Page 111 of Unorthodox
“I’m getting you out of here,” Zeke finally answers, glancing over at me as he pulls me along. I’m almost stumbling to keep up and his grip suddenly doesn’t feel comforting. It feels bruising.Possessive.
I try to pull my hand from him, but we reach the end of the hall, double doors that look as if they may lead to a stairwell in front of us.
He doesn’t let go of me as he pushes through the doors, and we’re in just that. A stairwell, like that of a hotel, plain beige stairs leading up and down.
Once more, I try to pull away from him as he starts to lead medownthe stairs.
I think of Ben. Of falling.
Zeke turns to look at me, impatience etched into his features. And before I can say anything at all, he sighs, then clamps his hand over my mouth and pulls me against his body, holding me tightly to him, his own back against the wall at the top of the stairs.
What the fuck?
Fear seizes me and I open my mouth to scream, but his hand presses tighter over me, rendering me mute.
My heart palpitates in my chest, the little hairs on my arm standing on end as I stare at the top of the stairs, just inches from my feet.
“I’m going to get you out of here,” he promises me, his mouth against my ear, his breath warm. “And I won’t hurt you if you listen, okay?” His words are soft, but they don’t stop my knees from trembling.
Maybe he’s still the good guy. Maybe he’s still going to save me.
I close my eyes, nod my head slowly, trying to fight back the sob bubbling up my throat.
And as much as I try to hold onto the thought that this is the right thing to do, I feel a sick truth creeping into my mind. He’s not taking me to my father. I don’t know where he’s taking me,but it’s not there.
“I’m going to put something on your tongue,” he continues. “You’re going to swallow it.”
Panic seizes through me.
He’s going to drug me.
He’s going tofucking drug me.
I don’t want to be drugged again.
Not for Zeke. For Max.For anyone.
My nostrils flare as I try to get more oxygen into my lungs, the hand over my mouth so tight I can’t part my lips.
“I won’t hurt you, Addison, but you need to do as I say, okay?”
Max.All I can think of is Max.He left me.He told me to stay by his side. He told me not to leave him. But then he left me to fuckher.
Did he do this?
Is this the part where I get sold? Is this my new owner?
I want to run, but I can’t with Zeke’s arm wrapped around my chest, one settled too tightly on my hip.
I want to scream, but I can barely breathe.
“Nod your head,Addison.”The way he says my name, it sounds like a slur on his tongue.
I nod my head.
The hand on my hip leaves me, Zeke shifts behind me. I open my eyes, avoiding the stairs. Instead, I stare at the dark wall across from me, the swirls from the timber, the polished surface that I can nearly see my reflection in.
I count to three again in my head, trying to think above the way my mind feels dull with the alcohol in my veins.
