Heartbreak You (Heartbreak Duet 2)

If I could smile, I would, but the bruising on my face won’t allow it.

“It wasn’t your father. That’s why Chloe took me because she heard he had put out a hit on me, and she figured she could kill two birds with one stone. Hurt you as you hurt her.”

“My father won’t be an issue anymore,” he states as the car comes to a stop.

Atlas gets out, and when he does, he walks around to my door as does Ronnie.

Ronnie leans down to pick me up.

“I can walk,” I tell him, brushing his hands away.

He looks to Atlas, who nods, before stepping back.

I get out slowly, my feet heavy and my head more than a little dizzy.

I look up to Atlas.

Words sit on the edge of my tongue, but before I can speak, I pass out.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Theadora

I wake in a bed, which I know is not be my own and remember that I’m no longer trapped in that room. Atlas sits on the edge of the bed with his head down.

“Atlas,” I say, sitting up slowly.

He turns to me and pushes a tray toward me. “Eat slow, you need to nourish yourself, five days of little food has your body breaking down. You need to eat small amounts, but many times during the day.” I reach for a piece of cut up fruit as he sits back on the bed, so he is now next to me. “How are you feeling?” he asks. “The doctor came, he gave you stitches and put you on a drip.”

My stomach growls in appreciation of the food he’s given me. I look down at my bandaged hand and realize he asked me a question before I look back up to him.

“Still sore.” I look him over. “How are you?”

“I’ll be fine, I always am.”

I nod, unsure of what else to say.

Atlas doesn’t move as he sits next to me while I eat the food in front of me. After a few moments, he passes me a glass of water, which I drink way too quickly, making me feel like I am going to be physically ill.

“Your father?” I ask.

His eyebrows pinch together tightly. “He will be dead before the weekend ends, along with any threats he has out there.”

“He’s your father…”

“He tried to have you killed because he viewed you as a weakness for me.”

“Why am I considered a weakness?” I ask.

Does his father not know he kidnaps me?

There is no way I am a weakness.

“Because my feelings for you deem it that way.”

I cough, then choke on the food I was eating and manage to sit up straight to see him watching me.

“Feelings for me? You kidnap me then fuck me. How are those feelings?” I ask him. Honestly, I couldn’t be more confused. I stand, my head goes light as I do. “I need to go. I have missed so much. Fuck, so damn much work.” I shake my head. “I need to go,” I say again. I walk to the door and notice it’s locked. I turn to face Atlas who is still on the bed, knowing I can’t get out. “Open the door.”

“It’s not safe for you out there yet,” he says.

“Nope… nope, not happening. Between the number of times you have kidnapped me and being locked in a room by a crazy woman, I am done. This isn’t happening. Let me the fuck go. Now,” I scream.

Atlas stands and walks over, shaking his head as he steps in front of me.

A knock comes on the door, breaking our silent stand-off. I hear it unlock, but he blocks my path to freedom, staring down at me. “You never have to be afraid of me, Theadora.”

I laugh at those words. “You’re joking, right?” I reply with a raised eyebrow. “After everything you have done?”

“The only time my intentions weren’t good, was when I first kidnapped you…” He pauses. “Then I saw those eyes and everything in my life changed.”

I roll my eyes. “Please, don’t play coy with me. My eyes hypnotize you, and you got so lost in them, you just couldn’t resist yourself?” I cackle. “Did you read some sort of bad insta-love story? Is that where you get your moves from?” I ask while looking behind him at my escape. “I need to go. I need to leave,” I reiterate.

“Can I come?”

“No,” I say quickly. “I need to rest and feel safe. And I want to do that in my own bed.”

“If you won’t let me come, please at least let Ronnie go with you.” I look out the door to find Ronnie standing there.

“Fine.”

Atlas turns and steps over to his nightstand, then walks back to me, handing me something. He reaches for my hand and opens it, then drops a set of keys in my palm. “I got you a car, you need one.” I look down at the keys in my hand.