Page 41 of Desire

Chapter 32

The next morning,I woke, sore but satisfied. Everything in my life was coming together. I had Connor, and I hoped to soon have Alex. He and I had talked daily while he was in foster care. He’d been in his foster home for almost two weeks while the investigation was ongoing. For the first week he was away from his uncle, while he didn’t sound exactly happy, I could still sense a lightness behind his words as though he’d had a boulder lifted from his shoulders.

But at the beginning of the second week, I’d heard a different tone to his voice when we spoke. I knew he had been worried about having to return home to his uncle. He’d returned to his uncle’s house a week ago when they were unable to prove the allegations of abuse. I’d tried reaching him, but anytime I called, his uncle said Alex was unable to come to the phone.

When we had spoken, we’d talked in generalities about seeing how to get some type of visitation. I had originally hesitated to bring it up during one of our many conversations because I didn’t know if it was even an option. I needed legal counsel from our friend, Donovan, or to at least get a reference for a lawyer who could help me with this.

I had no intention of mentioning it to Alex, but I wanted to petition for guardianship, and because I had no legal standing, I didn’t want to get his hopes dashed. This was another thing I needed to speak to Donovan about. I knew it was going to be almost impossible to gain guardianship, but I knew I needed to try. If not for his sake, then mine. I’d focus on visitation at first and consider going from there.

Then, there was Connor. We had reached a new point in our relationship. We loved each other and wanted a future together. But we hadn’t discussed Alex. I hadn’t told Connor yet about wanting to pursue guardianship of Alex. I knew Connor cared about him, and I knew he wanted me to be happy, so I was sure he would agree to it. I just didn’t know if that was something Alex would want.

Everything with Connor had been amazing this past week. I truly believed that last night and this morning had been a turning point for us. I hated that, after all these years, he still had nightmares, but we both thought that the more he embraced his sadism, the more he’d heal.

I had no doubt he would push my limits in order to fulfill his own needs, but I was willing to do whatever it took to make my Dom happy. I wanted to be the sub he needed. And if what he needed was to push my pain threshold in order to prove to himself that pain and pleasure co-existed, then I’d be there for him. If he needed to prove to himself that he wasn’t exactly like that other man, then I’d submit to his demands. Connor could trust in me, and know that I would use my safe word if it became too much. I knew he would find a way to mix pleasure in with the pain.

I had slept half the day and needed to make a quick run to the boutique. I’d been neglecting my store lately, and it didn’t sit well with me. I missed being there. I was just about out the door when my cell phone rang. I almost didn’t answer it, because of the unknown number on the caller ID, but something told me I should.

“Hello.”

“Your broke my fucking nose, you bitch.”

“Who is this?”

“Don’t worry about who I am right now. Just listen to what I’m telling you. If you want to see your son alive again, you will follow my instructions to the letter. Do you understand?”

“No, I don’t understand. What have you done with Alex, you piece of shit?”

“Tsk, tsk. I’d watch what you say to me, whore. If you want your son to remain safe, I’d suggest you be a little bit nicer to me. Now, I won’t tell you again. You will follow my explicit instructions, or your son is dead. You will not tell anyone where you’re going, and you’ll come alone. Once you’re in your car, you will shut your phone off. Don’t make me explain this again. Now, do you understand?”

“Yes, yes, I understand. Now, please, tell me where you are.”

I frantically wrote down the directions he gave me. I wished I had a gun. I’d kill this son of a bitch for threatening my son. I had no idea what this psycho wanted from me, but if I lived through this, Connor was going to kill me for what I was about to do. But I had to go. Alex’s life was at risk and nothing would stop me from reaching him. Mama bear had been unleashed and no one would hurt my son.

I ran into the kitchen and grabbed the sharpest knife I could find. I had no idea if I could really kill someone, but I was going there prepared to do what I had to in order to protect Alex. I made a split second decision, because I knew it would be suicide if I didn’t. I had just found my son. I wasn’t ready to die yet.

I hurriedly picked up my phone and hit the speed dial button.

“Hey, lady. What’s going on with you? How’s Connor?”

“Penny, I can’t talk long, but I needed someone to know what was going on. I just received a phone call from a man saying he had Alex. He wants me to meet him at some cabin. It was the same man who broke into my house. I’m heading out there now. I’ve got to go. I love you.”

I heard her scream my name in the background as I disconnected the call. I knew going out there, especially alone, was beyond stupid, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but Alex.

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