- wherever here was -- and not to the house, didn’t bode well for my future.

My mind raced, my heart pounding a desperate rhythm. Cheshire. Would he find me? Could he?

He had to. The thought of never seeing those piercing blue eyes again, never hearing that smooth, confident voice laced with humor… No, I couldn’t bear it.

I curled in on myself, arms wrapped tight around my middle. Vulnerable. So damn vulnerable. But I still had hope. Cheshire wouldn’t let this be our end. Once he knew I’d been taken, he’d do anything to get me back. I didn’t doubt him for a moment.

“Cheshire’s not coming for you,” one taunted, as if reading my thoughts like an open book. “You’re ours now.”

But they didn’t know Cheshire. Cunning, sly, always several steps ahead. He had to come. He just had to.

“Please,” I whispered into the darkness, a plea to anyone listening. “Please…”

More time passed, the minutes dragging by slowly. I had no idea what time it was, or how long I’d been unconscious. Was it still the same day? Had Cheshire already found out I wasn’t at the clubhouse anymore?

“Pathetic.” The word cut through the silence. “Little bitch can’t even sit up straight.”

The mocking tone was a slap to the face. I glared at the shadowy figures, hate slowly burning through my fear. They were right. I couldn’t save myself -- not now. But I swore on everything holy, if I got out I wouldn’t be weak again. Never again. I’d do whatever it took to learn how to protect myself.

“Sheriff’s got plans for you, Eliza,” another voice chimed in, cruel delight in his tone. “A real nice future lined up.”

Laughter echoed off the walls, chilling and heartless. My stomach twisted, bile rising hot and bitter in my throat. Yeah, I’d just bet he did.

“Someone’s coming for you tomorrow,” the first continued, coming to stand in front of me. “Man’s looking for a delicate thing. Obedient.”

“Little more than a slave,” the second said, his words a dark promise. “And he paid a pretty penny for you.”

The room seemed to spin. A slave. Property. If Cheshire didn’t find me by tomorrow, my life would be over. This was hell. Just the thought of being helpless and owned by some unknown man filled me with dread. I’d rather die.

I bit back a sob, fists clenching till knuckles turned white. Fear clawed at me.

“Please,” I murmured, not to them, but to the part of me that still held onto hope. “Don’t let it end this way.”

I closed my eyes, picturing Cheshire’s smiling face. Right now, it brought me solace. But if this all went wrong, it would only serve as a reminder of everything I’d lost. I’d been too cautious, too afraid to dive deep into the heat between us. Now regret gnawed at me with sharp teeth. We could have shared so many more things together, if I hadn’t been so hesitant.

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