Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
His lips touch mine and, for a moment, I’m stunned.
Not horrified in any way, but stunned.
His lips coax at mine, and I find myself responding even though I know I shouldn’t. He smells great, he’s handsome, and he’s kissing me with a softness I can’t honestly say I’ve felt before. The kiss deepens and our tongues dance together as our kiss goes from being caressing to sexual. His hands slide to my lower back and he pulls me closer, deepening the kiss, pressing my body to his.
I whimper and pull away before this can go any further.
I can’t risk complicating things with this.
Even though I will admit it feels nice.
Good, even.
My mind flitters to Kendric and the intense way he fucks me. He doesn’t kiss me. He barely touches me. He just takes me and brings me to heights I could never imagine.
Steven wouldn’t fuck like that.
He’s the kind of man who makes love to you. Who showers you with gifts and kindness. Who keeps you safe forever. He’s the man most women want.
Yet that very thing terrifies a woman like me.
“We shouldn’t,” I breathe, looking up at him. “I don’t want to complicate things ...”
“I understand,” he murmurs, his voice low and husky. “I do like you, Zariah.”
“I like you, too.”
“Have a safe drive home.”
He steps away, and I flash him a smile before slipping into my car and starting my drive home.
Well, one thing’s for sure ... That was an incredibly interesting night.
I’M LYING IN MY BED when I remember the photo I took on my phone. By the time I got home, put Jayden to bed, had a shower, and got into my own bed, I had forgotten about the picture. I take my phone from the bedside table and go into my gallery, finding the picture. It’s slightly blurred because it was dark where I was, but I pinch the screen and zoom in anyway. What I see has shivers running down my spine. I didn’t get the chance to read what was on the wall. I simply took a picture and then had to quickly put the boxes back.
I didn’t expect what I am seeing now.
On the wall, scratched in deeply, is a name, date, and a small piece of writing.
The name is Sophia Retland, the date is about three years ago, and the small piece of writing says, “I’ve been in here three years. He’ll never let me go. I will die here.”
My heart launches into my throat, and I feel sick.
I put my phone down and sit upright in bed, clutching my chest, fear, confusion and panic settling into my body.
Maybe this isn’t what it seems. Maybe it was there before he purchased the house. When did he say he purchased it? Five years ago. He said five years ago. No, this can’t be happening. Maybe it’s a misunderstanding. Maybe it’s got nothing to do with him being involved in capturing and selling girls. There was nothing else in his house to indicate that. Nothing at all.
This has to be a mistake.
It has to be.
My head spins as I zoom in and out of the picture, certain I must be seeing things. Deep down, I know I’m not. I know that this doesn’t have another explanation. What other explanation could there be? Someone was stuck down in that basement, locked away from the world. They put that on the wall so maybe, just maybe, someone would find it. Someone would know. Does Steven even know it’s there? Or has he got those boxes in front of it for a reason?
If I wasn’t looking as hard as I was, I wouldn’t have noticed it.
Anyone just walking through that basement would never notice, because they wouldn’t be looking. I was searching the walls, looking for clues.
I stumbled across that by chance.
I pick up my phone, my hands trembling. So many things are running through my mind right now. This man is quite possibly the most dangerous person I’ve ever met, mostly because he feels like he’s the safest, which means he absolutely is not. That thought is terrifying. None of it makes sense to me. Why would he risk so much, to do illegal things? His whole world is based around bringing down criminals.
Why would he do this?
I don’t understand.
Alarick was right, though. He’s the only one I can go to with this information now. The club will be the only people that might help. Before I call him, though, I search Sophia’s name on Google. Her picture comes up immediately as a missing person. She went missing about a month before the date on the wall, and to this day, she is still missing. Her family has quite a large reward on offer for her safe return.
She wasn’t a junkie from the streets with a bad life.