Debt

Chapter 4

The whole drive to wherever Logan is taking me, I try to think of ways to get out of this. I don’t have any of my belongings. No phone, no I.D. Nothing. Sooner or later, people are going to know I’m missing. How is he going to handle that? It’ll be impossible to tuck me away and think people are going to forget about me. I guess that’s the only little hope I have to cling to in this situation.

Periodically, I look over at Logan and he’s simply gazing out of the window. His expression is neutral, but surely his mind is racing. Planning, plotting and thinking of all the ways he can ruin someone’s life. My life. He drew me to him with his wicked ways and managed to trap me like some lion with prey. I fell for it hard. I came hard too. That’s the only thing I can thank him for. Other than that, I’m miserable. I could continue to cry, but there honestly is no use. Deep down it wouldn’t have been so bad to have Alex killed. At least I would be free right now.

I don’t know how far or close we are to Logan’s home, but eventually, I doze off. My lack of sleep from work has caught up with me and this quiet car ride makes for the perfect sleep.

Sleep consumes me so deeply that when I feel myself being carried in two warm arms, I don’t even awake. The soft hint of cologne fills my senses, alluring me to the person the scent is attached to. The person who has stolen my life in exchange for another. How sick is that?

I’m laid down on something plush and the space becomes quiet.

When a sane amount of rest is achieved, I awake from my slumber to find that I’m on a bed. Rolling over, I notice a stack of clothes on the end of the bed. My eyes scan over the room and it’s huge. There are large chairs and pieces of art on the wall. Across the room is a fireplace with a fur rug placed in front of it.

This is my room.

I sit up and when my hands press against the bedding, the cool silk warms under my touch.

My bed.

Taking a few deep breaths, I slide off the bed and walk over to the windows. I’m surprised there are windows. The way Logan made it sound, my room was going to be a dungeon or caged room, but there seems to be quite a bit of freedom in this space.

I go to pull the curtains back and I come to the quick realization of why I didn’t need to be caged. I’m in a penthouse that’s at least 30 or 40 floors up. There’s no way I could scale down the side of the building and leave, so of course, I don’t need restraint.

I look down at the city and thought I’m still home, I’m so far away from my life. Logan has kidnapped me and I’m being held in plain sight. It’s scary but smart. Who would expect me to still be within the city limits? No one.

I’m just going to be up here watching my life pass by. As my chest becomes heavy and I begin to freak out, the room door opens and a woman with a cart comes in.

“Good morning, Ms. Alyssa. I’m Judy. Mr. McCall asked me to bring you some breakfast.” She smiles softly and I stand there.

I look at the cart stocked with pancakes and eggs with orange juice. On a normal day, I’d eat it, but right now my appetite is nonexistent. How can I eat in this situation?

“Judy, Where’s Logan?”

“Oh, he’s in his office. You’re welcome to go find him.” She smiles and I brush past her as I charge out the room to find Mr. McCall.

I make it down the hall, eyeing more frames of art. When I get to the living room, it resembles a bachelor pad. Leather furniture. Big screen TV. Fireplace. Bar. Everything someone could want. When I eye the door, I rush to it and turn the nob, but nothing happens. I yank it with all my might, but it doesn’t budge. There isn’t a lock, so how the hell is it closed?

“Automated steel rods lock from inside the door. You need a code to lock and unlock them which I only have. So, there is no use in trying.” Logan’s arrogant voice comes up behind me.

“You can’t keep me here.” I shake my head, turning to face him.

“But, I can. When are you going to realize that?”

My eyes scan over him and if I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was just a normal guy. His hair is combed back and he has on button-down maroon cardigan and black slacks. Nothing about him screams danger but honestly, those are the most dangerous types.

“Never. I’m not going to lie down and accept this.” I walk up to him and standing there with his hands in his pockets, Logan just smiles down at me.

“You had no problem lying down for me yesterday.” He licks his lips

“Bastard!” And in a split second, my hand is flying across his face.

I know the moment I hit him, I would regret it.

Logan’s smirk fades into a sadistic scowl just before his hand flies out, latching around my neck. His fingers squeeze tightly as he pushes me back against the wall. He doesn’t cut off my air completely, but his fingers are squeezing my veins, causing me to feel dizzy. I gasp clawing at his hand, but it has no effect on him.

“It would benefit you if you stop trying to fight this. You’re mine! You’re not going anywhere, so get used to being here with me. Get used to lying down wherever the f**k I tell you to lie down. Your defiance will not work here. Like it or not, you will obey me. This is your life now. Get used to it!” He lets go and I gasp, falling on the door, coughing.

“Go get cleaned up. Throw your clothes away when you’re done and return with a new attitude.” And with that, Logan walks off, leaving me on the floor.

When Judy comes from my room, she hurries to me and kneels down.

“Oh, dear. You must mind your manners with Mr. McCall. He has quite the temper.”

Great, she’s brainwashed.

She helps me up and guides me back to my room. Judy sits me down and moves the cart in front of me.

“Please, eat before you clean up. Mr. McCall stated you haven’t eaten in some time.”

She’s right. I haven’t eaten in over a day. My stomach should be growling up a storm if it weren’t replaced by other emotions. Sighing, I slowly pick up the fork and knife, cutting into the pancakes.

“How do you work for him?”

“If it weren’t for him, I’d be deported back to Russia for killing my husband. He made all of that go away for me.”

I turn and look at Judy wide-eyed and she smiles.

“My husband wasn’t a nice man. He worked for Mr. McCall and he walked in on my husband pouring gasoline over me. He was caught off guard by the mister so I grabbed my sewing scissors and stabbed him in the neck.”

“Wow.” I say, clearing my sore throat.

“Yes, he isn’t so bad. He’s just rough around the edges.”

“We obviously don’t share the same opinion of him, Judy. He’s keeping me here against my will.”

“Against your will.” She laughs. “He told me you agreed to live here to save your fiancé.”

“Well, yeah, but I didn’t agree to stay here.”

“Oh. I see.” She frowns.

“Well, I’m very sorry for the predicament.”

“Me too. Can you ask Logan if I can call Alex?”

“I will ask, but I doubt he’ll agree. I’ll see what I can do. Finish eating and push the car outside the door when you’re finished.”

I nod and she pats my hand before leaving me alone. I can’t help but think how a sweet woman ended up married to someone who would work for Logan. I’m glad she got out, but at what price? She’s most likely stuck here for the rest of her life. Like me.