Page 53 of CHASE: Captive to the Dark

“But…” My eyes darted toward the stairs. I’d expected him to use the kiss against me. Maybe he would have had I gotten as far as getting dressed, but I wouldn’t know now. Now I was stuck here in this damn room with him. And he’d be lying next to me. It was a disaster waiting to happen.

“No buts, little one. Climb in bed.”

He let go and I moved around, crawling to the far side of the bed, instead of the middle like I was used to. Chase removed the tray and my pulse skyrocketed as he reached down, pulling his shirt free from his body. Muscles flexed and the impulse to run left me gripping the blankets tightly. If I did leave the bed, I knew he’d have an excuse to punish me. That would make the circumstances worse. He hadn’t had to use the flogger or crop in days and if I knew him, he wanted to.

The bed shifted as he pulled back the blankets on his side and climbed in. His grab for me was immediate. As I slid the length that separated us, I prayed for strength. He was so warm, so inviting as he positioned me with my back to rest against the length of his chest. The moment he curled around my body, a tear escaped. Emotions overpowered my psyche, distorting what I held to, making me thankful for everything he was giving me. I was breaking and I knew it. How could it happen so fast? How? Because in reality, it wasn’t fast. I’d been here my whole life—alone, isolated…unsafe.

“Shh, I’ve got you.” His arm settled between my breasts while his hand locked on my shoulder, closest to the mattress. A steady stream of tears raced down my face, but I couldn’t wipe them away. I couldn’t do anything but stare ahead while I repeatedly tried to block out how complete this made me feel. I wouldn’t remember how I once thought this was what I needed. How it was what swayed my decision to stay with him to begin with. That was a dream. It hadn’t really happened. I was strong. I didn’t need anyone.

A tinge of numbness had the tears stopping, but I couldn’t block out everything completely. Not the priest’s smell or the way his head rested on top of mine. The two things somehow blanketed my heart and could have been equivalent to freedom for the way they soothed me. Maybe in a way they were.

My eyes closed and I moved my face more toward the wet sheet. Anything to try to hide from my thoughts. Even trying to disassociate myself, I couldn’t escape them.

“Stop fighting it, little one. It’s for nothing. Do you think I haven’t questioned what I’m doing? That I haven’t thought about setting you free?” Chase pulled at my shoulder, turning me to face him. “There wasn’t a debate. You want this, as do I. Until I get all of you here,” he said, pressing his finger to my temple, “you’ll remain.”

“Why? It’s for nothing. We both know that.”

“I don’t have to ask whether you need this. You do. Aren’t you tired of being alone?”

God, yes. I was drowning in the isolation. Not just since I’d been here, but for years now. Alone was safe, but damaging, and I was feeling the effects. Ones that would only be worse if I gave in. At some point, this would end and when it did…I wasn’t sure I could pick the pieces up again.

“I can’t. I won’t.”

Chase pulled me in, wrapping around me. My cheek rested against his bare chest and the contact was enough to rock the stability of my walls. The beat of his heart was powerful. So much so, it quickly pushed its way into my body, becoming one with my own pulse. He gave me strength, yet made me weak, all at the same time.

Time stretched out while he watched over me—stroking my hair and holding me close. And there was nothing I could do about it. There was nothing I wanted to do about it, but let it continue. Sleep beckoned and although I dozed, I wouldn’t let myself fall asleep. I held to the closeness, knowing it wouldn’t last for long. The bad Chase would return and when he did, my days would go back to the way they were. He’d be the distant priest again, and I would become the isolated captive…until I broke.

Chapter 18

Chase

“What do we know?”

I went to take off the roman collar, pausing as I decided against it. I’d gone so long wearing this uniform, old habits were starting to return. To serve was ingrained in who I was and it was making itself known more by the day. To go back to the church or continue trying to sate this crazed obsession I had for Kit was fucking with my head. It was wrong and the magnitude of how much grew by the hour. With it, anger. Not only for what I felt I needed to do to break her into submission, but at the fact that I even would. I had to stop this. I had to let her go before I did something I’d never come back from.

“There’s nothing new,” Palo said, placing down his mug. “Rory is silent. The drugs still sit in the warehouse on Whitney Street. No one has come or gone. Either they’re waiting for us to act, or they’re hoping the problem we represent will disappear. Regardless, someone is going to want their merchandise soon, and if they don’t get it to them, who knows what will happen.”

I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to figure out the next move. My intention before I had been attacked was still unclear to me. I’d ordered Rory’s death before I even considered what I would do. One thing I knew was, selling the drugs wasn’t my main concern. This town needed a safer route. One without so many complications.

“Send Ed and Weston back out. If no one arrives by midnight, torch the place.”

“Torch?” Palo’s shock was clear as he took a step forward. “Do you know how much money we’d be losing out on? You can’t be serious.” His lips parted and he glanced toward Max as the old man walked in from the deck. “Let me and Max run it. We’ll get it out of town. I still have a few contacts. At a reasonable price, they’ll snatch it up.”

My head shook, but I knew, even if I couldn’t say the words. “We’ll figure out another way. I’m not saying we go holier-than-thou, but for fuck’s sake, Palo, haven’t you seen what the drugs are doing? Abe’s locked up for life, Jim’s probably dead, and I was attacked. Two homes on the outskirts have gone up in flames from meth accidents over the last year. Old man Simon killed his wife while under the influence of some sort of experimental shit. The man was a regular in my church. Abe may have had good intentions when he started, but look how things turned out? This town is damned and will continue to get worse if we don’t put a stop to it.”

A big sigh filled the room and Palo grabbed his mug, taking a drink.

How many times had we discussed what to do? So fucking many. Hell, every night. The decision was clear enough, but not the plan. I could clean this place up, but how would I keep Untold from going under? And it would if someone didn’t do something. Surrounded by an hour of nothingness all around, we were off the beaten trail. A forgotten town, deep in the mountains. There was no major highway bringing people our way. The stores here only got used by the residents and most didn’t have jobs to afford the luxuries. These were our great grandfathers’ settlements, our parents’ lives. A forgotten time and town no one cared to think about or even come to. The economy was worse than ever and with families moving closer to the cities for stability, life was getting harder. Soon, we’d become a ghost town. If anyone who resided here didn’t think it could happen, all they had to do was drive fifteen minutes away and take a look at what was left of Cedar. Nothing.

“Guns,” Max said, sitting down on the sectional. “I’ve said it a million times. It’s the most reasonable route to take. It gets rid of the drugs and still provides income. Sure, the risks are still there, but it’s a good option.”

“So is medical marijuana,” Palo bit out. “And I’ve said that just as much. It’s legal now. If we made a place big enough, it gives people jobs, and it gets out all hardcore drugs. It’s not like we don’t have the space. We can become the biggest supplier there is. Sure, it’ll take money to get things started, but with a loan or an investment,” he said, looking at me, “we can do it.”

“At least that option is legal,” I said, pulling at the collar. “I just don’t know if it’ll work or be worth the trouble. How many others are doing the same thing? A lot, I’m sure.”

Palo groaned, pulling out his phone. I didn’t want to talk about this anymore. Not right now.

“How’s Kit? Did you check on her?”

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