Page 43 of Silent Desires

“We’ve got nothing,” I add.

Dom sighs. “Well—” He goes quiet as headlights approach. We duck down as a black Corolla pulls into the driveway.

A man gets out, heading inside. “He’s way younger than I expected,” Max mutters.

“Maybe thirty. Short brown hair, five-nine or five-ten,” I say, describing his appearance to the others.

“Is it Jeff?” Ben asks through the phone.

“I don’t know. Could be,” I reply.

Jasper whispers, “we need to ID this guy.”

Dom takes control of the situation. “Jasper, Gideon, check the car. No security lock, right?”

“I didn’t hear one,” I confirm.

As we wait for Jasper to reach the car, I read the license plate off to Ben so he can search it.

We watch as Jasper creeps over from the shadows of the backyard and silently opens the driver’s door, and starts searching.

“Fuck, not much here. Just fast food bags. I took some photos,” he reports.

“Nothing in the glove box?” Atlas asks.

“No. I should check the trunk,” Jasper whispers back.

“No, they might hear you, get back to your positions for now,” Dom instructs.

“Those plates are fake, the number doesn’t exist,” Ben tells us over the phone.

Suddenly, we hear a soft thump from inside, loud enough to catch our attention. “I don’t like this,” Max mutters. A few voices agree.

“Something’s wrong,” Atlas says, mirroring my own thoughts.

Dom responds quickly, “Gideon, cut the power. Atlas and I will pose as electricians, gain access, and check it out. Tuck, Max, follow anyone who leaves. Jasper, cover the back.”

“Clear,” we all confirm our part in the plan, and I grip the steering wheel tightly as I watch the others get in place.Please let her be okay.

A few minutes later, the lights in the house go out. “Heading in,” Dom says as I watch Atlas and him approach the front door in uniforms—one of many stashed in our car for situations like this.

Chapter thirty

Ispent all day scared out of my mind, wondering what nightmare I’d face tonight. As time went on, I became more and more nervous. Now it’s dark out, and I’m trying to stop myself from completely freaking out, waiting for the sound of that basement door to open.

When it finally happens, it isn’t a loud bang like I’ve been expecting. Instead, it’s the creepy creak of the door being pushed open slowly. I see his feet and legs as he slowly comes down the stairs, like he has all the time in the world. My fists clench in fear when he comes fully into view. He stands at the bottom of the steps and extends his arm out to me.

“Come along, my pet. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

The thought of getting clean is enticing, but he’ll only dirty me up worse than I am now if I let him. I stay seated on my mattress and pull my legs tighter against me.

He frowns at me. “You know better than to not listen to me, Mina. One more chance to come willingly. If I have to come over there and drag you upstairs, you will not enjoy it. Is that what you want?”

Dammit.Knowing I can’t avoid what’s coming, I slowly stand up on shaky legs and walk to him, keeping my eyes on the floor. When I get close, he reaches for my hand and drags me upstairs after him. I can’t stop the tears that escape. All I can hope is that it’s overwith quickly, but with the knowledge of this being an all night event makes that hope quickly dwindle and die before it takes root.

When we reach the main floor, he takes us through the living room, which I’ve never been in before. I can’t help but take a quick glance around. There’s a small brown sofa and recliner, both facing a small tv. Beer bottles and cigarettes litter the coffee table, along with some torn up magazines. Simon leads me to a set of stairs leading up to the second floor. My breathing starts to pick up again as we start to ascend.

“Calm down, pet. I’m just going to take you to the bathroom so you can clean up, okay?” Simon says, sounding exasperated. If he doesn’t like my hesitation now, just wait until we reach the bedroom. I don’t think playing possum is an option for me anymore, and I’m not sure what that will mean for me.

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