7

Dolly

It’s easy to untie myself. Oscar might be a billionaire, and he might own one of the biggest companies in the state, but I grew up with Craig as a brother and Randy as a stepfather. The two of them would tie me up when I got too mouthy, when I was too annoying, or just because they felt bored.

Things are different now.

I’m different.

As soon as I’m free from the binds, I slip out of the bed. For some reason, Oscar took my clothing. That’s fine. I can find something else to wear. I rifle around in his dresser until I find a pair of sweatpants, a Kiss t-shirt, and some socks. There are no shoes randomly lying around in my size, but that’s fine. The socks will work.

Quietly, I open the door to the hall. I pause, and I look both ways.

There’s nothing.

I slip out into the hall, close the bedroom door behind me, and turn left down the hall. I know that Oscar is still in the apartment somewhere, but I’m probably just going to have to run out of the room when I get close.

Or, who knows?

Maybe he’ll be in the bathroom and I can just sneak right on by.

When I reach the living room, I hear him talking on the phone. He’s on speaker, so I know the other voices are Ryan and Phoenix Shadowvale. Oscar has always been close with his brothers, so I shouldn’t be surprised they would be his first phone call.

“What is it?” Oscar says.

“Her brother has been in and out of jail for years.” That’s Phoenix.

Shit.

Phoenix is kind of a whiz when it comes to computers. He’s the tech bro genius of the brothers, so it’s no surprise to me that he’s the one Oscar asked for help.

What bothers me is that this feels invasive.

Probably, I’m sure, as invasive as Craig abducting Oscar.

“For what?” Oscar asks.

“Does it matter?” Ryan says.

“It matters.”

“Everything from lighting fires to stealing cars,” Phoenix says.

Embarrassment washes over me. I don’t like to think of my family history like this. It’s bad enough that Craig did what he did today.

Do I really need to live with the fact that his past is coming up now?

“Why do you think he went after you?” Ryan asks.

“Dolly will know,” Oscar says.

“And where is she?” Ryan asks.

“In my bed.”

“Alone?” Phoenix asks.

“She’s restrained.”

“Dude. Kinky.” I can hear the mirth in Ryan’s voice, and I hate it. He doesn’t need to know that Oscar tied me up. He definitely doesn’t need to know how much Oscar liked it.

And there’s no doubt in my mind that he liked it.

I saw the way he looked at me as I slipped out of my clothes. I didn’t miss the way his pants tented. He liked what he saw even if he didn’t act on it.

And is that what I really want?

A part of me feels embarrassed. Knowing that the others know about me being tied up feels humiliating, but there’s also a part of me that likes this embarrassment.

How sick and twisted is that?

“Fuck off,” Oscar says.

“You brought it up,” Ryan says.

“I don’t ask you about Alex. Don’t ask me about Dolly.”

“Is there…what?” Ryan says. “Is there a thing between you and Dolly?”

“No.”

“Do you want there to be?”

“Not the time,” Phoenix says. “Where is Craig now?”

“No clue,” Oscar says.

“Do you have her phone? Can you call him?” Ryan asks.

“I destroyed her phone,” Oscar says.

“Good move.”

“It’s too easy to track people,” Oscar says. “We all know that.”

Yeah, especially me. I think of all the times Craig has slipped tracking stuff on my phone without me knowing it. I don’t want him to know where I am, and I certainly don’t want him to have the opportunity to trick me

I’ve spent so much of my life being tricked. I don’t need anyone to do that to me again.

“How are you going to find him?” Phoenix asks.

“I don’t know,” Oscar says. “I’m sure she’s asleep by now. I’ll wake her up in a little while and talk to her.”

“Are you going to talk with your words or with your dick?” Phoenix asks. There’s a hint of laughter in his tone.

“Dude. Fuck. Off.”

“What? I’m just asking.”

“It’s a genuine question,” Ryan agrees.

“I’m hanging up,” Oscar says. “Just keep looking. Let me know if you find anything else.”

“Want us to come over?” Ryan asks.

“No. Stay away.”

“He wants to be alone with his new toy,” Phoenix says, but then Oscar ends the call. I hear him sigh, and I press myself flat against the wall.

“You can come out,” he says. “I know you’re there.”