Alive (Mended Hearts #1) (27 page)

“I’ll be back,” I vaguely hear before he closes the door behind him, leaving me with my thoughts.

What is going on here? And why are they bringing Jesse here?

Oh, God no. Please don’t let them hurt him. He’s bound to be hurt more than I am, and I’m in a lot of pain.

Now that I’m finally alone, the pain is unbearable. I can’t do anything. I’m cold
, scared, and alone.

So I cry.

Chapter 24

Maisie

I don’t know how long I’ve been here. Trapped on this bed. Alone. All I know is that nobody has come to save me yet.

Matt’s brought food to me three times. I’ve not eaten a thing.

I don’t speak when I’m spoken to.

I don’t open my eyes when someone’s in the room.

And when I’m alone, I cry or sleep.

Jesse

What day is it? How many days have passed? All I know is that it hasn’t been enough.

I have a mega hangover this morning, but I need another beer. I need to forget
, and if that means spending the rest of my days drinking myself into a stupor, then that’s what I’m going to do. I don’t even care that I’m going to be like
him
. I knew I would eventually. I just made it happen faster.

Opening the fridge, I’m sure I’m seeing wrong. Where the fuck has my beer gone? I had a whole
case in here last night.

“I
threw it away, and there’s no point looking in the bin outside. It’s not there,” my mom says.

Closing the fridge, I stare down at her, anger seeping through my body. “What the fuck did you do that for?”

“Don’t you talk to me like that, Jesse Cohen. Just because I’m not at full strength doesn’t mean I won’t kick your ass. I’m worried about you. You’ve spent the last two days drunk. I won’t have you turning into your father. Do you hear me?” she says seriously, her hands on her hip.

“It’s not up to you what I do
, Mom. If I want to have a fucking drink, I’ll have a fucking drink. Stop interfering. If you hadn’t have had sex with that son of a bitch, I wouldn’t have been born, and then I wouldn’t have to deal with what I’m dealing with.”

I know I shouldn’t be
attacking her. She’s done nothing but try her best for me. I just need someone else to blame right now, and that happens to be my mom. I can’t see past my anger.

“Oh
, for goodness sake, Jesse. Sort yourself out! You want to end up like your dad? Fine. Go ahead,” she says, opening her arms out wide. “But you won’t be living under my roof, so pack your bags and get out. I refuse to watch another person I love destroy themselves.” With that, she walks away.

Fine.
If that’s how it’s going to be, I’m gone.

My cell phone rings just as I’m about to walk out the door. It’s Chloe. Why is she calling me?

“What?” I answer, not in the mood for pleasantries.

“Well
, hello to you too,” she replies sarcastically.

“What do you want, Chloe? I’m really not in the mood.”

“Geez, Mr. Happy. Fine. Is Maisie with you? I’ve been trying to get a hold of her, and her phone goes straight to voicemail.”

“No. Why would she be with me? We broke up. I’ve not seen her since Brandon took her home on Wednesday.”
Has she not told Chloe that we’ve broken up? They usually tell each other everything.

“Wait… She left yours on Wednesday?” she asks
, confused.

“That’s what I said
, isn’t it?” Sarcasm drips from my voice.

“Fuck! Jesse,
Maisie’s not been home since Wednesday morning. I’ve not seen or heard from her since then. That was two days ago, Jesse…” She’s panicking now.

“I’m sure she’s fine. She’ll come back when she’s licked her wounds. Now
, I’ve got things to do.” I hang up the call and put my cell away.

What does she think I will do about it?
Maisie’s not my problem anymore. She’s probably hiding for attention. Well, it won’t work on me. I’ve got bigger problems to deal with.

I need to get drunk.
Now.

Maisie

The door opens. I keep my head facing the wall. I don’t want to look at him.
He’s keeping me here, locked up like a caged animal. He’s disgusting.

“You’re beloved boyfriend will be here soon,”
he sneers.

That gets my attention. My head snaps in his direction, my eyes wide. “What are you going to do to him?” I croak.

It’s all I can manage. I’ve not had a real drink in hours; only when he feeds me water through a straw, which isn’t very often.

“Nothing for you to worry about.
I’ll be back soon.” He closes the door before I can ask more questions.

I have a bad feeling about this. He’s going to hurt Jesse
. I just know he is.

He hasn’t hit me since we arrived, but I know it’s not over. It’s far from over.

Chapter 25

Jesse

“Another, please,” I ask the pretty bar tender.

She flutters her lashes
and gets me my beer, just like she’s been doing for the last two hours. She wants me. I can see it in her eyes. I might just take her up on her silent offer. She can help me forget about
her
for a little while. I’ll take whatever I can get.

Leaning over the bar, purposely showing me her cleavage, she passes me my beer.

“I didn’t get your name, darling,” I drawl, putting on the charm I’m so famous for.

“It’s Daisy,” she coos.

“Well, Daisy, what do you say to leaving here with me when your shift is finished?”

Her eyes light up, a greedy look taking hold. Oh yeah, she fucking wants me.

“I finish in an hour. I’ll come get you when I’m done, sexy.” She winks, leaving to serve another customer.

“Tut, tut.
You’ve only been single for what, two days? And you’re already getting someone else into bed,” Tiffany says quietly into my ear.

Great
. Just what I fucking need is whiny Tiffany keeping me company.

“I’m not in the mood for your games
, Tiff,” I tell her bluntly.

“Oh, I’m not playing games, Jesse. I’ve never been playing games. I’ve always made it clear what I wanted. You just weren’t ready for me. But I’ll wait. Just don’t sleep with her. You know I can show you a better time.” Her hands slide down the front of my shirt, riding lower.

I have to agree with her there. She did always know what I liked. Looking over my shoulder at her for the first time since she arrived, I remove her hands from me.

“Okay. But you play by my rules. No touching unless I tell you to. You let me do whatever I want,” I tell her seriously. She needs to understand my rules if she wants me. Otherwise
, I’ll go elsewhere.

“Understood.”

I slap a bill down on the counter and grab her hand, stumbling out the door with Tiffany behind me.

“We’ll take my car. You’ve had
waaaay to much to drink, by the looks of things.”

She’s right. I can’t drive in this state.
I follow her to her car, get in the passenger side, and then we’re off.

I rest my head against the window, closing my eyes.
I guess I drank more than I thought I had. Everything is spinning. I better get used to it if this is how I’m going to spend the rest of my life. I just need a nap, is all.

****

“
He fell asleep on the way over here. How are you going to get him inside?
”
a voice says, sounding far away.

“
I’m going to have to knock him out. Do you think this will work?
” another voice says.

“
Yes, just be careful, please.
”

“
This was your idea, remember? Don’t change your mind now.
”

Opening my eyes, I come face to face with Tiffany and Matt
, Maisie’s ex. What the fuck? Where am I? Tiffany stares at me wide eyed. Matt just smirks at me before swinging something at my head.

Then everything goes black.

****

Ow
, my fucking head. It hurts like a motherfucker. This is definitely not just a hangover. What happened? And why won’t my eyes open?

“
Jesse!
” Someone is shouting my name. It sounds so far away. What’s going on?

Then it all comes flooding back.

The bar. Tiffany. Getting in her car. Falling asleep. Matt. Something hitting my head. Now I’m here. Where is here, though?

I p
ry my eyes open, and the light stings for a few seconds.

“JESSE!”
that voice shouts again, louder this time.

“Shut your mouth, Maisie. I’m not going to warn you again.”

Maisie? She’s here.

My eyes snap open, searching the room. My eyes fall on Matt and Tiffany
, both standing in the corner near a door. Where’s Maisie?

That’s when I see her
, handcuffed to a bed with her clothes ripped open. One of her eyes is black and swollen.

What the fuck have they done to her? I’m going to kill them.

I try to get up, but I can’t. I notice now that I’m strapped to a chair.
Fuckers!
When I get out, I’m going to rip both of their heads off for this.

I can feel my face heating up, the anger about to boil
, but there’s not a damn thing I can do about it when I’m strapped to a chair.

“Let me out of this,” I warn, my tone biting. I’m in no mood to mess around.

“Nice to see you awake, Jesse, but I wouldn’t get too demanding. I don’t take well to being told what to do, and it’s not like you can defend yourself now, is it?” Matt laughs in my face. He fucking laughs in my face. Is he trying to piss me off?

“When I get out, you’re dead.” I stare him straight in the eyes, letting him know that I’m serious. I’ve never been more serious in my life.

I watch his face contort with anger as he marches straight for me, his fist flying straight into my face. I hear Maisie scream, and it kills me. God only knows what they’ve done to her. I should have listened to Chloe.

Jesus Christ, that hurt. I can taste blood.

Matt roughly grabs my face, making me look at him. “You’re as bad as she is,” he says, pointing to Maisie. “Never listening. She seems to be starting to learn, though, and in time, you will too. You’re going to be here a long time, so you better start.”

“Not fucking likely
.” I don’t listen to anyone. I’m certainly not going to listen to a pussy like him.

My head snaps back as his fist collides with my face again.
In. Exactly. The. Same. Spot. I act like it doesn’t affect me, when really, it fucking hurts.

“Matt
, leave him alone. I don’t want you ruining his lips. I need those,” Tiffany whines, giving me a wink.

Eurgh
, I think I just threw up in my mouth. She better not come anywhere near me.

I look at her with disgust. “Oh
, honey, don’t look at me like that. Do you still want me to carry on with what we had planned not even an hour ago?”

Maisie’s
been quiet since I opened my eyes. When I look at her, I see tears streaming down her face. She’s staring straight at me.
Fuck!
Now she knows that I was going to sleep with Tiffany.

That’s not what’s bothering me right now
, though. We can deal with that later. What’s bothering me is what they’ve done to her and the fact that she’s tied to a bed, battered and bruised. It’s breaking my heart, especially when I can’t do anything about it. I just want to go over to her, apologize, and hope and pray we can work things out. Seeing her like this has made me realize how much I love her. I should never have kicked her out of my house. She wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for me.

“I’m sorry,” I tell her quietly. It’s all I can say.

“Not as sorry as me,” she whispers.

Those five words cut through me like a knife. I’ve royally screwed up, and this time
, I have no one to blame but myself.

Matt walks over to Maisie, wraps her hair around his fingers
, and says, “It doesn’t matter. You have me now, baby, and I’ll look after you. I’ve always loved you.”

Oh
, please! I watch Maisie shrink away from him, her face full of disgust.

“Get away from me
,” she croaks at him. That’s my girl.

Next thing I know,
Maisie’s head is ripped back, causing her to scream out in pain. I try to jump up, but when I go nowhere, I remember I’m stuck.
Fuck!

“Matt, please
, I’m sorry,” she begs, her dried tears no longer dry.

“You will be sorry. I’m promising to give you everything you could ever need, and you’re throwing it back in my face. What makes him so special?” Matt
asks, pointing at me, his eyes still on Maisie.

Because I didn’t cheat on her
, asshole? Or maybe because I didn’t kidnap her? Yeah, that might be why.

Maisie looks at me, swallowing before turning back to Matt.

“Well?” he demands, his grip on her hair getting tighter, causing her head to go back further.

“N-n-nothing
,” she cries.

“You’re damn right
, it’s nothing. He’s made for Tiffany, just like you’re made for me.”

So this is what this is about? Tiffany’s pissed that I blew her off
, and Matt’s pissed because Maisie started dating me.

I give Tiffany the coldest look I can muster up. The smile falls from her face, making her actually look scared for a second
, before she covers it up. The smile returns to her face, only bigger.

She turns around facing Maisie. That’s when I spot her cell phone hanging out her back pocket. I somehow need to reach it so I can ring for help. It’s our only way out.

“What makes
her
so special?” Tiffany screeches, copying Matt and pointing at Maisie.

Maisie’s
head swivels around, as does Matt’s. Anger flashes in his eyes.

A plan to get us out of here forms in my head. I’m sorry for what I’m about to do Maisie
. I mentally tell myself that maybe, just maybe, she will be able to hear my thoughts. Or maybe she will hate me for a little while until she realizes why I’m doing what I’m about to do.

“Nothing at all
. I’ve always wanted you, Tiff. I just didn’t know how to tell you. You were never good enough for me.” I put on the charm, giving her my famous panty-melting smile, as women like to call it.

She spins around, her hair nearly hitting me in the face,
with a huge smile plastered on her face. I think she’s happy with that answer. It physically pains me to say those words to her, though.

“Oh
, baby, you have always been good enough for me. Do you know how long I’ve wanted to hear you say that to me? I’ve been waiting years.”

“Well, I’ve said it now. Come here.”

She slinks toward me provocatively, swinging her hips. I sneak a quick look at Maisie, and find her silently sobbing, but her body gives her away. It’s shaking. Matt doesn’t seem the least bit bothered. He must be happy to hear what I’m telling Tiffany. He probably thinks he can have Maisie for himself now. Stupid fucker.

Tiffany bends down. I pucker my lips, letting her know that I want a kiss. As soon as I get out of here, I’m washing my lips with bleach. Her lips touch mine
, and all I can think about is how they aren’t as soft or as plump as Maisie’s.

I trail my lips
toward her ear and whisper, “Untie me so I can touch you, baby.”

She shudders, letting me know that I’m affecting her. Let’s hope it’s enough for her to let me go. She nods her head, not actually saying anything
, and then moves to untie me.

Matt is oblivious to what’s going on. Good. He might try and stop her. That guy never did like me.  I never liked him either.

I feel the strings loosen, allowing some feeling to come back into my hands. Thank God. It feels wonderful. I can only imagine how Maisie is feeling with how long she’s been here.

Finally free, I stand up and stretch. My t-shirt rides up, exposing my V muscles. I hear Tiffany sigh and
, looking at Maisie, I see that her head is turned the other way. I’ve really hurt her. I just wish I could tell her that I don’t mean anything I’m saying. I’m doing this so that we can escape.

I turn back to Tiffany, my smile back in place. I open my arms, which she willingly enters
, and wrap them around her like I usually would Maisie. I’m trying to picture that it’s Maisie I’m hugging, but the shape is all wrong. Tiffany doesn’t fit in my arms like Maisie does. I just need to keep reminding myself that I’m doing this for her. It’s my fault she’s in this mess, and I need to fix it.

I run my hands down her back,
settling them on her bottom. I give it a squeeze, letting her know that I’m interested. Then, I gently move my hand toward her pocket and try to gently pull her cell out. I give her other cheek a squeeze too try and disguise what I’m actually doing.

“That’s it
, baby. You squeeze my bottom. I know how much you like it,” she purrs in my ear, getting the totally wrong idea.

I feel Tiffany run her hands down my back,
moving them lower and lower. I need to do this quick, and then I can get her hands off of me.

Got it!

I step back, staring into her confused eyes. “Come on. Let’s go find a quiet room.” I wink, causing her to cackle. Yeah, she thinks she’s going to get lucky. She’s going to get a shock when she finds out what I plan on doing.