Page 30 of Keeping My Captive

Dios mío.I close my eyes, savoring the sound of that word in her sweet voice and tone. When I open my eyes again, I can see that she’s desperately wanting an answer. “Are you jealous?” I question out loud.

Her eyes narrow. “No, I’m not jealous. I just want to know how many diseases you have. You know, we sleep in the same bed!”

“Yes, wesleep.” I stress the last word.

She opens her mouth to say something, but then closes it. I’ve rendered my little captive speechless.That’s a first.

“I’m clean, by the way,” I tell her. I always wear condoms, and I get tested regularly. With my proclivities, I can never be too careful.

Before either of us can say another word on that particular subject, there is a knock at the door, and I yell for the person to come in. It’s Sofia again, with a few dresses. She gives Aria the side eye before coming straight for me. She holds the dresses up, and I study them. There’s a black one that looks like something a grandmother would wear, a white one that’s delicate and lacey, but reminds me of a doily, and a red one that appears to be more like a scrap of fabric than an actual dress. I motion for Sofia to turn, and then I ask Aria, “Which one do you like the best?”

Aria locks her honey-colored eyes on me for a moment before she thoughtfully considers the dresses. “Red.”

“Red it is then.” I turn my attention to Sofia. “You can leave it there on the chair. Thank you,” I say, dismissing her.

Aria watches the other woman walk out before staring at the dress. “Who is that for?”

“You. We’re going out tonight.”

“What?” she whispers in what I can only assume is disbelief.

“Ignacio should be back soon with everything on your list. I expect you to get ready and wear that dress,” I explain.

She slowly picks up the red dress and holds it tightly in her hands. It looks like she might refuse at first; but when her eyes meet mine, I can see the hopefulness swirling in her honey-colored orbs.

Aria hasn’t set foot outside of the compound since she’s been here, so I’m sure she’s already planning every kind of little escape plan that she can inside of her head. She probably thinks I’ll let my guard down so she might have a chance to run away while we’re out in public. Little does she know that I own this entire city and everyone in it. And soon enough, I’ll own her too.

CHAPTER20

Aria

“WHERE ARE WE going?” I ask for what feels like the millionth time during the car ride.

“You’ll see,” Mateo answers for the exact number of times that I have asked.

Scowling, I stare out the dark tinted window, trying to take in every detail in case I need to remember anything. Wherever we’re going, I’m prepared to scream and fight and call out for help. I want to go home…before I forget what home felt like. My life prior to being kidnapped is starting to feel like some sort of surreal dream that I was suddenly woken up from. It’s scaring me how I’m growing accustomed to my life here, to Mateo, to everything. I don’t want to get used to things. I want to go back to my old life.

I can hear the music before we even pull up to the club. It makes me think of that awful night when I was taken and my entire world changed and crashed around me. My heart starts beating faster, and I begin knotting my fingers nervously in my lap.

“What’s wrong?” Mateo asks, his dark eyes assessing me.

I shake my head, dismissing my inner thoughts. “Nothing.”

He stares at me for a beat before he reaches for the door handle. He opens the door and impatiently waits for me to emerge from the car.

I’m wearing the red dress that Sofia let me borrow and my scuffed-up Louboutins. I step out of the car and almost fall thanks to one of the heels being cracked. Mateo catches me in his arms at the last second and hauls me against his chest. He’s so tall that I feel like a child in his arms.

“Those shoes have seen better days,” he remarks gruffly. “Sofia should’ve let you borrow a pair of her heels.”

“They were a gift from my mother,” I respond. I couldn’t bear the thought of throwing them away. And when I wear them, I feel like a part of her is with me, giving me the strength I need to carry on.

Mateo nods slowly in understanding. With me still in his arms, he gazes down at me, studying my face with rapt interest. Since all the things on my list were brought to me, I decided to get all dolled up with a full face of makeup. I did a smokey eye and a nude glossy lip. I can’t even count how many times Mateo has looked at me tonight. I look hot. I know I do. I was always used to the attention back home, but I’m not so sure if I want his attention. What if he decides he’s done being patient with me? What if he just takes what he wants?

Mateo releases me then, taking a step back. He clears his throat and then motions towards the club. “Let’s go,” he says, his voice deep and gravelly.

With his hand on my lower back, he guides me towards the front door. Several times I almost stop, wanting to turn and run the other way, but his hand is persistent, moving me forward.

One of the bouncers gives him a subtle nod as he opens the door and motions for us to enter. The moment we walk inside the dark club, the volume of the music almost knocks me over. It’s so loud…and bright. It reminds me of the club I was in when I was taken. When Constantine had a bunch of people gunned down in front of my eyes. Memories of that night assault my mind as I glance around, making sure everyone here is alive and well, and not lying dead on the floor with vacant stares. My breathing becomes erratic as I try to calm my nerves but desperately fail.

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