Cataclysm (Four Horsemen #4)(7)

Mason was turning the taps on for the sink.

“Of course, it’s the room across from our bedroom. And there are clothes for you in the wardrobe.”

“Thank you.”

I got up, giving him a nod. Then I walked out of the room, trying not to break down on the spot. My feet carried me to the bedroom. I pulled open the wardrobe doors. The sight I was met with made my body tremble. He’d bought me so many clothes, I could barely count them. Not wishing to think too hard about it, I pulled out some jeans, a t-shirt and a jumper, along with underwear. I hurried into the bathroom and locked the door. There were towels on the rack and all the toiletries I could need.

Dumping the clothes on the floor, I stripped out of my dress and got in the shower. I turned it on, not caring that the water was cold at first. When it warmed up, I stood under the spray and allowed myself to feel the fear seeping into my veins. Tears mixed with the water as I washed, wishing I could rid myself of the horrors awaiting me outside the door of the bathroom.

Mason had planned this for years. He’d watched me, bided his time and waited until he could take me away from my life. So he could hold me captive, just like Stuart had done. Only I had the distinct feeling he wanted to play house with me. It meant he would expect me to be his… girlfriend? Wife? Neither of those things sat well with me. The implications had me clenching my fists at my sides.

I will not break. I will not fall apart over this. I will be strong.

West called me his little warrior. I was going to be exactly that. A warrior. All I had to do was bide my time and play nice. Then I could question him about what the fuck he thought he was doing. And I would find a way to get myself out of this situation. I wasn’t going to wait for them to find me, but they would come for me. They would fight tooth and nail to get to me.

I was going to rescue myself too. I wasn’t a fucking damsel in distress. I was a queen. And it was time to put on my crown.

I finished washing, dried myself and got dressed. Instead of drying it, I braided my wet hair and left the bathroom. I walked back into the living space and found Mason watching TV again. Going over to him, I sat down and curled my legs up underneath me. He gave me a smile as if to show he was pleased with me.

Time to begin with a charade. You will think I’m compliant. And I will make you let your guard down. When you least expect it, I will burn you to the ground, Mason. Just fucking watch yourself.





Four


Scarlett





I was climbing the walls after only two days of being here with a man I could no longer stand. Everything about this wore on me. When I’d been kept prisoner by Stuart, it had been all I’d known. There was nothing I had to compare it to. Now, I knew what freedom was like. Being denied it again had left me with very little patience.

Whilst I knew the boys would come for me, I didn’t know when. It made my situation precarious. I didn’t know how long Mason would tolerate not sharing the bed with me. For now, he was content to sleep on the sofa bed in the living room. No doubt it wouldn’t last long, and he’d want to share the bed with me. It meant he would try to do things to me. Things I didn’t want from him under any circumstances.

The only people I wanted to be sexually intimate with were my boys. The four men who owned my heart. The thought of Mason trying to kiss me, let alone touch me, made my skin crawl.

I’d remained obedient since I’d been here. Perhaps that was why he hadn’t tried anything with me. It didn’t mean the whole experience hadn’t creeped me the fuck out. The way he talked about this place being ours and how we’d live the rest of our days out here was unnerving, to say the least.

I took a seat next to him on the sofa, turning his way as he fiddled with something on his laptop. I wasn’t allowed to touch it. He kept it locked up in his office when he wasn’t using it. A place he’d refused to show me.

There wasn’t exactly much I could do in the house. I couldn’t go outside as it had been raining non-stop, battering the house with its intensity. It made this whole experience even more miserable. I had to hand it to him. If you wanted to hold a girl against her will, what better place? It was remote and the nearest neighbours were miles away.

“Mase?”

He glanced at me.

“Mmm?”

“Can I ask you something?”

He put his laptop on the arm of the sofa and turned to me fully.

“Of course.”

I fiddled with the hem of my jumper, rubbing it between my fingers. Having to wear the things he’d bought gave me an icky feeling, but I had no other choice. At least it was my style and not skimpy dresses or underwear. I didn’t know what I would have done if I’d found that in the wardrobe. Maybe run away screaming.

“Are you taking me back to Stuart?”

“No. He wants to kill you. I can’t allow that. You’re too precious to me.”

I wanted to look up at him, but I didn’t. Better he thought I was scared and meek right now. He might be more inclined to be candid if I wasn’t confrontational.

“When did he tell you?”

“The day I rescued you.”

Rescued me? You didn’t fucking rescue me. You kidnapped me like a fucking thief in the night. Drugging someone doesn’t make them compliant.

I had to stay calm and not alert him to my real feelings.