on the other side of my door. Moments later, the door unlocks and swings open. Sinking down onto the edge of the mattress, I’m not sure what to expect, but it wasn’t the tiny woman I’m greeted by. She enters my cell slowly, almost as if she’s worried someone is going to see her.
“Hi… you must be, Dove,” she whispers, a soft smile creeping onto her face. Her blonde hair is long and cascades down her back in gentle waves. She looks like an angel, pure, soft, and kind.
“Um, hi,” I say awkwardly. “Yes, I’m Dove.”
“I’m Ella, Xander’s wife.”
Xander’s wife? He’s married? I guess I never considered him to be the marrying type.
“Oh, ah… thanks for loaning me the clothes. You can have them back… uhhh, whenever I get to leave.”
“No problem, don’t worry about it. You can keep them if you like. Xander likes to spoil me. I’ve got more clothes than I could wear in this lifetime.” Her laugh is carefree, and I can’t help but feel jealous.
Not of her clothes but of her having Xander and embracing it. I was so stupid. I had it all, and I threw it all away. I fought Zane tooth and nail, instead of just enjoying the time we had together.
“Do you mind if I sit?” Ella asks, pointing to the spot beside me on the bed.
“No, please do.”
She smiles and takes the seat next to me. “I’m sorry they’re holding you here. I know it sucks getting caught in the middle of something that’s not your fault. I thought I could at least come by and check on you, give you some company, so you’re not so alone all day.”
Her genuineness is almost too much. I have no clue why she is being so nice to me, but being deprived of human contact for the most part, over the last few days, has me really appreciating the gesture.
“Thank you,” I say, having the odd urge to hug her as well. Since that would be a little weird, I refrain. Unable to think of anything else to ask, I blurt out, “So, how did you and Xander meet?”
She scoots up on the bed, leaning her back against the wall like she is getting comfortable.
Is she going to stay here with me?
“Believe it or not, it was a very similar situation to the way you met him. I was being held captive by his father. He was a bad man, and he was about to hurt me… Xander and his men raided the compound I was being held at. He saved me and took me home.”
Now his comment about me reminding him of someone makes sense. He must have meant his wife since we were in a similar situation.
“Wow… and you just stayed here with him? Did he not give you the chance to leave?”
“I didn’t want to leave.” Ella smiles. “But, don’t worry, he won’t keep you here forever.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“He has no reason to.” Ella shrugs. “He’s just keeping you right now until he finds the best way to…” She trails off, unable to find the right word.
“The best way to use me?” I finish for her. “I mean, you don’t have to sugarcoat it. He is using me as a bargaining chip to get what he wants, isn’t he?”
Ella lowers her head in shame. “I’m sorry, but yes. Yes, he is.”
“Don’t be sorry, it’s not your fault. I just wish I could talk to Zane.”
“Who is Zane?” Ella asks curiously.
“He is my… well, I don’t really know what he is.” My everything.
I spend the next ten minutes telling Ella my story. I tell her how Zane and I met in foster care and that I thought he died. We talk about him kidnapping me, and then me getting kidnapped again by Christian.
“So, what else do you do? Besides getting kidnapped on a regular basis?” Ella chuckles, and I can’t help but giggle with her. For the first time in many days, I laugh, actually laugh.
We talk for a while, Ella tells me about her sister being married to Ivan and how they were pregnant at the same time. Momentarily, I forget where I am and why I’m here. Right now, it feels like it’s just an old friend and me catching up.
Reality comes crashing back down on me when I hear an angry voice yelling at the guard in front of my door. A few seconds later, the door swings open, and Xander waltzes inside, wearing a