Page 45 of Ky

The sandwiches are identical, and filled with delicious looking deli meats, tomato, cheese and lettuce. I uncap the other bottle and hand it to her to take a small sip. Before handing her the sandwich, I take a bite and chew, forcing myself not to moan aloud. It was so good. I’d hardly eaten since lunchtime yesterday.

I wait.

When nothing happens, I hand her one half of her own sandwich. My girl is delicate and eats like a baby bird. I smile again as I watch her eat, running my hands through her beautiful dark hair. When she finishes her half, I give her another sip of water. Wrapping up the remaining sandwich, I return it to the plate.

The bolt to the door opens again, and this time, the man of the hour walks in, with the pretty blonde from this morning at the clubhouse beside him.

“Nice of you to drop by.” I begin dryly. “The digs aren’t really my style, but they’ll do in a pinch.” Bravado was always my go to when I was anxious or afraid.

Angelo curls his lip, his arms crossed over his chest, the sleeves of his perfectly pressed dress shirt rolled up to his elbows, his dark hair disheveled.

Willow presses her tiny body against me, trying to make herself seem even smaller, so that the big bad wolf won’t notice her. I wrap a protective arm around her. I’ll die first before I let anything happen to her.

“I can’t remember the last time you were such a mouthy bitch,” he snarls.

The room starts spinning, a nauseating swirl of color and shadow, and my vision doubles, making everything seem strangely distorted.

“Not feeling too good, I see,” he drawls.

“What did you do?” I demand weakly as I teeter on the edge of consciousness. Attempting to look down even though the entire room is spinning, I see my baby already sleeping.

He shrugs. “I banked on the fact you were hungry. Did you enjoy your sandwich?” he says almost smugly, as I try to stay awake. But I feel my eyes close, and everything goes black.

***

I wake on a groan, my head feeling as though it’s packed with rocks. Eyes fluttering open, I find myself on a bed in a beautifully appointed room, and I instinctively know where I am.

Back at Angelo’s house.

I fumble for Willow's hand, but only find empty sheets. A wave of apprehension washes over me, forcing me to freeze. I turn my head slowly, taking in the room with a newfound sense ofunease. But there’s no sign of her, and I can feel the rising panic. I quickly sit up as the room spins, and I clutch the side of my head.

Placing my feet on the plush rug covering a slate floor, I go to stand, but I’m still wobbly on my feet and drop to the bed.

“Angelo!” I yell into the empty room. I know he’s watching; I can almost feel his eyes on me. “Where is she?” With tears streaming down my face, I demand, my voice choked with sobs. Willow was my strength, but without her, I felt like a thread coming undone.

And it’s all that bastard’s fault.

From the day she was born, I had never been apart from Willow. I was always watching over her, making sure he wasn’t alone with her. But now, I can’t stand this not knowing. Feeling chilled, I look down at myself, horrified that I was completely naked. There was a carved mahogany dresser in the corner of the room. I practically fly across the room and pull open the top drawer, noticing a silk floor-length nightgown in blush pink. I roll my eyes, but it’s better than nothing, so I quickly slip into it. I wish I still had my phone on me, but it probably would’ve been worthless, anyway. Earlier in the day, it was already low on charge.

Without delay, I run straight for the bedroom door; instinctively, I knew it would be locked, but it didn’t hurt to try. Right? Finding it locked, it wasn’t surprising, but it was frustrating and as such, tears blur my vision, but I refused to let them fall.

I have the urge to scream and curse him from here to kingdom come, but I wasn’t going to let him get the better of me. Or give him the satisfaction of seeing me unravel.

I will best him. Somehow. And Willow and I will get out of here.

I had lived with the man for over three years. I had to believe that he wouldn’t hurt my little girl. But it’s been almost an entireyear since I’d seen him last, and I didn’t know how he would react now. Just as I sink to the floor in defeat, the door to the bedroom opens, and there’s Angelo, dressed in perfectly pressed dress pants and button-down shirt. His dark hair slicked back from his face. He’d be considered classically handsome, and to most women I’m sure he is, but they don’t know the monster lurking within like I do.

I spring to my feet with as much grace as I can muster in the circumstances. Clenching my hands into fists by my sides, I call on the bravado I had displayed earlier.

“Where is Willow?” I demand. My eyes blazing fire, and if I could, I’d burn him where he stands with just a look.

A slow smile spreads across his face as he walks farther into the room, his arms linked behind his back, his shrewd eyes running over me.

“What, your digs aren’t to your liking?” He throws back my own words, back in that concrete room.

I had reached the end of my tether, screaming the words. “Where is she?” Before I knew what to expect, he lunges, slapping me so hard across the face that I fall to the floor, clutching my throbbing cheek.

“Fuck you,” I grit through my teeth, my eyes brimming with unshed tears as the pain ricochets through my cheek