DREAM (22 page)

What’s happening?

My world came crashing around me when two agents take off their masks and I gasp.

“You’re not ATF.” I turn to Leo and he stares at them with his cold, hard eyes. I glance back at them. “You’re Jacob’s security.”

One of them smirks and I feel a pain in my neck and it all goes black.

Chapter 20

“Dream.”

“Dream, wake up.”

I can hear Leo, but I’m in a tunnel and it’s dark.

“For fuck’s sake, Dream, wake up.”

I roll my head back and I force my eyes open. They’re heavy as semi-trucks, but I can make out Leo in front of me. He’s fuzzy, but I know it’s him.

“Leo.” My mouth is like sandpaper.

“Dream, look at me. Please, look at me.”

I keep blinking my eyes until he’s clearer and I’m awake. “Where are we?” I look around, and it looks like we’re in a large building. When I study the room better, I realize that we’re in a basement-like room.

I jerk on my hands, but I’m still zip tied behind my back. Leo is the same way and I shift, but my legs are unable to move.  

“Below Matherson Printing.”

“Below? There’s a below?”

Leo gives me a stern look as if I had just asked the dumbest question. “Yes, Dream, there’s a
below
.”

“Where’s Gable?” I suddenly panic. I remember that Jacob’s bodyguards took us and not the ATF.

“I don’t know. Listen to me, whatever happens, do not say anything. I mean it Dream. You need to be the strongest you’ve ever been.” Leo stares me deep in my eyes and I nod. “The second I get out of these fucking cable ties, we’re getting out of here.”

“What about Gable?”

“Dream.” He says my name calmly. “He’s very resourceful. Right now, I’m concerned about you. My job is to keep you safe and I’ve been doing that for over twenty years.”

“I know.” My voice cracks. “Leo—”

“It’s okay. Don’t be scared, just focus on me and don’t speak. Keep your breathing even and slow, and don’t be scared,” he repeats.

I take a deep breath and try my best to maintain it evenly. I look at Leo and send a prayer to whoever is listening that my Gable is okay and Bruce, too. I’m not sure what’s going on back at the house, but I hope they’re okay, too. I’m somewhat calm when I hear a door slam behind me. I can’t move to see who is coming up behind me. Leo’s focus remains on me and I jump when something brushes the back of my neck.

“What a change of direction?” I gasp as Gideon’s face comes in front of mine. “No smart ass remark,
Mrs
. Butler.”

I flick my gaze back to Leo, but Gideon blocks me with his body. Gideon’s eyes are full of rage and danger.

“What do you want Gideon?” Leo gains his attention and I release the breath that I’m holding.

I’m not sure what is going to happen and my blood is pounding so loud it’s hurting my eardrums.

“Jacob and I want some cooperation from my big brother, and,” he turns back to me. “Dream is going to help.”

I furrow my brow. “How can I help?”

“You’re so naïve. I don’t know what the hell Gable sees in you but your cunt.”

I cringe at the word. I don’t know a woman that likes that word and I definitely don’t like it being used to describe me in any form.

“Gideon.” Leo clenches his jaw at him, hissing his name.

“Shut the fuck up, old man. There’s nothing you can do.” Gideon takes a step toward me. “You can’t do anything to me no matter what I do to her.” He runs his hand through my hair and I freeze in place.

Oh God.

He slowly runs his finger down my cheek and around my jaw. My stomach flips and I feel as if I’m going to throw up.

“Gable will kill you Gideon, if you hurt Dream. You’d never be able to get Gable to do anything you want if that happens.” Leo negotiates with him.

“I know.” He continues to stroke my face. “But, I can have fun with her until Gable comes to his senses and realizes how much more money we’re going to make together if he would stop trying to be Johnny-Good-Shoes.”

I can hear Leo’s instructions in my head and I stare at him. I don’t even glance at Gideon. I know if I do, I will vomit everywhere. I want Gable. He needs to get in here and rescue me.

“Gable turned his life around for you and Mama. You know this, Gideon.” Leo continues talking to him. “Gable would do anything for you.”

Gideon sighs and leans down to my eye level. “I used to think that. I never doubted it. Until
she
came along.”

I close my eyes. He’s talking about me. He’s jealous of me.

“Last year, when all this fucking shit started with Ulrich and Gable, I could feel how bad it was going to be. Ulrich Jackson, the old fucking prick.”

My temper begins to rise and I’m trying not to say anything, just like Leo told me to. Although, I’m not sure how much longer it will last if he keeps talking about my dad this way.

“He was a criminal. A bad guy. He would throw his weight all over this town and Gable kept bailing him out, time-and-time again. It’s all your fault he’s dead.”

I whip my head to him and see nothing but malice in his eyes.

“I bet you didn’t know he died because you. Do you, Dream?”

“He died of a heart attack.” I speak.

Gideon’s lips twitch. “Sure, he did.” He winks and my stomach drops. I look at Leo and for the first time he looks as shocked as I am.

I open my mouth to ask what the hell really happened to my father, but I’m interrupted as the door behind me opens again.

“Gideon, they’re ready for her,” a male voice booms out.

“Showtime.” He pulls a knife from his pocket and roughly cut the ties around my ankles and yanks me hard enough that I think he dislocated my shoulder. “If you move, he’ll shoot you.” He points to the man standing in the doorway. The man lifts a gun, pointing it at me.

I can’t focus on anything else but the large black hole of the end of the gun. One twitch of his finger and my life would end here. This isn’t how I figured my life would end. Hell, I’m twenty-three, I hadn’t thought about my life ending yet.

“Take him.” Gideon orders the man and he lowers the gun from my face and pulls Leo toward the door. Gideon drags me in the same direction.

We continue down a long hallway and I can see a door at the end of it. Who the hell knew all of this was below the building. I don’t know what’s behind the door, but it’s not going to be good. It is becoming harder for me remain calm like Leo told me. I’m the edge of losing it.

No, Dream, pull it together. You need to trust Leo.
I yell at myself.

I do trust Leo. He’ll get us out of this or Gable will save me. Something has to happen, because I’m not going to end up on the front page of newspapers dead like this.

The large man opens the door, shoving Leo through and then Gideon does the same to me. I’m bang into Leo’s back.

“Stay behind me,” he whispers and I quickly adjust myself to do as he says.

“Well, look who’s joined the party?”

“Shit,” I hiss softly as Leo and I turn and the lights come on in the room. Jacob, Aven, and four other bodyguards come into view.

“Jacob,” I sneer at him.

“I’m glad you could make it to our event on such short notice. I know you’ve had a busy social life lately.” Jacob comes up to me with a bright smile, pulling me away from Leo. Leo makes a move for him, but the large man points the gun at him and he stops. If I didn’t know better, I’d think Jacob was happy to see me by his expression. And not just because he wants to kill me.

“Don’t tease her, Jacob.” Aven adds. “Let’s get this over with. I want to go home.”

Jacob makes no motion toward his wife. He continues to study my face while licking his lips. He takes a step back and very noticeably looks me up and down.

“My Love, why don’t you wear skirts like this?” Jacob turns to Aven.

“Only dick teases wear those types of skirts, because they don’t want anything shoved into them,” Aven explains.

What?
Not a single word of what she says makes sense.

“Is that the reason?” He looks at his wife and then back at me. “Are you a dick tease?”

Gideon laughs. “She’s a virgin. She’s the biggest dick tease of them all.”

“A virgin?” Jacob questions and then his eyes go bright. “A virgin,” he repeats. He snaps his fingers to one of the men by Aven. “Get Gable and then we can really get this party going.”

Oh God, I pray. Please don’t let him do what I think he might do. I repeat over and over in my head. I glance at Leo and his eyes are throwing daggers at Jacob.

I’m not sure if a second passed by, or an hour, but soon, Gable and Bruce are coming through the same door we’d come in. My heart swells see my Gable coming toward me. When he’s more in my sight, I see his bottom lip is split and there’s blood. My first thought is he needs to change out of his shirt because it’s dirty. When I look in his blue eyes he is checking me over to make sure I’m okay.

“Now, this party can start.” Jacob claps loudly and sounds giddy with excitement. “Gable, you won’t believe what I just learned.” He walks over to him and slaps him on the shoulder. “Dream is a virgin.” He laughs as if it’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard. “Your charms obviously didn’t work on her, eh?”

“I can’t wait to kill you.” Gable fumes at him. I can feel his anger all the way over here. He doesn’t even blink when he says the words to Jacob.

“Not until I take your wife’s virginity. In front of you.” Jacob’s sly, sickening malicious smile looks over me.

Bruce, Leo, and Gable all lunge for Jacob at once, but are quickly jerked back. I scream as my hair is pulled harshly and I am dragged backward.

“No. Gable!” I start screaming and the tears stream down my face. “No. I’m not a virgin. I’m not a virgin.” I yell saying it repeatedly.

“Jacob, stop this madness now.” Gable is roaring louder than I am. “I’ve had her already. She’s telling the truth.”

Whoever is pulling on my hair stops, as does the entire room, and looks toward him. Jacob looks between us both and he’s thinking about his next move. I need to come up with a plan. Something that will keep Jacob from raping me in front of my husband. Something that will keep him from raping me at all.

What does Jacob want?

Money?

Power?

Both?

I need to play on those emotions.

“Jacob.” I choke out his name and he turns his attention to me. “Listen to me. I’m begging you not to hurt me. You can’t.”

“You’re in no position to call any shots here, Dream.” He narrows his eyes.

“I can, because I’m pregnant.” It’s the first lie that came to my head. “If you hurt me or the baby Gable will never help you.” I don’t even look at Gable because I need to keep going.

“What?” Gideon says, standing next to me.

“I’m about six weeks.” I keep the lies coming. “I hadn’t even told him yet.”

Jacob tilts his head. “Now, why would you go and get pregnant?”

“There’s a clause in our pre-nup. If I have Gable’s children then I’ll be financially secured for the rest of my life. I would never have to lift a finger or fucking go back to that hellhole JE again.” Oh, this story is coming too easily.

“We know about the contract.” Aven steps into my line of sight. “You’re already financially secure.”

I shake my head. “No, I’m not. Gable changed the contract and I have to pay back the money that he used to get JE out of the hole. Once I have the baby I am going to divorce him, just let JE go, and live off the money that he’ll give me.”

Gideon, Jacob, and Aven look at each other for a moment, unsure if I’m telling the truth or not.

“I’ll give you JE if you don’t hurt the baby, me, or my bank account,” I plead

“Bank account?” Gideon asks.

“Gable.” I clarify. “Gable is nothing more than a bank account to me.” My heart breaks at the words. It isn’t true; I love Gable.

“If we kill Gable, you get everything.” Aven places her hands on her hip. “We’d be helping you.”

“You’re wrong again.” I think quickly. “Since I’m pregnant it’ll all go into a trust for the baby. The lawyers are the overseers. Gable’s never trusted me. This is all a sham.” I rush the words out.

“That’s not the contract I read,” Gideon yells at Gable.

Gable’s blue eyes are dark and staring through me. “I had the contract changed at the last moment.” He keeps up with my story and I relax because it might work.

“She’s lying.” Aven points at me. “I know Gable. There’s something wrong here.” She waves her hand between Gable and me.

“I’m not that good of a liar.” I try to keep my voice calm.

“She’s right.” We all turn to the new female voice in the room. My mouth drops and Larissa Dapont comes into the lit room. “Dream’s lying.”

Chapter 21

“Larissa,” I gasp. “What the hell are you doing here?” I watch the way she saunters into the room. This isn’t the Larissa I know. When she wraps her arms around Gideon’s waist, I stumble back.

“What is she lying about?” Jacob questions her.

“Well, she’s telling the truth about not being a virgin. I can’t tell about the baby, though. I do know she’s lying about the contract. The contract you read is the correct one.” Larissa eyes me and Gideon kisses the top of her head.

I catch Gable’s eyes and he is as confused as I am. When did those two get together? I can’t process anything that is happening around me.

I’ve been kidnapped, drugged, almost raped—and possibly could still be—and now Larissa and Gideon are a…
couple
.

“Well, then that makes everything much simpler.” Jacob sighs, kissing Aven on the cheek. “Let’s get this over with then.” He releases her and I feel the guard tugging on my hair again.

“No!” I begin screaming and thrashing as much as I can with my arms still bound. The large arms pick me up as I continue to kick.

“Jacob.” Gable is yelling at him and I hear a commotion behind me as I’m tossed into a dark room and the door shuts.

I stand, but don’t move because I can’t see anything. It’s darker than midnight in here. I sob and remain still. I can hear yelling outside the door and I know it’s Gable trying to get to me. He’s still trying to protect me.

A moment later, even though there’s still turmoil outside the door, someone comes in and flicks the light on. I squint at the brightness.

It’s Jacob. I glance around me and I’m in an oversize broom closet. I back up from him, as he loosens his tie.

Oh God, please don’t let this happen. I pray hard.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had a woman fight back.” Jacob’s tone is low. It’s like he’s flirting with me.

“Jacob, please.” I beg him, backing up.

“Begging for me already and I haven’t touched you yet.” He pulls out a pair of strange looking scissors.

He leaps at me and I start screaming as loud as I can for Gable. I need him to come in here and save me. Jacob has me by my hair on the side of my head and tugs at me until my chest is pressed against the wall. His hips have me pinned and his forearm holds my neck in place. I continue sobbing and crying as he cuts the cable tie and frees my hands.

He steps back and spins me around. The back of his hand connects with my cheek and I drop to the floor at the force.

“Are you really pregnant?” He asks in a calm tone.

“Yes,” I lie.

“Fuck.” He growls and steps on my left hand. I scream in pain and my hand is being crushed under his weight. He bends down, and while he is still crushing my hand, yanks off my diamond. The ring Gable gave me and made a vow on. He pulls me back up by my hair. I yell in pain as I feel it ripping from my scalp.

Jacob grips my jaw, and tilts my head up. He rips open my blouse and I can hear the buttons flying. He let’s go and slaps my other cheek. The stinging and pain causes me to briefly stop sobbing. The pain from my hair, scalp, face, and my throat from screaming so loud combined with the tears is too much for me to take. I try to claw at Jacob, but I can feel myself growing weaker by the second.

Fight, Dream, fight.

I try to listen to the voice in my head, but Jacob’s hard gaze on me shows he’s going to win and I’m not going to. Jacob lets me go and his fist connects with my nose and my head slams off the wall.

The room grows fuzzy and nothing is in focus.

“Gable.” I try to scream out before it all goes black.

~~~

My head has never hurt this much in my life. It’s like a drum line in my head. I can feel my arms above my head, but when I try to pull the down, I can’t. My eyes fly open remembering everything that happened. I can taste blood around my lips and mouth. It’s hard for me to breathe through my nose.

“Gable.” I say, looking around the room. I think I’m in the original room where this all began. The difference is I’m on cot of some sort. I look above my head and my hands are zip tied to the rail of the cot. My left hand is broken. I can see the dislocated joints and pain radiates from it.

I search the rest of the room, but I’m alone. I look down at my outfit. My blouse is gone, but my skirt is intact except for a few wrinkles, and it’s filthy. I can still feel my thong on and nothing else.

Did Jacob rape me?

I would feel some sort of pain, right?

“Look who’s awake?”

I turn, seeing Larissa coming into the room with a tray.

“What are you doing here?” My throat burns and my voice is horse.

“I’m bringing you some food and water.” She sits the tray on a small table that I hadn’t noticed and pulls it over to me. She sits on the side of the cot and brushes the hair from my face. “How are you feeling?”

“Really?” I smart off to her. “I’ve been raped. How do you think I feel?”

“Jacob didn’t go through with it,” she informs me. “He stopped and brought you out when you passed out. I don’t think he was going to anyway.”

The relief floods over me. I’m still Gable’s.

“Congrats on the baby, though.” She claps cheerily. “How exciting.”

“Are you high?” I ask. “I’ve been kidnapped, drugged, beaten, almost raped, and I want to know where my husband is, but all you have to say is
congrats
.”

“Come on, Dream.” She rolls her eyes, shaking her head. “You can be so dramatic at times.”

“Larissa, I’m tied to a bed. I’m not being dramatic.” I raise my voice. “Why the fuck are you even here?”

She sighs happily. “I’m in love with Gideon. It’s wonderful.”

“What?”

“That night at Wall’s Ball, I knew he was the one for me. I followed him that whole night and when he was heading to the bathroom, I
bumped
into him.” She winks and her smile grows wider. “We knew right then we were made for each other.” Larissa places her hand over her heart and gazes up to the ceiling as if she’s thanking God for him.

This is the most disgusting display I’ve ever seen.

“We exchanged numbers and the rest, as they say, is history. Now, I can’t wait to start planning our wedding and having our babies. Can you believe we’re going to be real sisters?” She bounces up and down.

“Oh my God, are you serious? What the fuck will your dad say or your step-dad? Have you forgotten them?” I try to reason with her.

“No and my family will be happy if I am.”

“I don’t think the criminal acts that you’re a part of will please them at all.”

“Pish-posh,” she waves at me as if it’s no big deal.

“Larissa, where’s Gable?” I plead with her.

“In the other room.” She points to the door.

“What do Gideon and Jacob want from us?”

“Haven’t you figured that out yet? Geez, Dream.” She shakes her head and laughs at me. “The shipyard. Jacob needs it for his guns and drugs. Gideon gets a cut of it, too. That’s why he’s so rich.” She beams with pride.

My mouth is hanging open because I don’t know if she’s being serious or if she’s really on some type of drug. This isn’t the Larissa I knew at all. She would never, ever be involved in something as illegal as this.
Would she? Do I really know her at all?

“Here.” She reaches for the soup on the tray. “We need to make sure you and the baby are okay.” She lifts the spoon toward my mouth. “It’s only soup. You’ve been out for almost four hours and I know that you need to eat for your strength.”

“I need Gable. Larissa, help me.”

“I can’t.” She sits the bowl back down. “Gideon says I can’t and I won’t jeopardize my relationship with him. He loves me.”

“Oh my God.” This is a fucking nightmare and it’s getting worse. “Gideon loves no one but himself.” I inform her.

“Don’t be jealous, Dream.” She lightly pinches my nose in an uncharacteristic manner. “I know your marriage isn’t real, but Gideon and I are. I hope someday you find happiness.”

“I have with Gable. I need Gable. Please, Larissa.” The tears come back.

She plays with a strand of my hair and I can see that she’s battling with herself to help me.

“Larissa, I will give you anything. Please let me see him, just for a moment.” I study her face and when she gets up, I think that she’s going to help me, but she leaves the room without saying a word.

“Damn.” I say aloud. I try not to cry, but it doesn’t help because the tears fall. Where’s Gable? What about Leo and Bruce? What’s happening at the house? Do they know where we are? A million questions are running through my brain and I can’t answer any of them.

I’m scared, alone, and I don’t know where my family is. On top of that, I’m in a lot of pain and I don’t know how I’m going to get out of this mess. Right now, all I can think of is Gable. I close my eyes and remember him holding me tightly. The way the scent of his cologne calms me, and how much I love him. Deep down, I wish I were pregnant. Gable will be a great father.

Great time to start thinking about that, Dream.

I try to calm myself the best I can, but the sobbing continues. My thoughts turn to Dad and something Gideon said. I know Dad died of a heart attack. The doctors told me he had. I’m sure that Gideon was just trying to get a rise out of me. Unfortunately, it worked.

I wonder what’s going to happen to me now that Gable can’t? Will Jacob finish what he started? Why did he stop in the first place? Maybe he wanted me conscious. I shiver in fear thinking about that. Then there’s Aven. I wonder what that bitch’s story is. How could a wife stand there and watch her husband drag another woman off to rape her?

A non-human and someone with no morals.

The door opens again and the devil herself walks through with a happy smirk on her face. Aven’s green are nothing but evil.

“Time to go see Jacob again.” She nods her head and two large men come in and clip me away from the cot and I feel relief as my arms drop to my side. I’m exhausted, absolutely spent.

One of the men pick me up; I don’t argue because there would be no way I could walk to wherever we’re going. I’m going to be stronger this time. I will fight harder. Jacob will not win this.

I’m carried into the large room where I was before with Gable. I lift my head, but there’s no sign of him, Leo, or Bruce. Are they still alive? They have to be. Gable has to be.

The large guard sits me down in a chair and the other one zip ties my hands, but in the front. He’s careful not to touch my broken hand and it’s not as tight as before. He even pats my good hand softly before stepping away from me.

That’s strange. However, I can’t dwell on it as Gable is brought in with Bruce and Leo. I survey Gable and his jacket is off and there’s a cut above his left eye, but it’s not bleeding badly. His lip is still split but not bleeding anymore. Bruce’s right eye is swelling and I can tell that he’s nose had been bleeding from the dried blood around it. Leo looks worse than both of them. He only has his undershirt on now. His whole face is swollen including both of his eyes and there’s still blood coming from his nose. The corner of one lip has a trickle of blood, too. I notice that his undershirt has slits in it and he’s been cut.

Gable nods at me and I know that he’s asking if I’m okay. I give him a small smile, and the tears burn my cheeks again.

Our connection is short-lived as Jacob comes bounding into the room with Gideon on his tails. I watch Larissa scurry in behind Gideon, still smiling. Oh, that girl is a nut-job of epic proportions and I would have never believed it, except I’m seeing it with my own eyes.

Gideon leans into Jacob and says something. Jacob nods and with a cold, hard stare strolls right over to me and pulls me up. He kicks me in the back of my leg to make me kneel in front of Gable.

“I’m done talking to you, Butler. You are going to go through this deal or I’m killing her.” Jacob yells.

“Kill her and you’ll die.” Gable’s voice is calm.

“I’m not fucking kidding.” Jacob screams making my ears ring.

“I can’t wait to kill you.” Gable curls his lip.

“Not going to happen.” Jacob pushes something cold and hard against my temple and I sob. “Sign it,” he orders Gable. Gideon walks over with a paper and pen.

“If I sign it, how do I know she’ll live? You’re holding a gun to her head.” Gable nods to the weapon in Jacob’s hand.

“Sign it,” he says again. “I’m done fucking playing around with you. I want my shipments through that shipyard, and I want my customs people working it. Do you understand me?” The gun clicks and he pushes harder against my head.

“I can’t sign with my hands behind my back,” Gable states.

“One false move and she dies, along with your baby,” Jacob tells him.

Gable nods and one of the men comes over and clips the ties off Gable’s wrist. He snatches the pen from Gideon’s hand.

“I would have never believed my own brother would stab me in the back.” Gable glares at Gideon.