LOGINShare
25. A challenge
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
Related chapters
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 26. Choose your battles
EricaI ran out of the dining hall, uncaring of the fact that I was nakèd and anyone could see me. All I wanted was to get away from him and the dark shadowed demons of my childhood.I burst into the room I had spent my day in and made my way straight to the bathroom. I wasn’t in any condition to think that how this old, dark castle had a shower installed in it as I turned it on and sat down on the cold unforgiving floor.My nails dug into my wrist as I counted in my mind, desperate to detach myself from the painful horrible memories. I didn’t know for how long I sat there under the cold water but it was enough that I started to feel numb. My mind was trying to pull out the memories that would make me feel a sliver of warmth in the cold dark desolate place I had
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 27. Evidence of my demons
EricaI woke up with a buzzing head, a dry mouth and a throbbing palm.I squinted my eyes and brought my palm up to my face. There was a long gash in my palm but it wasn’t deep so I won't be needing stitches. And I had wrapped in a strip of white fabric that I had torn from the corner of the sheet I had been using as a dress since yesterday but sometime in the night it must've gotten loose as my hand was bare and the cut looked double its size. Even my fingers hurt when I curled them.Fûck.I hadn't meant to do that. I had drank the whole bottle and then the next think I knew I was standing in the bathroom and wondering how to break it so I could take a shard long enough to murder the arsehole. But the moment I broke it, I couldn'
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 28. Good morning, is it?
EricaI wore thesluttydress.And even went as far as to wear that stupid, blinking diamond bracelet. It was beautiful on my wrist but I would never admit it. For some reason that beautiful thing didn’t feel like an expensive jewellery it was, but a shackle from Antonio Rossi. Either way, I wore it and the thing I loved the most of my whole attire wasn’t designer dress with fabric less than a handkerchief or the delicate cream colored thong underneath it or the diamond bracelet, it was the pair of shoes that I was wearing on my feet under the dress that looked fit to walk on the red carpet. II descended the stairs making my way to the dining room where I hadn’t had the dinner yesterday because a cert
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 29. It's a deal then
AntonioI watched her walk away, her perfectly shaped hips swaying as she made her way inside and disappeared. I turned to Ephraim and found him glaring down at his plate. He was nine years younger than me and yet he still looked a fresh faced fourteen years old that I had taken under my wing. He still did everything to impress me even when I had told him again and again he didn’t have to but surprisingly he went against me for the little devil who was nothing but a captive.I could see that he liked her but not enough to displease me and that was the reason he was angry right now. At himself. That his little attraction had cost him my disappointment. I stood up and wasn’t surprised when he apologized, “I am sorry, I didn’t mean to go against your wishes. It was just, she looked so sad aft
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 30. You will regret it
EricaI spent the rest of the day in the castle, going from one corner to another. It’s huge, the corridors had my feet aching but I was intrigued and the quiet, the smell of dust in most of the empty rooms and sculptures in one room that had looked like it was part of a museum and not to miss the intricate designs on the walls had me going on till the sun set and my stomach grumbled for the fifteenth time to feed it.There were four locked doors that I had encountered. One being the same one that had led to the narrow stairs that I had ascended with Ephraim in the morning, for some reason it was locked now and I really wanted to go upstairs in that corridor with all those windows. I knew for sure that floor belonged to Antonio and he had it locked. Then there were two other rooms on the third floor that were locked. And one that intrigued me most was t
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 31. I’ll help you
EricaUnable to believe my eyes, I once again looked back on either side from where I stood and then entered the tent. My whole body tensed as if I was a rabbit going out for a snack when there was a hungry lion on the prowl. I didn’t even breathe for the five steps it took me to reach the small wooden cabinet and on top of which was a gun resting idly.The moment my fingers touched the cold metal, I snatched it up and stuffed it inside my blouse. The bulge was noticeable so I pulled my hair free from its ponytail. My heart thudded in my chest as I made my way out of the tent ready to be jumped by someone, Ephraim or any of the men in black uniform.I was so engrossed and trying to deal with what I just did that when I rounded the corner of the
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 32. And, I ran...
EricaDinner was quiet. I was too nervous and wrapped up in my mind to make small talk or to pester Ephraim. And it seemed that he knew I wasn’t one to remain quiet and keep my thoughts to myself because he kept glancing at me. But my mind was on planning my escape. The problem was I would never be able to walk out the front door to make my escape because as it happens apart from the security guards that keep watch during the night, rounding the parameter of the castle, Elijah and one other man stay in the entry hall to keep watch if someone managed to get through the guards stationed outside. So it meant that I would’ve to find another way which was impossible if I remained in that windowless room.The one question I had asked of Ephraim was when Antonio will be back. He had looked surp
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 33. I couldn't breathe
EricaMy breaths came short and fast as I ran. The soles of my feet screamed their agony as my feet pounded on the uneven gravel. The tree line was just a few steps away and I could hear more men shouting as they got aware of my escape. Soon, Ephraim would know too and I’d have to be gone. I didn't want to fail and be caught. The thought spurred me on and I put my everything as I ran.The moment I entered the forest, I zigzagged through the trees. I could hear the footsteps coming after me. One of the men called out, “Miss, return to the castle and no one needs to tell Capo anything.”I snorted. Yeah. Fûck you.The overgrown dry grass scratched and hurt my legs and goosebumps dotted my skin because of the c
Latest chapter
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
