*DANIEL*Left behind on the same cold ground that they had met and left me, I massage my cheeks unsuccessfully, restricted by the rope tied around my hands.What on earth am I supposed to do now? All I’ve got has never been just mine, and at the time, I thought I was lucky enough to have ended the divorce on a pretty silent note but now…My thinking is interrupted by the soft metal grating as the door to the place I’ve come to see as the basement of wherever I am opens. Reid had said it was his place but what basement is this well-equipped?Lord knows what kind of shady activities goes on in the room when I am not locked down here.“I see they have paid you a visit. I have been asked to return you to where I picked you from, but unfortunately, I won’t be able to return you to your kitchen, I can drop you off as close as I can of course.” The one who had pointed his gun to my feet comments snidely, his lips curled up in a funny smirk. “I hope you won’t mind?”I know he is only taunting
*RAEES*Reid helped Daniel into a better and more comfortable sitting position as soon as he nods to co-operate with us.Reid pulls up a chair, the only one in the room and motions me to have a seat, I decline, shaking my head, “You sit.”Reid smiles and nods. He sits down and suddenly pulls me into his laps.I look at him wide eyed, “Really?”He laughs gaily, peeping out my side to Daniel who’s looking at us both like we’ve grown some pair of horns. “You promised to co-operate. Now, there are parts we know, like you sending Richard but why did you need a video or picture of her in bed with another man?”“If I co-operate with you, you will let me go right?”“There are some other details included but let me say yes for now. Will you answer my question?”Daniel looks from Reid to me, then back to Reid, “I want to have the last laugh.”I scoff, “You want to have the last laugh? You were the one who cheated for heck’s sake?”“Yes, I cheated. A man’s allowed to have more than one woman in
*CECELIA*It had been a terrible worrying spree all night as I stayed up, unable to get some good sleep.I heard nothing, not even a peep from Daniel and not from anyone at all. I had fallen asleep in the later hours of the morning though, and I was jolted awake by the sound of my house owner, inquiring for rent loudly and embarrassingly.This, the whole plan with Raees Graham absolutely has to work so I can get out of here.As I get dressed to head out, my mind travels back to after Raees had left and that fateful day, Daniel had invited me over for a stay-cation for the weekend. It was the morning of the next day I had woken up to a visitor in the apartment.I had been confused seeing Daniel talking in hushed tones with her and when I walked into the living room, they had stopped talking and paused to look my way.“Is that her?” The woman I have come to know to be Elena Flanagan asks, pointing rudely at me. “You left that gem for what? A leaf?”Yep, she had called me a leaf, not eve
*RAEES*Inside there is as dark as it could possibly get, I shiver subconsciously, feeling Reid’s glance even in the dark as he fumbles for his phone to turn on the torchlight.“Are you okay?” He inquires as he turns the light over to me.I nod, “I’m fine.”I’m not fine. The darkness only reminded of my room the previous morning.When he had been alive and I ended up being his last victim.“Watch your step.” Reid cautions, taking my hands gently and helping me down the narrow staircase. “It is so narrow so no one will come down here with any suspicious activity in mind, and it’s equally so dark so when they shine the light down, it’ll look like every other regular basement, not one that…” He pauses as we step down. He pushes a random object on the wall and there is a soft grating sound right opposite us. “…has a secret compartment.”Reid Caddel surprises me every damn time.The open door reflects very bright light, lighting the entire basement for a split second, causing me to shield
*RAEES*He did what…?“I know you’re probably taken aback by the news but I have no way to reach him unless through under handed tricks like he is familiar with. So I had the men pick him up yesterday afternoon. I couldn’t leave you all alone here so I haven’t gone to see him yet.” He explains with utmost sincerity, the worry evident in his eyes that I am disappointed or angry.I chuckle, my hands flying up to my mouth to cover it. “Sorry, but did I sound like it was a terrible thing to do?”He regards me for a brief moment with a cocked eyebrow, “You are fine with me having Daniel practically locked up?”“You’re literally asking me if I am okay with you taking actions for my sake? Am I supposed to hate it?” I retort, leaning on the wall, regarding him with slit eyes.He smiles, taking three long steps over t my side. He sighs in relief as he pulls me into a hug. “I had no reason to be worried then.”“Maybe, just maybe you still do. Especially as you just lied to a policeman.”“That c
*REID*I wake up first and go up to the room where I laid her in the night before. She had been a little weird last night but I chalked it up to what had happened the night before.One part of me wanted to lay there with her, warming her body with mine, holding her close and whispering into her ears that nothing, absolutely nothing will go wrong as long as she has me by her side. While on the other hand, I couldn’t bring myself to stay for fear that she might have a panic attack or something if she wakes up in the middle of the night to find me in bed with her and I do not want one night’s happening to become a nightmarish trauma for the rest of her life.I knock softly on the door and push it in, peeking inside to see her awake, but still wrapped up in bed. “Good morning.” I greet her, walking inside and closing the door softly behind me. Her eyes are pink and there are shadows under her eyes.She did not have a good night.“Good morning,” She replies, trying for a smile but she fails