Page 38 of Merciless Angel
Zane nodded. “Yeah, I guess you would be. I’m sorry that it had to be this way. You wouldn’t listen to reason. You left me no other choice.”
Dear God, this guy was out of his mind. How would I get through to someone so clearly off their rocker?
“It doesn’t have to be this way,” I said softly. “Really. It’s not too late to change things. You can untie me. We can go back to the city and have dinner. We can talk.”
Zane’s eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you think I’m stupid enough to fall for that? You’ll take the first chance you get to run back to those fucking douchebag Angels. They kill people. Did you know that? They’re criminals. Why would you want to be with someone like that?”
He was too far gone to realize what a hypocrite he was being. Zane had already done some pretty criminal things himself. Arguing with him wasn’t going to help.
“I don’t want to be with them. I know they’re assholes. They made me do things that I didn’t want to do. You’re punishing me for something I had no control over.” Even as the words left my mouth, a memory of the Angels hanging me from their ceiling flashed through my mind.
They’d made me do it no doubt, but I couldn’t say that I’d hated it. I would never have agreed to such a thing though, which left me conflicted. Not that it mattered now. If I didn’t find a way to get away from Zane, I’d never see the Angels again.
Maybe there was something wrong with me. Why did I attract men who wanted to hurt me? Why did I like it?
I didn’t like anything Zane had done to me though. I’d never hated anyone the way I hated him.
“What did they make you do?” Zane asked, his tone low and menacing.
I shook my head, pressing my lips together. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to talk about it. I need to go to the bathroom.”
Zane frowned. I was afraid he would force me to tell him about the Angels. Were they looking for me right now? Did they get the alert from the bracelet before Zane ripped it from me? Surely they had to know by now that something had happened to me. They would suspect Zane right away.
But how would they find us at a cabin in the middle of who knows where?
When Zane left the room without a word, I worried that he’d let me piss myself. I hadn’t been lying about needing the bathroom. He returned a few minutes later with a knife in one hand. I held my breath as he sawed through the rope holding me tied to the bed frame.
Because I couldn’t walk with my ankles tied, he cut that rope too. Not my hands though. Grabbing my elbow, Zane pulled me off the bed. My ankles almost gave out. I fell against Zane who put an arm around my waist.
“Don’t try anything,” he warned. “I’ll take you to the bathroom then right back to the bed.”
“You can’t keep me tied to a bed forever, Zane. Is that really how you picture us being together?” I shouldn’t be challenging him, but I couldn’t keep silent.
He pulled me from the room while I stumbled along. My ankles were sore and throbbing now that the blood rushed back into them. The hallway was small with only two other doors. I was able to see the living room down below over the railing near the stairs. He pulled me the other way to the first door.
Shoving me into the small bathroom, Zane stood in the doorway, blocking it with his body. “Hurry up. Make it fast.”
I stood there awkwardly as he stared at me. “Are you not going to leave? I’d like some privacy please.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I don’t trust you not to look for a weapon or something. Go if you need to go, otherwise, we’re going back to the bedroom.” Leaning against the doorframe, Zane nodded toward the toilet.
Feeling humiliated, I tore my gaze from him and pulled down the shorts I still wore. They were a bit big and baggy, falling easily to my feet as I sat on the toilet. If I didn’t really have to go, I’d never have done this in front of Zane.
“You’re a vile piece of shit, you know that?” I muttered, my contempt and anger taking over my fear. “I could never love someone like you.”
I probably shouldn’t have said that. Zane’s expression grew pinched, his face reddening. Wiping was difficult with my hands tied in front of me. Even the Angels wouldn’t have done something so shitty. As soon as I finished awkwardly washing my hands, Zane roughly grabbed my arm and dragged me from the bathroom.
Caught off guard by his aggressive action, I tripped and fell. That didn’t stop him from dragging me down the hall back to the bedroom. Hell no. I couldn’t let him tie me up again.
Taking a chance, I twisted my body around and headbutted him right in the crotch. Zane let out a pained grunt and doubled over. His grip on my arm loosened enough for me to slip free. Scrambling to my feet, I ran for the stairs.
The cabin was on the small side. Quaint and cozy. The front door was off the living room, straight ahead. I almost fell down the stairs in my haste. Zane’s heavy footsteps pounded down behind me.
I fumbled with the door handle thanks to my tied hands. Once I managed to get it open, I sprinted out, ready to run without shoes. Zane had taken them from me at some point.
Too bad I didn’t make it far. I got a good view of the property. Surrounded by trees, it appeared to be in the middle of nowhere. Not another cabin in sight. Not even a road. Only a small worn path in the grass leading up to the structure.
I started toward the trees to my left, hoping to lose myself in them. Zane tackled me before I made it more than a few yards. His heavy weight came down hard, crushing the breath from me. My face hit the dirt, my bound hands trapped between my body and the ground.