Page 94 of Collateral Damage

“So when my hand wraps around your pretty little throat you know who yourDaddyis.” I raise my hand, sliding it up her chest until it's clutching her airways and her chest risesand falls just that little bit quicker, falling mute under my hold. “Daddywill take care of you nowbaby…” I whisper sweetly and she's trying to fight how her heart is feeling but her mind is winning this one as she squeezes her thighs together between mine. Her subconscious is melting into me, finding comfort in my protection. Finding solace in my ability to keep her safe in my arms. I will be her rock. Her provider. I will show her what it means to be truly vulnerable. How freeing it can be when you no longer have to fend but live, becausenothing. will harm her ever again.

“If you even think to try and escape me now, I will not hesitate to fuck you till you can't feel your legs,Puppet.” Her cheeks glow just waiting for me to kiss them, pushing her body forward to wash her back and my heart drops as I glare at my harm slicing across her shoulder blades, healing but still raw as I kiss them softly.

“I forgive you…” She whispers, looking back at me with nothing but pure admiration.

“Well, you shouldn't.” She shouldn't forgive me for any of this because behind it all, it's me. I'm the cause of all her pain as well as her happiness and it's the most dangerous potion for disaster. I'm toxic and she's drinking me up.

“I feel stronger than I've ever felt. But I wouldn't be without you. You've shown me that pain is strength. Not a weakness.” For people who deserve it like me.Not angels like her.

“Realistically. Where do you see yourself in five yearsPuppet…” She smiles, turning in the tub to face me and I melt like the butter in her eyes staring back at me.

“Well. This house needs some upgrades, but it's nothing we can't dotogether? You walk amongst civilisation with no problems at all. I'm sure we can figure something out.” Her optimism almost deters me from the bigger picture but she still has her head in the clouds.

“Alora. Baby… You can't live cooped up away with me forever.” My thumb runs her bottom lip fighting my urges to sayfuck logistics.

“I said, we'll figure something out. But you have to be careful what you do.” She's not wrong. I can't be so careless with myworknow that she is my priority.

“You're crazy…” I nuzzle her nose, resting my forehead against hers as my thumb grazes her jawline.

“For you.”It's impossible to say no to her when she looks at me with so much hope. Hope I am terrified I will never be able to give her but I can do my bloody best to try. Try to be better for her. Try and give her what I can until I can figure out a way of getting us out of here. But I don't exactly have expertise in moving a girl I've kidnapped across the world.

C H A P T E R 55

HOPES AND DREAMS

Puppeteer

Play ‘Bad Luck – Noah Kahan’

After cooking my life away for the last two hours I place the plate in front of her and smile ear to ear as her face lights up like the stars. I can't lie, it's been a while since I've done roast chicken and vegetables. She's not even tried it yet but she's drooling over the plate like a dog.

“Holy HELL. This looks amazing!” She wastes no time digging in like she can't shovel it quick enough. I guess food is my love language or as good as it's gonna get anyway but I'll make her any meal she wants if this is her reaction. She’s dripping gravy everywhere like a heathen.

“Oh my god- mouthgasm.” I lean back in the chair and observe her child like nature, watching her enjoy these moments. How happy she is at the smallest things in life, imagining her face if I took her anywhere but here. She's never experienced anything beyond her father’s confinement and I intend to change that.

“If you had five things you wanted to do, what would they be?” She swallows her mouthful of potato, staring at me in a daze and by her expression it's not something even she has thought about in great detail.

“Er-”

“Anything.” My thumb wipes the droplet of gravy from her chin, licking it off slowly just to watch her blush.

She plays with her food, tossing it around the plate as she's deep in thought.“Well- I've always wanted to dance in the rain?”She's so simple it pains me.

“And?” She scrunches her forehead at my careless response, rolling her eyes as she thinks a little harder.

“I'd love to go to the beach?”She's never been to the beach?!Jesus Christ, they really did keep her under lock and key. “Or drive a car?”

I smile, beaming with nostalgia and these won't be too difficult to knock off her list. Maybe not professionally but she can't exactly bust up an already butchered truck.

“Think bigger.” A disgusting adorable kitten snarls at me across the table trying to think of something bigger but she can't.

“I- I don't know…” I exhale slowly, saddened to see how deeply her gift has been hidden from the world. Her gift to bring happiness and something special to any room, town or country she steps in. A girl capable of amazing things if she wasn't so sheltered.

…

“Publish a book.” She glares into the abyss, doubt smothering her expression and that is something I unfortunately cannot help her with. Nor can she achieve it if she wants to stay by my side. It's a sliver of regret I can read through anyone. A sudden realisation that her dreams may never be, because she'd rather choose me and I sink in more guilt. She should have her name plastered all over billboards and book covers. Not missing posters and the news.

She gawks at me with absolutely no thought behind her eyes, smiling through a sympathetic grin and it physically hurts when my lips aren't on hers, fixated on the thought of how soft her mouth is against mine.

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