Dear All,

I wanted to update this story last week, but I didn't manage the time as I hoped to do. However, a NEW CHAPTER is here and I really hope you will enjoy it!

Let me know what you think with your amazing comments, votes and messages :-) I will be looking forward to reading them ^^

For Enna and Roman's fans and readers,  I am sorry for the delay, but I had been absorbed a lot into "Loving You is Forbidden". However, as I already said, I think Enna and Roman have a special bond and I love to write about them. They deserve much more.

We have quite the chapter right now and hopefully next week I will update CH. 24, but as always, I keep you updated on my things.

Thank you very much for reading my stories! I dedicate this chapter to all Enna and Roman's fans and readers, thank you for your support :-)
I opted to add a picture of Michael (--> talented and handsome Jonathan Rhys Meyers who somehow has a look in his eyes that reminds me of this character. I like JRM as actor very much, but I always found something in his stare unsettling). I chose Metallica for the chapter.

If any of you feels like making banners or such, you know I will always be pleased and I will use them in the chapters. You can PM if you prefer.

And now, enjoy the new chapter,

ENNA POV:

The back of my head was painfully throbbing and my neck felt no less pain, as I realized that I couldn't almost move it without irradiating the same aching sensation in my entire body. My eyes very slowly opened up and for a moment I was confused, not remembering what happened entirely, only fragments of images and then engulfing darkness. They opened with slow difficulty and then adjusted to the semi dimness of the room that I couldn't recognize. The place wasn't familiar and the room seemed rather bare, save for a few items I could barely see scattered around. It looked like some basement. Cold travelled my skin.

Where was I?

A slow and panicked chill of fear crawled down my spine like a small spider and then snatch my heart. I had no idea where I was but those fragments started to shape. I breathed short and controlled, afraid of making any noise, afraid of being noticed.

It all fell back in the same place and I shot my eyes completely open, wanting to move, but not at the same time, again afraid of being noticed. I was afraid of attracting unwanted attention. I knew who had taken me here and primal terror took possession of my entire body, almost tormenting me with pure and real physical agony. What has he done? He had probably lost his mind and it was not a problem of over drinking or twisted mind. It was a problem of having met a possible psychopath and someone that clearly suffered of dangerous and vicious mental disturbs. His eyes from last night haunted my mind and it was like seeing them once more, sickly snarling at me, sickly looking at me and I felt the cruel sadism in his voice.

Michael had lost his mind entirely and his eyes last night were so wide and shot with blood that I understood it was not a matter of alcohol anymore. He was probably making use of drugs. As I formed the thought in my mind, panic threatened to suffocate me. Michael had become too dangerous and completely out of control. Last night he hit me with such ferocious strength that a blow had thrown me on the ground: what could he do to me? What would he do to me?

I had to leave and I had to get out of here and free myself, because I couldn't stay in the hands of such man...the idea terrorized and the mere thought of what he might do to me almost made feel like throwing up. My heart began to beat fast, very fast, too fast and I was breathing in short, rugged breaths, almost choking on it. Why hadn't I taken a taxi? Why had I walked home alone? I had to calm down, because in this way nothing would do me good. I forced myself in slowing down my breathing because it was making me dizzy and I willed my thoughts and mind to Roman. My love and my soul...the mere idea of him helped me in finding some presence of mind.

Breath in, breath out. Slowly. Do not lose your mind. Do not let panic overtake you.

My arms went to move, but they could not. I struggled more and pain sprinted harsher in my head, neck and I felt like dizzy. Yet, my arms tried to move and fight, but I was strapped on a chair. My arms were tied at the armrests with heavy leather straps, while my legs were bound to its legs by probably similar restrains. My eyes shut closed and a silent, desperate prayer formed in my mind. Frightening realization gradually and brutally downed on me as I could see that there was no way to move, let alone to free myself. Every muscle in my body tried to contract and fight those restrains, but they would not yield and the more I struggled, the more tired I became, the more pain travelled in my limbs. But I had to get out of here, because there was no way I would let Michael...I couldn't even dare to finish the sentence, for horror almost broke my mind.

I took a deep breath trying to calm myself and trying to reorder the thought in my mind. What could I do in this situation? My eyes searched the room for any possible escape route, but they could find none. There were very small windows on my right side, but it would have been impossible to climb out of there, because not even my head would fit in there; the door in front of me seemed locked, but I couldn't know until I tried. But try what? I was completely tied on the chair and even if I had crawled to it, how would I open it? I closed my eyes at the sudden desperation and fear about to choke me and I swallowed down heavily. The idea of screaming seemed an alternative, but somehow I was afraid to attract attention to me, since I was here alone and completely incapacitated to move.

What if Michael decided to walk in here?

I shook my head. He was soon going to walk in this room and the idea was enough to make me struggle harder against the restrains, only gaining evident bruises on my forearms; my winter jacket and cardigan had been removed. The simple thought of his hands on me sent icy waves of sickness down my body. I shook my head, shoving those images away and I struggled more, trying to slip out of those straps.

My breath caught in my throat and my heart stopped dead in my chest as I heard the locker of the door ominously crack. The metallic sound of a key inserted in the door echoed in the empty room and echoed in my mind, suddenly restarting my heart as pure and primal fear took hold of me. I was shivering and so I ordered myself to better control my emotions, only in the intent to offer fewer openings to him. A silent and choked sigh left my mouth as I tried to clear my mind. The last thing I needed was to lose my senses and rationality; Roman and my father would have probably said that. Of course my dad always suggested me to use my brain first, to never despair; Roman, my love and my soul, obviously often had to confront with situation that required his blood to stay cold and calm, just like his mind.

Could I do that, though?

When Michael crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him, pocketing the keys, I knew that I had to do it. It wasn't any more a matter of being able to do it or not. I had to, to buy some time, because there was no chance that my dad and sister hadn't already noticed my unusual absence. We were supposed to meet today in the afternoon, as Ciara wanted to cook something for dad at my place. I had no idea what time was right then, but I knew my sister all too well and I was sure she had probably already called my father. Yes Enna. Buy them some time.

Michael approached, as usual dressed in a very elegant and without doubts expensive suit, nothing out of place apparently. Everything regarding him was all tainted in deceiving appearance. The only details that contrasted with his overall figure was his unshaved face; it seemed strange, all considered his personality, but it didn't seem any longer so out of place as soon as could see his eyes. Mine widened momentarily in barely controlled fear and panic. Why had I not noticed before? He was not under the only influence of alcohol. The rather twitchy and delirious light in his eyes and the way they stare at me made me realize that he was probably assuming some drug or some medicine; he once told me in the past that he had problems in sleeping. It sure was not related to his work worries.

"Hello Enna," he said with incredible natural voice, as if he was not holding me here prisoner and strapped to a chair in what probably was a basement. Even if he kept a natural and unfazed tone, his voice sounded on edge. "How are you? Are you comfortable on that chair?" His lips contracted in a sick smile and everything in my body screamed. I could not reply, because my voice would have not come out stable, thus I preferred to keep my mouth close for the moment. "You are not going to talk to me, my beautiful Enna?"

I cringed at his words and he didn't miss it, because he let out an insane and disturbing laugh, for then closing the distance from the point where he stood and the chair. I hated to hear that word coming from his foul mouth. It did not hold the same meaning as it did for Roman, and coming from him sounded terribly wrong and twisted. He circled the chair and for a moment he paused behind me, letting his hand slowly drew the length on my shoulders, stopping on my hair a few, horrible seconds. I grew so stiff and sickened by his proximity that my entire body risked to convulse from it; I bit my lower lip, as if wanting to distract my body with sudden and sharp pain. I willed every muscle in me to stay still. I was afraid of reacting in front of him in any way, because I could not foresee how he would retort. Michael kept lurking behind me and my uneasiness increased, for I could not see him directly in the face and could not see what he was planning to do.

"Enna, is this the way to greet your lover?" He asked me with now upset voice and his hands clasped my shoulders in a painful and nauseating grip. I didn't want his hands on me and I instinctively moved out of them, but there was not much room for me to get out of his grip. His fingers gripped me more viciously and I repressed a sudden cry of pain. "I will ask you once more, Enna. Is this the way to greet your lover?"

I no longer cared about my trembling voice. I had to make him talk and I had to try to make him reason, if that was even possible.

"Michael, what are you talking about? Last night you hit me and you took me here, leaving me tied on a chair in this room...I don't even know where we are," I whispered out, trying to still my voice and words. "Where did you take me?"

"This is not important for you to know. What you need to understand is that you have no other choice but being mine. Do you understand this?" His voice sounded so cruel and altered that I had no idea how to make him reason. He grabbed my hair and jerked my head back suddenly and this time the sudden hurting move made me let out a cry of pain. His wide and restless eyes stared down at me, assessing me with revolting slowness. I pulled back and he hauled my hair harsher. "Where do you think you are going, slut?"

My blood froze at his words and I realized the mistake I had made; my reaction triggered his insanity and perverted need to control me. I locked my fear down and tried to meet his eyes, fighting against my growing sensation of sickness. I hated to look in those eyes and I hated to feel his hands in my hair. It was disgusting and it was purely wrong. One man only could touch me and my hair, in that sweet, yet passionate way.

"Michael, it hurts," I only said, trying to sound remorseful. "I did not mean to upset you. It just hurts," I tried to sound pleading, hoping this would generate a different reaction in him, and by the way he eyes narrowed and his lips twitched in that depraved grimace, I knew it had sorted to hoped effect.

"My apologies, Enna." He released my hair and slowly walked in front of me. "You seem to better understand your position, perhaps?" I nodded, even though I wished to actually hit his face. I tried to look at him and then I lowered my eyes to the ground, as if acting out of submission. "What is it? Do you want to say something?"

"Can I ask you why you took me here?"

Buy time, Enna. Try to find a way out of this, Enna. Make him reason, even if there was one chance only in a million, Enna.

"Because you did not want to listen to me and it pained me to see you that night with that bastard. Too bad I know absolutely nothing about that fucker, or else I would have already ruined him." I mentally sighed in relief at hearing that, but then I felt silly. Of course Michael had nothing against Roman; if any, it would be Roman to have anything to use against him. Also, someone like Michael stood no chances against a man like my love. "As I will likely destroy your beloved family if you do not take me and if you do not willingly accept me as your lover."

My blood froze and so did my heart.

What had he just said?

"What?" I only breathed out.

"You understood me well, my precious pet. You have time to consider it of course, because God forbids you thinking I am not a generous and very caring lover, but I would advise you to take the right decision fast, if you want your father and sister to not suffer any legal or financial issues." He could not really mean that, could he? It was not possible, because he had nothing against them. What he could possible use to threaten them?

"Please leave my father and sister out of this, please Michael.." My pleading had not been fake or dictated by any act: it was pure and real and desperate. Desperation tangled with my words and he did not miss it. He enjoyed it.

"That depends on you, my beautiful and rather unfaithful pet. Be with me and I shall not think of harming them."

"You need to let me go, because this will not work for you. What if they would go to my place and search for me?"

"Oh you think that I am so stupid to let you go? So you can run to that bastard of yours or call the police?" I slipped again and my heart began to beat faster in fear. Think Enna, think of something that could possibly and momentarily tame his state of violent craziness.

"I broke up and he left," I said, trying to sound convincing.

The first three words excruciatingly echoed in my head, as they resounded in my heart so wrong that I had to contain my own emotions. However, Michael's expression changed and there it was: I had said the right thing and possibly bought a chance out of this.

"You really did?" He sauntered closer and he grabbed my chin, jerking it up to stare at his face. "Swear it, you unfaithful whore," he ordered me with vicious voice and I crossed my fingers, pleading forgiveness to God for the lie; sending a thought to my love.

"I did break up," I said, unable to properly swear the words he had wanted to, but it seemed enough. Until he slapped me so hard that my head jolted to the side and my view exploded in lights and darkness. I gasped and fear probably held my face, given the way he looked at me.

"This is for cheating on me with such bastard," he hissed maliciously and his mouth was too close to my ear. A revolting feeling clawed my heart and stomach and I had to breathe deeply to avoid vomiting right there in front of him. His mouth lurked close, but did not touch me. However, his breathing irked my skin and then his hand moved my head back, forcing me to stare at his eyes. "If you prove to be a faithful and good pet, I will not harm you and I will not touch your family. But if you will whore around once more, you won't get away with a mere slap." To demonstrate his words, he violently slapped me another time, and I felt warm blood in my mouth. I swallowed it, knowing that blood was also on the side of my mouth.

I wish I could hit him back and, for a brief moment, I wished to kill him.

"You have the weekend to consider my words and if by tomorrow you will not give me what I want, I will take it anyway." He let his nose loiter on my neck and then on my jaw. I had to fight the disgust that such gesture brought me, because my instincts ordered me to pull back. However I knew that for now I couldn't antagonize him more than I already did. I had to get out of here and then I would act before he could no anything. Michael's hand grabbed my chin once more and his eyes gave me such a look that I felt like a trapped animal; his following words made me sink in blind despair. "Oh I forgot to tell you this: if you think to simply agree with me and walk out of here so you can take actions, forget it. I will take you here tomorrow, willing or not willing Enna, and I already planned how to ruin your father and sister. You would have no time to plan a thing, my beautiful pet."

"Please, do not involve them, please..."

"It all is in your hands," he said and then eyed his wrist watch. "I have an urgent business to attend, but I will be back and I shall bring you dinner. Any preference?"

This man had already stepped into complete insanity.

Making him reason? I had no way out of this and I felt like screaming. Instead, I only shook my head, feeling like an empty and lifeless marionette.

He left and the door closed heavy after him.

Horror deepened in every cell of my body and I only stared at that door. I pulled my arms, my legs, I struggled more and more...I tried to trash around and arch on the chair in the attempt to lose those retrains, so I fought more and more, gaining more pain...until I felt tears rolling down on my face.

My eyes stared at that locked and heavy door another time.

I was trapped here.

ROMAN POV:

When I reached Enna's place, I first looked around and checked the entire surrounding. Nothing seemed out of place and nothing seemed out of ordinary routine. Hidden in a corner, I called Eamon and told him to open the main door, but to not show himself out. He followed my instructions and, once my feet stepped inside the building, my eyes carefully assessed the space surrounding me. Nobody was around, so I walked the stairs and simply let myself in, as Enna's apartment door was left slightly open for me.

His father stood in the hall together with who I knew was Enna's younger sister, Ciara O'Kelley. She greatly resembled my angel in the way her eyes sparkled with blue light, in the way her hair fell long, straight and very blonde, and in the way her body looked thin and almost frail. However, her face was a mask of contorted worry and she stared at me in a way that I understood Eamon must have explained her things around. Good decision, if she was here and if she had been involved. I was sure that if he had decided to talk to her, he must have been sure that Enna's sister could handle this.

"You are Roman?" She barely asked and I nodded, going to meet her, placing a hand on her slender arm.

"Yes I am and you must be Ciara, Enna's younger sister, correct?" She only stared at me silently, a mute prayer there displayed on her pale and frightened face. "Do not worry for Enna, please. I will find him and I kill take care of that bastard. You have my word." After having sworn that to her, I turned my face to Eamon and directly looked him in his eyes, with unyielding resolution. "I swear it, Eamon. I will find Enna and I will kill that man. There is no promise now to hold me back."

At my words, Ciara shuddered visibly and she grabbed her father's arm, trying to find some stability and reassurance. He pulled her in a tight hug and caressed her hair in what was trying to be a soothing way. His hard and now very worried eyes studied my face and he only nodded.

"Why are you so sure about this?" Eamon asked me and I knew immediately what he meant.

"You told me that Enna has not answered to his phone for many hours already, correct?" He nodded and observed me more. "You did say that you had plans for meeting, yes?" Another quick nod. "Last night Enna did go out with friends?"

"He went out with his colleagues from work and Priya wrote me before that he had walked home alone, wanting to refresh a bit." It was Ciara that explained me these details with trembling voice, looking at me obviously scared by my mere presence. Her reaction was only natural and I felt like smiling at her, for how frightened she appeared thinking about her brother. Her eyes widened in surprise and rested on me for a few seconds. "You are the man that my brother loves," she said, more to herself than to me. "Enna didn't tell me anything, but I had understood that he had found a special person, because my brother became suddenly happier and sweeter than he already was." Her words wrapped around my cold heart and for a moment I could feel Enna's touch on my skin. "Dad only explained me little details and now I see and understand many things. You do really love him," she said.

"Yes, I love Enna. He is my angel. Do not worry, Ciara. I will find your brother. But you must tell me something now." She kept quiet, letting me continue. "Did you tell to this Priya person about what did happen?" She shook her head.

"She sent me a message when my dad was here, since she wanted to know why he hadn't answered to his phone and dad suggested to say that Enna is in his company and forgot the phone at home." I had seen well in trusting Eamon and giving him my phone number.

"Very good." It was all I told her.

"Why?" She asked.

"Because I did already involve you in this. I am sure you can keep a secret, but this will not be a good secret, Ciara. Forgive me if I sound very cruel and scary, but that bastard did something I cannot forgive." My eyes slid to Eamon. "You also know that it must him and nobody else. You suspected him when you called me, correct?"

He let out a heavy sigh, massaging his temples.

"Yes, I knew it that he must have been involved. I remembered the way he looked at Enna when we went to the Garda and it was pure and bloody sick obsession what he had on his face. I didn't like it one fecking bit, but there wasn't much to do about that and now? Now he has taken my son and God..." He fell silent and shook his head, probably chasing away any sort of dreadful image.

"I need your help in a few things," I only said and we moved to the kitchen. I needed a moment to collect the information I required to plan something and then I would act. When we sat, I enquired a few pieces of information, because time was short and I had to act very fast. "Can you tell me where he lives and everything you know about this piece of shit?"

Eamon kept silent, but never adverted his eyes away from me. He was studying me and with all chances, he was trying to decide whether he could entirely trust me in this or not. No doubts, he was evaluating his own options, but I was the one with complete free reins, for I was the one that could kill that soon to be dead son of a bitch. I was a man that had nothing to risk in my life, aside my angel, and to get him back safely, I would gladly kill that bastard. To get him back safely, I would gladly trade my soul with the Devil. There was no other option and choice to make. The only thing that mattered was to save my angel and pray that bastard had not touched him yet. I was the man with complete free reins because I had already killed many other times and it never was to protect the person I loved. Now, it all assumed a completely different meaning.

Ciara hesitantly started to talk and seeing me keeping a rather composed face, she relaxed more and her voice spoke quicker, feeding me with interesting and very essential details. I could have retrieved most of it by simply hacking into his computer, but it would take longer. This part would come later, because it was necessary to find a way to frame this as a suicide. I was not going to involve Enna and his family in this situation in terms of police or such; it had to look as a clear and undisputable case of suicide.

"Do you think he also makes use of drugs?" I asked her. In my life I had seen people taking their life under the effect of drugs, even drugs for medical use.

"I don't know, Roman," she replied and I noticed how she had just said my name spontaneously. Eamon also realized that and then shook his head. He must have guessed what my plan consisted in, but wisely he uttered no word.

"Roman," he interrupted. "Are you entirely sure you can find my son? Are you entirely, bloody sure we don't need to call the police? Are you entirely, bloody sure you can bring him back?"

I listened to his legit questions and, before giving him the obvious answer, my eyes rested on him with unbreakable resolve. My body felt the necessary cold-blooded lucidity and I rejoiced at the thought of soon killing that bastard. I stared at Eamon longer and he understood me; however, I spoke the words as a sacred vow to my own soul.

"Yes, I will handle everything and I will bring Enna back."

"What if he already..." Ciara could not bring to finish the sentence and began to cry. Eamon closed his eyes and in that moment it was clear that this man in front of me was keeping apparently calm for the sake of his daughter. But he looked tense, like a wire overly stretched, and his face had a contracted, pale expression that spoke more than many words. I had no doubts that Eamon would have likely killed that bastard with his own hands, but he was a good man with a son and daughter, while I was a man for who another killing would mean nothing. At least nothing in terms of what most people would address as sin.

"I do not think he did something to Enna," I explained her, praying to be right in my analyzing the sick personality of that rat. They both darted they eyes on me in hope and surprise. "It seems to me that he wants to force Enna in following his orders. He seems someone that wants to control him and it means that he will first try to control the will of my angel and he will try to break it." This is what I thought and I damn hoped to be right in that. "But I have little time and I must go. I do not know when something can change. I do not want to wait for that bastard to force his control on Enna in other ways." With those words, I stood on my feet and marched to the door. Ciara had provided me with some useful details and the first thing I was going to do was to break into his place, after having made sure nobody was there. However, before leaving, Eamon stopped me and I saw he was alone.

"Hunt that bloody bastard down and please, bring my son back here safe." He had clasped his strong hand on my shoulder, his eyes expressing clearly what he was feeling at the moment. "I spoke to Ciara and she will not say a word. She also called me and was here before than I was. I know she hasn't spoken to anybody else, but she's his sister. My daughter had to know."

"I do understand that and I do respect your choice. It was a good choice." My hand grabbed the handle of the door and then set my stare on him. "You have my word: I will bring him back safe."

"Thank you, Roman," was all he said and I nodded before leaving. I had to gather a few useful "tools" that I had hidden in that rented car and then the hunt would begin.

ENNA POV:

More time passed and there was nothing I could do. I had tried to fight the strapping so much that I could see clear bruises on my arms even in the darkness of the room. From what the small windows could show, it seemed that outside was completely dark and I knew that my dad and sister were out there worried and searching for me. The tears had fallen down for long time and then completely dried up, as even crying was useless; there was one way only and I had to make a good use of it. I would not let him touch me and I would not let him have his ways with me. Once he would free me from here and once I understood where I exactly was, I would try to escape. But from the silence coming from outside, only rarely interrupted by sounds made by the nature, I could guess that this place was somewhere in the open country.

Michael never owned such a place, as I remembered clearly he had bought a second house on the other coast of the country, very close to the Ocean. That second house was not isolated like this one. It was too quiet outside and it started to really scare me, aside the fact that I was very cold. My head throbbed in pain and so did my lips, for the hits they had received hours ago. Michael had gone for some time, but I dreaded the moment when he would be back, ready to taunt me. I could not cause any vicious reaction from him, which meant that I really had to think carefully before saying something or moving. But it was not easy as I wished to be, for I could not stand his mere presence and how he seemed to enjoy touching me.

I hated to feel his devious and sickening hands on me and it was pure instinct that made me move away from them, as much as possible. I'd rather have him beating me than touching me in other ways. I'd rather suffer physical pain from his violent hits, than suffer another, unthinkable sort of pain.

I sighed out loud and shut my eyes close a moment. How could I get out of here without having Michael chasing me once more? I was trapped in the middle of some isolated country, from what I could tell. I had to fight him then, try to somehow render him unconscious until I could run away and then...I heard the sound of a car and my blood froze.

He was back and when the door opened again in front of me with that menacing mental clangour, I knew that it was going to be almost impossible to overpower him, unless I got hold of some object to use to strike him on the head. The door closed behind him and I swallowed down; a feeble light switched on in the room and I tried to control my shivering that was due to cold and also to fear. I forced myself to train my eyes on his face and I felt more cold gripping my body as Michael moved closer. He had drunk and I counted the steps he took until he stopped right in front of me. His right hand reached for my face and made me look at him. He gave me what he probably considered a smile, but to me it looked like a deformed sneer.

"Good evening, Enna." Was it already this late? I could not tell the time in this bare room. "How do you feel?"

I pondered his question for a moment and tried to use to find a possible escape.

"I am cold here, Michael, and I need to use the bathroom," I managed to say in what certainly was not a very stable voice.

"You think of me that stupid to let you out of here?" I immediately shook my head, but his hand was there ready to hit me. It stopped though and he leaned too close to me. I bit the wave of disgust down and commanded myself to not shift my eyes away. "My apologies, my beautiful pet. It is cold in here, you are right." He went to unfasten a strap on my arm, but he stopped. "If you dare to escape me, Enna, I will fuck you here right now like the whore you are, because believe me, I cannot wait for that." I said nothing and felt like an empty doll. Then he pulled back and once more panic invaded every cell of my body. He showed me a gun and the message was clear enough. I really had no place where to run.

Michael unfastened my arms first, but only for tiding them behind my back with a plastic strap that bit into my skin. While he removed the restraints from my leg, he pointed the gun at me and I did not move a single nerve; I barely breathed and never moved my eyes away from the weapon. When he was done, he dragged me to a side of the wall where two pipes emerged from the floor and connected with the ceiling of the room. He ordered me to wear my jacket and then tied one wrist to the pipe and then bounded my ankles with some long sort of hand-cuff. Where had he found such things? They looked hideous and as if created to instil fear and pain on the person that would wear them. He found a plastic container in a hidden corner of the room and left it in front of me.

"You have all you need now," he sneered, but then he grabbed my hair once more, yanking my head backward and letting my neck all too vulnerable. His other hand wrapped around it and my heart began to race faster in panic. "I am dying at the idea of having complete control over you. To take back what had always been mine and to make you scream my name in bed."

I closed my eyes a moment, because I wanted to hit him for the words he had dared to tell me, but it would have made everything worse and way too dangerous. Let him talk, for words did not touch my skin and did not issue me any sort of pain. Let him talk all he wanted. I could not give up and I would not give up at his threats, as I was not going to stand this; I was not going to let him have his ways with me. If only I could get my hands on that gun...I had never held a weapon in my entire life, not even when my dad took Ciara and me to the firing range to practice his shooting. But now the situation was different. I had no idea if I could really harm a human being, but I couldn't deny this very dark feeling stirring inside of me as my eyes rested on Michael's grimacing face. I was beginning to think that he had probably beaten his other past partners.

"Enna, do not worry about anything. You will be happy with me and to prove you this, I brought you dinner, your favourite." He walked to the door where earlier had discarded a plastic bag. It contained a filet of baked salmon and indeed I had always loved it, but I was not going to eat whatever he gave me. I did not trust it and it was also a matter of principle. "Do you see, my pet? I clearly love you." His form of love was not the sane and real, proper love. It was a twisted, sick and very dangerously deviated form of obsession and need of control. But I said nothing to that, only forced my mouth to let out a "thank you". "I will be back soon, for the night is long and I sure don't want you to feel lonely."

I repressed whatever came over me and willed my eyes to look void of emotions. I didn't know if I succeeded in that or not, and judging by the way he snatched my neck for then hitting my face another time, I knew I had failed in that. But the pain of the slaps was better than the terror his menaces could move in me.

"You will need these days to atone for your sins, my precious Enna, and I know you will crawl back at me begging for my forgiveness." He stalked so close to me that I could distinctively smell the alcohol from his breath. "And I will forgive you, do not worry. I will forgive you the moment you will follow my orders, willing or not willing."

He left the room, switching the light off and locking the door. I slumped on my knees and took deep breaths. I looked at the pipe and pulled my arm with all the strength in me, but it was not going to yield.

I had to get out of here.

I had to get out of here.

I had to get out of here!

"Roman, please..." I had no idea why I whispered those words, knowing he had probably already left for Kiev and knowing he was probably in greater danger than I was. Therefore I felt immediately very selfish and silly for having murmured them, but as soon as I said his name, my heart and mind calmed down.

For a moment that made me doubt of my own sanity, I felt as if my soul trembled in response to some pull and a tear rolled down my cheek. It was not a tear of fear, but a tear of love.

ROMAN POV:

Breaking into that soon to be dead bastard had been relatively easy, because the alarm system was rather simple for me to disable and because it was not the first time I had faced a similar situation. I had watched the house for some time and then broke in as it was empty. The neighbourhood was a wealthy one, but very quiet. The fact that it was already very dark only favoured my actions. I made sure to leave no traces of the breaking in, so that if the police decided to investigate, they would find no trace or sign of this. I had already planned to switch the alarm systems on once this was done.

As I moved around the house carefully, after having made sure that no further alarm systems were in place or active, and after having deactivated the only two cameras connected to an indoor monitoring system, something agitated inside of me. I halted a moment and listened in alert to any sound around me, but there was only silence that met my ears. Then I felt it clear and almost devastating.

Enna, my soul and my angel...wait for me. I am coming to take you back safe.

I searched in the house and found a laptop in his studio; the door of the room had been locked, but it didn't require much effort to open it. I let out a rather dry laugh as I hacked the computer without the least effort. Anton had taught me a lot about his, since he had learned from his brother, who had been an extremely capable hacker; too bad he had been killed because he had refused a job offer he didn't like. Not too bad for my boss as he eliminated those rats as a personal favour to Anton that turned out lucrative for him. Cold rage filled my veins as my thoughts lingered on Anton and I could not wait to make the responsible pay dearly for what they had done to him. My flight was booked for Monday and I had very short time in my hands. My gloved fingers ran quickly through the keyboard and found very interesting, rather dirty details concerning the bastard. He was a rather well-known lawyer that also assisted an elite clientele in a financial organization. I humourlessly laughed. He was stealing from those clients like any vulgar thief.

I had almost thought him more intelligent than this, but then again...he had kidnapped Enna in such way that demonstrated how he had lost contact with reality. He had no fears of being caught and he had no scruples or any sort of damn moral code; this worried me more than I had showed before, because I knew I was running short with fucking time. This man's vile and sadistic obsession could be started by anything and at any random time. Eamon had wished to hand him to the police, to have him judged in court. I could not follow his request, not with such dangerous and out of control piece of shit. He had dared to touch Enna and no court could possibly rightly judge that bastard. Not that I felt any sort of remorse anyway and I knew that I had one option only.

Then I walked more around the house and searched for more possibly useful pieces of information. I rummaged in the garbage beans, finding something that I was almost not hoping to get: an empty plastic, small container of what looked to be powerful medical treatment. I took it back to the studio and quickly researched on the internet. Indeed this man was dangerous and mentally instable; I cleared the browse history and looked around more. In the bathroom, hidden in a rather ingenious way in a plastic container of shampoo, that vermin had quite a quantity of cocaine. A rather dark smile rose on my lips as I stared at that, thinking how incredibly valuable the discovery was; I pondered where to leave trace of the drug and the studio seemed the best place, since I would place the suicidal note right there. I hid the cocaine in a place that could not be missed once they would investigate the house: in an empty CD case right on the desk. Damn naive, yes, but who would even suspect of it once they would look into his case?

I didn't expect to find my angel here, for it would have been a very risky move for that piece of shit, even with his thinking. He might have been out of control, but not a complete idiot. However, I had found an interesting possible hint in the computer. He clearly worked a lot from home, which was his habitual office, given the quantity of papers and documents neatly stored in wooden shelves. It seemed that a wealthy client had passed away and he was dealing with the will, for the family had contested it; the will left a considerable amount of wealth to a given person and among the different properties, a big house was mentioned. I had already found out that the bastard owned a second house on the other side of the country, but something made me think to check this first place. I evaluated all the options and decided to move accordingly, mentally listing all I needed.

The hunt had already begun and a very dark and threatening smile rose on my lips.

"Count your miserable last hours, because I am coming for you, Michael Sullivan."

*****

I drove the closest I could to the place where that house was situated and waited silently to check the surrounding area. I parked the car in a hidden spot inside the country and followed the directions using a map; there weren't many houses around the place and to be honest, it was actually quite deserted. But after a while, I spotted a rather big manor and understood the reasons behind contesting the will. It looked silent and empty; if this was not the chosen place by that bastard, then I would try the second house he owned. I still inspected the area with calculated carefulness, taking note of the fact that no neighbours were in sight. Nobody would have noticed anybody carrying someone here in the middle of the night.

As I checked the surroundings, my eyes took immediate notice of a black, quite expensive car and in that moment my instincts alerted. Cold and murderous tranquillity now ran in my veins and stilled my heart. Some bushes attracted my attention at the far side of the house and there I hid the heavy bag I took with me and that it contained what was for me necessary in order to take Enna from there and let it pass as common suicide. My feet circled the perimeter and I stood in absolute silence. It was very late, right in the core of the cold and moonless night; it took time to retrieve all the necessary information and I gambled by coming here first. Whichever God stood in the Heaven had listened to my prayer and I was glad I had followed my instincts. It had been a dangerous gamble, considering my angel's life and safety depended on it, but I had valued all the risks while I drove.

There weren't many options where to hide a person without attracting much attention and of that I had quite an extensive knowledge. Whatever he was planning, his house would have been too obvious and would have put him in a very dangerous position if something might have gone wrong; I knew Enna and for a certainty, he had probably tried to get free, for he would never let that excuse of a man put his filthy hands on him. The idea triggered a very lethal shot of anger in me and the coldness of my blood melted at the thought of issuing him what he deserved for having dared to kidnap my angel. Enna...I could not bear the idea of something happening to him and I checked the gun I took with me; if I had been wrong and something had happened to my love, that man was going to pay in a very slow and excruciating way.

I neared the house and searched for anything that indicated me if someone else was there and what should I expect; the alarm system was off and it surprised me at first, then making realize that indeed that bastard had gone completely out of mind in his sick obsession. I let myself in without much effort and readied the weapon now in my hand, tasting the knives strapped at my back with the other one. I listened carefully for any sound that could give away where Enna had been kept prisoner. In the dark of the rooms, my feet soundlessly moved around and my eyes scanned the different spaces. Then a muffled noise attracted my attention and my body followed its direction. It took me to the basement, from what I could see and, as I studied the apparently dark staircase, my eyes detected a faint ray of light.

I tested the first step and it was quiet, but each step was taken with equal attention and caution, not wanting to release any sort of noise that might alert that worthless piece of shit. The feeble light stretching on the floor guided me and I found myself in front of a heavy, metallic door. My heart ached at the sound that resonated in the room and my blood became so cold in the intent of eliminating that bastard that for all I knew it might have stopped coursing in my veins. My angel had gasped in evident pain and it had followed what most certainly was a violent hit.

"What do you mean no?" That man snarled and another hit followed. I felt real pain coursing in my body. "You will let me do as I please with you or else..."

Dead.

He had dared to land his filthy hands on my angel. He had dared to hit him and now he was about to commit something far worse.

He was dead and now he had a few minutes only left to contemplate his miserable and insignificant, vile life.

I opened the door that had been left unlocked and did not waste time as I aimed the gun at him.

"Now you are dead for real, Michael Sullivan."

Author's chit-chat:

Now, I don't have much to say, because I think the chapter spoke enough.

Let's see what will happen in CH.24 that I will hopefully update next week. We will see how Roman will confront Michael and how Enna will react/act in such situation.

Let me know about your opinions, emotions and feelings :-)

I am working on "Loving You is Forbidden", as I would like to post a new chapter this week, maybe during the weekend.

Once more, thank you for your messages, comments and votes, they all mean a lot to me.

Lots of Love, Magic and Meows,
-TheWitchAndTheCat-