Page 83 of Tarnished Reign

“Why not?”

“I can’t trust him.” I sob again but get myself under control.

She has tears in her eyes now. “You’re scaring me, babe. Please, let me help. How can I help? What’s happening?”

“Hana, it’s Hana… She’s done something bad. Some men took me and put me on a boat.”

“Oh my fucking God. Why can’t I know where you are? Please, Adriana,” she says as she cries in earnest.

“No.” I swallow and sniff, getting myself under control. “No. Listen to me, I am safe now. Some other men came, to the boat I mean, and they got rid of the ones who took me. They are protecting me while they find out who is behind this.”

“Then what?” Her eyes are wide, and her breathing is rapid. “You can’t stay on a boat as a captive. Adriana, if you don’t tell me where you are I will call the police.. They’ll get you safe and then we can bring you here, on the jet.”

“No,” I almost yell. “They can’t. This goes way deeper than that. I have to do what these men say for now.”

I’m starting to regret calling her.

“As I said, then what?” Her tears have dried, and she looks angry. Not at me, I know that much, but she’s probably angry at the situation I’m in. “Let me tell Daddy. He can help. He’s richer than the King,”

“No, they’ll let me go; I know it. They are having a party tomorrow night. After that we’re moving from the yacht, and once the men who took me are caught, they’ll let me go,” I sigh and know she’s going to judge me in the worst way, but I’ll burst if I don’t tell anyone. “I think… Sian, this is going to sound like the craziest, most fucked-up thing I’ve ever said, but I think I’m falling for one of my captors.”

“Whaaaat?” Her eyes goggle at me as she stares in disbelief. “No. Adriana, you aren’t. It’s Stockholm Syndrome. You need to get out of there.”

“I am. I’m sure I am. Except, he said he wouldn’t look after Cade. Cade needs caring for. He needs to be out of that house.”

Sian shakes her head. “Adriana, listen to me. You’re not making sense. You want your captor to adopt your stepbrother? Hon, you’re not okay. Oh God, I’m so scared for you.”

“How do you know if it’s real?” I ask. “Is, like, wanting someone every minute of the day real?”

“You don’t want him— you’re fucking traumatized and messed up.” Her voice has risen to a screech.

Sian is my best friend in the whole world, and right now, she’s looking at me as if I’ve lost my damn mind. Maybe I have.

The door behind her opens. Her shouting has alerted her father. Barnaby is a friend too. A handsome, older man who has a kind face and loves his daughter to bits, he’s always treated me like a member of their family. The very first weekend Sian invited me to stay, Barnaby welcomed me with open arms. Right now, however, I don’t want to see his face because I don’t want him to be involved. He’s rich and powerful in his own way, and I can’t have him trying to get involved in this and maybe making it all so much worse.

This is too embarrassing, him seeing me like this. Crying, Broken. He’s my best friend’s dad, and I’m mortified.

“Sian,” I say, anger rising in me. “Can we have some privacy?”

“Adriana?” Barnaby peers on the screen, and his face recoils as if I’ve slapped him. “Good Lord, my darling girl, whatever is the matter?”

“She’s been kidnapped, Daddy. They are keeping her on some boat, but she says it’s okay because some other guys have saved her, but she’s still being held on the boat, so clearly it’s not okay.” Her words are rushed and don’t quite make sense.

“I’m hanging up,” I say, ice in my voice. “This is the last time I'll ever trust you, Sian.” If Barnaby tries to save me, and it goes wrong, he will endanger Cade.

“No, wait,” Barnaby reaches toward the screen as if he can pluck me from it and make me safe, but I hang up. The screen goes blank, and I stare at it for a long while. My fingers are shaking, and I think I’m going to be sick.

I wipe my eyes on the sleeve of my top, not caring if it’s gross.

Shit, I need to get this phone back to its rightful owner. I pocket it and sneak down to the kitchen. There are more people there now, and they’re searching for something. God, why did I do such a stupid thing?

“What are you looking for?” I ask casually.

“Jamie has lost her phone,” one of the guys says.

I drop to my knees and pretend to help search. I take the phone out of my pocket in a far corner, and then reach under the low shelf of a food rack. “Is this it?” I wave the phone in the air.

“Oh my God. Thank you. Yes. Thank God. We were told not to leave our phones unattended. I would have gotten in so much trouble.”

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