Page 25 of Dark Knight

“To the point, Griff.” I don’t need her whole life story.

“Deputy Dumbass thought she was a whore and tried to blackmail her. She’s a virgin. Has been saving herself for Cross since she was sixteen. I don’t think he even knows she exists. Blackmail didn’t work, though, and here I am.”

“How’d the MC know, then?” Doesn’t seem like the girl would be asking for favors if she’s hiding her love for Cross. But he is a perceptive son of a bitch, so he might have found out on his own.

“I called Cross after Tallulah told me what happened. I didn’t give a shit about me, but guys like that fucking deputy will not take no for an answer. Someone needs to protect her.”

“I’m going to be frank with you here, Griff. My lawyer is working to get us out as quickly as he can. My folks think it’s going to take two days. Those two days could turn to two years if I have to defend you again. Keep your head down and your mouth shut because my girl is missing, and her crazy fucking family likely has something to do with it.” Balling my fists, I bite the inside of my cheek so I don’t go fuck some motherfucker up to vent my frustration.

“I understand.” His words are resigned.

Turning to face him head-on, I tell him, “I won’t let anything happen to you, but it can't be so obvious that I did the ass-kicking. So if you get in a jam, take your lickings, and I’ll fuck 'em up later, got it?”I need to fuck someone up.

Bea missing is the worst fucking thing that could have happened while I’m in here. And once I’m out, there’s going to be a considerable shift in power within the police department because the sheriff is fucking done for.

* * *

Bea

Time has no meaning here. One day bleeds into the next as I lay strapped to the bed. I’m released to eat and go to the bathroom three times a day, and then I’m shackled again.

The worst of it is that whatever they used to knock me out in the supermarket has somehow kick-started my memory, and I’ve spent this entire time recalling the way Nolan would touch me. Kiss me. The way we made love. The look in his eyes when he thought I'd done or said something funny.

He was so patient with me when I was timid, when I got a burst of confidence, and when I was shy. Nolan always made me feel like the most precious thing in his entire world, and it’s all been stolen from us. My family ruined everything before we ever had a chance to become something more. Something incredible.

I have no idea how to get out of this hell I’ve been locked into. And I don’t know if Nolan will ever be able to rescue me.

“Knock, knock.” The door to my room opens, and I see Dr. Laura. For once, a friendly face. I’ve refused to talk to anyone else since arriving. “How are you feeling, Bean?”

My eyes narrow at her use of my full name. She’s always called me Bea, and now I think I see a pattern I hadn’t before. “Bea,” I grind out, my jaw so tense that with one blow, it could shatter like glass.

“Yes, Bea. I’m sorry.” She smiles at me as she closes the door and comes to sit on the chair next to the bed. “I was told you didn’t want to speak with the facility's psychology team, so I was brought in.”

“By whom?” I never told them about her. Which means everything has been orchestrated by my family like I thought.

“Well, your parents mentioned that you finally agreed to being treated here and that you were having a hard time adjusting.” Her head tilts curiously, but I glimpse it. In her eyes is the look of a woman playing two sides of the same coin.

“If by agreed, you mean drugged, kidnapped, and forced, then sure, let’s go with that.”

“You’re being a tad dramatic, don’t you think?” Dramatic would be to stab her in the knee with the fork I hid at lunch.

“No, I’m being accurate. I was out shopping with Ariel Sutton when I was accosted by a man who proceeded to stab me in the neck with a needle, rendering me unconscious, and then I was brought here where I’ve been held against my will for I don’t know how many days.”

“Sutton?” There’s a trace of fright in her tone.

“Yes, I’ve been seeing her son, Nolan.” I didn’t realize a name could bring fear to a person.

“The Dark Knight?” I don’t know what that means, but I go with it because, clearly, she does.

“He wants to marry me. His father has been kinder to me in the few days I was them than my own father was in a lifetime.” Dr. Laura has grown so pale I’d almost think she's seen a ghost.

“Luther.” For someone who is ordinarily quite chatty, this woman has been reduced to very few words. “Excuse me.” She leaves so quickly that the door doesn’t close all the way, and I hear her having a conversation with someone.

“Do you know who that girl is associated with? The things they’ll do to this entire facility if they find out you’re keeping her here against her will?” Laura sounds terrified.

“What are you talking about?” The doctor who keeps forcing pills down my throat sounds annoyed.

“Luther Sutton is to be her father-in-law. She says she’s going to marry Nolan Sutton.” I get the sinking feeling that I have no idea who my soon-to-be family really is, and I’m unsure if that’s a good thing or bad.

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