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Zoey's POV "I'm sure he would call if there was a problem." I jump back a bit in the newly renovated booth before I look over at Mrs. Danvers. What's even the point of looking at my phone when my battery died a few minutes ago? Classic Zoey, forgetting to put her phone on charge. "I'm sorry. I'm just a bit jumpy today." I laugh nervously before gulping down nearly half of the warm tea. "It's understandable." She pats my left hand which was placed on the table. Her thin lips stretch in a kind smile before she drinks from her own cup. "Don't worry, nothing will happen to you. I'll personally make sure of it." "Thank you, but I can't let you do that. I mean, Xavier and the police are already on it. I just don't want to bother anyone else." "Nonsense. It's not a bother. You're a part of the family now Zoey. Your problems are ours." The corner of my lips quirk up at her kind statement. "Thank you." "No problem dear." She offers me a bittersweet smile as she glances around th
Zoey's POV "Hey there Zoey." Mr. Danvers rises from the stool then walks over to me, leaving the cup he was drinking from on the poolside bar counter. The man pulls me into a brief hug before he leads us to the patio chairs, gesturing for me to sit. This is new. My eyes wander to his dark suit that peeks out from underneath an immaculately white winter coat that hangs loosely on his body and compliments his equally fair skin. From the looks of it, he just got back. He wasn't here earlier that's for sure. The pool and outside lights automatically blink on as the sky darkens with hues of black, blue and pale orange. My eyes flicker out to the spectacular view. The bright city lights below contrasted with the dark sky. Mr. Danvers and I are on speaking terms, if you wanna say that. He apologized the very same day I came to stay here and, I guess, he has been kind since then. "Hi Mr... Uh, Fred. Hey." "Is everything okay?" He nods to the phone clutched in the palm of my hand
Zoey's POV "I can't believe that you're making me do this," Xavier grumbles, pushing an empty cart as we walk down the frozen foods aisle. We are currently walking around an empty mini mart about a mile or two from the mansion, which is, miraculously, still open at this hour. "You know I won that bet fair and square." I stick out my tongue childishly at him. I grab a pack of frankfurters and bologna, placing them in the trolley. "Now what do you want to eat?" "You," he answers boldly as his eyes hungrily rake my body. We lock each other's gazes, both of us communicating in ways that basic, sputtering words failed to do. "Guys, make this quick. I'm locking up in twenty!" I turn around to the man who had yelled from behind the cash register. He eyes us for a moment before they skim the old newspaper he has gripped in his hands. "Sure." I look briefly over at the scrawny man before I cast my eyes back at my soon-to-be husband. "Seriously, what do you want?" "Uh," the man s
Zoey's POV Holding up my head to the shower head, I let the hot water sting my face and run down my relaxed body. I grinned, biting my lip, as I recall all the wild lovemaking we did last night and most of the morning. I flutter my eyes shut feeling his muscular body and lips caressing my back. His hot breath scorches my shoulders as his soft lips move, tantalizingly slow, across my smooth skin. The slamming of the bathroom door quickly snaps me out of my sexual reverie. "Shit. You scared me," I jump back a little before turning off the tap. I wipe my face with my hands, then run them through my wet hair. "What time should we even be at your parents', by the way? Seven or six? Is six early?" Not hearing any response, I look at his silhouette walking quietly around the bathroom. "Xavier? Are you even listening? I know you don't trust Matthew, I keep telling you he's a great person. Is it because he's a guy?" Still no reply. Is he seriously angry about this? He doesn't even hu
Zoey's POV Complete darkness. That's the first thing that I notice when I open my eyes. Hissing, I feel a sharp pain jolt through the back of my head as small white flashes of light dance around my vision in the dark. Everything hurt too much. It feels like a ticking bomb exploded in my head. My eyes burns painfully and I feel like throwing up due to a lack of fresh air. Slowly, my memory starts to drift back to my conscious mind, even though random bits and pieces are missing. Where the hell am I? I inhale deep, greedily gasping for clean air, only to breathe in the same hot, stale breath. The air becomes stuffy as my sweat and tears mingle before running off my face. There's something over my head! I reach out to grab the thick un-breathable fabric from my face, but my hands are bound to a sturdy object. Grunting, I pull at the rope, jerking around to loosen the grip, but it does not budge— not once. I, tiredly, close my eyes, fearing to take my last breath as life effortles
Xavier's POV "Look Dad, I don't have time for this bullshit! I need to find Zoey." I stop and look sharply at him. My fiancée has been missing for over an hour now, and this hedgehog wants me to talk about personal problems. He always finds a way. He will find a way. He's coming for me. Her words and frightened face haunts me every single moment I breathe. I really didn't have time for this shit. "So, like, stop following the fuck behind me." "You called me 'Dad'." He sighs, looking at me in disbelief, shoving his hands in his pants pockets. A smile slowly crawls on his face. Oh for fuck's sake! I look at him incredulously, shaking my head, then clasp my hands together shaking them at him. I try to reason with him. "My fiancée, the love of my life, is fucking missing, so do me a huge favor and get lost." I hols onto the railing and continue to climb the stairs. "Shouldn't be too hard, you've been doing it your whole life." "I just need to talk to you," I hear him yapping be
Zoey's POV My chest heaves in silence and burns painfully as tears flow freely from the corners of my eyes. All different scenarios play out in my head, but not one has a happy ending in which I walk away alive. "Okay." My voice comes out croaky, conveying the exact opposite of the emotion I am trying to portray. I hold my hands up in a form of surrender, trembling slightly from the awful thought of being put down from behind. "Just don't shoot, alright?" I slowly turn around, ready to face the bruised, unforgiving face of Troy, but stumble involuntarily when I saw Matthew a foot or two away aiming a gun directly at my head. I swallow instinctively and cast my eyes away from his, breathing heavily. "Go ahead then! Isn't this what you always wanted?!" My eyes dart back on him, not caring about the tears falling heavily from my already puffy eyes. "Go ahead and blow me to pieces! How dare you befriend me. How dare you try to come between Xavier and I?! You have some nerve—" "Go."
Zoey's POV It's over. It's finally over. I squeeze my fiance's hand lightly as he gently tugs me through the small crowd filing out of the courtroom. The eagerly awaiting paparazzi and media outlets on the concrete step quickly run up to meet us, flashing their cameras and shoving microphones in our faces. Xavier's bodyguards quickly spring into action, trying to make a safe walkway for us to get to our car. "Right this way, sir." One of them guide us while the others tried to form a semi-circle to separate us from the thick crowd. I press the dark shades to my face in order to protect my eyes from the blinding flashes. General and personal questions are thrown my way but I ignore them. Do these people have, like, no chill? I feel extremely queasy as I absentmindedly hold my slightly puffy belly. I don't know whether it is due to the fact that I have morning sickness or that I have to relive my awful experience in that unpleasant courtroom, or maybe the fact that I'm basically