Page 35 of Not Your Hero

“That was him. I’m only sorry I didn’t realize who it was sooner. I didn’t know he was planning on taking you,” he admits to me.

“So you know him?”

“I do.”

“And what? You think he’s not going to come after me again?”

“Oh, he will. He’ll come after both of us now I’ve taken you from him. You were supposed to be dead, Emerson.”

“Dead? The other girls?” I ask as tears fall down my cheeks, wetting the pillow beneath me.

“Dead. They’re all dead.”

“And I was supposed to die with them?” He nods his head, never taking his eyes off me. “And you didn’t kill me? You were supposed to kill me.”

“That’s right.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“I don’t want you dead, Emerson. I want you alive.”

“I don’t understand,” I whisper.

“And you probably won’t for a while. In time, I’ll explain it to you, but for now, I want you to rest and relax. You’re safe here or as safe as you can be.”

“As safe as I can be? Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“No. But it is the truth.”

“This is insane. Uncuff me,” I demand, but he doesn’t move. In fact, his facial expression never changes. He lies there, just staring at me.

“I said uncuff me!” I yell a little louder this time before I start to cough. My chest feels like it’s on fire, although it is slightly better than it was before.

“I’m not going to uncuff you, Emerson. Go to sleep.”

“I don’t want to be here! Just let me go!”

“I’m not going to do that either. You’re mine, Emerson. Whether you know it or not, you are.”

“What? Are you fucking kidding me? I don’t even know you!”

“You do know me. You just don’t remember me.”

“I would remember you if I knew you,” I snap at him. How would I forget a man who looks like him? There’s no way.

“You were drugged when I fucked you and probably will be the next time too.”

“If you think I’m fucking you for taking care of me, you’re crazy,” I hiss at him. Gannix laughs, and it pisses me off. I tug at the restraints, but I can’t move.

“Listen, baby. You’re going to have to get used to the fact you’re mine, and I’ll do whatever I want to you.”

“So you took me from one sick fuck, and you’re just like him?”

“No. I’m not exactly like him. I would never have beaten you or gotten you that sick.”

“But you would hurt me?” Now he smiles, and it makes me shiver.

“Yes. I will be hurting you, but not in the way you think.”

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