CHAPTER 2:Come With Me

POV Elena

I hate Adrian Blackwood.

I remind myself of that the entire drive to his mansion.

The car’s very quiet except for the sound of the rain splashing on the windows. I sit as far away from him as possible,my suitcase is beside me and my father's letter’s in my hand.

I read it again and again

Trust Adrian.

Those words still don't make sense,because If my father knew he was in danger,why didnt he just tell me why?

Hes always trusted adrian more than me

I fold the letter and then put it into my bag.

“We should go to the police”

Adrian keeps his eyes on the road.

“They're already involved”

“You called them?”

“Yes”

“What’d they say?”

“They're looking for Daniel”

“That isn't enough Adrian”

His jaw tightens but he doesn't answer.

I hate that about him.

He always answers questions with silence.

“You're hiding something”

“I'm protecting you”

“I didn't ask you to”

“No.Daniel did”

I look away before I say something I'll regret.

Everything slowly disappears behind us.All the all buildings become quieter until the car turns through two large black gates.

The gates closes behind us.

His mansion is enormous.

It actually looks more like a luxury hotel than someone's home.There are glass windows on every wall and security cameras fixed above them

It doesnt seem like a home at all,It's a fortress.

Adrian parks the car.

“We're here”

I don't answer

He gets out first,then a woman opens the front door before we even reach it.

“Good evening Mr. Blackwood” she greets

“Claire,this is Elena”

She gives me a small smile.

“Your rooms ready”

My room?

So he's been planning this.

I give Adrian a cold look

“You already decided I was staying”

He doesn't deny it.

“You're unbelievable”

I walk inside anyway.

The house is beautiful but I don't really care.

Marble floors, huge staircase and paintings everywhere.

But none of that matters.

I just want my father.

Claire takes me upstairs and shows me my room aparently

“This room is yours”

Then she opens the door.

Its a king sized bed by the window.

There's a walk in closet,a bathroom bigger than my bedroom at home and fresh flowers on the table.

I don't even step inside.

“I don't want this room”

Claire looks really uncomfortable.

“I'll leave you to settle in”

She disappears before I can stop her.

I throw my bag on the floor.

“This is ridiculous”

I see adrian standing in the doorway.

“Get some rest”

I laugh.

“My father disappears and you think I can sleep?”

“You need your strength”

“No,I need answers”

He stays quiet.

“There it is again,” I snap

“The silence”

“Elena-”

“No”

I point at him.

“You walk into my house,you tell me my father’s missing,kidnap me and expect me to listen to you?”

“I didn't kidnap you”

“You didnt give me any choice!”

“I gave you the safest choice”

I shake my head.

“You act like you're in charge of my life”

“For now,I am”

The words hit me like a slap.

My eyes widen.

“You're not my father”

“I know”

“So stop acting like him”

something changes in his face.

He looks...hurt bu just for a second.

Then it's gone completely

“Dinner’s downstairs incase you're hungry”

He turns and walks away,then i sllam the bedroom door just to piss him off

I cant even go to sleep so i start walking around this huge room instead

Whys it so big?

I try calling my father again.

Voicemail.

ofcourse

I text him.

Dad, please answer me.

Theres nothing.

Then i call Sophia.

She answers on the second ring.

“Hey bestie”

I almost cry just hearing her voice.

“My dad’s missing”

Silence.

“What?”

“I can't find him”

“What do you mean you can't find him?”

I tell her everything.

The letter.

The voice note.

Adrian taking me away.

“He took you where?”

“To his mansion”

“Elena,that's insane”

“I know”

“Do you even trust him?”

“No”

“So then leave”

“I can't”

“Why not?”

I really don't know how to explain it to her because my father told me to trust him and Adrian says I'm in danger.

And a small part of me is terrified that he's actually telling the truth.

“Come stay with me instead”

“Yeah but I don't think he'd let me”

“He can't stop you”

“You haven't met Adrian when he thinks he's right sophia”

She sighs.

“I'll come tomorrow”

“No”

“Why?”

“I don't want you involved”

“Elena,I'm already involved”

I close my eyes.

“I'll call you tomorrow”

“You better”

Then I hang up.

The room suddenly feels too quiet so i leave

The hallway’s empty.

Maybe Adrian is asleep.

Good.

I don't want to see him.

I tiptoe my way downstairs,the house is so big that I almost get lost,then i finally find the kitchen,I check the fridge for some snacks to munch on but all i see is food that looks too perfect to eat.

So i get a bottle of water instead

“Couldn't sleep?”

I jump.

I see Adrian standing by the doorway,hes wearing a black Tshirt and gray sweatpants.

I've never seen him dressed casually before,he somehow looks even taller.

“You scared me Adrian”

“Youre awake”

“Obviously”

He walks inside the kitchen qnd tells me that he made some coffee

“I don't want coffee”

“You need something”

“I need my father”

His shoulders tense.

“I know”

“No,you don't”

I expect him to argue.

He just pours himself coffee instead,I dont like the fact that he's so calm.

“Tell me the truth”

“I am”

“When did you last see him?”

“This afternoon”

“Where?”

“At his office”

“What happened?”

“We had a meeting”

“About what?”

“Business”

“What business?”

He looks at me.

“I can't tell you”

I let out a frustrated laugh.

“This is exactly why I don't trust you”

“Elena-”

“No”

I drop my water bottle

“You keep saying that I'm in danger but you won't tell me why”

“How exactly am i supposed to trust you”

“Because I don't know who’s involved”

“So?”

“If I tell you the wrong thing I could put you at risk”

“I can decide that for myself.”

“You're not listening’

“And you're not talking”

The silence returns.

I hate silence.

“Did my father tell you to keep secrets from me?”

“Yes”

The answer surprises me.

I blink.

“He did?”

“Yes”

“What else did he tell you?”

“I can't tell you”

I stare at him.

“You're impossible”

I leave the kitchen.

“Don't leave the house”

I don't even turn around.

The next morning,sunlight fills the room,for a second I forget where I am,then everything comes rushing back,from my Dad to Adrian to the letter.

I just quickly get dressed and leave the room.when i go out,the house is already so busy with staff members everywhere and security guards roaming the premises.

I find Adrian in his home office downstairs he's on the phone and it sounds serious

“I want updates every hour”

When he sees me he ends the call.

“Did they find him?”

“No”

Hope disappears as quickly as it comes.

“I want to help”

“You can help by staying safe”

I cross my arms.

“You keep saying that”

“Because it's true”

“Then explain it”

He walks to the window.

“I can't”

I follow him.

“You won't”

He doesn't correct me.

I look outside.

Two black SUVs are parked close to the gate.

“Why are there so many guards?”

“Beacuase theyre here to keep you safe” he says

“So i really am in danger huh?” I reply

“Not when you’re here”

“I don't need guards”

“You're treating me like a prisoner”

“You're free inside this house”

I laugh.

“That's not freedom”

Then his phone rings and he answers immediately.something about his expression changes.

“What happened?”

He hangs up.

“Someone broke into your apartment last night”

Those words literally knock the air out of me.

“What?”

“The police got there after the alarm went off”

I stare at him.

“They searched the place”

My heartbeat speeds up.

“Did they take anything?”

“They were looking for something”

“What?”

“We don't know”

Fear finally replaces anger.

This is real.

Someone really is looking for something connected to my father and somehow...they're looking for me too.

Adrian comes closer.

“This is why I brought you here”

I don't argue this time.

For the first time since he arrived at my house...

I wonder if he's been telling the truth all along.