Page 34 of Memories of You

And at the end of the day, it was that honesty that wasgoing to ensure he got Abby back.

ChapterFourteen

I’m shaking, and I don’t know if it’s from the after-effectsof whatever Darrin drugged me with or fear.

I think it’s fear.

Although I’m shaking—and although I can’t see a thingthrough the blindfold—I’m actually pretty clear-headed. I’ve been listening tothe room, trying to figure out what Darrin is doing and where we are.

It’s echoey, and I assume it’s big. I have a vague memory ofbeing carried upstairs. I don’t know how long we’ve been here, and I don’t knowwhat’s happened to Renly.

The last thing I remember is my head swimming and the worldfading away. I’d been unable to move my legs or arms, but my eyes were open aswe passed the break room, and I saw him sprawled there on the floor, spilledcoffee all around him. My chest had tightened, but I couldn’t do anything, noteven call out.

Everything after that is a blur. Sounds and images. It couldbe days that I’ve been here. It could only be hours. I don’t know. All I knowis that I’m terrified for Renly. And for myself, too.

“Darrin?”

He makes a noise but doesn’t answer.

“Darrin, please. Please at least take off the blindfold.”

I hear the tread of his steps as he comes closer. And I feelhot breath on my face as he bends in close, the scent of onions surrounding me.“Why the hell do you think I would do you any favors, bitch? After the way youtreated me? Do you really think you deserve to ask for anything?”

“I’m sorry if I treated you badly. I didn’t understand howyou felt. I wish you’d told me outright. I’m so flattered now that I know. I’dreally love to get to know you better.”

The lie makes me sick, but if it saves my life—if it gets meback to Renly—I’ll pretty much say or do anything. “Please. Please just takethe blindfold off so we can talk.”

I hear squeaking outside, and I assume it’s from a fireescape. He’d said something earlier about a warehouse. And I wonder whereexactly we are. Downtown Los Angeles, probably, in one of the old districtswhere there are abandoned garment factories. But I don’t know for certain. Forall I know we’re in another state by now.

“Please?” I try to reach out, but my arms are tied to achair.

He bends closer, and I smell his breath again. I feel hisfingers trace the outline of the blindfold. Then he steps back, and I hold mybreath, expecting him to take the thing off. Instead he reaches out and slapsme hard across the cheek.

“Bitch.” I hear him pacing in front of me. “Did you think Iwouldn’t see the way you were cheating on me? We had something special, and youjust ignored it. You went to that club with that man. You did nasty things withhim. You cheated on me. But you won’t be doing anything else with him. I’ll makesure of that.”

Fear cuts through me, but there’s hope as well. He’s nottalking as if Renly is dead. He’s talking as if he will be, and that at leastkeeps hope alive.

“I told you, I didn’t know how you felt. But I do now.”

“What makes you think that I would want you now? I saw whatyou did with him. Right where anyone could see. Slut.”

I almost beg again, but I don’t want him to get more riled up.So instead I dip my head and say, “I’m sorry.”

I’m searching for the magic words, but I don’t know what theyare. He comes closer, his hands going over mine, cupping me and the armrest towhich I’m tied. He’s right there. So close. If my legs were free, I could kickhim in the balls.

“I don’t want you anymore,” he says. “Don’t you get it?You’re not here because I want to keep you. You’re here because I’m going totoss you away. That’s what you do with rotten things, isn’t it?”

“Darrin, please.”

He makes a rough sound that’s almost like a growl, and Ifeel the chair move as he pushes roughly back from me, then feel the sharpsting of his hand against my cheek. I scream, and as I do, I hear a sharpcrack. I have no idea what’s going on, but there’s a thud in front of me, andfor a moment—one blissful moment—I think that Darrin has fallen.

Renly?

I don’t dare to say it out loud. If I’m wrong—if Darrinisn’t injured—he’d hurt me for that. He’d punish me for thinking of Renly.

But I have to know what’s going on. I rock, trying to shakein the chair. And then I feel hands on my shoulders. “It’s okay,” a woman’svoice says. “He’s down, and you’re safe.”

“Emma?” A sob breaks free. “Oh God, Emma, where’s Renly?”