Missing Link (The Finders Book 1) (2 page)

"And your acting skills could do with a little work." I laughed and turned back to him, walking backward to the large black SUV that I knew was waiting. "And would you watch where you are going please? If I give you back to Charlie with a grazed ass, I'm gona be up shit creek."

I shuffled my feet and skipped backwards, putting a quick worried look on my face, making like I was going to fall. Teddy flinched, a hand reaching out towards me slightly and I stopped and laughed.

"And you said my acting skills needed work, pfft!"

He pointed a finger sharply at me but I saw the glint of humour in his eyes.

"Samantha Ashley, you are going to be the death of me," we both climbed into the back of the truck and Teddy tapped the driver’s seat, letting him know to drive. "As of yet, I'm unsure whether it will be because Charlie shoots me for letting you do something stupid, or because I have a heart attack whilst you do said stupid shit."

I giggled, "You worry too much."

He grumbled under his breath.

The driver leaned out the window and security opened the large steel gates that boarded our property. We wound up the long smooth drive way, and I stared out the window watching the different coloured flowers zip by. I loved watching them as they moved by swiftly because when I relaxed my eyes they just looked like an amazing rainbow.

When the house came into view, I took a deep breath, as I did every time we returned from being out. Whilst my life wasn't horrible, I had got to a point where Charlie trusted me enough with some freedoms, but essentially this was still my jail cell. The 10 bedroom, 8 bathroom, 3 living room house stood beautifully on top of a hill overlooking the city. It was a bright white old home, with large pillars that held up a large balcony above the front doors. We pulled up in front and I climbed out. I stood there still, looking at the gorgeous varnished wood double doors that lead to my prison. I felt a strong hand on my shoulder as it gave a small squeeze. I reached up and touched Teddy’s hand lightly and smiled.

"Charlie will be waiting for you." I sighed and he squeezed again as I plastered on my fake smile and strong confidence and strutted towards the front door. Charlie had very rarely broken my strong facade of confidence and charm. I needed him to believe I was a strong woman who appreciated everything he had given me and how he looked after me. Because if I didn't, he has made it quite clear on the odd occasion how easily he could sell me on the black market. He'd gone into details about how because of my very long very red wavy hair, I was seen as very exotic. Some nonEnglish speaking man from a faraway country would love to abuse me and rape me every day. I knew it was there, but I didn't often see his dark side. That day I had... I shuddered at the thought and squeezed my hands into tight fists as I climbed the large concrete stairs and pushed open the doors into a large tiled room with an idealic staircase climbing its way around the circular space to the landing on the second floor.

I sucked in a deep breath and forced a smile, "Charlie! I'm back!"

"Through here, baby." My sneakers squeaked on the light coloured tiles as I crossed the floor to Charlie's office. He was seated behind his large cedar desk, glasses on, frowning at a bunch of papers in his hand. I walked towards his desk, shoulders back, and chin up, smiling sweetly. I lifted myself onto his desk and crossed my left leg over my right and started throwing them back and forth, like I was at the playground sitting on a swing. He placed the papers down and scribbled something quickly in the margin before removing his glasses and smiling up at me.

He placed his hand on my bare leg. Luckily I had perfected my sweet smile for when he touched me, because it covered my natural reaction to flinch away from him. He was none the wiser.

"How was your day?" He asked, smiling at me kindly. Charlie had always looked after me, I could never fault him for that. He treated me like a princess, even though deep down I think he knew I didn't want to be there. I think he believed that I would get so used to the life style that one day I'd just forget about life outside him. That, because I rely on him so much, I would be too scared to try and leave. How well he treated me didn't matter, I was still there against my free will. I still dreamed of going home, I still dreamed of marrying a man who I loved, not just being the trophy wife Charlie wanted. I dreamed of working and making my own life, away from the dark, illegal crap he was involved with.

"It was lovely, thank you." I smiled kindly at him. He squeezed my leg lightly.

"Great, I won't be home for dinner and I'm not sure what time I will be in. So don't wait up." He stood from his desk and kissed me gently on the cheek.

"I'm sure I need an early night anyway." I slipped off the desk and headed for the door.

"Oh, Samantha." I stopped in the doorway, but didn't turn around. "You'll be in my bed tonight."

Luckily he couldn't see my face because it sunk with disappointment. Charlie allowed me to have my own room a majority of the time, but occasionally he asked me to spend the night with him. I wasn't allowed to oppose or my privileges would be taken and I would be confined to my bedroom. It had happened before and I had almost gone insane, stuck in my room for almost a week before I begged for forgiveness.

"Of course." I managed to squeeze out, less than confidently before I found myself taking two steps at a time up the stairway and quickly into my room. I slammed the door shut and leaned back against it.

I eyed the bed and as usual there was some new skimpy night gown lying across it with a simple red rose. My stomach tightened. I had let Charlie have my body over the past 3 years but after I had I always felt cheap, filthy. It's not that he wasn't gentle and tried to help me enjoy it, part of me thinks he actually feels as though I do, but in reality the feeling of his hands all over me made my skin crawl. I wanted to feel the touch of someone who I loved, someone whose heart belonged to me, someone who I wanted to give myself to with passion and excitement. Maybe it will never happen.

But a girl can dream.

Chapter two

I woke the next morning to find Charlie's side of the bed empty. I sighed in relief and curled back into the blankets, hoping he had an early work meeting or something and I wouldn't see him for the rest of the day. Whilst Charlie kept his business very quiet from me, I wasn't under the false impression that it was all above board. Charlie had a dark side that over the years I had become very familiar with, sometimes it scared me, the aggression, the threats but I knew when to pull my head in and not provoke the devil. The other side of him was surprisingly sweet and very charming. I could understand why women were attracted to him, he was handsome with a strong square jawline. His dark hair was cut reasonably short, but still allowed for him to style it and his eyes when he showed compassion and care were a beautiful rich dark blue. His body was also very attractive, while he was much older than me, having just broken 40, he ate well and worked out often. There were no glistening abs or well sculptured pecks but he was still very solid.

Charlie liked to kindly remind me on a regular basis how lucky I was to be in his home, and in his bed and how many women would jump at the chance to please him. I often had to hide my snide remarks about how he should just take them and let me go, wondering why he kept me imprisoned here if he could have his pick. But deep down I knew why, Charlie didn't want a woman who had a life, or friends to support her. He wanted a beautiful young girl who he could manipulate, control and force into submission with an iron fist.

I was the prize, the trophy on his arm, the broken girl with nowhere to run. He was always telling me how exotic and beautiful my long red hair was how I had a body that could tempt a saint. I didn't want a saint, I wanted a man who could show me what it meant to be loved, and needed, and cherished. And while he tried to show me these things, to him I would always be a possession, never an equal.

I gripped the sheet tighter around my body as I heard the door quietly click open. My moment of peace and contemplation drifting away. The opposite side of the bed dipped and a gentle hand brushed the hair from my shoulder, running the length of my back over top the sheet that I had pulled to my chin.

"Come, Samantha. I've brought you breakfast. I thought we could eat together." His voice was soft, kind, and proper. I rolled onto my back, still hugging the loose sheet to my body. He reached over me, bracing his hand on the other side of my body and leaned down to leave a light kiss on my forehead. It's moments like these, when I felt how much he cared about me, that I wondered whether it was really so bad here. But the kind gestures would never replace the isolation and pain I had endured by his hand. I gathered my thoughts and tucked them neatly away in the back of my mind before transforming myself into the woman Charlie wanted, submissive, gracious and worthy. It was an art form, one that I had perfected.

"Thank you." I replied, meeting his eyes and smiling kindly. "May I freshen up first?" He returned my smile, his perfect white teeth shining.

"Of course." He gestured toward the ensuite before moving to pick up the tray of food off the nightstand and carrying it to the small two seater table that was in the corner of the large room. With his back to me I scurried to find my night gown on the floor next to the bed, and hurried to the bathroom. Even after these years, I still hated the way Charlie eyed my body like a predator waiting to pounce. I didn't want to give him any temptation and decide that breakfast could wait while he mauled my body. I found the spare clothes that I had in the bathroom closet for these occasions and pulled on a pair of black dress pants and a fitted blue and black knit top with long sleeves. The weather was still cold, even as winter was starting to make its departure and I was thankful for being able to wear pants and sweatshirts as opposed to the short summer dresses Charlie insisted I wear around the house during the much hotter months. Once again, preferring to hide my body from him in hopes he wouldn't be enticed.

After quickly running a brush trough my tangled hair, I tied it up in a simple ponytail and took a deep breath before plastering on my smile and returning to the bedroom. Charlie was already sitting at the table, reading through the newspaper and sipping at his coffee, which he liked to drink black. I took a seat opposite him and crossed my legs. He had already poured me a cup of coffee and had placed a bowl of fresh fruit on my setting.

"This looks lovely. Thank you." I picked up my fork, delicately prodding a piece of the amazing array of fruit, most of which was out of season and had probably been specially imported. Charlie folded his newspaper, precisely along the creases and set it neatly beside him.

"What kind of man would I be if I didn't treat the woman by my side like a queen?" I nodded, opting to not answer by placing another piece of fruit in my mouth. "And one day my daughter will be treated like a princess."

I coughed, almost choking on the strawberry I had been chewing. As I attempted to regain my composure Charlie chuckled quietly.

"I'm 40, Samantha. I do want children soon." I reached across the table for the jug of water and slowly poured myself a glass, my hand shaking slightly. "You don't seem very pleased with this idea." He noted as I sipped at the water, trying to clear my throat.

"Um... We've never discussed children before." I said, concentrating on my bowl of fruit.

"Look at me while you are talking, you know I hate it when you don't meet my eyes." I force myself to look up, his features tell me he is not angry at my reaction, but rather amused.

"Sorry." I whisper quietly.

"I would like to be married before we have children." My eyes widen dramatically, but he holds up his hand. "But, I can also tell this is something that you are not entirely prepared for. We still have a lot to learn about each other, so for now we will just leave any talk about marriage or kids until later. Okay?"

I breathe in a shaky breath, thankful this discussion has been put on the back burner.

"Yes, that is fine with me." He nods sharply and reaches for the paper once again.

"I just want to remind you, the only way you are leaving here is if I pass you on to someone else. I have worked very hard to keep it so that you may stay with me." He raised his paper in front of his face, and I stared it at, confused by what he was saying. He worked hard to keep me here? What did that even mean? He continued, his voice hardening slightly but I couldn't see his face, “you would do well to remember that it is a privilege to be here and be treated so kindly."

I shuddered, his words sent chills up my spine even though I was still unaware of where he was going with this. I decided to simply play the gratitude card, hoping to pacify him some.

"I appreciate every day what you do for me, Charlie. I apologise if that doesn't come across in my actions or words." I hang my head slightly as he drops the paper into his lap.

"Yes, well maybe that is something you can work on." I nod and force a small smile, looking up and meeting his eyes which have now darkened slightly from his previous playful mood.

"I will try my best.” My stomach was turning. Charlie's words had me curious. Why did he need to fight to keep me here? Who was he fighting with? I had imagined Charlie would not let anyone tell him what he could and couldn't do, but maybe there was someone higher. Someone more powerful than him calling the shots. My stomach turned at the thought of someone more devious, with more evil in their veins than him. The idea was simply scary.

Chapter Three

I was having a restless sleep, tossing, turning when I heard voices coming from downstairs. I looked over at the clock and it read 2am. I groaned and climbed out of bed. My nightwear left little to the imagination as Charlie destroyed anything that he didn't like, so I threw on a satin cover up and wandered out of my room, looking over the top of the bannister into the foyer below. Charlie stood arms folded in front of a young man, his bodyguards had guns levelled at him but he had his shoulders back and a glare of defiance in his eyes. I admired that in him instantly. Not many men word dare look Charlie in the eye and challenge him so. I was intrigued.