Intrigued and Enchanted (28 page)

“Yes.” I take down the address and get off the phone as quickly as possible. I’m on my way to you Lily.

“Come on Angus. I know where she is.” I’m praying that I’m not too late to save her.

As we make our way down to the car I call Jess and tell her where I’m heading. I’m taking the Ferrari – it will get me to her quicker and I need to be driving. I can’t sit back any longer without actively doing something to get her back. Angus is coming with me. We’re both armed and ready for whatever we are about to walk into.

I speed through the city, running lights and weaving in and out of the traffic trying to get off this damn island and out to where Lily is. The warehouse is about a ten minute drive from her mom’s house. The bastard wants her family to feel helpless while he laughs at their close proximity. I’m going to fucking kill him when I get my hands on him.

As we get closer to the address John gave me, my heart is hammering in my chest, my adrenaline coursing through my veins, readying me, to take back what’s mine. I cut the engine when we are close to the abandoned warehouse – I don’t want to alert Peterson to the fact that he has company. It’s an old textiles factory. It looks like it’s been derelict for a decade at least.

Angus and I make our way to the building as quietly and as quickly as possible. The black Ford Mustang is sitting at the entrance to the building. Angus tries to make me stay outside while he checks the building. No fucking way. I go straight into the building and the smell is overpowering. I’m fighting to hold down the contents of my stomach, trying to focus on getting to Lily.

We split up to search the building for her. I’m trying to keep calm so I can be methodical, but everything inside me is frantic, wanting to get to her as quickly as possible. As I move from one foul room to the next I feel drawn to the door at the bottom of the hall. I move as quickly as my body will let me, the strain of my fear evident in every movement I make.

A burst of rage runs through me as I hear a high-pitched scream coming from behind the door. I’d know her voice anywhere. It spurs me into action – the distressed, strangled scream coming from my sweet girl. My body is instinctively ready to use my martial arts training to defend the woman I love. My precious Lily.

I kick the door open and I see red – bloody, murderous, all-consuming rage.

27

LILY

I don’t know how long I’ve been here…in this living hell hole. Every bone in my body hurts, every inch of my flesh is agony to the touch. I’m pretty sure my right arm is broken and several of my ribs. I’m starving and all I’ve had to drink is a few sips of water when
he
sees fit to give me some.

I thought it was bad being locked in the trunk of this monster’s car, but I would have happily stayed in there if I’d known what was coming. It won’t be long now before he forces himself on me. He told me so when he was here a few hours ago.

I don’t know where he goes, what I do know is that he comes into this damp, dank, disgusting room every few hours and beats on me, telling me all the vile things he’s going to do to me.

I got angry when he was here yesterday – I think it was yesterday, I have no concept of night and day in here. There are no windows and the only light is the torch he brings in with him. The rest of the time I am bound and gagged and left in the endless darkness. Left to imagine the horrors that will befall me at his hands.

I shouted at him when he was here.

“Why don’t you just do it already?” He leaned down to me, close enough that I could smell his filthy breath and feel his repulsive spit on my face.

“All in good time sweetheart. I want to savour my time with you. I’ve been festering in that fucking prison all these years, waiting to see you again. When I take your dirty little cunt, I want you to
know
it’s coming. I want you to be begging for death when it comes. I want you unable to put up a fight like the little prick tease that you are. I want the last thing you see before you die to be me, pounding into you, taking whatever the fuck I want from you.”

I spat in his face and got a kick to the abdomen for it.

Today I’ve decided to keep my mouth shut. He’s won. I will welcome death when it comes. I can’t hold on much longer. My body won’t hold out much longer. I’ve been holding on to my memories of my time with Brandon, but even those are beginning to fade to the unrelenting voice in my head that is telling me he will think I died hating him. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I love him with every beat of my weakened heart, every laboured breath I take, every fibre of my aching body…

He’s
back. I can hear his footsteps. The door swings open and Peterson walks in with a revolting grin on his face.

“Miss me sweetheart?” The light from his torch highlighting his gruesome, evil face. His eyes are dead, devoid of a soul. I stay silent, trying to lessen the beating I know is coming.

“I think it’s time you did a little something for me now
Lily
. You’re going to put that pretty little mouth of yours to good use. I’m going to fuck that smart mouth of yours, and then I’m going to fuck your dirty cunt.”

My natural instinct kicks in and I struggle in my restraints, writhing on the floor, trying to get loose. He’s in front of me in seconds, pulling me up enough for him to punch and kick me repeatedly. In this moment, I
do
want to die. I just want this to be over.

When I can’t move from the pain radiating throughout my body, a limp ragdoll on the floor of this cesspool, he removes my gag. As he unzips his pants, I get one last surge of adrenaline, pushing me to scream at the top of my lungs. He clamps his hand over my mouth to silence me as he pulls his erection free – the sight of it just as repulsive as the rest of him.

“Now open your mouth for me sweetheart. And you better be fucking good or I will kill every fucking member of your family, your slut of a roommate and that fucking pretty boy. Now be a good girl.” He removes his hand from my mouth, and as he does, the door bursts open. Oh my God. I must be dreaming.

I see Brandon standing in the doorway, his murderous gaze locked on Peterson. Maybe I am dying. It’s nice to get one last glimpse of Brandon – The love of my life, my soul mate. His voice reverberates around the room as I realise this is real. Brandon has come for me. I hear my sobs, but it feels like they are coming from someone else. I feel detached from my own body.

“Get the fuck away from her before I rip your fucking head off you bastard.” Even in anger his voice is angelic to me. Peterson starts to cackle.

“And how are you going to do that pretty boy? Just walk away. This is between me and this little cunt.” Brandon’s eyes are wild, everything that comes next is so fast I can barely register how it all happens.

He lunges at Peterson, dragging him away from me. Punching him persistently, blood pouring from Peterson’s face. Brandon wrestles him to the ground with ease, holding him down as he unleashes his rage. When Peterson stops struggling and his body goes limp, Brandon is next to me in a flash.

“Lily, baby, speak to me. I’m here now and I’m never going to let anyone hurt you ever again sweet girl.” I can’t move. He kneels beside me, lifting my broken body into his lap.

I want to touch him, to talk to him, but I can’t. All I can do is look into his beautiful blue eyes and watch as the tears stream down his face.

“I’m so sorry baby. This is all my fault. I should never have left you alone. I’m so, so sorry.” Brandon cuddles me close to his chest, the sound of his racing heartbeat soothing my fears as he rocks me back and forth.

“I’m going to get you out of here Lily, and I’m going to look after you.” That’s when I see
him
standing behind Brandon. I try to warn Brandon, but no sound will come out. Peterson is behind him with a gun pointed at his head and I can’t make a sound.

“You’re not taking her anywhere pretty boy.” Brandon’s head snaps round to see Peterson standing bloodied and bruised, the gun pointed straight at his face. He tightens his hold on me, shielding my body with his own. I close my eyes and wait for the end, too tired to hope for a miracle, just happy that I got to see Brandon one last time. That’s when the gun fires.

When I realise I haven’t been shot, I open my eyes, expecting to see the perfect face of my soul mate ruined by Peterson’s gun. Terror coursing through my veins. What I find is Angus standing in the doorway, his gun aimed where Peterson was standing.

Peterson’s body drops to the ground, blood pouring from his chest. He’s dead. Angus rushes to our side.

“Are you okay Brandon? Is Ms Pritchard…?”

“She’s alive Angus, but she’s in really bad shape. I need to get her to the hospital. Call an ambulance…please.” He shifts his gaze back down to me.

“You’re going to be okay Lily. You have to be baby. I love you so much. Please…please hold on…” His voice becomes distant, like I’m hearing him through a tunnel. His face contorts as my vision blacks out. Before I succumb to the darkness I hear Brandon pleading in the distance, begging me to come back to him…

28

“When is she going to wake up?” I’m alive...

“Will there be any permanent damage?” Brandon...

“I’m here with you Lily. Come back to me my sweet girl.” I’m here Brandon, I’m here…

“Jess is bringing you some home comforts for when you wake up. Knowing her she’ll bring in your Jimmy Choos, a ridiculously inappropriate outfit and a manicure set.” Jess…

“You need to wake up baby. Jess is driving me nuts. She loves you so much though, I can’t help but have a soft spot for her.” Why can’t I open my eyes?

“I’m so in love with you Lily. I’m lost without you. I need you to wake up. I need you to
save
me.” Brandon sounds so desolate, so alone. All I want to do is reach out and touch his face, soothe his worries, but my body won’t listen to my commands. I can feel Brandon’s hand in mine, but I want to give him a sign that I’m here and I’m listening. A twitch, anything, I’ll take it.

“Shouldn’t she have woken up by now? Surely there is something you can do.” How long have I been out?

I hear the doctors coming in and out, my mom and sisters, Jess, but the constant is Brandon. He’s always here, always next to me, always telling me he loves me, reading to me from my favourite books, and playing music from his iPod.

Brandon is playing Maroon 5 – Won’t Go Home Without You. All I can do is focus on the lyrics, pulling at my heart, making me even more desperate to wake up, not just for me, but for Brandon. He’s hurting and I can’t stand it.

I need to open my eyes damn it. I need to get back to Brandon.

“Oh my God. She just squeezed my hand. Lily…can you hear me?” I just squeezed his hand. I can do this.

My eyes open, blurred at first, a haze of colours and lights in an unfamiliar room. I feel Brandon’s hands in my hair, his soft lips against my forehead. My eyes slowly come into focus. I can see every stunning line of Brandon’s face. He looks weary, his eyes glazed with tears, but he is still the most beautiful sight in the world to me.

“Brandon.” My voice is a raspy whisper.

“What is it Lily?” The love in his eyes is overwhelming.

“I love you Brandon. I’m so sorry.” I break down, the tears spilling from my eyes. If only I’d listened to him that night, we might have avoided this.

“Don’t ever apologise baby. You did nothing wrong. This was
not
your fault.” He runs his thumb over my bottom lip before tentatively touching his lips to mine. Resting his forehead against mine.

“I’ve missed you so much. I’m never going to let you go ever again.”

“Sounds good to me.” A light, relieved chuckle escapes Brandon, his breath caressing my face, a sweet smell of mint and Brandon tickling my senses.

“I better go call your family and Jess to let them know you’re awake.” Panic rises in my chest. I grab his arm in desperation.

“Please don’t leave me alone.” A tortured look crosses his face.

“It’s okay sweet girl. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll press the button for the nurse and I can call people from here.” I let out a shaky breath, scared by my reaction to being on my own.

When the nurse comes in to check on me, I notice her frequent glances in Brandon’s direction.

“Welcome back Lily. You gave us quite the scare. You have a wonderful man here. He hasn’t left your side since you came in. We’ve had to bring him food from the cafeteria so he wouldn’t waste away.” I thought I couldn’t love him any more, but the swell in my chest at her words and the shy look on his face tells me I was wrong.

“How long was I asleep?” Must have been a day or two. Brandon seemed pretty relieved when I woke up.

“It’s been ten days.” TEN DAYS! What the hell happened?

“You had some major injuries Miss Pritchard. You are very lucky that Brandon found you when he did. Any longer and you may not be here talking to us now.”

“You saved my life Brandon.” His face is pained as he looks up into my eyes. The nurse leaves us to talk and reminds me I need to rest.

“What’s wrong Brandon? You saved me. You don’t seem very happy about it? Talk to me honey.” His head drops into his hands, his body slumped in despair.

“I should have gotten to you sooner Lily. I should have known that you wouldn’t just ignore me. I should never have lied to you. If I had just been honest from the start, I would have been with you. I would have been able to protect you from this.” I reach out for Brandon’s hand; every muscle in my body aching.

“He waited for you to leave Brandon. He told me he had been watching the apartment, waiting until you and Jess were gone. He would have gotten to me no matter what. The important thing is that you
did
find me, and you saved my life Brandon. I can never repay you for that.” He rests his forehead on our tangled hands.

“I have never been so terrified Lily. I thought I was too late. You were so broken lying in my arms, my heart shattered into a million pieces. I thought I was too late Lily. I thought you were….” He can’t even say the words. Anguish and turmoil evident in his voice. I can’t imagine what the past ten days have been like for him.