I couldn’t bear the thought of my wasp gone forever. I just couldn’t.
CHAPTER38
Bianca
My body screamed at me as I tried to shift on the bed. Tate was so messed up. He stopped tying me up, opting to simply laugh like a manic every time I tried to escape, which was often. He’d hit me and then stare down at me, a crazed look in his eyes as he licked his lips.
“Hello, Bianca,” he greeted me that day. Or night. I had no sense of time since the room had no windows. Only the bed, toilet, and dim ceiling light were my comforts, if I could call it that. A camera hung in the corner out of my reach, a red light on.
Some days Tate wouldn’t even bring me anything to eat. I’d also lost track of the last time I’d eaten since he said I was being punished for hitting him in the face.
I sat up on the edge of my bed, feeling weak and dizzy.
“You look excited to see me,” he continued, bringing in a chair to the room and sitting in it across from me. “I brought you something.”
“I don’t want it,” I croaked. I was lucky he was giving me enough water. But only just barely. Drinking the water he gave me always made me feel fuzzy and odd. I didn’t know if it was lack or food or what, but the water left questions in my mind I was too scared to address.
My throat was dry and scratchy, probably from a combination of screaming for help and not getting enough to drink. I was seriously contemplating drinking from the toilet.
“You haven’t eaten in three whole days. I think you’re looking a little too thin. I don’t want my girl to fade away,” he said good-naturedly as he pulled a sandwich out of his jacket pocket.
I was desperate for food.
He brought out a bottle of water and offered them both to me, his brow raised. “Come get them.”
My bottom lip trembled as I stared at the items in his hands. My heart rate was elevated. I might actually pass out.
I had to eat.
I slid off the bed and promptly crumpled to the floor as a wave of dizziness overtook me. He didn’t move to help me. He simply watched as I sat up and crawled weakly to him.
He was winning. He had to know that. As much as I wanted to hold out and give him the bigfuck you, I knew I’d be dead in a week if I didn’t play along.
So on my knees before him I sat, reaching for a sandwich and bottle of water.
He pulled them back as I tried to take them.
“Ah, what do I get for my kindness, Bianca?”
Death. Hopefully.
“What do you want?” I dared to ask.
“I want you to kiss me.”
My stomach twisted at his request. “No.”
“No?” he snarled, his entire demeanor changing. “It’s one kiss. You had no issue doing it with three fucking men, but you can’t spare one for me? The one who is saving you?”
“I don’t love you,” I whispered, my heart hurting as I thought of my kings. They had to be going crazy.
“You don’t, but you fucking will,” he growled, getting to his feet and tucking the sandwich back into his jacket. He tossed the bottled water onto my bed. “I’ll give you a few more days to think about it. The water will help.”
“Tate, please,” I cried out. “Don’t do this. Just let me go. I want to go home.”
He stomped back and bent so he was eye level with me. He reached out and tilted my chin up.
“You are home, sweetheart. I suggest you make the best of it. Your kings? They aren’t even looking for you. In fact, rumor has it you bailed and De Santis is having your marriage annulled. He’s back in his old man’s good graces and another marriage is happening for him. I saw him kissing some brunette in the hallway before I got here. They don’t givea fuckabout you. They aren’t coming. So holding out isn’t the way. No one is coming, Bianca.No one.It’s just me. I’m all you have.”