CHAPTER {3} My K!dnapper

Cairo keeps his palms pressed against the wall on either side of my head, trapping me completely. 

His olive-gray eyes stare straight into mine like he's trying to see inside my soul.

“Diana?” he says, repeating my name like he's tasting it. “That’s what you said your real name is, right?”

I nod once, barely breathing. My heart won't stop pounding.

“Now tell me who the fuck you're married to.”

I keep staring into his eyes, wondering what he plans to do to Eden. 

“What are you gonna do?” I ask quietly. “Kill my husband? Kidnap him too?”

He gives me a small amused smile, the kind that would make any woman melt if she wasn't already terrified. 

His thumb starts drawing gentle circles on my cheek.

“I'm gonna spare him… But only if he didn't know you're my woman.”

The words “my woman” pull a quick breath out of me. My lungs feel useless.

I give him a soft laugh, just to show him how crazy he sounds.

“Growwwwl!” A stupid, ugly sound comes from my stomach.

We both freeze for seconds.

The wedding cake was the last thing that went in my mouth yesterday, and now my body is reminding me in the worst way possible.

God, why now? He definitely heard it. There's no way he didn't.

He lifts his hands off the wall and steps back a little, giving me space.

“Get in there,” he says, pointing toward the bathroom with a tone so deep and commanding I don't even think about arguing.

The bathroom door is open, lights already on.

I walk in slowly. There's a golden toothbrush still in its box on the counter. 

I pick it up, brush my teeth fast, splash water on my face, and try to steady my breathing.

By the time I step out, he's already on the phone by his bed.

“Is breakfast ready?” he asks whoever's on the other end. “Okay, come take her to the dining room.”

He drops the phone and looks at me.

A knock comes at the door and my eyes fly to the entrance. 

A neatly dressed woman with her hair tied in a perfect bun and a black-and-white maid uniform steps in.

“This way, ma'am,” she says softly.

I follow her, looking back at Cairo.

He's still watching me, eyes fixed like he's making sure I don't disappear the second he looks away.

The door shuts behind us and we walk down the hallway.

My eyes keep wandering like a lost sheep. 

The floors are black tile, so shiny It can serve as a makeup mirror.

The walls are black too, smooth and clean. 

Every corner has a statue. Not regular sculptures, but tiny black diamonds connected together to form human shapes. 

They sparkle under the lights, and I make sure to stay far away from them. If I accidentally knock one over, I'm sure the price could buy me and my whole family as slaves and still have change left.

We get to the dining room and my feet stop halfway.

A long table is covered with so much food. I can't even look at it all at once. 

Fresh oysters on ice with lemon wedges. Bite-sized lobster tails dipped in warm butter, there's so many.

It looks expensive. It smells expensive. My stomach growls louder this time.

A man in a perfectly suited black outfit stands in the corner. He has long hair that touches his shoulders. 

I remember that long hair from last night, he was the masked man that wrapped the cloth over my nose.

“Good morning, ma'am,” he says politely.

My lips can't form any words. Not when the same man who helped kidnap me is greeting me like I'm his madam.

Before I can think of anything, a hard grip tightens on my arm. Someone drags me so fast I almost fall.

My body hits against a frail figure. She pushes me back like I'm dirty and shouldn't touch her.

“You think you can just find your way back into my son's life after what you did? You wild slut!” she says, face full of disgust.

“I'm… I'm not who you think I am…” I try to explain, but she's not listening.

“Oh! You're a liar too? What kind of heartless woman abandons her own child and the man who gave her everything?” she asks, waiting for me to answer like I actually have one.

“You think I don't know about your dirty little stripping business?”

“Stripping business?” My voice stammers. “Ma'am, that's… that's not…”

“Get out and go back to whatever filthy stripper dump he picked you from!” she grunts, pushing me away again. 

“You better leave this place, or I'll make sure every day in this house is a living hell for you. Mark my words.”

“Mom!” We both jolt as we hear Cairo's voice.

I look toward the far end of the corridor. He's already dressed up.

Black shirt, black suit, silver watch catching the light faintly.

He walks toward us with heavy steps, face tight with rage.

He gets between us, blocking his mom from touching me again. 

That intoxicating scent of his is now more pronounced.

“Mom, if you ever speak to my woman like that, I'll make sure you won't see Skye for a month.”

His mom's eyes widen with shock. She opens her mouth, but nothing comes out.

He extends his hand to me. I lift mine slowly and place it in his.

He takes me gently and guides me to the table.

“Sir, the jet's ready,” Mr. Long Hair says. “We need to move any minute.”

“Business can wait a little, Alec,” Cairo says. He pulls off his suit jacket and hands it to Alec. “I gotta feed her myself.”

My heart flutters stupidly. Feed me? What the hell?

“Amanda,” he says to the maid setting the table, “get your hands off.”

The maid looks up, shocked. “Mr. Arsher, I… I can do it. You don't have to worry.”

“Get your hands off the table, Amanda,” he repeats, his voice tight with command.

She steps back immediately, like wasting one second would cost her job.

He folds his sleeves, washes his hands at a small sink in the corner, then comes back.

Then he starts dishing food onto a plate, his arm muscles flexing. 

I stare across the table at his mom. She’s still giving me that murderous gaze, like she’s already imagining ways to make me disappear. 

She’s the only person in this house who wants me gone, and honestly, she’s right to want it. 

I need to escape. 

Eden and my mom must be looking for me, and I can’t let Mom worry. Her health isn’t stable. One bad episode and she could end up back in the hospital.

I glance down at my shorts under the milk-colored satin gown. My phone is still in the pocket of my shorts. It’s been there since yesterday when I got dressed for the wedding. 

I guess that’s why they didn’t take it from me. They probably didn’t even think to check.

My fingers slip inside the pocket slowly. I pull the phone out while keeping my hands under the table so Cairo doesn’t notice. 

My heart is thudding so violently because of what I'm about to do.

I open the notes app with shaky thumbs and start typing fast.

*I know you want me gone from here. Can you help me escape?*

I pause for a second. I don't even have a penny on me.

*I need a little money to escape too. Please help*

I hit send in my mind even though it’s just a notes app. 

If she sees this… maybe she’ll help. She wants me out more than anyone.

Cairo starts moving closer with the plate. My heart shuts down with panic.

I drop the phone on the floor under the table as quietly as I can. 

Then I kick it gently toward his mother’s side with my foot.

Her body flinches when the phone hits near her feet. She looks down, confused.

“You okay?” Cairo asks, noticing my weird little movements.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I say quickly, forcing a fake smile.

He settles in front of me, eyes on my face like he’s studying every expression. 

His mom bends down slowly to look under the table. 

She sees the phone and our eyes meet for one second. 

God, I really hope she reads it and helps me. I hope she doesn't seize my phone. Or worse, show my text to Cairo.

She straightens up without a word, her face still cold.

Cairo cuts a piece of beef, dips it in the cream, adds a bit of salad, then holds it to my lips.

I open my mouth and take it. The creamy taste melts on my tongue, soft beef so tender it falls apart. I chew slowly, eyes on his face.

He keeps staring at me, then brings his thumb to the corner of my mouth, wiping the leftover cream. 

Then he licks it off his thumb without breaking eye contact.

My heart stumbles stupidly. Then starts beating faster and heavier.

“Cairo?” his mom says. “Can I speak with you for a second?”

“Mom, I'm busy,” he answers, still staring at my lips like he's obsessed with the way I'm eating.

“Cairo! This is urgent.”

He sighs, stands up, and follows her outside.

I can't help it. I grab the fork and start eating fast.

Beef, salad, cream, everything. The hunger is so bad it feels like a hole in my stomach demanding more.

A few minutes later Cairo storms back in.

“Alec, we need to leave,” he tells Mr. Long Hair.

Then he comes to my side, leans down slowly, and presses a soft wet kiss on my left cheek.

My stupid heart melts like butter.

He stares deep into my eyes. “I'll be right back. I don't wanna look for you, else you're not gonna like it.”

He picks up his coat from Alec, throws it on, and they leave like men with urgent business matters.

I finally breathe out for the first time since I woke up, but it's too early to relax.

“Get over here,” his mom demands, still talking to me with that disgusted tone.

I stand up immediately and follow her. We walk down the stairs, through what looks like the backyard, to a small gate.

She throws my phone at me. I catch it fast. How the hell does she think I can afford a new one?

Then she throws a wrapped stack of thousand-dollar notes at me.

“Get away from here and stay far away from my son.”

“I don't want to see your face ever again!”

She pushes me out the gate before I can thank her.

The gate shuts behind me and I stare at the clean dollar notes in my hand.

I need to get a flight immediately.

I run out to the street and stop a black cab. I hop in and tell the driver to take me to the airport.

As the cab drives away, I stare back at the mansion. 

It's tall, black, and beautifully luxurious, almost like a palace for rich people.

A deep pain aches in my heart.

I don't know who he is or the woman he's looking for.

But now I know what he has for her. The way he looked at me, fed me, protected me. It's all I've ever craved from a man.

But unfortunately, I might never get it.

Because I'm married.

And this will be the last time I'll ever be touched, fed, or defended the way he did for me.

I turn my gaze to the road ahead. I don't want to get emotional over a stranger I don't even know. Or even worse, over a love that's meant for another woman.

~~~AN HOUR LATER~~~

The taxi that picked me from the airport drops me in front of our apartment. The little rented house Eden and I share, renewed every year.

I get out and shut the door.

I breathe deeply to calm my nerves before pressing the doorbell. 

My mind keeps replaying yesterday. Eden's bare ass, the rage I felt.

Eden opens the door before I can press the bell a second time. His hair is messy, like he just woke up.

“Diana!” he shouts.

“Jesus Christ! Where the fuck have you been?”

I brush past him and step inside.

“I've been calling you all night! I thought something happened,” he says, following behind me.

I drop my phone on the table and stare back at him.

He grabs my arms and I yank them away, remembering everything from yesterday. How he was riding another woman like he didn't have a care in the world.

“Talk to me,” he says. “You just disappeared. Where did you go?”

“I got kidnapped, Eden. Some men grabbed me outside the hotel.”

He stares at me for a few silent seconds, trying to figure out if I'm lying.

“Kidnapped? What? By who?”

“A guy thought I was someone else… he totally mistook me for her.”

“Diana… that’s insane.” He comes closer and cups my cheeks.

“Are you sure you’re not hurt?”

“I’m fine… Just tired. And angry.”

“This happened because of everything that went down last night, Eden. If you hadn’t been… doing what you were doing, I wouldn’t have run off alone.”

His hands fall off my cheeks. He looks down. I can see the shame still eating at him.

“I know. I’m… I’m fucking sorry about all that.”

“Did you tell Mom I was gone?” I ask.

“No, I didn’t. I drove her home safely.”

“Good. I didn’t want to bother her.”

DING! My phone vibrates on the table.

I pick it up fast.

The message reads:  

“Oh Diana baby. I told you not to move from that table. I just landed in your city and I'll see you soon.”

My heart flips wildly. “How the fuck did he get my number?” 

“Diana? What's going on?” Eden asks, noticing the change in my expression.

Before I can answer, he snatches the phone and stares at the text. His face clears out.

“Who the fuck is this?!” His voice rises, somewhere between anger and confusion.

“That’s… that’s ummm…”

“Diana, who the fuck’s calling you ‘baby’?” he asks again.

“That’s… that's my kidnapper.” 

Eden stares at me with absolute shock.

“Your kidnapper? What the hell's going on?”