Chapter Seven

My hands flew to my mouth as I stagger backwards. This could not be happening to me, this has to be some sort of sick joke. That was the only explanation I could think about.

I stop and bend over as I struggled to breathe. My heart felt at one moment like it was shrinking in my chest, then abruptly it starts beating fast against my chest like it could burst out at any moment. My palms were clammy and I could not think of anything else, except that my heart might burst out at any given moment. I felt my knee grow weak and give way under me.

By the time I hit the ground, by body spasmed violently, and my vision blurred. Before it went completely black, I could see two dark figures hovering over me and they were screaming something but it all came as a piercing whistle down my earlobe.

I know I keep wishing for death to put me out of my misery, but I am not ready to go yet. I can’t die, not now. Not here. Not like this.

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The room was quiet except for the perky chirping of the birds outside and the heavy breathing of someone. Initially I thought it was probably me, but as the fog cleared from my mind, I realized my breathing was gentler. I raise my hand and massaged the light throbbing in my temples.

I listened for the heavy breathing but it was gone. I did not want to open my eyes, so I decided to forget about that could have being. I waited to hear the door open, but the sound never came.

My eyelids flew open, as I felt the side of my bed dip from someone’s weight.

“Mi Alma,” Matt said, with concern written all over his face. He pushed the hair on my littering face backwards, I wanted to resist the gesture but I was too tired.

“You scared me yesterday,” his blue eyes held a warm emotion. I wanted to say something snarky or rude, but decided against it. I was also frightened, I thought I was going to die.

Wait, Yesterday!

“How long was I out?” I ask, my voice quavering weakly.

“For a very long time, I assure you,” there were traces of amusement in his voice.

I turn to my side to look at the alarm clock on the night stand.My eyes widened in shock, it was a couple of minutes past one.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” I shrieked, sitting up.

Matt raised his eyebrows questioningly, “why? Do you have somewhere you need to be?”

It was then it dawned on me; I was no longer at the brothel. I was a matt’s prisoner now, with no house duty, just idling and eating all day long.

If his werewolf fiancée doesn’t kill me first, boredom will certainly do the trick. I sigh as I pulled the sheet aside. I look up and find Matt staring at my exposed legs, with longing and something else in his eyes.

I immediately grabbed a pillow and covered my legs. He glanced up with his lips stretched in a smug smile.

“Were you here all night?” I ask, I did not want a situation of uncomfortable silence. I run my fingers through my thick hair to try to rescue what was left of my homeless look.

“Someone had to. I didn’t want you suffering another attack while we slept.”

I roll my eyes at him, “I can’t have a panic attack while sleeping genius.”

He nodded, “I know that now. I had to manage to get through the night, with your constant farting, I could have suffered a stroke or something.”

I felt the color feel my cheeks, “What?” “You are lying,” I threwa pillow at him.

He caught the pillow before it hit the ground, “Why would I lie about something so serious?” He chuckled.

I bury my face into my palm in embarrassment. He is going to torment me for the rest of my life with this, I just know it. I raise my head the moment I felt his weight lift off the bed.

“I wanted to ask,” his expression was serious, “Why did you have a panic attack?” He tucked his hands into his pockets. He was wearing a black hoodie and loose grey tracks.

The events of the previous day came flooding back. The thin guy with the scar on his face, the one that tormented her sleep for weeks after robbing Mr. Tom’s shop. He was with Matt, in his study and it was clear from the way they stood together, that they were working together.

“Who was that guy with you?” I asked, staring him in the eyes.

“That was Derek. Why?”

I scoffed, “So you also hang with criminals too?”

He furrowed his eyebrows in annoyance, “What is that supposed to mean?”, “Derek is part of my pack and part of my security detail.”

I laughed dryly. Matt must have known or even orchestrated the robbery, and so he sent his lap dog to do the dirty work. But why would he do something like that? He already had so much money.

Tears started welling up in my eyes again. Like the robbery that happened at my mother’s bakery that caused them their lives too. Did Matt also have something to do with that? I wanted to raise my voice and give Matt a piece of my mind, but decided against it.

He might also decide to hurt me or lock me in here forever. A lone tear trickled down my face. Matt rushed towards me immediately, and knelt down beside the bed. He took my hands, I wanted to snatch them away from his hand, to push him away from me, to scream until someone hears my voice and comes to my rescue.

But I knew better than to anger him. If I wanted to make it out of here alive and as soon as possible, I had to let him think I was okay with him and okay with being in his house, then I will wait for my opportunity to escape. In the meantime, I will keep my head down.

“What is it Ashley?” For a criminal he had soft, kind eyes.

I shake my head, “It’s just that he reminded me of someone that I used to dread.”

He raised my pale knuckles to his lips and kissed them softly, “I am really sorry. I did not mean to trigger you. But I can assure you that Derek is a great guy, I have known him for a while now.”

I nod. All I really wanted was to get out of here, away from him. Patience was never one of my virtues, but I have to learn.

“Matt?” I called weakly.

“Mm.” He looked up at me. His deep blue eyes were soft, making my knees weak. I look away, I cannot afford to develop any kind of warm feelings for a man like Matt.

I cleared my throat, “I am so lonely here,” I started, watching him closely for any sort of change in his expression. “Can I see my friend Eva?”

He looked away, “You should recover first then we will talk about it.”

“But….”

The door flew open and Cecil walked in. Her eyes immediately fell on Matt’s hand on mine; without much thought I snatched my hands away. I cannot afford to have Cecil on my back too.

“What is going here?” she asked with a weird smile.

“We were just talking,” I reply almost immediately. I cast a glance at Matt, who looked like he couldn’t care less of what Cecil makes of the situation. He slowly made his way to his feet.

“I will tell Rosa to bring your lunch to you,” he threw over his shoulder as he left the room, without as much as acknowledging Cecil.

Cecil’s forced smile disappeared as soon as the door slammed shut.

“You said you wanted to leave right?” she asked, her forehead creased in a frown.

I nod.

“Well then, I will get you out of here tonight.”