Chapter 10

10

Maddie

I blink my eyes open, and for a moment, it feels like a normal, happy day.

But then I see the empty spot in bed beside me and remember that Jordan is missing, that he's probably being hurt or may even be dead and tears instantly blur my vision.

I roll out of bed to grab my phone from the charger to see if there are any updates…and realize I'm actually not alone in the apartment.

There's a man in a black suit sitting on the kitchen table right next to my open laptop.

I shouldn't be happy to see Eli, but I am. After all, he's the only one who knows where Jordan is and if he's still breathing.

"Daddy's been looking for you everywhere, Maddie," he says as his gaze devours every inch of my body as if searching for tiny changes or injuries. I wish I was wearing a bra under Jordan's tee and shorts since he seems focused on those two areas.

"Where's Jordan?" I demand, even if we both know he holds all the power. And man, I really wish I hadn't left my gun on the kitchen counter last night.

"Your boy is getting some sleep. He had a very, very long night."

I wince, unable to even imagine what he means by that. "Please don't," I whisper. I'll leave if I have to. I'll leave Jordan behind if it means keeping him alive.

"Please don't what?" Eli asks with a grin. "Don't drag you home or don't kill the biker boy you've been fucking and playing house with for the past year?"

"Please just…leave Jordan out of this. Let him go, Eli. I'll do anything."

"Anything? Not just return to Vegas, but you'll do anything I want?"

I swallow around the lump in my throat, the fear that it's too late, that he's lying to me and has already killed Jordan. "Yes. As long as you can prove to me that Jordan is alive, and you promise not to hurt him."

"The boy was shocked I tell you, shocked when I told him you lied about the wedding in Vegas when he was what I can only assume was blacked out drunk."

Of course, Eli found out about my lie and told Jordan the truth. It's just one more way to torment him.

"Jordan is innocent in this. It's not like he kidnapped me and brought me here from Vegas. I left with him. It was my decision."

"You've made some stupid decisions. I honestly don't know how you stayed hidden for this long."

"Is he alive?" I ask.

"For now."

Oh, thank god.

Eli wouldn't kill him right away. No, he would take a sick pleasure in drawing out Jordan's pain for days before taking his life. I just have to figure out how to stop him.

"How did you find me?" I ask.

"I've been looking into all the private flights out of Vegas within twenty-four hours of when you went missing. I knew you would want to get as far away from Daddy as possible, so I narrowed it down to cities on the East Coast. I crossed out the most populated ones. You're not that stupid. You wouldn't want to be in a city with cameras on every street, but the small-town angle seemed illogical too at first. Everyone would know you." He takes a step closer to me, still eyeing me as if he's trying to see through my thin tee. "But then I followed up with some local private investigators. One was a little too quick to assure me you hadn't been seen or heard from around here. Turns out, thanks to your fake husband tipping him off, he was going to send evidence that you were alive to your father for his reward, then sell you for millions more to a stranger up north—one who was excited about getting his filthy hands on the beautiful daughter of a notorious mob boss. Shultz had photos of you all around Rockland—sunning on the beach, drinking at the bar, and he even knew where you lived."

Shit. "That's who has been watching me?"

"Felt that did you?"

I nod, unable to wrap my head around the fact that I was so close to being kidnapped by what sounds like even worse monsters than Eli.

"Did you feel my eyes on you too?" he asks.

"I did, as soon as I found the dead man's body in Greer's, I knew it was you," I tell him, just as he had hoped. "What do you want, Eli?"

"What do I want?"

Steeling myself, trying to sound more courageous than I feel, I tell him, "I know you could drag me back to Vegas whether I want to go or not, but you've apparently been here for days and haven't snatched me up and ran yet. So, what are you waiting for? What do you want?"

His shoulders shrug under his crisp black suit jacket. "Maybe I'm tired of being Dante's bitch. Maybe I don't want to follow his orders any longer."

"Then don't follow his orders. Leave! Go anywhere you want, just don't ruin this for me. Don't hurt Jordan."

Eli strolls toward me, hands casually buried in his pants pockets, but his gaze is smoldering so hot I know I'm about to get burned.

"Don't tell me what to do, Maddie," he says quietly. "This is my game now. You have to play by my rules."

"W-what are your rules?" I stammer, blowing my brave act.

Striding up to me until he's standing so close I have to tip my head back to look at his face, he pinches my chin between his finger and thumb, and presses down hard enough to bruise. "My first rule is that you do whatever I want, whenever I want it. And if you refuse me, I'll kill your fake husband slowly, painfully."

"Let me guess—what you want is to have sex with me again?"

"We didn't have sex. I ripped through your virginity. Twice." I can't help but wince at the reminder of the stinging pain both times. "This time I'm going to fuck you multiple times, in various, creative positions."

"And if I refuse, you'll kill Jordan?" I ask jerking my chin from his grasp.

"Yes."

"Where is Jordan?"

"He's tucked away, hanging out with a mutual friend, waiting for me to return to him."

"Where is he, Eli!?"

The asshole chuckles and strikes faster than a cobra, long fingers wrapping tightly around my throat, squeezing. "You think if you yell at me, I'll suddenly be scared of you now and blab the address? Sorry, baby, but that shit doesn't work on me. Nothing works on me, except giving me exactly what I want, when I want it."

Now he jerks me toward him, choking me. "But do keep screaming my name like that, Maddie. In fact, let's make that my second rule. I want you to scream my name whenever I'm pounding inside of you. The only exception is when I'm choking you at the same time I'm fucking you, or I have something shoved in your mouth preventing you from screaming."

"I tried to save your life, and this is the thanks that I get?" I grit out using up what little oxygen he's allowing me to have.

He releases my throat, and asks, "When did you ever save my life?"

"Back home, in the dining room, after you took my virginity. I could've told my father. I could've screamed for someone to make you stop."

"But you didn't."

"I didn't because I didn't want to have your blood on my hands!"

"Oh, please, Maddie. My blood would've only been on your Daddy's hands."

"I had the power to keep your filthy secret from him, so I did, to keep you alive."

Eli chuckles again while reaching around to fist a handful of my hair, tipping my head back so I have to look at his face. "You can tell yourself you were altruistic if you want, but we both know you liked it so much you didn't want me to stop. You came so hard for me, on my tongue and my cock."

Since I'm unable to look anywhere but up at him, I don't notice his next intentions. His free hand pinches my nipple through my thin shirt, then twists, making me squeal.

"I bet you were hoping I would fuck you again after I pulled you from the bathtub and claimed your virgin ass."

"Why didn't you?" I can't help but ask through gasps.

He releases my nipple and I suck in air as it throbs painfully.

"Because I was too busy fucking someone else."

"The stripper?"

"How did you know about him?"

"I…I may have gone to your room one night and overheard you and Daddy talking about where you had been."

Eli's smirk is so smug I want to slap it off his face. "You came to my room? What if Daddy had seen you?"

"Then I would've told him I was looking for him and made up some excuse."

"So, you wanted me to fuck you again?"

"No."

"Maddie, you don't go sneaking around a man's room unless you want him to fuck you. So why are we still standing here with clothes on?" he asks. "Get naked and get on the bed. I'm going to feast on your pussy."

"No!"

"Do you want me to undress you instead? I'll gladly rip your shirt and panties off."

The first thought in my head shouldn't be maybe.

"First, I need to know all the details of our deal, and for you to promise that you won't hurt or kill Jordan."

Still gripping my hair, Eli leans down and licks the cuff of my ear. "Fine. I won't hurt or kill the biker boy. I'll even…keep feeding him for you."

"You will?" This seems way too easy.

"Yes, his belly will stay nice and full, if you let me spend the next…seven nights in your bed naked with you, letting me inside of you whenever and however I want."

"Seven nights?" For Jordan's life, that doesn't seem like a lot to ask. But I'm not sure if I would survive seven nights with Eli.

My father always taught me that everything is a negotiation. Hopefully this is too. "One night," I counter, and Eli barks out a laugh.

"Three nights. No less."

"Three nights, but you…you have to show me proof that Jordan is alive with a date and timestamp every night before we…"

"Done. I prefer to keep an eye on my captives at all times. I'll even give you a link to the live feed."

"Great." That really will be great. Maybe once I see Jordan there will be something around him to help me locate where he's being held. Thinking fast, I add, "And…and you have to use condoms every single time." After all, I don't know where his dick has been, so I don't want to catch anything and give it to Jordan. Because I will be with Jordan again once this nightmare is over.

He'll probably be traumatized by being held captive for days, and I'll have to deal with the memories of Eli fucking me, but we can get through it. We can get through anything together. Jordan promised me…

"I also want three vetos," I blurt out.

"Three vetos?"

"Yes. Three occasions that I can refuse you without any repercussions to me or Jordan."

"One veto."

Dammit. "Fine," I huff since one is better than none.

"What else?" Eli asks as if anticipating more demands.

"You can't kill me, like even accidentally."

"Do you really think I would cut off your air for so long you would die?"

"Yes."

"Well, what is there to stop me from killing you and then using your body however I want afterward?"

"You are a sick bastard," I tell him and the way he blinks so hard is nearly a flinch. "Which is why I get to text a friend that if I don't have a FaceTime call with her on Monday morning at eight a.m. then I'm dead and to call my father's cell phone number."

Eli scoffs. "Like you still remember Daddy's number."

"I do," I lie. His shoulders fall like he believes me. And because of that, I know he won't kill me. For some unknown reason, Eli doesn't want my father to hate him. I don't think he would care if Daddy took his life, but he doesn't seem to want to disappoint him. Guess something has changed since the night he fucked me on the dining table before dinner, hoping we would get caught.

"After the third night, you let Jordan go, alive, unharmed, and you never go near him again."

"Only if you keep up your end of the bargain."

"I will."

"And if you agree to say your goodbyes to the biker boy the morning he's released and come back to Vegas with me that same day without kicking and screaming. Deal?" Eli holds out his large palm for me to shake.

I accept it, reluctantly, making my deal with the devil.

He squeezes my hand to the point of pain. "Say it, Maddie."

"It's a deal," I grit out. "But if you don't keep your word…"

"I know," he agrees. Yanking me by my hand to him, he slams his lips over mine and swipes his tongue over them to try and wiggle inside. When I don't let him, he pulls back and adds, "If I don't keep my side of the deal, I'm a dead man after you tell Daddy I took your virginity on his dining table, and fucked your brains out for three nights before bringing you home to him?"

"No," I reply. "I'll kill you myself if you don't let Jordan go unharmed."

His lips spread into a grin over mine. The hand on my hair keeps my head in place while his other hand wraps around me, pulling my body flush to his. The poke in my belly scares me the most.

"Then you'll never find your biker boy, and he will die alone and sad in the middle of nowhere, hating you for lying to him."

Now it's my turn to wince. Jordan will forgive me. Hopefully. "He can't be that far away." I keep talking as if my lips don't brush his with every word. "With the Savage Kings help, they'll find him. Maybe even before your three nights are up. And if so, then Jordan will be the one who gets to kill you."

"Big talk, for a na?ve little girl," Eli replies. I gasp when he grabs my ass, which is when he shoves his tongue into my mouth, claiming every inch of it. When he finally retreats, leaving me breathless, he whispers, "I know the Savage Kings are already aware that Jordan is missing. But if they interrupt even one of our three nights together…" He leans closer, shoving the tip of his tongue into my ear canal over and over like he's fucking it. It's wet and gross, making me squirm until he stops and says, "If anyone interrupts one of our nights, I will skin Jordan alive and make you watch every second. Is that understood?"

"Yes," I whisper, shivering against Eli and making him groan.

Looking down at me less than an inch away from my face, he says, "You agreed so easily to three nights with me. You didn't miss being owned by me, did you? Was Jordan too soft and gentle when you wanted it hard and rough?"

"I can't wait until the three nights are over. I'll be counting down the seconds every moment you're inside of me," I assure him before punching him in his dick. He howls and backs away from me, chuckling while clutching at his crotch.

"You sure about that?" he asks through clenched teeth. "I think you'll forget how to breathe when I'm inside of you, just like you did before."

"I may have agreed to let you fuck me, but I won't enjoy it. I love Jordan. He's the only man I'll ever want. You-you just used me to try to get back at my father!""

Smirking at me, Eli says, "We'll just see about that. I'll have you forgetting all about him with the first thrust of my tongue in your cunt. God, I can't wait to hear you scream and beg…"

I shake my head. "I won't let myself come for you."

"Oh, Maddie. Don't you remember what I told you when I took your virginity? Withholding orgasms is one of my favorite forms of torture. I didn't agree to let you come any of those three nights, did I?"

Withholding orgasms? How bad could that be? I'll survive it. I'll close my eyes and imagine I'm somewhere else. Not with Jordan because then I'll just feel even guiltier.

Instead, I'll just imagine that Jordan and I are sitting on the breezy, peaceful beach, watching the sun rise together like we've done so many times before.

"Get on the bed so we can get started," Eli says when he abruptly moves, shoving my chest, making me stagger so the back of my legs hit the bedframe.

"F-first...before we do anything, I want to see Jordan. Show me that he's alive and not hurt right now."

"Fine," Eli grumbles on a heavy exhale. "I'll have to go set up a camera. Then I should probably feed him again since I haven't put anything in his stomach in about…" He examines the expensive-looking watch on his wrist, "sixteen hours or so."

"Yes, you should definitely feed him!"

"Okay fine. I will. In fact, I look forward to it," he replies with a grin. "It shouldn't take me long. I want you naked in bed waiting for me when I return, or Jordan will suffer for it. In fact, he'll suffer for anytime you refuse to do as you're told. And once I show you the live video of him at the beginning of the night, you're not allowed to check on him again until I leave in the morning. I can't have you staring at him all teary-eyed while I'm banging your brains out. If you disobey that order, then I won't let you watch him during the days when I'm not around."

"Fine," I agree.

"That's my last rule. No crying when I'm fucking you. Period. You start up the waterworks and I'll…"

"You'll what?" I ask when he trails off in thought since there's no way he can tell me how to feel.

He rubs his scruffy chin a moment before grinning. "If you cry, I'll not only tell Jordan I'm fucking you in his bed every night, but I'll also show him every second."

My chest tightens to the point of pain, at the thought of Jordan finding out… "You have a camera in here?"

"I do. Wouldn't you love to know where?"

My eyes dart around the bedroom, up to the vent in the ceiling, before I head into the kitchen. As soon as I see my open laptop, I slam it shut.

"Such a smart girl." Eli laughs. "I'm so glad I recorded you fucking Jordan the other night and the next morning. It's definitely my favorite spank bank material now."

My face burns at the thought of him watching us while I was thinking about my first time with him. God, I hate myself for that so much.

Never again.

"If you tell Jordan what we do those three nights, I'll tell my father everything the second I see him."

"Fine," he agrees. "But no crying or I'll just kill Jordan and take off to another country."

"Asshole."

"This asshole owns your entire body now," he retorts as he strolls up to me and shoves his tattooed hand between my legs, grabbing me roughly. I hate that the pressure of his palm feels good against my clit. But he quickly pulls his hand away. "I'll be back soon through the window to avoid your lookout in the parking lot. Don't even think about sending law enforcement or the Savage Kings after me. I'll just kill them all and that blood will be on your hands."

"God, I hate you," I mutter while trying to forget the tingles of pleasure left behind from his palm.

"You're going to love me by the end of our three nights together."

"No, I won't."

"We'll see," he says before he starts toward the living room window.

As soon as he leaves, I pull out my phone from my pocket to think carefully about my next move.

I don't want anyone to end up dead, but I don't want Eli to hurt Jordan either.

So, after I send Celeste a message, telling her I'm going to hide out from Josie over the weekend and will see her first thing Monday morning, I decide to call RJ.

"Fulton Automotive," a man answers, one who could be RJ or Thane.

"Hey, is this RJ?"

"Yeah."

"It's Maddie."

"Oh, hey, Maddie. There's still no sign of Jordan."

"I-I know. I just wanted to let you know that I heard from him."

"You did?"

"Yes. He's okay, for now. But I don't know where he is, so the Savage Kings need to find him as soon as possible. By tonight."

"Wait, so you talked to Jordan, but he didn't know where he was?"

"That's right."

"Reece is trying to track his phone…"

"Yes! Good. Let me know if he finds out anything."

"Will do," he agrees. "Are you sure you're okay alone with just a prospect?"

"I'm fine. I just, I'm a mess, and Josie is out for blood, so if anyone hears anything call me. Please."

"Of course. You do the same."

"Thanks, RJ."

"No problem," he says, then, "You know, all of this is sort of like déjà vu."

"Déjà vu?" I ask him in confusion.

"Oh, yeah. A few years ago, during a feud with the Devil Hounds, they kidnapped Jordan from the shop while I was out getting us lunch. It was Thane actually who nabbed him. But I didn't know where he was until Thane called to explain that Isaac wanted to talk to the Kings. They held him hostage until we got Lyla to go back home. Wow, that seems like just the other day and so long ago…"

"I…I didn't know that," I admit. "Jordan never told me." God, I hope he's not freaking out, having to go through all this shit yet again.

"Josie is losing her mind, so your safest best is definitely to avoid her since she's made it clear that she blames you."

"I know. And I'm sorry. I'm trying to fix it," I say before ending the call.