Heartbreak You (Heartbreak Duet 2)

When Chloe owned it, it was all about income and nothing else.

Yes, I want to make money, but I also need to run a tight ship. And I let the girls know that today—no slacking whatsoever will be tolerated. This must work, and I know how to make it succeed, I will need to put a lot of work in, but that’s what I’m good at.

Tina ends up stopping by, and I let her in only because she brings me food. I simply cannot afford the time for chit-chat. She looks around, smiles, and talks while I look around at what I have to change and fix.

“You got this! You do,” she reassures as I walk her to the door. “Now, you need to get a car. You sure I can’t take you home?” she asks.

“No, I’ll call a cab. I might go car shopping next week. I’ll have to see how things go.” I shrug. Catching a cab isn’t killing my bank account, but I should probably get a car, especially since some nights I know I will be staying late like I am right now.

“I don’t feel comfortable leaving you here this late by yourself.”

“It’s safe, I’m safe. Everything is locked up tight. I promise,” I reassure her.

The only problem is last time I thought I was safe here, Atlas’s men kidnapped me. But now I’m more observant and less trusting. So, I lock the door after I watch her get into her car and head back to my office.

I work until my cell dings at almost midnight. My eyes are sore, and I know I have to come back and do it all again tomorrow.

Maybe I should get a bed set up in one of the back rooms.

I smile as I shut down my computer and close my office. I’ve left a note for Marissa on her desk of what I expect her to do tomorrow in case I need to sleep a little later. Which will be highly probable by the time I get home, shower, and finally get to sleep. I envy those people whose heads hit the pillow, and they’re out like a light.

I hear a honk and know the cab has arrived, so I walk out and lock the front door. When I turn to make my way to the cab, someone stands in front of me blocking my view, and all I see is a black shirt.

“Miss.” That one word is all he says before something is placed over my mouth, and I struggle. My fingers claw at his hand holding the cloth covering my mouth. I kick at what I can reach which isn’t much, but I do hear him swear at one point. However, soon my eyes become heavy, and my body starts to slump.

Fuck.

Not again.

Chapter Fifteen

Theadora

My head is pounding, and my mouth is dry. I lick my lips and lift my hand to touch my face.

How can I make that pain go away?

And what the fuck happened?

Oh, shit!

No, not again.

I look around the room I am located in. My body registers the bed I am resting on, which is large, and my fingers slide over the silk sheets. The bed has four posts, and I’m so relieved when I realize I’m not tied to any of them. I sit up, my head pounding even more with each movement. As I slide off the bed, my feet hit the dark wood floor, and the coolness makes me move faster. I see a set of large double doors and walk toward them.

My body feels heavy as I reach the doors. Grabbing the handle, I turn it, but it doesn’t move, and something inside of me tightens with fear. I try again with no luck. Pushing my shoulder on it, I shove in the hopes it will budge, move just the slightest, but nothing happens. Someone has locked me in this room.

My hand bangs on the door, and I scream. I scream so loudly I hope someone, anyone, will hear me and let me out. I scream for a good ten minutes, but it’s not long before I can’t stand the pain in my head and I stop, sliding down the door and collapsing onto the floor with my head falling between my legs.

I stay in that position for what feels like forever until the door behind me is pushed, and I scramble on my hands and knees away from it, looking up as someone walks in. Dark shoes are all I see at first as I manage to stand unsteadily. When my gaze finally makes its way to the person’s face, I don’t recognize him. In his hand he’s holding a tray of food, and he walks past me to go to the bed, placing the tray on the nightstand before he turns to look at me. I run straight for the door, and just as I think I might be able to make it, a hand grabs hold of my waist pulling me back.