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122. I was your friend
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
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CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 123. Open your eyes, little devil
AntonioAs soon as Nikolai left the office and made his way downstairs, I made my way to the second floor. Even when I was halfway up the stairs I could hear Thor’s frantic barking and the way he whined, it made my shoulders coil tight as an uneasy feeling slipped through me. By the time I reached the half shut door of the little cell, I wasn’t sure what I would find but what I saw, I wasn’t prepared for it.Erica was on the floor where I had left her, but she wasn’t relaxed or in deep sleep while she was unconscious due to the drûg. No. Her whole body was tossing and turning like she was fighting an invisible opponent. Her eyes were closed but her lips were moving, muttering unclear and incoherent words that I couldn’t decipher. She looked like she was in pain and the scene brought a burn to my chest.Thor gave a low growl as I advanced toward her, I held my hands up as I neared her and crouched down beside her seizing body. Thor rubbed his head on her side, trying to wake her up. W
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 124. You drûgged me
EricaThe darkness surrounded me from everywhere. Shadows threatened and touched me without my permission even when I screamed. It hurt when they touched and they didn't care when I pleaded with them to stop. They didn't stop they never stopped. I was a little girl trapped with the faceless monsters. I didn't have anywhere to run. I was trapped. Trapped with these dark shadows.Until...The door opened and the shaft of light entered, backlighting a tall man who entered the darkness like he feared nothing. Like he ruled it and everyone in it. I cried for help and begged him to save me. Wondering if this shadowy figure would be my salvation and then he turned to look at me and I caught his golden brown eyes.“Antonio!”I jerked awake, my breathing fast and hollow as I looked around myself, half expecting the shadowy figures standing around the bed but there was no one. I tried to clear this heavy feeling surrounding my mind and my thoughts. I was in the bedroom. In Antonio’s bedroom. I
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 125. I hate surprises
Erica“You drûgged me.”Instead of slapping me back or punishing me or getting angry, he nodded and said, “I am sorry.”My eyes widened at his apology, at the sincerity that reflected behind the words and in his eyes, and I took a step back from him as every part of me doused in the cold reality. Panic started to rise inside me as I shook my head, denying it when I could see it with my own eyes. He couldn't know. No one can know. “Y-you know.” He didn't have to answer, I wasn't even asking. It was in his dark eyes that were somehow bright from within as he looked at me. “How... How m-much? How could you know? I c-couldn’t have. I’d never... Never tell you!”And I tried to think back, to think how much I let slip in my drûgged state. “Y-ou kn-ow? Tell me....” I sobbed, and tried to breathe, tried to stop the bubbling hysteria but it was useless. I didn't know how to react, how to cope with this. No one knew. I didn't tell anyone. He wasn’t supposed to know either. “How m-much do you k
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 126. A gift
EricaAs I walked to Antonio’s office, Thor followed after me but I had to pause and instruct him to stay put to stop him from entering his office. Even though he had brought the dog for me, I had noticed every time he’d stiffened just because Thor got too close to him. Thor gave a cute little whine but stayed still as I knocked on the door. Antonio’s deep voice filtered through the thick wooden door, “Come in.”I pushed the door open and entered. Antonio was sitting behind his desk as he wrote something on the ledger opened in front of him. The fire was burning low in the hearth, keeping the room warm as the temperature outside dropped with each day that passed. For a brief moment, I took him in in his shirt sleeves that were rolled up to his forearms and the way his shoulders looked, strong and wide. Even here sitting in his office, engrossed in his work he looked the most handsome man I had ever laid my eyes on. And believe me, I knew most of them.And then he looked up and paused,
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 127. Hey, big sister
EricaI was impatient for the whole ride in the chopper and then the drive to the big city centre where there was a building with twenty floors and each floor except the reception on the ground floor had a different set of classes going on at the same time. I hadn’t looked at the template that Antonio had handed me as I had been too busy getting ready to get out of the castle.The only thought that circled my mind was to make a call to my sister from the new phone that belonged to me, as soon as possible. I still couldn’t believe that Antonio had given me a phone when he didn’t miss a chance to call me his captive. The lines were getting blurred and as much as I missed my sister, I’m sure talking to her will put things into perspective and I’d come to my senses and realise that Antonio was nothing but my enemy. And after yesterday, the vulnerable moment I shared with him, I needed that reminder before I totally forget that he wasn’t the man who had kidnapped me for the sole purpose o
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 128. Make him trust you
Erica “Hey, big sister.” I said into the phone. The silence on the other end was weighty until it broke as my sister gasped, “Rica! Oh my god... Where are you right now ? Are you okay? Did you get out of there? Tell me, where are you? Are you hurt or—” “Summer... Take a breath. I’m not hurt, I am okay.” I took a shaky breath as I sat down on one of the chairs near the window. “What about you? Are you okay?” “Don’t try to turn this conversation around. Tell me, where are you?” My sister demanded, her voice turning determined even as I could hear the tears in her words. “Is he there with you? Who's number is this? Are you still in his house?” “If you’ll let me talk, I’ll tell you everything.” I said, wiping my tears. “Fine.” There was a sound of the door closing and then she said, “I am putting you on speaker. Gabriel is here.” “Erica...” Gabe’s warm voice settled over me, reminding me of all the time he had taken care of me and my sister. “Hi..” I replied. “Where are
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 129. Feels like a DATE
EricaBy the time, I exited the building my fingers were cramped and I knew what the keys on the piano were called. And also I kind of made a friend, I think, as I waved at Leo who really looked like a lost child of DiCaprio. “See you, tomorrow.” He called out as he turned to leave in the opposite direction. I smiled at him as he walked across the road and gave me a wave before turning away. I turned to make my way to the waiting car with Thor peeking out of the window which was open more than I had left. When I reached the car and opened the door, I realised the reason behind it. Ephraim was sitting in the backseat with a laptop open in front of him. His fingers were rapid fast as he typed. And his rhythm didn’t change even as I sat down and he said, “Thought you wanted Thor to be by your side. If you wanted to leave him behind in the car, you should've left him at the castle instead.”I stared at him, feeling irritated as without knowing he just made up an assumption. I said, “Of c
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 130. Do you like me?
AntonioErica stepped out of the bedroom and I watched from my place on the terrace as she took a few careful steps in those high heels until she found her balance and looked up. Our eyes met as she walked toward me, hers were dark brown with dark secrets that she keeps to herself. But I was a fûcking bastàrd who stole them from her. And now I was trying to make up for it, just not because I felt like I shouldn’t have, no, it's because I wanted to. And for the fact, I was glad that I knew what I knew, it’d be quicker to make them pay for what they did to her. I’ll make everyone of the fûcking arseholes who ever touched her.When she came out on the terrace, her eyes widened to see the fairy lights above our hearts and the table set for two with candle lights and a single daffodil in a glass bottle. Her enquiring gaze came back to me, but I was taking my time to drink her in.Day after day, she was getting prettier in my eyes and felt more beautiful to me. And now I know what she looks
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CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 145. The World Stopped Spinning
Ephraim“Your job is to do whatever I tell you to do. Protect her.”I gritted my teeth at his absurd command, all these years I had been his shadow, spent all my time protecting him whenever he stepped out of that castle where he lived like a recluse. And now here he was telling me to protect her but not him. I’d have protected her but not at the cost of him, not if it meant letting him be in danger.I pressed on the accelerator as the car that was following us came to the side and slammed at the back of ours, for a moment I lost control of the steering wheel and the car tilted to the one side. I glanced in the rear-view mirror to catch Antonio cupping Erica’s head to prevent her head from slamming into the wind
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 144. Protect Her
AntonioMy office door opened with a bang for the second time that day and Ephraim stood there with Thor barking behind him. Before I could really give him a lashing to remind him of his place and for letting that dog into my office, I noticed the set of his jaw and the paleness of his face and without a second thought, my mind went straight to Erica. “What is it?”Instead of answering me, he asked, “Have you talked to Erica?”Even though I had wanted to call her, I hadn’t. And it was his fault. Because Ephraim’s words had unsettled me and I didn’t want to prove him right so no matter how much I was tempted to call her, I had refrained but now as I saw the expression on Ephraim’s face I regretted not doing so. And more than that as I slipped out my phone and dialled her number I regretted not putting a tracker on her phone after she broke the bracelet when the call ended without ringing on the other side.I had wanted to give her some privacy to talk to her family and it was the reaso
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 143. I don't feel so good
EricaI excused myself from the table to go to the bathroom, I wanted to ask Riley if she wanted to join me but she was busy talking to the guy sitting opposite her. But just as I took a step away from the table, Leo also stood up. I asked, “Where are you going?”“I’ll walk with you.”“Oh, you don’t have to.” I said, feeling embarrassed that he could easily read how I was hesitant and felt a little out of place here which was why I needed company to not look like a lost child.He ignored me and grabbed my hand as he made his way to the left side of the sitting area of the cafe where there was a door that led to a mildly lit corridor and pointed out the washroom for me. He said, “I know that your bodyguards aren't here today, so it’s understandable if you don't feel okay to roam around the unfamiliar place all alone.”I never thought about it in such a way but I guess I was almost carefree at the base level knowing nothing would hurt me, for instance no masked man would materialize out
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 142. We're not in love
Antonio“Sit down and explain yourself before I lose it.” I said to Ephraim as I entered the study after making sure that Elijah knew not to lose sight of her in any way and also to make sure she doesn't see him, if the former happened I’ll make sure he loses his fûcking life.Erica had asked me to stop sending men with her before too, saying that she felt like the odd one out with all the other students gawking at her because of all the men standing guard. But I had ignored her then because I knew most of them probably already knew who she was with, I was one of the men that people recognised on sight and associating with me puts her at risk so it wasn’t just to prevent her from running but also to make sure no one hurts her. And now I wanted to test her out. To know what she’ll do with her new found freedom that I was giving her. Even though it will be an illusion, for her it will be real enough.As I sat behind my desk, I folded my hands and looked at Ephraim. In the past, there ha
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 141. Fûck you, Antonio
Antonio“Antonio...”“Mmm?”“There is this new place that has opened up in downtown that everyone is going to after the classes. Can I go?”“Of course. I told you, you can go anywhere you want to go. I’ll tell Ephraim to take you.” I replied, feeling a smile turn up my lips at the way she asked for my permission.She sat up, slipping out of my hold. And even though it annoyed me, I opened my eyes to look at her. Her flawless back was to me and I couldn't help but trail down my fingers on the curve of her spine and smiled when she shuddered. Without looking at me, she said, “I, actually, don't want him to come with me.”I narrowed my eyes on her back. Grabbing the back of her nape, I pulled her back until she was lying and then I sat up on my elbow to look down at her as I asked, “Are you planning to run away?”She rolled her eyes. She actually rolled her eyes and gave me a smile that made my cock hard, again. She said, “If I wanted to leave, I would've left that night.”It was three n
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 140. I like you, Antonio
AntonioI stood near the windows and looked down at her. Ephraim had given her his jacket that she had wrapped around her to protect herself from the cold. She was looking back at the castle from time to time, and sometimes her gaze would go up to the terrace but she didn't turn to look in the direction of the bedroom which was on her left. And even if she had looked I doubted she would be able to make me out in the darkness of the bedroom.I have no fûcking idea why I said what I said. I didn't know what got into me to let her leave. I just fûcking forced her to go. But when I saw her bandaged hand... I wasn’t lying. Seeing her hurt messes with me in a way I couldn’t explain. It was like going back in the past and seeing all the blood and feeling the pain. Being helpless, that's what it felt like.I wasn't prepared to say any of the things I told her but unlike her I was mature enough to recognise the truth when it smacked me in the face every time I looked at her, kissed her, touche
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 139. Take your freedom, Erica
Erica“What does that mean?” He questioned, his golden brown eyes frowning down at me. “What are you talking about?”I stared at him for a few seconds, if I didn’t know better I would really believe that he has no idea what I was talking about. The way he looked so confused, like he had done nothing wrong, like he didn’t know what I was talking about, like he hadn’t left me in the bed only to be with her. I swallowed against the lump in my throat as I sat up and slipped out of the bed. Sitting there with him so close wouldn’t give me enough strength to keep my anger. But even while I stood and he sat there on the bed, he was almost my height and just as big.“I saw you with her.” It took more effort than it should have to say her name. “Nicole. The way she was touching you. Kissing you. She kissed you...” I couldn't hide the pain as I said those words. And once again the image of her materialized in my mind, the same image that had been haunting me, that had forced me to slam my fist
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 138. Confused and Hurt
EphraimErica pushed past me and walked away to the exit I was pointing out instead of going through the one where Antonio was standing close to. Nicole’s eyes met mine, smug and taunting. She said, “You should go after her before you lose his toy. I heard it’s very expensive.”I took a step closer to her and she sucked in a nervous breath. I had never interacted with her, apart from the times when Antonio needed another set of hands in an act that he put up in the club with her as the submissive for the night. “Stay away from her. If Antonio knew what you just did—”“Save your threats, he already made his.” Her nostrils flared as she looked over my shoulder. “I don’t understand what you see in her. She is not even Italian, also he bought her from an auction, how could you take her side over mine when she’s nothing but his sex slave.” “She is anything but that. Did you see her in chains or kneeling at his feet like you did so often?”Anger flashed in her eyes as she glared at me. H
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 137. We've the same bracelet
EricaI woke up sprawled in the middle of the bed with blankets wrapped around me and sun shining through the parted curtains. Gathering my hair to the one side, I sat up and looked around the bedroom. The basket from which I had eaten number of sweet things was still on the bedside table and it reminded me of how Antonio had fed me the baked soft cookies with his own hands while I was curled up in his lap. I took my gaze off the basket to our clothes that were all over the place last night but now we’re folded and placed on the bench near the bathroom door, but there was no sign of Antonio.Deciding to get up and start the day, I slipped out of the bed and made my way to the bathroom. For the first time, I didn't sleep nakéd after sex and still Antonio had taken me in his arms, surrounding me with his big body as we slept. When I came out of the bathroom, I opened the closet door to find a selection of his shirts but there were a few dresses and jeans and tops too. I picked out a bla
