Elizabeth's POV

I ended the call and placed the phone on the table, and I continued to cook. James was here for dinner, and I wanted to surprise him with his favorite meal. I loved to see the smile on his face, to be in his arms. I was head over heels with a great guy. If only he wasn't so jealous sometimes... I got jealous too, it was normal, but Jamie was being ridiculous , really ridiculous!

'' Who were you talking to?''- I didn't expect him to be out of the bathroom so soon. After he had come here from work, James went to take a shower, while I began to cook. He had promised to help me. My love could cook amazing, and I liked that he often suggested to pamper me with his cooking.

I stopped cutting the potatoes, and turned around. My love was standing near the door, with a stern look on his face. His hair was still wet from the shower, and I could smell his favorite perfume. Jamie was really hot in these jeans and shirt. But his question made me angry.

'' My hair stylist, my hair needs fixing. I booked myself an hour for tomorrow.''- Robert was my hair stylist for almost two years. I liked his work, and he was a very nice person. He could talk about everything, he was polite, smiling, and I really liked how he did my hair.

''It's a guy, right?''- Jamie walked to me and caressed my cheek.-'' Is he young? Single? Why do you have a man as your hair stylist?''- Actually, Robert was about 30 years old, he was married and had a son. I had never seen him as more than my hair stylist. Yes, he was nice, chatty, but we could be only friends. Robert never made any move to flirt with me either. He was just my hair stylist, nothing more.

'' Yes. But he is married and has a kid. And I like his work.''- But that didn't convince my love, I saw it in his blue eyes.

'' Why you have his number, Liz?''- Jamie was holding my hand too tight, and I winced. Was he really asking me why I have my hair stylist's number? Why was I calling him?

'' Because, he gives it to his clients. It's on his business card.''- I freed my hand and pushed James off. –'' What's the matter with you, James?''- I told him to leave. He was scaring me…

You think you know a person, only to find out you have no idea who exactly is the guy, you have spent months, have laughed, have loved. Your life was a lie. Everything was a lie. You were living with a complete stranger, someone who hid his darkness very well.

James had suspected every man of desires towards me. Thank God my gynecologist was a woman, or I didn't dare imagine what my once love's reaction might have been. He would go completely insane by the thought a man was knowing me so intimately. I got so tired of dealing with James's jealousy.

I remembered what huge scandal he caused when I went to meet my cousins. Me and my cousins have been very close as kids, but when we got older everyone went on their separate ways. Some left the town, other the country. Life happened and we only began to see each other on the holidays and the family reunions. It was sad, so I had suggested all of us to go somewhere for the weekend, or to a restaurant or something. I missed talking to Bradley, who now lived in Portugal, I missed Laura, who was a flight attendant. So it had taken a lot of effort, but we booked ourselves a table in a restaurant outside the town and a rooms in the nearby hotel. We drank wine, we laughed. It was wonderful to be with them again, given how busy the life now was. We booked rooms because we knew we would stay up late, and it was risky to drive while all would be drunk. So the hotel was the best choice. But James had called me several times, asking me when I will return and was it really necessary to sleep in a hotel, when he could just pick me up. I had explained to him that it was no problem, it was only for one night, and I didn't want to make my love drive after midnight to pick me up, when he was on work on the next day and needed sleep. We would be fine. But James's tone that night, his words…. He accused me that I was with a lover, a friend of one of my cousin's, and I was hiding him from James. I ended the call then , because I was a little drunk, I was sleepy, and I was crying. Why James didn't believe in me?

My mother had told me when I was a teenager, and I had my first crush. My every thought was about this boy, and I really wanted him to notice me. My mother had sat next to me on my bed and told me the words, I still remembered.

'' Elizabeth, you are so young, my dear, and I want to teach you something about love. It is an incredible bond between two souls, and I know you will find love so many times. But my dear, don't make the mistake to let some boy control your life, to tell you what to do. It's not right, Liz, that's not love. Love is mutual respect and trust, not a need to control. You must learn to respect the other person, to respect his privacy. Never try to be the center of his world, he has to have freedom. And so do you. I know when you are in love, you neglect the other's bad sides. But, Elizabeth, some bad sides you can't neglect. Never let a man to control or possess you, you are not his slave. You both will be equals in your relationship. You have identity, freedom, and no man has the right to try to take that away from you. Be careful with men, Liz.''

My mother had been completely right, but I found out that too late. I was too blind to see the truth in front of me.

'' Stop the car! Now!''- I threw the blanket of me and placed my hand on my ex's shoulder. I hesitated if I should hit him with something, but he was driving, and that might get us killed. Evelyn, the sweet girl, on the passenger seat, eyed me, wondering why I had reacted like this. –'' Stop it , or I will…''- I looked quickly around me, and with regret found nothing to hit James with. I could try to grab the wheel, but it was risky. My life wasn't the only one at stake here.

'' You will what, Liz?''- James smiled.-'' I am driving, love. You don't want me to lose control, do you?''- My eyes widened. Was he really going to kill us? To crash the car somewhere?-'' Jesus, Elizabeth, really? I am hurt, my sweet.''- The man chuckled.-'' Calm down, dear. I am a responsible driver, but you know that already. I will never endanger the lives of two lovely ladies.''- My head was dizzy, and I wanted to throw up. This wasn't happening!

'' James, stop the car! You have to return this girl , from where you took her!''- I doubted I could reason with him. No sane person would ever do that. The man I loved would never do that. But have I known James really? Who was the real him? I looked at the girl again, and she seemed scared by our conversation. The poor thing! Evelyn looked healthy and was dressed in jeans, a red blouse and a jacket. All of her clothes were clean. This kid wasn't homeless, she had family. My heart broke.

'' Can't do that, Liz. We are far away from there.''- James lowered the window and the fresh air made me more dizzy, than relaxed. How could my ex be so calm about this?! James was completely insane! If before I had doubts about his mental health, now I was sure I was in a car with a really insane person. A person I had shared my bed with, who I have loved.

'' That girl has parents, James. They will worry for her.''- Her mother must be worried sick by now. I couldn't tell how long ago James had taken Evelyn, I had slept like a baby from his compulsion.

'' I know.''- My ex said calmly again. The world around me began to spin, but I shook my head to clear it.

'' Let the girl come to me, please. Let her sit next to me.''- My blood was freezing by how close Evelyn was to James. I didn't want him anywhere near the poor girl!

'' Fine.''- James stopped the car at one lay-by and turned around.-'' Please, Liz, don't try to run. ''- I only nodded. ''- You can sit next to my fiancée, Evelyn. ''- James smiled at the girl and she unbuckled her seat beat. I so badly wanted to yell at her to run, but where to? Cars were passing us, but James was impossibly fast and would catch her. The blond girl opened my door and sat down next to me. I quickly checked her for wounds, bruises. Evelyn was cute girl, with long blond hair, and green eyes. Dear God, what James had done! I thanked God that the girl was safe, she wasn't beaten, or bitten. My ex hadn't used her for blood. I hugged the kid, and praised God again. –'' Really, Liz?! You think I would hurt a child? You know me.''- I shot my once love the darkest look I was able to do.

'' I' m beginning to think I don't know you at all, James.''- All the things he had said to me once, promised me, were they true? Who was he really? James said nothing and started the car again.-'' What's your name, dear? How old are you?''- I let go of the girl, because I didn't want to scare her more. Her green eyes were moving between me and James, wondering what was going on in here.

'' My name is Evelyn Matthews. I'm 9 and a half years old.''- She began playing with the zipper on her jacket. My heart broke.-'' James said you lost your baby, Elizabeth, and you are very sad. He said I can cheer you up.''- I blinked rapidly, trying to process what I have heard.

'' You told her.. what?!''- I hissed and placed my hand on his shoulder.-'' Have you…?''- I didn't dare say compel. Evelyn probably knew nothing about my ex's other side. I hoped she didn't know.

'' Yes, otherwise she wouldn't have come.''- I leaned my head on the back of the seat and swallowed . I had agreed to go with James, he could have me. He could do everything he wants with me. But only with me. Why this girl? Why this sick circus? I took Evelyn's hand in mine and squeezed it gently. The girl eyed me with her green eyes.

'' I want to go to the bathroom. Can we stop somewhere?''- My heart broke from the plea in her voice.

'' Yes, we need fuel, too.''- James answered and after about 20 minutes we stopped at some gas station. My ex turned around and said after caressing my cheek.-'' Don't tempt me to do something , Elizabeth. Be a good girl. Both of you.''- I felt his compulsion pressuring me again, and I nodded. –'' Good. Buy our guest something, if she wants.''- He pushed some money in my hand and watched how we headed to the gas station. My legs were barely caring me. I never let go of Evelyn's hand until we went to the bathroom. I bought some snacks for Evelyn, because she said she wants some. I wanted to tell someone, to ask for help, but I couldn't. The words simply couldn't leave my mouth. I had to obey James . I asked Evelyn to wait for me as I visited the bathroom too.

'' I'm sorry about your baby, Elizabeth.''- Evelyn reached for my hand and I laced my fingers with hers. –'' You will get better.''

'' I know, sweetheart.''- I forced a smile as I looked down at her. This girl had only me now. I had to be strong for her and to return her safely to her family.

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James's POV

I fed from some man , which I grabbed from one car . The blood wasn't that tasty, but it had to do for now. I had to be in good shape, so Elizabeth and the kid won't escape. I was aware if I don't compel my love, or use the kid as a hostage, Liz would have tried to run away from me at least ten times. Her eyes were always looking for a way out. So I had to be in a full control, and I have to feed often.

I decided to shave my beard, it irritated me now, and made me older. Elizabeth never liked me with a beard. I took one of the razors I have bought, some shaving cream and fixed my appearance in the bathroom. I smiled as I looked at my reflection. My Lizzie once wasn't able to resist this face, and my charms. I have to remind her again what we were to each other.