When it was dark and the city started lighting up, we chose a small café to eat at and watched Bourbon Street come to life. After dinner, we went bar hopping again so Declan could make sure I had the whole New Orleans experience. I tried a hurricane and became incredibly tipsy. I joined the group of dancers in front of the stage and Declan watched from the bar. He laughed at me until a man tried to dance with me. Then he was pulling me into him possessively. The guy raised his hands and walked away. I rolled my eyes and continued my dance party. He never left my side again until we got back to the hotel.
The next day after Room Service delivered breakfast and our steamy shower, we decided to visit a few more monuments. I also wanted to go to the cigar place we passed yesterday and buy some cigars for my dad. I turned my phone back on and I had a few text messages from my friends, but none of them were important.
We rummaged our way through the city until it was time to head to the airport.
When we got home, the girls asked about our trip and Declan thanked Abbi for her help shopping for my dress that I wore on Friday night. I needed to do some school work so we said goodnight and closed ourselves in my room.
I went through my emails while he returned phone calls. I told him about some more confirmations on upcoming shows that Jay sent. I updated his social media sites with the new dates and shot an email to everyone letting them know.
I had given the password for the twitter feed to all the guys and they said they would send out a message. Declan was the only one with no interest in it at all and it was an intrigue factor among his female fans.
We called Finn to see if he had any new leads on the stalker, but there was nothing new to report. He mentioned doing a few random drive-by’s over the weekend to both our houses, but didn’t see anything unusual.
Chapter 36
Gone
Over the last two weeks, Declan and I have only seen each other at night. Our schedules are unpredictable and school is demanding. My group and I are turning our presentation on social media tomorrow so Anna is coming over to finalize the last piece. The doorbell rings and I throw my notes on the table. I’m the only one home tonight. Declan has a show at a new spot across town.
She’s turned around but I see blond hair through the peephole. I disarm the alarm and open the door to let her in. Before I know what’s happening, she’s pushed out of the way and I feel a searing pain through my side. I try my hardest to push the panic button on the alarm before I fall.
*****
I wake confused and disoriented. There’s a sliver of light through a small window and I assume it’s daylight outside. My head is pounding and my hands are tied together. I breathe slowly at first, pretending to still be passed out in case someone’s watching me. When I realize I’m alone, I open my eyes. I’m in a small room with one window covered mostly up. The carpet I’m lying on is old shag and smells bad. I think there’s a small bathroom through a doorway, but I can’t be certain. My throat is so dry that it feels like sandpaper when I swallow. I try to move just a little to see if I have any injuries and but when I shift the pain in my side makes me whimper and I fall back into darkness.
I’m not sure how long I was out, but when I open my eyes again, the sliver of light has dimmed and I know I have been here almost a full day. A door opens and light floods inside the room. I keep my eyes shut, feigning sleep, but hear voices talking over me.
“Well, then you’re just stupid. I want her gone. I’ve wanted her gone for months, but I had to wait for the right time.” A girl says with venom in her voice.
“You told me you only wanted to talk to her. You didn’t say anything about kid
napping her and locking her in the basement!” I recognize this voice, but I can’t place it.
Someone kicks me in the side and I feel searing pain. I open my eyes and find Christie standing over me with a wicked smile on her face. Her eyes are wild and I remember back to Declan describing her as bat-shit crazy. She sees the recognition dawning on my face and immediately starts laughing.
“Yeah, bitch, it’s me.”
“What do you want? Why are you doing this?”
“WHY? You want to know WHY?”
I keep quiet and try to control my heartbeat because the pain in my ribs is so dire.
“I’m in fucking love with Declan Collins and I knew if I gave him time, he’d realize how good we could be together. I tried to get pregnant by damaging the condom package; then when I watched the video I set up, I saw that he NEVER even finished in me. I passed out and he got up, ripped off the condom and left me. I spent months trying to get him back into my bed. He tried to push me away by fucking a whore in the hallway one night while I watched! But I knew he wanted me so I put a plan in place. I would have succeeded if it weren’t for his bitch sisters asking me to leave. I’ve been watching him for months. Then you went and moved in and fucked up his brain. Now every time I see him, he’s with you- dinners, dancing, trips. THAT WAS SUPPPOSED TO BE ME!” She screams at me.
“I even had his name tattooed on my back. I’m not giving him up. He’s not going to want you when I get through with you anyways. I’m starting my plan to seduce him back soon. Don’t get me wrong; I’ll play hard to get. That ring on your finger won’t mean anything. You’ll be a thing of his past.”
I recognize the feeling growing in my head and stomach. My skin grows cold, but my body gets hot. I feel like I’m boiling and I scream in pain. I know what’s coming next and I yell, “BATHROOOM NOW!” Christie doesn’t move, but two hands help me up and take me to the toilet. I retch up everything in my stomach. Someone pulls my hair back and ties it with a band as I dry heave. I know there’s nothing left in my stomach so I let the migraine take over and I pass out.
I gain consciousness off and on throughout the night and the next day. I think I felt a cold compress on my neck one of the times, but nothing stops the pain. I finally come to and I can see light again. My head is on a pillow that wasn’t here before. There’s juice and crackers laid out in front of me. I take a sip of the drink, but my stomach refuses the crackers. My side is throbbing, but I push myself to the bathroom. My wrists are no longer tied, but I’m pretty sure my left hand is broken. It’s useless when I try to button my pants. The mirror is clouded, but I can still see the outline of a shoe print on my rib cage. There are bruises all over my body and a burn mark where I assume I was tasered.
I instantly think of the picture Finn gave me at Christmas. When Robbie and Finn returned from overseas injured, I was hysterical and my imagination went wild. All I could think of was their dog tags being returned to our families. I knew I was being dramatic, but I told them anyway. Both of them assured me that it was never going to happen because they were home safe now. So the picture at Christmas was sentimental.
My heart aches for them, knowing they are as worried about me right now as I was them. I try to flood my mind with good memories.
My brother and his friends crashing my prom
My first date with Max, Finn and Robbie following us