The Unseen

by Ali Roberts

For a moment, I’m worried she’s going to drop her arm and drive away, and our interaction will be over. I make a mental note to bring this up with Dr. Alfie because even I can recognize that wanting to chloroform yourself at the back of a juice bar isn’t normal.

“She kidnapped me. Me! Can you believe it?” “Austin . . . are you alright? You seem happy about this, and this doesn’t sound like a good thing,”

“Well, like you said, she’s finally paying an interest after two years. Of course it’s a good thing. Besides I’m fine, and this way, I can get to know her more. Once she comes back into the basement.” “Okay. So you don’t want me to alert the authorities that you’ve been kidnapped?” “Absolutely not. This is a perfect opportunity to lay some groundwork,” I say quickly.

If your therapist can’t make you better, you can one hundred percent make them worse.

And yes, I write “bed” on my to-do list. Those who don’t understand the utterly gratifying feeling of ticking something off their list wouldn’t get it.

There’s no way she’s taking me down. Unless, of course, she asks me nicely, like with the chloroform, and then apparently, I’ll just fucking happily do it for her.

Now, I’m having threats to my business, and my favorite juice bar employee is trying to set me up with the guy I have chained in my basement.

“I tucked her in. What’s wrong with that?” I mean, yes, okay. I know what’s wrong with it.

“You know damn well what’s wrong with it. Austin, you’ve worked really hard to get where you’re at. Now, you’re using your previous skill set to invade someone’s privacy. Someone you have been arguably stalking for two years.” “Arguably, yes, but it wouldn’t be prosecutable. I looked it up.” “Austin . . .”

“I will restrain you, Olivia. But I know you like to be the one tying someone up, so you’ll get that one for free. But I will gag you if you don’t behave, understand?”

“I’m not perfect. I have flaws.” “Olivia.” He laughs. “I know you have flaws. You just fucking tasered me after chaining me up in your basement.”

That went better than expected. A light tasering, a cuddle starting with some light wrestling, and a heart-to-heart. Who knew getting a girlfriend could be so fucking easy? You just have to wait for someone to chloroform you.

“You don’t like men or women, Olivia. You like me,” he says casually, like it isn’t an acknowledgment of everything unspoken between us.

This isn't the life for Olivia. But I knew long before I met her that it wasn’t the life for me either. I have to prove that I'm out of it. I have to prove that I'm worthy of her. Because she’s it for me. And as much as I’m trying to be a good person, that doesn’t extend to letting her go.

“Wait . . . I don’t need space. I’m sorry.” “You do, Olivia. But I’ll be watching. And when you’re ready, I’ll be back.” “Please stay.” “Why would you want that if you think I’m a monster?” I feel alive with you. I feel safer with you. I feel happier when you’re here. My mouth parts, but I’m not ready to tell him yet. To accept how quickly these feelings have developed. “I’ll be back when you have an answer for me.”

Travis has almost turned purple, the poor sausage.

“You’re telling me you actually chloroformed yourself willingly? I thought you were joking when you told me that last week.” She arches an eyebrow. “You were doing so well. And you looked so serious; I didn’t want to ruin your flow.”

She says it’s a real Legally Blonde moment, which I pretend not to understand, but bend and fucking snap all you like, my love.

“Food?” “God, yes. I’m starving.” “Such a drama queen.” I roll my eyes, but I love seeing her like this. So carefree. She seems so much younger like this; she’s acting like a twenty-four-year-old, not burdened with the responsibilities of caring for her young brother. “Says the guy who literally pretended to get kidnapped so he could spend time with me.”

If I push her, she'll freak out and reactivate the taser. My balls shrivel at the thought.

“Goodnight, Killer,” he says in the doorway. “Wait.” I frown. “Where are you sleeping?” He points down to a closed door. “On the same floor this time, at least,” I mutter, unable to quell the disappointment in my tone.

“No, Olivia. I’ve fantasized over this. I’ve obsessed over this. I’ve had this exact moment running through my head for so long, my dick is practically weeping with joy that it’s finally going to feel that tight pussy and not just my fist.”

The man I kidnapped and chained to my basement is in between my legs.

“You took me.” Thrust. “You wanted me.” Thrust. “You wanted this.” Thrust. “Begging me for it.” Thrust.

“You’re mine, Olivia. Fucking mine. You took me, and now I belong to you. You have me whenever you want me.”

“If I were a betting man, I’d say your panties are getting damp, Killer.” I lift her chin with my finger as she swallows hard before parting her lips. “No time for that, baby. We’ve got plans.” “You would be wrong,” she replies breathily. “Really?” I arch an eyebrow. Surely she feels this, too? “Yeah, but that’s only because I’m not wearing any panties.” Fuck. She’s living up to her nickname a little too well. My dick is gonna fucking burst. She’s right about control; I’ve got zero of it. She’s got me by the balls.

“You’re not gonna go all alpha on me like Josh did with Nicole?” I tease. He pauses for a moment, as if to carefully practice the words he wants to say. “That’s not the dynamic I want our relationship to have. It might work for them, but it doesn’t work for me. I’ve lived a lifetime’s worth of violence, and in the last few years, I’ve worked very hard to build something different. Something away from my father and his organization.”

“Took you long enough, Killer. I’ve been telling everyone you’re my girlfriend for weeks.” “Who’s everyone?” “You know, Luca, my therapist, Jenny at Squeeze the Day. She asked for an invitation to the wedding, by the way.” “The wedding?” “Oh yes, did I say I was calling you my girlfriend? I meant fiancée.” “Austin!” I push away teasingly, but my heart is beating against my chest, screaming, “YES! YES! YES!” Calm down he hasn’t actually asked you.

I recoil. Bile stings up my throat, threatening to spill into my mouth. All this time. All this time I’ve spent with Alfie. Making better choices, building, rebuilding, rebuilding again. Over and over. The time, the effort, the energy. It’s been for nothing. She’s gone. Her eyes are dead when they look at me. And I can’t even be mad about it. She’s right. I’m disgusting. I don’t deserve to be anywhere near her, let alone begging for her forgiveness.

“There’s no redemption for me, Olivia. I know what I am. I’m the villain. I’ll always be the villain.” I step back. “Austin, no. Wait . . .” I turn and walk out of the waiting room. I have to accept who I am.