Joan
My head throbbed, my skull ached, and it felt like it would burst open if I moved.
My eyelids were heavy, but I forced them open. Darkness greeted me first, making me doubt whether I had really opened my eyes.
Had I gone blind overnight? Where was Aaron? Why was the whole house in darkness?
I tried to call for him, but something was blocking my mouth. A gag. My eyes widened as memories slowly crept back, piece by piece.
I was in danger. My baby was in danger. We had been taken.
I wriggled my wrists, feeling sharp pain where the restraints cut into my skin. My hands were tied behind my back. That explained the ache.
I jerked against the chair, trying to break free. My heart pounded wildly, each beat louder than the last. The more I struggled, the deeper the restraints bit into my skin.
That would leave bruises.
“Don’t. It’ll only hurt you more,” a man’s voice broke through the darkness, and I froze. My breath hitched. Someone was here.
In books and movies, captors usually walked into the room after their victims woke up. They didn’t sit in the shadows, waiting. Unless… they were someone important.
A love interest, maybe?
Matthew’s name flashed in my mind, and dread settled in my stomach. Aaron had told me I wouldn’t have to worry about Matthew anymore. But right now?
I was terrified.
A soft groan came from the darkness, followed by the faint sound of liquid dripping onto the floor. My fingers clenched into fists. Was it water? Blood? I jerked against the restraints.
“Listen to me, for fuck’s sake,” the man groaned like he was in pain. I froze again. Screaming wasn’t an option, and I couldn’t even ask questions.
“They said they were going to get her,” he muttered. I held my breath. Who was “her”?
“She…” He groaned again. The dripping sound increased. My body tensed.
“Fuck! I couldn’t protect Joan,” he rasped, voice filled with frustration. “Not when she was a baby, not now that she’s grown.”
My brows furrowed. Confusion swirled in my head. The darkness around me wasn’t helping.
Was he talking about another Joan?
His voice carried pain-guilt, even. And that made my stomach churn.
“They didn’t just torture me. They dragged her into this too,” he said before pausing.
A long silence.
“I don’t know who you are. But if you get out of here alive, can you pass a message to Joan?” His voice was weaker now.
I said nothing. Not that I could.
“Her name is Joan Madison. If you can’t find her, you can reach Aaron Thompson.”
Cold slithered down my spine.
This man knew me. He knew Aaron.
“Tell her… I’m fucking sorry. I loved her. Still do. Until my last breath,” he whispered. Pain laced his words. “Tell her I did everything to make her life better, but all I did was put her in danger.”
My throat felt tight. I swallowed nothing.
Silence stretched again, and for a moment, I thought he had passed out. My stomach twisted. I couldn’t be trapped in here with a dead body.
Fear crawled through my veins.
“Tell her…” A ragged breath. “Daddy loves her.”
My lungs forgot how to work. My eyes went wide.
What? What?!
Dad? Ace Knight? The same man who killed Aaron’s parents?
I hadn’t even processed his words when footsteps echoed outside.
“Hey, pretend you’re still unconscious. They won’t touch you if they think you’re out cold,” the man-Ace-whispered. His voice grew weaker.
I hesitated. But something in me obeyed. I squeezed my eyes shut. Even though I wanted-no, needed-to see him. To see what the man who fathered me looked like.
The door creaked open. Heavy boots stepped inside. I tensed.
A burst of light burned against my eyelids, and the stench of cigarettes filled my nose.
“Oh, Ace. Forgot to tell you, we brought you a surprise,” a man drawled. His voice dripped with amusement.
Ace cursed, his voice laced with fury and recognition. “Let her go.”
The man tsked.
“Not so fast,” he said. The footsteps came closer. My pulse pounded in my ears. Sweat slicked my skin.
Fingers brushed through my hair. My stomach churned in disgust.
“She’s a fine little bird,” the man mused. “Might keep her for myself.”
Rage flared inside me.
“You wouldn’t dare! Get your fucking hands off her!” Ace snarled.
“Or what?” The man taunted. “You made quite a beautiful daughter, but she’s a bit… chubby. The guys said she put up a fight.”
The footsteps moved away. I let out a slow breath.
“Just like her father,” he continued. “Stubborn. Defiant. But she’ll break soon enough. And as for that extra weight? A few days without food should fix that. I prefer my women slender.”
Bile rose in my throat. He meant it. He was going to follow through.
I had to get out. I had to keep my baby safe.
I cracked my eyes open, squinting against the harsh light. My vision adjusted.
A tall man stood at the other end of the room, hands stuffed in his pockets, his back to me.
And there, hanging upside down, was a man covered in blood.
Swollen eyes. Busted lips. His entire face was a mess.
But his eyes.
Green. Just like mine.
He was staring at me.
The other man noticed. He turned his head slightly, looking at me over his shoulder.
A cigarette dangled between his lips. His dark eyes, cold and unreadable, locked onto mine.
He didn’t look at me with love just like a certain set of dark eyes did.
Only amusement.
“Oh. Someone’s awake,” he said, smirking. He took slow, deliberate steps toward me. I tore my eyes away from Ace, my throat tightening.
The man crouched in front of me, leveling our gazes.
“I’m Sparrow. And you?” His lips curved up as he plucked the cigarette from in between his lips and tapped it against his boot, putting it out.
I clenched my jaw.
“Oh, right,” he chuckled. “Forgot you can’t speak.”
He pursed his lips, mockingly.
“Give me a minute, darling,” he murmured. His hands moved behind my head. A rough tug. The gag fell away.
I gasped, drawing in fresh air.
His eyes flicked to my lips. His smirk deepened.
“This is the part where you introduce yourself,” he said.
I glared at him.
“Fuck you,” I spat.
His smirk vanished. He wiped the spit off his cheek with his gloved hand. His jaw ticked.
Then, without warning, he slapped me.
Pain exploded across my face. My ears rang. My eyes burned.
The pounding in my skull worsened.
His gloved fingers grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him.
“Let’s try again, darling,” he said, voice cold.
Tears burned behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
“I’m Sparrow. And you?”
I swallowed. My gaze flickered to Ace. He was watching. Barely holding on.
I turned back to Sparrow.
“He’ll come,” I said, my voice hoarse. “He’ll find me. And when he does, he’ll crush you for touching me.”
Sparrow’s eyes gleamed with something dark.
I prayed Aaron wouldn’t be too late. Because the look in Sparrow’s eyes told me he might be.