Page 38 of Back In the Shadows

A cold, hard knot formed in my stomach, and I wondered how long he’d been watching me. He must have been a pro because Xavier would have been easy to spot, and I definitely would have recognized him if I’d seen him before. Not to mention Dope would have detected someone piggybacking off his camera system. Then it dawned on me that he’d mentioned his boss was behind all of this. Somehow, I had to learn more.

He stopped dancing and tugged on my arm as he walked over to the table where the milk and cookies were waiting for us. To my surprise, he pulled out a chair for me.

My stomach gnawed at itself as I collapsed onto the seat, desperately craving sustenance.

“Eat,” he commanded, sitting next to me at the table.

I shoveled three cookies into my mouth and gulped down the milk, feeling its nourishing effects spread through my body like a jolt of electricity. My eyes flickered to him, remembering how my dark lashes and innocent gaze had affected Sebastian in the past. “Can I have some more?” I asked, wiping my lips hastily with the back of my hand. “I’m so thirsty.”

He snatched up the glass and returned to the kitchen, filling it once again with creamy goodness, his actions almost frantic.

“Thank you,” I murmured before grabbing another cookie and chugging the milk down without pause. I set the empty glass down with a satisfied sigh.

“That was … amazing,” I managed to compliment between bites. When I finally looked up, I realized that Xavier hadn’t touched his milk. My gaze returned to my empty glass and plate and fear and suspicion bloomed in my stomach. Something was wrong, and I’d allowed my hunger to take over my common sense. “Are you not hungry?”

Xavier stared at me; his expression unreadable.

A sudden wave of dizziness hit me like a freight train, causing the room to spin violently and my body to collapse onto the floor with a loud thud. Gasping for air, I tried to focus on the figure looming over me, but my vision blurred, and I could only make out the distinct smell of chocolate chip cookies from his breath.

“Why?” I managed to choke out, my voice strained with confusion and fear.

He leaned in closer, and his eyes flashed with anger and disappointment. “I know you went behind my back and begged Fiona for help.” He tsked, wagging a finger in front of my face. “Just when I thought maybe I could trust you … you betrayed me yet again. Well, if I can’t trust you to stay by my side willingly, I’ll have to take matters into my own hands.”

My mind reeled as I tried to piece together what he was saying. “You … you drugged me …” I muttered weakly, struggling to remain conscious.

His face twisted into a cruel smirk. “Not enough to knock you out permanently.” He sneered. “But just the right amount to keep you under control. You may be clever, Ella McCloud Fletcher, but you’re not clever enough.”

Through the hazy, drug-induced fog, I wondered what his plan with me was.

“Come, come.” He grabbed my arm with a surprisingly strong grip and jerked me up off the floor.

I stumbled behind him as he led me through the kitchen and into the dark area he’d never shown me. He flipped on the overhead light, and I shrank back from the brightness.

“Look! It’s your surprise!” He released me and bounced up and down on the balls of his feet like a little kid.

The room moved in slow motion as I looked in the corner. Next to a table, on a headless mannequin was a white wedding dress.

I licked my lips, suddenly feeling parched. “Who’s that for?”

“You, of course! I need to make sure it fits before our big day.”

Unable to move, my feet remained rooted in place. Somewhere in the back of my mind a little voice whispered to play along. Reminding him that a wedding wouldn’t be real since I was already married would only send him into a rage, and I didn’t have the strength to defend myself.

My limbs grew heavier by the minute, and Xavier strolled over to me. He gathered my dress at my hips and began to pull it up.

“Lift your arms.”

“I can’t. It’s hard to move.”

“Hmm, maybe I gave you too much. I’ll adjust the dose next time.”

My body turned to stone, every muscle frozen in terror as his rough hands grabbed at my shaking frame. My mind screamed for him to stop, but all I could manage was a pitiful squeak of protest. He roughly removed my dress, leaving me vulnerable and exposed. Goosebumps traveled over my skin as I stood shivering in only my panties and bra.

His tongue darted over his dry, cracked lips, and I tried to pull back and cover myself, but it was as if my limbs were moving through quicksand. His gaze darkened as his eyes raked over me from head to toe, a twisted expression taking over his features.Regardless of the date night talk and innocent kisses, there was something much darker and deviant lurking inside of him.

The wedding gown hung on the mannequin next to us, mocking me with its pure white lace and delicate fabric. As he guided me into the dress and pulled up the zipper, hot tears welled up in my eyes. It hit me then, with a cruel force—he had been planning this all along. Keeping me drugged and helpless, a prisoner in his sick game. I wanted to push him, to run and never look back, but my body refused to move. He stepped away, admiring his handiwork, and a sinister smirk spread across his face. My stomach twisted in revulsion as I realized what he truly wanted — to possess me, to own me. Without warning, my gag reflex kicked in, and I vomited down the front of the pristine white dress. A hysterical giggle bubbled up from my throat as the warm bile soaked through the fabric and onto my skin.

“You’ve ruined it!” He reared back, his open hand connecting with my cheek.

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