Captured Miracle (9 page)

We walked into the dining room where Gabriella was already eating. At the sight of soup, the tension in my stomach eased.

She looked up from where she was blowing on a spoon of tomato and herb soup to smile. “Hello, Nova.” If she noticed I’d been crying, she didn’t let on. “I hope you’re settling in nicely.”

What was it with this woman and the pleasantries? It wasn’t like I could reply kindly and honestly at the same time. Instead, I just said, “Thank you, Gabriella.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Calix glance at me.

Gabriella waved, “Please, call me Gabby or Grandma.”

I nodded, but didn’t reply. Calix sighed heavily and guided me to a chair. I thought he would take the one at the head of the table where the place setting had been arranged, but he didn’t. Instead, he sat right next to me.

I watched as he dragged his placemat over to his chosen seat before reaching for the large pot of soup in the center of the table. He picked up my bowl and began dishing me my soup. After only one scoop I wanted to tell him to stop, but I couldn’t seem to find my voice.

He placed the full bowl down in front of me before filling his own. Picking up my spoon, I dipped it into the creamy soup. Just as I was about to lift the spoon to my mouth, I felt Calix’s hand settle on my thigh and I dropped my spoon as I jumped - nearly out of my skin.

Calix frowned warningly. “Settle down, Nova.”

“Are you alright, dear?” Gabriella asked sincerely.

I blushed fire red as I grappled for an answer. The way my mouth was opening and closing, I probably looked like a fish out of water.

Calix chuckled. “I’m just touching her, Grandma.”

She raised a brow, “Touching her?”

“Her thigh,” Calix shook his head and I blushed even deeper. “She needs to get used to contact with me if she’s to be my wife.”

“Calix, I know you’re an impatient man - but you need to take into consideration that this is very new to Nova.” Gabriella scolded.

I wanted to shrink down in my seat and maybe even melt into a puddle on the floor - I was so embarrassed. I couldn’t believe they were talking about me as though I wasn’t sitting right here in front of them. It was - appalling. And rude!

“As you said, I’m an impatient man.” Calix said stiffly. Gabriella had obviously pushed a button.

She pursed her lips and sipped her soup from her spoon. Glancing at me, she offered a tight smile. “You should get something into your stomach, dear. Calix said you haven’t eaten anything other than blueberries.”

“I’m not very hungry.” I admitted quietly and beside me Calix grunted.

“None the less, you need to eat.” Gabriella insisted. “Go on, you’ll like it.”

Sighing, I lifted my spoon. Bringing it to my lips, I tried to concentrate on the warmth of the liquid against my lips or even the taste. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t concentrate on anything but the feel of Calix’s large hand spanning over the surface of my thigh. The way he touched me with such ease was disconcerting.

I hated it.

Silence fell around the table as we ate. I would have thought it would be uncomfortable - and maybe it was and I just didn’t notice because I was too lost in my own thoughts. I wasn’t sure. All I could concentrate on was Calix’s touch - and how I had to get away from him before he destroyed me.

And he would destroy me.

“So, Nova,” Gabriella’s voice interrupted the silence. “What do you do with your spare time?”

I blinked. She wanted to get to know me? “Um,” I shifted uncomfortably. “I read.”

She raised a brow. “Is that all you do?”

“Well,” I placed my spoon against the side of my bowl. “I used to volunteer at the animal shelter, but I don’t see myself doing that any longer.”

She nodded. “You like animals?”

“I adore them.” I replied softly. It was the truth. Animals had a direct passage to my soft spot, but I was particularly favorable of cats. I was certain Calix already knew this about me, being that he’d watched me for two years.

Gabriella nodded. “I quite like them as well. What about dancing?”

I frowned. “What about it?”

“Did you and your girlfriends go dancing together?” She asked with a small chuckle.

“No.” I shook my head. “I’ve always kept to myself. I’ve never really been one for parties and whatnot.”

“Hmm,” she sat back in her chair, eyeing both Calix and I. “You and my grandson are very much alike. Calix never partied as a young boy either. He was always planning for the future, so focused.”

Interesting. I didn’t know much about the man sitting next to me. My captor hadn’t been exactly forthcoming in regards to his personal life.

“Grandma,” Calix shook his head. “Nova doesn’t want to hear about this.”

“No, I do.” I protested and his hand tightened on my thigh. Not enough to hurt me, but enough to let me know I was treading on thin ice. I looked to Gabriella, “Please,”

She beamed, eager to tell me about Calix. “He was never really what you would call popular. He had girls chasing after him for as long as I can remember, but he’s never really bothered to pay them much attention.”

I nodded. I could see Calix being wanted by the majority of the female population. He really was gorgeous. Too bad he was also psychotic.

“And what does Calix do for a living?”

“He runs a shipping company.” Gabriella stated eagerly. “He actually took it over from,”

Calix stood abruptly. “That’s enough.” He reached down to take my hand in his, pulling me into a standing position. “We’re going to retire for the night.”

“Oh,” Gabriella straightened. “Alright then. You both have a lovely evening.”

“Goodnight.” I said quietly.

The nervousness I’d felt before came rushing back with an intensity that made me wobble on my feet. As though worried I might fall, Calix tugged me in close to his side as he snaked his hand around my waist. I wanted to push away from him, but I’d learned my lesson enough for one night. If I pushed away, he would only pull me closer. I didn’t think I could handle him coming any closer to me than he already was - and I knew I couldn’t handle his lips on mine. And not only because it was so very wrong. But because I couldn’t handle the betrayal of my own body. It was simply too much.

Calix led me through the halls of his massive house without speaking one word to me. I could feel his energy crackling through the space around us, and I hoped that whatever it was that had irked him wore off just as quickly. I didn’t know what Gabriella had said to make Calix grow irate, but I wasn’t about to question him either.

He opened his bedroom door and I stepped inside. I was thankful when he dropped his hand from around my waist to walk deeper into the room. I stood awkwardly by the door, watching him pace through untrusting eyes.

As though noticing me for the first time, Calix stilled. “Make yourself comfortable.”

How? How did he honestly expect me to ‘make myself comfortable’ in his house, in his room? I was his prisoner. I was nothing more - and somehow he thought I could be comfortable under that knowledge. Nope, the man was delusional along with psychotic.

When I remained standing beside the closed bedroom door, Calix sighed. I watched his long legs claim the space between us and I suddenly wished I’d done as he commanded and made myself comfortable. I simply didn’t know how.

Grabbing my hand, Calix pulled me deeper into the room with him. “You can sit here on the couch or the chair.” He pointed to the patio. “There is furniture out on the patio. You are welcome to go out there, as well.” I watched as he turned me to face the bed. “Or you can climb into bed.”

“Um,” I tensed at the sight of the large bed. It looked - imposing. I wanted to run in the other direction.

Calix moved to stand close behind me. His body wasn’t touching mine, but I could feel the heat of his front against my back. He settled his hands against my hips and fire ripped through me as his fingers spanned over my hipbone. I wanted to slide out from beneath his hands, but I couldn’t find the will to move.

He dipped his head until I could feel his breath whisper across my ear. “If you’re going to bed, I’ll join you.”

I jumped away from him then, nearly running for the patio. “No,” I spun around to see him watching me through that intense gaze of his. “I’ll uh, I’m just going to sit out here.”

With that, I darted out onto the patio. The spring air had been warm in the day, but it was evening now and it was becoming increasingly chilly. I suddenly wished I had worn anything but this thin dress. Still, despite my discomfort standing in the crisp evening air, I was determined to remain outside. I would rather freeze than climb into bed with Calix. If he thought I was going to be so easy, then he was sorely mistaking. There was no way I was sleeping with that man! He was a flipping ogre.

The patio was large and stone. There was a small dark wicker table and chair set for two with a glass top sitting in the corner to my right. The cushions on the patio set were a soft green that made the atmosphere on the patio feel serine. A matching swing sat in the far left corner. It was shaped almost like an oversized teardrop and it looked comfortable. I could definitely lose myself in that teardrop swing. And then there was a chair that resembled more of a chaise.

Calix’s bedroom was on the second floor and I was suddenly happy for the view. It was brilliant. His bedroom overlooked the breathtaking backyard. In the distance, majestic mountains loomed. At the base of the mountain straight across from the house, there was a large crystal clear lake. It shimmered in hues of pinks, reds, and oranges in reflection of the setting sun in the sky. It was gorgeous. Tall trees surrounded a meticulously manicured property. I could only imagine the gatherings Calix hosted here. The land really was something else. And then I remembered Gabriella saying that was why Calix bought the property - because he fell in love with the land.

No matter how deeply I disliked Calix - and wanted to loathe everything he loved - I couldn’t bring myself to hate this land. It was magnificent. It was like something out of a fairytale. I could only imagine exploring this land with a man who owned my heart. Too bad I would never have the chance.

Not unless I could get myself away from Calix.

I had to get away from Calix.

Feeling suddenly desperate and overwhelmed, I moved quickly over the patio to the teardrop swing. Climbing into the cushiony interior, I curled into a small ball and gazed out over the land.

In only a few hours, it would be an entire twenty-four hours since my abduction. I’ll bet the police weren’t even looking for me. I was twenty-one, they probably told my mother I ran away.

The thought made tears prick in my eyes. My mother would be positively desperate. I was always home whenever I said I would be. Unlike Jaylah, I didn’t sneak out in the middle of the night to see a boy or to attend a party. Unlike Jaylah, I was always up early to make coffee and to read in the early morning sunlight. And Amy - Amy would be so confused. She would be so afraid by the disappearance of her big sister. What would they think? What would they feel?

Would my mother’s mind be entertaining the worst possible scenario? Would she imagine my delicate skin bruised and beaten? Would she see me being cut and tied up roughly? Would her mind imagine something so dark as rape? Would she see my pale, lifeless body lying in a ditch somewhere? Would she wish, with everything inside of her, that she could trade places with her child?

Of course she would. Any mother would wish to take on their child’s pain. And I knew if it were possible, my mother would do anything for me. She would trade places with the horror of her imagination just to save me. The thought shattered my heart. Because I knew my mother was feeling desperate beyond anything she’d ever known.

And I wasn’t being abused. Calix had yet to hurt me. But my mother didn’t know that. The nightmare of her imagination would continue until I put a stop to it. I had to put a stop to it.

I had to convince Calix to let me contact them.

Jumping up from the swing, I bolted for the door without realizing Calix was standing there, I slammed roughly into him.

“Ouf,” I moaned, teetering on unstable feet. “Calix,”

His hands settled firmly on my hips, holding me upright as I gasped through my distraught sobs. He frowned down at me. “What’s going on? Why are you crying?”

“I need to contact my mom.” I gripped the fabric covering his chest in both my fists. Desperation curdled in my stomach as I searched his eyes for an answer. They were hard. Unwavering.

“No, Nova.”

“Please,” I croaked. “She must be thinking horrible things. She must be thinking I’m in such pain. I can’t,” I stammered through a sob. “I can’t allow her to go on thinking that way. I just can’t.”

“Nova,”

I clenched my fists tighter, “You have to let me contact her!”

“I said no once.” Calix stared down at me resolutely. I had a sickening feeling that there was nothing I could do to change his mind. “I won’t change my mind.”

“Why?” I whispered through my internal agony. “Why?”

“I don’t trust you.” He said simply.

“What does trust have to do with it?”

His blue eyes were cold. “If I can’t trust you to tell her you’ve run away with a man you’ve been having a secret affair with for months, then I can’t risk letting you call her.”

Frantically, I shook my head. “I won’t tell her you kidnapped me. I promise. I’ll tell her whatever you want.”

For long minutes, he just watched me. His eyes scanned my face and I knew he was seeing a raw desperation in my eyes, but I couldn’t be bothered to restrain it. All I cared about was making contact with my mother. She needed to know I wasn’t being tortured. Because I knew not knowing was torture for her.

“My decision has been made. You will not contact your mother or anyone else.” The finality in his voice pushed me into a rage.

I slammed my hands, open palmed, against his chest. I yelled, “Why?”

He caught both my wrists in his hand. “Because you’re not convincing, Nova. You might tell your mother that you’ve run away with a lover, but she won’t believe you.”