She would have been. But her seeing the remnants of my torture session with Kevin set us back.
Perhaps I can use this situation with her ex to keep her close. Keep her from running despite the freedom I’ll need to give her. It could work. It’s risky though. But she’s worth the risk.
“You’re going to go about life as normal,” I tell her.
She sniffles, then sucks in a breath. “You’re letting me go?”
I hold her tighter. I’m not letting her go. Not really. “I’m notgoing to keep you prisoner, no.” If I can make myself seem like the best option for her safety, then I can have more time to get her to give herself to me. “But you’ll live here, in our home, with me.”
She swallows, eyes searching mine. “I don’t understand.”
“Angel. This Gianna—she’s dangerous, isn’t she?”
She nods.
“Do you want to spend your life running from her forever?”
She hesitates. “No.”
“Then you need me. You need me to keep you safe from her. I’ll watch over you. And if she tries something? Then you know I won’t let her harm a single hair on your head.”
Emily nibbles on her lip, eyes wide with confusion. “You’re going to trust me not to run away from you?”
I huff a hollow laugh. “I think you’re more scared of Gianna than you are of me.”
Emily’s eyes close, as if she’s resigning herself to her fate. “You’re right.”
29
Any Distance Is Too Much
Emily's Search History: are there any legal loopholes that let you live with an ex-patient if they technically kidnapped you?
Emily
“Howwasyourholiday?”Kayla squeals as I walk into the reception area. It’s Monday, eight days after Eli kidnapped me, and here I am pretending like I’ve not been kept inside by a madman for a week.
“So good,” I tell her, hoping she doesn’t ask me too many questions.
No such luck.
“Where did you go?”
Fuck.
“Italy. To see my parents.”
Kayla sighs. “You’re so lucky you basically get a freeholiday home.”
It would be nice. It’s a shame I haven’t been able to visit them, too scared that Gia would somehow know I’m there.
Damn Eli for being right. I am more scared of her than I am him. For some reason, I trust that Eli will do everything in his power to keep me from harm. I can’t say the same for Gia. Which means… he is the lesser of two evils. At some point, I need to get away from him, but for now, I can use him as a shield.
“And who was that eyeful on the bike? You hopped off like a total pro. I didn’t realise that was your thing.” She eyes my outfit. “The leather’s a good look on you.”
I freeze, caught off guard at Kayla’s question. Plastering yet another fake smile on my face I wave her off. “Oh no one, just a friend giving me a lift.”
Thank God his face is covered by the helmet. If she knew that I was not only getting lifts with but alsolivingwith an ex-patient?