Tyrant King

Chapter Six

I woke up the next morning ready to conquer the day. I was going to get my old phone working again, grab some groceries, and start cleaning my house. I had a decision to make, and cleaning helped me think.

By the time I finished everything I needed to do, it was time to go back to Gabriel’s bar with an answer for him. I still had no idea what I was going to say. I planned to get drunk before trying to seduce his help. I pulled up in front of his place, but there were no cars anywhere. I got out and walked inside. The place was deserted. “Hello?” I called out.

There was no answer. I walked over to the bar and sat on one of the high chairs. It was 9:30 at night and not one sole was in the building… that didn’t sound good for me. I reached over the top and grabbed the bottle of tequila. Since no one was here, I was going to drink right out of the bottle. I pulled the cork out and helped myself.

I didn’t know how long had passed when I heard the doors open behind me. I tried to turn in my seat, but I must’ve had a little more to drink than I thought. I stumbled slightly before catching myself on the side of the bar, letting out a small giggle. “Are you drunk?” His voice was like velvet to my ears, even when he sounded pissed.

“There’s nobody here to drink with me, Mr. Silver. Won’t you care to join me then?” I giggled some more. I felt the bottle leave my hands and heard it slam on the bar beside me. The next thing I knew he scooped me up in his arms, bridal style. “Where are you taking me?” I slurred, but he didn’t answer.

I thought maybe he’d put me down once we got outside, but my drunk brain was hopeful for something my sober brain knew wouldn’t happen.

“Mark, get the door.”

My head perked up, “Mark? My boyfriend is here?”

Uh oh. He stopped dead in his tracks, looking down at me like he wanted to kill something. Or someone. He stayed like that for several seconds, his jaw twitching like he was going to say something. And then he threw me in the back seat, slamming the door closed. I smiled to myself, he was jealous.

Gabriel didn’t get in the back seat with me, but the car pulled away and started driving. I had no idea where he was sending me, but at this moment I didn’t really care. I sat up against the door, looking at the stars through the window.

I heard a few tings against the outside of the car before I heard the driver swear. I wasn’t wearing my seatbelt, too intoxicated to put it on. The car was hit from behind, sending my flying onto the floor. I started screaming as I felt another hit, and then the car started to roll.

It kept flipping, me flinging around inside of it like some rag doll, before it finally came to a stop. I groaned, every part of my body hurt. I think I kept slipping in and out of consciousness. I don’t know how long I lay there before I heard footsteps running towards me.

“Nora! Nora! Can you hear me?” the voice said. It was muffled so I couldn’t tell who it was. “Damn it! Mark hold my jacket and call 911!”

“But boss… the cars on fire… you can’t go in there!”

“The hell I can’t! Nora is in there!” I heard glass crunching, slowly turning my head in the direction I heard it from. I saw Gabriel. He looked like a panicked angel, coming to rescue me.

“Boss, get out!” I heard behind him.

“Nora, can you hear me?” I smiled at him. “Oh, good. Thank god. Nora can you move? I need you to come closer to me so I can get you out.” I tried to lift my hand towards him, but my arm barely moved. “s**t… okay. Don’t move, I’m coming in.”

He turned to Mark and told him he needed his jacket. Reluctantly, Mark did as he was ordered. Gabriel wrapped his suit jacket around his fist. “Turn away, Nora. I don’t want to hurt you any more than you already are.”

I tried to move my face away while he shattered the glass, scraping it away to clear a path. He shimmied inside, grabbing under my shoulders. I closed my eyes, there was so much pain.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry, baby. Just hold on.” I could feel myself slipping under, darkness was consuming me. I closed my eyes. “Nora, open your eyes, baby. Look at me. We’re almost there.”

“Gabe…” I whispered, before darkness won.

I woke up in a dark room. I tried to take inventory of my body before I opened my eyes, but everything hurt. Slowly I tried to lift my arm. I inhaled a sharp breath of air feeling the muscles in my arm protesting.

“Shh, don’t move.” Said a soft voice. “Here, let me help you.” An elder lady gently helped me shift up in the bed until I was sitting. She put extra pillows under each of my arms and pulled the blanket back up to my hips.

“I…” My throat was so dry. “I…”

“Don’t speak, let me get you some water.” She turned to the side where I noticed a glass full of liquid. She picked it up, gently placing the straw on my lips. I took a little sip, testing out how sore my throat was. The water felt so nice, I closed my eyes and started gulping it down.

The lady chuckled. “Not too fast, Miss. I know you must be thirsty, but little sips would be best. You inhaled quite a bit of smoke.”

I nodded. “Where am I?”

“You’re at Gabriel Silvers. He brought you here right after the car exploded. You might be sore for a few days with some bruising, but I assure you there were no serious injuries.”

“Can I see him? I need to see Gabriel.”

“Sorry, Miss…” Indecision crossed her face. “Mr. Silver isn’t home. He left shortly after bringing you home last night, and he has yet to return.”

“What time is it?”

“It’s almost 11 at night. You’ve been unconscious for a little over a day.” She turned her back, walking away from me. I sat there with my mouth hanging open. I’ve been here for an entire day…

I started to panic, throwing the blankets off of me and preparing myself to stand. I needed to leave, I couldn’t be here. When I got out of bed, I realized I was only wearing a big t-shirt. It fell just above my knees causing me to shriek. Who had changed me? Did Gabriel see me naked?

“Please, lay back in bed. I will be back in a minute with some food, I bet you’re hungry.” She left the room and I ran over to the door hearing it click. I tried the handle but it was locked. I started banging, tears filling my eyes but not leaking over. I was afraid of tight spaces and no one was going to come.

I shrunk to the ground, leaning my head against the door. How did I get myself into this mess? I should have stayed where I was and never came to ask him for help. I should have gone to the meeting place that man set up and begged him to let my father go. Anything would have been better than being stuck here.

I picked myself up off the ground, deciding to explore the room despite the pain I was in. Off to the side were two doors. The first had a massive bathroom through it. There was a gigantic two-person shower and a soaker tub in the middle of the wall sized window. It was done in my favorite style - shades of black and white.

I tore my gaze from the space and opened the other door. Inside was a huge walk in closet, full of t-shirts, sweat pants, ties, watches… everything a man needs to be comfortable. I walked inside, feeling my hand over the rows of clothes hanging there. I took a pair of sweat pants and a new t-shirt, deciding to change. I didn’t want to be caught again with no pants on.

After I switched my outfit, I crawled back in bed pulling the covers over my head. I don’t know how long I laid there before I heard the door unlock and open. I held my breath, hoping the lady would set the food down and leave.

Nothing has been working in my favor lately so I wasn’t surprised when I felt the bed dip beside me. After several seconds, I flipped the blankets off my head only to be met by the most mesmerizing shades of blue I’ve ever seen.

My face must have flushed because he smirked at me and licked his lips. “I’m glad you’re awake.” He whispered.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “What am I doing here, Gabriel? I didn’t agree to your terms. I definitely did not agree to marry you.”

“Is that right?” His smile widened. “Hmm… I think I have the signed papers around here somewhere. I could show you, if you want?”

My face straightened. He couldn’t be serious…