“Are there guards around?” he asks. I move the slats on the blinds and look out the front. There’s one guy leaning against the wall outside and I relay that to Riggs. “Something isn’t right, Anna. He wouldn’t leave you alone to find a phone. He wouldn’t risk you just walking out the front door and only leaving one man on guard.”
“I have to go.” I sigh. “Before he finds me here. Take care, Riggs. I’ll do my best to find them for you . . . ” I pause. “And I’m sorry, for everything.”
“Anna, I didn’t mean what I—” he begins, but I disconnect the call. I can’t listen to him tell me he’s sorry and he’ll get me out of here because I can’t be strong if I’m waiting around to be rescued. I learned a long time ago that I can only rely on myself.
I get out of the office unseen. The house has three floors plus a basement. If he was going to hide Michelle and Ziggy here, then the basement is where I’d find them.
The door to the basement is locked. I rummage around the kitchen to find a key but come up with nothing. I go back to the office and find a ring of keys in the top drawer of Reggie’s desk. There’re around ten keys.
Going back to the door, I try each and every one. My hands shake so bad, I almost drop the bunch several times. I get to the last key and hold my breath as I insert it.
The lock clicks open, and I do a silent cheer, but then something hard presses against the back of my head and I freeze.
I close my eyes when the sound of the hammer cocks back and I realize it’s a gun. “Well, well, well. You looking for something, sweetheart?” It’s a female voice. I swallow the lump in my throat.
“Are you gonna at least let me turn around?” I ask.
“Sure. I’d like to see the look on your face when Reggie comes,” she says. I slowly turn around. There’s a reason I thought this woman looked good at Reggie’s side— she has the same cruel eyes. “Pretty little thing, aren’t ya,” she mutters. “I can see why the kid’s cute.”
“Does Reg know you have a gun in the house?” I ask. “He hates weapons around his princess.”
She arches her brow. “Oh hunny, haven’t you heard? I’m the new princess in town.” She smiles confidently. Reggie enters the kitchen and stops suddenly when he sees the gun pointing at me. “I was wondering what kept you,” he says. “What’s going on?”
“Little miss cute was trying to get in the basement,” says the woman.
“I was looking for wine, Reggie. I know you keep all the good stuff locked away and it’s my first night home. I should be able to get shit-faced on the good stuff,” I snap. “And your mistress here pulls a fucking gun on me.”
“Crystal, baby.” Reggie sighs. He gently takes her arm and removes the gun from her grasp. “We don’t need that.”
“Are you just gonna let her creep around the house like that?” she asks.
“You mean my house? Mine and Reggie’s?” I cut in. It pains me to even say our names in the same sentence, but half the game is making him believe I want to be here. It’s what might keep me alive. “Why did you bring me back here if you’ve found a replacement?” I ask him. “A cheaper one at that.”
Crystal’s hand lashes out and she claws at my face. Reggie grips her around the waist and pulls her away from me. I hold my cheek and smile. “Cheap and nasty,” I add.
“Enough,” yells Reggie, trying hard to control the crazy woman in his arms.
“I want her gone, Reggie,” she yells. “Her and that little brat.”
“Wow. Are you going to let her badmouth your daughter like that?” I ask. “Can I get the wine or not?”
“No. Stay where you are,” he growls, then he drags Crystal from the room. As soon as they leave, I pull the door open and rush down into the cellar. It’s dark and I feel around for a light.
“Ziggy? Michelle?” I whisper. There’s no response. I find a switch and the room is bathed in light. It’s empty apart from the racks of wine.
Footsteps hit the steps and I pretend to browse the bottles. Crystal appears, followed by Reggie. She must have gotten free because he looks pissed and she’s ready to pounce at me again. I’m not worried— Reggie is only okay if it’s his hands on me, but he won’t allow someone else to hurt me. He grabs her wrist and tries to pull her away.
“So, am I going or staying?” I ask casually, pulling out a bottle of red and reading the label.
“Going!” she screams.
“Reggie?” I ask.
“I’m in charge,” she yells. “Not him.” I wince at her words. She’s clearly new to Reggie, still in the honeymoon stage of their relationship. I hear his hand connect with her flesh, but I don’t watch. Instead, I go back to browsing the wine. Blow after blow reigns on her until she doesn’t make a sound. I glance up and she’s on her knees, doubled over on the ground. The empathetic person in me wants to go to her, but it’ll only make things worse for us both. “Go upstairs and get naked,” he growls. I go back to the wine. “Anna,” he yells. “I’m talking to you.”
Chapter Sixteen
Riggs
It’s been three days since I spoke to Anna. Three days of sitting in this truck, watching Reggie’s house, and I still don’t have Ziggy home. Men come and go all day long, but I’ve only seen Reggie once. He stood on his doorstep for seconds like lord of the fuckin’ manor before going back inside. A doctor arrived this morning and left after ten minutes. The thought that Reggie’s hurt Anna makes me
