Chapter 22

HARPER

T he fabric of the cloth bag, thrown over my head stuck to my cheeks from the tears that streaked my face. My throat burned like I swallowed shards of glass from my screams that no one heard. Trapped in what I could only assume was a trunk, because of the muffled sound of an engine, an occasional honk, and the swaying as my body was jerked back and forth from what felt like the brakes being applied periodically. I was certain we were well out of the city limits because of the time passed since I was thrown in here. The hope of being saved dissipated with every minute that passed. My eyes were heavy and my will to survive was slipping.

My head throbbed as I felt warm liquid dripping down my face. I felt my eyelids grow heavier as the warm liquid puddled. I let the darkness take over and everything was silenced.

I jolted awake with a sudden feeling of being held underwater. Once my vision cleared, I saw a muscular man with a bald head. He had tattoos all over. His eyes were pitch black, with a piercing look that was intimidating.

The room was so dimly lit that when the bucket, once full of water used to wake me, was tossed aside, it vanished into what I could only guess was the abyss of a basement.

I tried to raise my hand to wipe the moisture from my face only to realize I was chained to a chair. I looked up to meet my captor's eyes again and his gaze was fixed behind me.

I could smell him before I could see him. A deep woodsy scent mixed with metallic, overwhelmed my senses as a deep voice whispered into my ear,

"Mmm, we will have so much fun with you, koshechka."

His voice was deep and carried a thick accent, one I had never heard before.

I felt the hot air spill from his lips, onto the sensitive part of my neck, before he grazed over my collarbone with his knuckles. Every hair on my body raised in fear.

I tried to fight my bindings, but they were secure and tight, almost too tight.

He walked from behind me strolling with his hands in his pocket, as he joined the other man. They had similar features. Maybe brothers, or close relatives of some sort.

The second man had a buzz cut and had the same physique as the first. Both were covered in muscle and tattoos. The second man had a piercing on his eyebrow, I secretly planned to rip it out if he had gotten any closer.

Lost in my wishful thinking, I had no time to brace myself before being forced to the ground. One of them raised a foot and kicked over the chair I was chained to, smashing my bound wrists with my body weight.

The chair must have been old and brittle because it broke into pieces at the impact causing me to scream out at the snap of my wrist from under me.

Before I could make sense of what was happening, I was yanked by my broken wrist, and forced into another corner of the cold dark room where I noticed a smell of cigarettes and mold.

There was an old rusted four-post bed with a dirty mattress on it. I was pushed face-first onto. My hands were still held tight by my captor. I tried to fight him off but there was no use. He was too strong, and I was wounded and still bound.

The more of a struggle I put up, the harder my broken wrist was pinched under his grip. I let out an agonized yelp, as I heard the chains grinding on metal as they were pulled tight.

Once I was bound to the bed on my stomach the man released his hold. I took a deep breath and before I could release it my clothes were ripped from my body, leaving me naked and completely vulnerable. I began to thrash and kick my legs as I felt teasing touches on my thighs. The two men chuckled at my attempts to get loose.

"Easy koshechka, the harder you fight the harder I'll bite." The man, who sat on top of me, said just before he sank his teeth into my shoulder. I screamed out in pain as the blood trickled forward and dripped onto the bed. He wrapped his hand in my hair forcing my head down, toward his stomach while he was straddled on top of me. One knee on either side. My neck cracked at the blunt movement, and my scalp protested.

Putting his lips on my ear, he whispered,

"Your parents were right; you are a pretty little thing. I bet your untouched Pussy is so tight."

The weight of his body disappeared just before the sound of his belt echoed through the room. He dropped it to the floor with a startling clank.

He slapped my ass and then forced his hand down between my thighs.

"Which hole do you want to start with?" he asked in a husky voice. I thought he was speaking to me, but another voice vibrated through the air, with a menacing chuckle

"Both."

* * *

I woke up suddenly, with a start. I was covered in sweat, my throat inflamed from screaming in my sleep. I sat there heaving, trying to take back control of my breathing before I hyperventilated, telling myself over and over,

"It wasn't real. They can't hurt you anymore."

The room was completely dark, not even the streetlights penetrated through the blackout curtains. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. I looked toward the bedroom door, which now stood wide open, I saw a large dark figure in the doorway. I breathed in a startled breath as fear took over my ability to move or think.

I blinked my eyes repeatedly, then forced them shut to compose myself before taking another look at the door. It must have been a trick of the mind because when I looked again, there was nothing but darkness.

Confused, I clicked on my bedside lamp. My bedroom door was wide open, which was odd because I always slept with my door closed. The thought left me feeling uneasy, I got up to check the alarm system was still armed and active.

The alarm remained set just as I had left it, but I was still uneasy because my door was open, especially after such a vivid dream. I went to the kitchen to make some sleepy-time tea to settle my nerves. It had been so long since I had any of my nightmares. I guess seeing those men, who looked identical to my past, brought back my nightmares and the excruciating memories of the things those monsters did to me so many years ago.

I couldn't get settled even after my tea, which usually worked wonders for me, fearing someone was lurking in the dark waiting for me to doze off. I even thought I saw someone standing under a tree, just out of sight, when I looked out my window.

I carried my blanket, pillow, and my cellphone to the couch to watch some TV. I flipped through the channels repeatedly before I got bored and settled for Fresh Prince reruns. I put the volume at a low setting and used it as background noise, something to drown out the silence of the night.

I grabbed my phone and found the number of the only person who made me feel calm, besides Aster. I hovered over Jasper's name before pressing the call button.

The phone rang three times., I was just about to hang up when he answered with a sleepy voice.

Oh no, I woke him, shit what time is it?

I looked at the clock, midnight.

Without saying a word, I ended the call, tossing my phone to the other end of the couch. In frustration, for my inconsiderate nervous calling, I rubbed my face with both hands, with a groan.

As my entire body heated up with embarrassment, my phone began to ring. I knew before I even looked at it who was calling.

I took a deep breath when I saw Jasper's name cross the screen, losing all the confidence I seemed to have had moments ago, I let it ring for probably too long before I answered it.

"Hello," I said in a meek voice of embarrassment. I don't know what I was thinking of calling him. I don't know this guy besides a couple vague encounters. A calmness soothed my worry when I heard his voice.

"Hey, Harper, Is everything okay?" he asked, with clear worry.

Is he worried about me?

"Um, yes. I'm sorry to have called so late and um… it was stupid… I'm sorry." I rambled off just about to end the call.

"No, it's not too late Doll, what happened? You sound stressed, is everything okay?"

Do I sound stressed?

I didn't know what to say so I just stayed quiet.

My words betrayed me when I finally found them. I told him the truth.

The next thing I knew I was explaining my dream to him and how much it shook me. He went quiet once I stopped talking. Too quiet. I could hear his steady breathing coming through the phone. I imagined him lying in bed, probably in the dark, listening to me rattle off like a crazy person at midnight on a Sunday night, but what he said next caught me off guard.

"Harper, I'm sending a driver to you. I have a guest room with a private bathroom in my penthouse. You're going to stay with me until your roommate comes home. He will be there in twenty minutes." He spoke with intensity.

I chuckled thinking he was joking, or he had lost his mind.

"I don't hear you packing," he replied to my amusement of his offer.

"Oh, you're serious. No, I'll be fine. I just got a bit spooked."

"Too late, he's already on his way," he said, not entertaining any objections.

Before I had time to consider all the potential problems, I was hastily packing my work clothes into a duffel bag. Jasper stayed on the phone, while I packed and kept talking until his driver gently knocked at my door.

"I'll see you soon Harper my driver is there knocking now his name is Hector. I trust him deeply and you can too." Jasper ended the call with perfect timing as if he anticipated the driver's arrival.

Ending the call worked out for me, it gave me time to lock up and bring my stuff to the car.

Hector insisted on carrying everything, but after I insisted, he reluctantly handed me my makeup bag and purse.

Once I settled into the armored SUV and buckled my seat belt, Hector was swiftly behind the wheel carefully pulling out into traffic.

My mind finally caught up, when I realized how reckless my actions were. I suddenly regretted calling Jasper, especially agreeing to this crazy move for the week. I don't know Jasper well enough to wander into his home. I could never allow myself to sleep there, sleep being the most vulnerable position a person could be in.

What was I thinking?

Have I lost my mind?

How can I get out of this?

My hands started to sweat, and my nerves completely took over.

We drove for a short time as I plotted my escape. I texted Aster an S.O.S. message but it stayed on delivered, which was expected since it was only after six in the morning in London, she would still be asleep.

I looked at the clock on the dash and saw it was twelve forty-five in the morning. I felt even more guilty having this Hector gentleman out so late to rescue the crazy lady from nothing.

Hector must have noticed my unease while glancing in the rearview mirror, he spoke up.

"Ma'am, if I may?" I nodded for him to continue,

"Trust me, there's no need to worry, you are in good hands with Jasper. He's a true gentleman, I've known him a long time." I gulped anxiously at his words.

What if I don't want to be in his hands?

I bit my lip and nervously fiddled with my hands in my lap.

We pulled up to one of the fanciest buildings I've seen since moving to Miami. Hector stopped at the gate and the security waved him through with a nod towards the private parking lot.

We came to a stop at the end of the covered parking area. I looked up from my fidgeting which had only gotten worse. Jasper stood, leaned against a pillar with one foot raised and his arm folded across his chest, his cell to his ear.

He spoke with a somber expression. He carried an authoritative demeanor that screamed he was used to being in charge and not accustomed to being disobeyed or dismissed.

He ended his call the second he noticed our vehicle coming into his view.

His face lit up as Hector opened the door for me. He wore gray sweatpants and a tight, black V-neck T-shirt, that accentuated his form. I didn't notice how muscular he was before through the expensive tailored suits I'd seen him in. The loose fabric showed off his muscular build around his midsection. It did something to my core that I couldn't explain.

He approached the door and whispered to Hector. I didn't hear what was said but Hector dropped his waiting hand and allowed Jasper to dominate the space around the open door. I slid out and turned to Hector who had stifled a yawn.

"Thank you for driving me, sir," I said quietly, I gave him a small child-like curtsy. I had to stop myself from palming my forehead, at how completely stupid I felt. If he thought the same thing, he showed no trace of it when he nodded with a sincere but small smile before closing the door behind me. He stood with his hands held inside each other in front of him waiting for direction I assumed.

Jasper nodded at him in thanks as we walked towards the elevator on the other side of the well-lit parking garage. It was so bright compared to the inside of a dark, tinted SUV.

"Is he going to stay there all night?" I whispered to Jasper as he extended his arm for me to grab, he almost seemed to be cautious not to make unwanted contact with me. He threw my hot pink duffle bag over his shoulder, his smile widened when my fingertips gripped his forearm.

"No, Doll, he will leave once I excuse him for the night," he chuckled, as my eyes widened.

"Did he have to come back to work just to get me?" My cheeks flushed red at the inconvenience I may have caused.

Jasper stared at my face, as guilt swept over me when he stated,

"I pay him well, he doesn't mind. I would have come myself, but I had a little bit to drink this evening." I glanced in his direction, and immediately flushed at the possibility of him having brought a woman home from a bar. Making me feel a sudden surge of jealousy. Stunned by my emotions I looked at the floor as he pressed the button to the penthouse.

As if he could read my mind, he elaborated putting me out of my misery when he said,

"You are no trouble, Harper. I was reading alone tonight and had a few drinks before bed."

I looked up to meet his gaze, secretly relieved to hear he was home alone . His eyes were soft and kind just as they were at the bookstore and the interview.

When I looked at Jasper, I saw good. Being in his presence didn't put me on edge like every other male figure, apart from Old Man Frank. It was more of a calm feeling, a safe feeling.

I could feel Jasper's gaze as the numbers above the elevator doors climbed higher on the ride up, causing my breath to hitch. Though not for the normal reasons. Suddenly, I was very aware of musk and the earthy scent of his cologne taking over my senses. I had to stop myself from leaning closer to him.

What's wrong with me? I'm being so reckless.

As the elevator pinged, and the doors slid open my breath was stolen. His wealth was undeniable, and he took great pride in possessing luxurious things. I already suspected as much by the designer suits, but his home was spectacular, like something straight from Forbes magazine. I stared at him; my eyes wide with uncertainty about what I had stepped into.

"You're a lawyer, right?"