Chapter 72

“That’s the hundredth time you’ve checked your phone since you arrived here.” Brad patted his son on the shoulder as he handed him a beer. Harvey was bent down to the ground, changing the flat tire in his mother’s car. It was almost midday already and he hadn’t heard a word from Mia. He clasped his hands around the ice-cold beer and brought it up to his lips. He wasn’t in a drinking disposition today, so a gulp was enough and he placed the bottle down at his side.
It had taken every ouch of self-control he possessed not to call her last night, in fact he was up all night counting down the minutes until he would he expecting to hear from her. He’d been feeling this tightening knot in his stomach every time he performed a fundamental biological function; such as breathing.

“It’s Mia, she promised to call today when she and her daughter were out of Gabriel’s house.” He’d replied absent-mindedly.

“Does her case have a good probability of success?” Brad focused his gaze on his son. Harvey had been quick to tell them of the developments in his love life. Being his parents, Brad and Angela was willing to support his every decision. If Mia was what he wanted and she was ready to fight her way out of her abusive husband’s grasp, they would grow to love her too. If Brad was being honest with himself, Angela already had a soft spot for her.

“Yes, Gabriel has been using her daughter to threaten her to stay in the marriage and we have evidence to show that he even used external persons to reinforce his control over her.” Harvey responded, rising to his feet and dusting his hands by clapping them together.

“It doesn’t hurt to call her yourself, instead of waiting around sulking.” Brad gave his son the most obvious solution as that far away expression reappeared on his. Since when was it the trend to wait for a call instead of making it yourself? He couldn’t judge. He’d been pretty clueless in his youth when it came to love.

“I think I should.” Harvey replied, nodding his head in conjunction with his words. But the number had already been dialled and the cell phone was held up to his ears.

“Oh, what do we have here?” Gabriel’s pockets were vibrating. It wasn’t his cell phone; that he knew for sure. He’d switched it off after postponing his business flight to tomorrow evening. He had preparations to make.

Mia was dazed off, her knees to her chest and her eyes a dim red from all the crying last night. “I am pretty sure this is your lover boy calling.” Gabriel scoffed. Mia dragged her gaze to the man towering over her, the back of her eyes stinging. His presence was sickening to her so much that last night after Marina had abandoned her; Mia doubled over and thrown up on the floor beside herself. Her body was shaking violently, her stomach riding powerful, gut-wrenching contractions.
She’s fallen backwards hitting her head painfully against the wall, her face covered with beads of sweat as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. The throbbing in her head was efficient enough to distract from the soreness between her thighs, on her arms and legs and her core. It was as if a ton of cement had been poured on her. She was aching.

Gabriel had cursed at her, forcing her to clean it up. He’d formed fists in her hair afterwards, dragging her upstairs to the shower while Mia kicked and screamed with what little energy she could muster. He made her wash herself under his predatory gaze, Mia’s tears masked by the water rushing down her broken body. She felt hallow, tears running down her cheeks as her eyes caught sight of the bruises on her skin. She was scared to run again, terrified that any defiance on her part would give him license to degrade her again.

Mia hoped to God he wouldn’t do it again. Her knees buckled under her and she held onto the shower tap for balance.

“You think we could have another child?” He asked casually, sitting on the covered toilet seat and staring off in the distance. Mia feared that if she were to venture responding she’d vomit her entire insides out. “Pregnancies are a by-product of two people having unprotected sex.” He’d said to her, Mia clenching her jaw. That was not sex. She had never wanted him to touch her. She had to remind herself of that, she couldn’t become a lifeless zombie. She inhaled shakily.
Her mind had went off to the last few times she’d had sex with Harvey and her eyes widened slightly. They hadn’t used protection. It was always so fast, neither of them capable of waiting that they’d forgotten.
She had wondered where he was now. If he or anyone would realise that she was in peril. Would she be able to escape Gabriel’s claws in one piece? Once she was clean, he threw her some his mother’s clothes, yelling at her to put the sweat pants and over-sized T-shirt on quickly. Mia winced every time she raised her limbs, becoming easily out of breath due to the intense pain racking her body.

“We are leaving.” He’d said, grabbing her by her arm and dragging her barefoot down the stairs. Mia’s feet twisted up and she fell over a few times, unable to keep up with the pace he’d been walking with.

“Where are going?” She sniffled, her voice hoarse as was her throat from all the screaming.

“Somewhere where I can keep an eye on you.” He’d stopped in his tracks and yanked her towards him until his lips were brushing her ear. Mia’s shoulders came up to create a barrier; it was a futile attempt. “I’m not letting you out of my sight again, wife.” He’d snarled into her ear, his jaw locking tightly. The remembrance her affair with Harvey rekindling the embers of his rage.

“When am I seeing Amiyah?” Mia questioned, blinking unnaturally at the pain shooting through her arm as he pulled her out the house and shoved her into the back seat of his car.

“If you want to see her safe and sound, do as I say.” He hung himself over the ajar car door, his eyes a warning, a promise almost, “If you want me to keep her safe, you will behave, understand?” he bared his teeth at her and she cowered.
Mia nodded, her face contorting at the thought of her daughter having to face this man’s devilish nature. He slammed the door and got into the driver’s side. Mia hated herself for not being able to do more. She had no one on her side. Her daughter was in the clutches of his people and she had no say in the matter.
He drove them towards a direction she hadn’t been before. He wasn’t taking her home, but her heart was unreasonably steady. Mia hadn’t known what to expect when he drove up to a tiny cabin, in a rural area. The houses around were spread out, giving adequate intimacy for persons who preferred not to mingle; a misanthropist’s fantasy.
Gabriel pulled her out of the car and dragged her inside, her barefoot tracking dirt and mud inside. He shoved her into the bedroom area. Mia wasn’t certain if there were more bedrooms, it was dark as he led her through. Once there he’d shoved her down into a corner of the room and bound her hands and feet together, strapping her hands onto the bed frame. The course rope dug into her wrists and ankles.

“Is this really necessary?” Mia spoke past the lump in her throat. He hadn’t answered. “Gabriel,” she modulated her tone to mask the disgust she felt uttering his name.

“Let me go. You don’t have to do this.” He’d knelt off the floor and was walking away, “No.” Mia breathed, shifting anxiously. “Gabriel, think of Amiyah.” She said to his back as he held the door open.

“Think of our daughter.” Mia projected with more intensity, her voice echoing in the space. He’d turned around then, shuffled around in a nearby draw and then closing the space between them. He grabbed her jaw with one hand, squeezing the sides until her mouth dropped open from the pressure, gagging her mouth with a handkerchief and sticking duct tape over her mouth.

“I’ll be back tomorrow.” From the time he said the words, Mia began to struggle, yanking and pulling against her knotted limbs, her muffled screams clouding her hearing. But he was gone. The ropes digging into her flesh, her throat numb. She’d sobbed herself to sleep that night, wondering where it had all gone wrong.
Sure enough Gabriel did return. He removed the tape from around her mouth and attempted to feed her water. But Mia would rather die. She closed her mouth, twisting and turning her head defiantly. He’d thrown the cup across the room in frustration and now he was dangling a phone call from Harvey in front of her. How desperately she wanted someone to know she was gone. Would they know?
She wondered if Amiyah was alright. She wondered if she was making it out of here alive or with her sanity intact.

“Should I answer it?” Gabriel asked again and Mia turned her gaze away. “You’re right, I should let it go to voicemail.” He stared down at the phone, sinking down onto the bed. Mia hadn’t known this place, she thought she knew every one of Gabriel’s property but she was wrong. Her lack of knowledge was enough to make her assumptions right. She was almost certain he’d used this place for his affairs.

“Oh look, he left a voicemail.” Gabriel said in a forced sing-song voice, his eyes dead, devoid of any emotion. “Let’s take a listen.” He played the voicemail for only himself to hear. Mia was longing to hear Harvey’s voice, she was longing for him to know she was not okay.
“Well, would you look at that?” Gabriel laughed humourlessly, his eyes taking on a similar glint as last night. Mia shuffled backwards, closer to the wall. “He wants to know if you are settled in well with your sister yet.” His suspicions were being proven before his eyes. He’d went back to move Mia’s car to abandon it elsewhere, but he’d found something interesting. There had been clothes packed for both her and Amiyah. She was planning to leave him.
And for his arch nemesis too. The irony was not lost on him and he let out a booming laugh.

“Let’s avail him of his worry, shall we?” Gabriel spoke despite Mia’s continued silence. He typed out a text message as Mia, feigning that she was busy and would get back to him when she had the chance.
Fresh tears rolled down Mia’s eyes, she pressed them shut and hung her head low. She had no more hope.
Harvey received the text message almost instantly, the knots in his stomach clearing up at the confirmation that she was safe.