CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Iris opened her eyes slowly. She was in a large king-size bed. Her lower jaw was tender and sore as she rubbed at it gingerly. Nathan slugged her, she recalled. In fact, she ached all over it seemed from head to foot. She began to shudder violently at that point, memories of her abduction in Dallas at the hands of Max Schneider flooding her mind now coupled with Nathan's twisted attack on her. Struggling to control the mental onslaught and banish those images while breathing a silent prayer that Nathan's assault had done nothing to harm her and Jim's unborn children, Iris listened carefully for any sign of Nathan or his mother. Not hearing anything immediately, Iris quietly got up to peer out one of the bedroom windows. The room was large, airy, and decorated quite stylishly. Iris noted a surveillance camera in the ceiling. The view outside was spectacular of a lake but what lake…Lake Mead? She could see no other nearby houses or even a boat out on the lake. Iris noted the bedroom to be on the second floor. Nature called and she was glad to find that there was a bathroom adjoining the bedroom.
As she came out of the bathroom, she found Nathan and Evelyn waiting for her. She was immediately on her guard.
"Iris, my sweet, I trust you've rested well," Nathan said in a honey-sweet tone.
"Save your pleasantries, Randall, they fall on deaf ears!" Iris declared angrily.
"Very well, you might as well see the entirety of your gilded cage. Remember the little bluebird figurine I sent you after I was in custody? Mother sent that to you on my behalf. You are now the caged bird, my dear, so I require your respect. I don't expect you to love me, but the children you bear will and if you hope to see them, you will be the picture of cooperation," Randall avowed, his voice tight with anger.
Evelyn went to stand by Iris, seizing one of her wrists in a vise-like grip. "You'll play the part of the wife my son desires, or you'll have me to answer to."
Iris met her stare unwavering with her own. "Iron bars do not a prison make, you and your son will fail in this. My husband is coming for me. I will be delivered from this." Iris resolved with such an air of confidence and conviction that Evelyn's eyes narrowed at her.
"Mother, please, she will see our way is the best one; that is, if she wants to remain in this life," Nathan cajoled with a malevolent chuckle as he went to grasp Iris' unwilling hand while he gazed fixedly into her eyes.
Iris felt an icy hand clutch her heart. She had no doubt whatsoever she was staring into the eyes of pure evil.
"Come along, my precious, see what great lengths my mother has gone to make our first home a cozy nest," Nathan coaxed, literally having to drag Iris with him yet again.
The home was indeed spacious and luxurious in décor as Iris was forced to go from room to room with Nathan and his mother. One bedroom held three cribs, two painted blue and one pink. Iris' heart revolted at the thought of her babies being born here. The bedroom next to it had been arranged to look like a delivery suite including medical equipment.
"Why is this room set up this way?" Iris questioned Nathan.
"The babies will be delivered here by a physician we're flying in from Mexico when you do appear to be in labor. Mother will pick him up at a nearby local airport. Everything has been arranged well in advance," Nathan replied smoothly.
"What if there are complications?" Iris persisted.
"A nurse who works with the doctor will come as well. Barring something life-threatening, we can handle your labor and delivery here," Nathan commented.
"What if it's life-threatening then?" Iris would not be dissuaded.
"You ask too many questions about things that may not occur, but should there be complications, we're prepared to save the children," Nathan replied with an air of nonchalance.
No matter what, her life was forfeit and her children would be left in the care of a pedophile and his amoral mother. A cold wind blew through her soul as her heart cried out for Jim.
Taking both of her hands in his now, Nathan gave her a dreamy look as he continued.
"You will appreciate the updates Mother has done to the home for security. All windows are double-paned and are security locked by remote control. All doors and windows are wired with an alarm system. There are surveillance cameras in all the rooms of the house. Mother and I can see where you will be at all times day or night as the cameras have night vision as well. All doors going in and out are dead-bolted, again Mother or I only have a key. Don't entertain thoughts of trying to fly away, Iris. We've covered all avenues of escape. There's no inside phone and while there is a computer here with a webcam, your access is limited and will be monitored daily. Of course, you can't email or blog or chat or Ebay, but you otherwise can use the computer. Mother will go in to Las Vegas for anything we need. I will be here as your constant knight in shining armor."
Clearing her throat, Iris then gave him a slight smile with a wink. "Nathan, I am truly impressed at the lengths you and your mother have gone to. I can safely say no one at the CSI Lab or Vegas PD would've thought this possible. They were truly stumped as to your whereabouts."
"The sooner you accept your role here, the better things can be between us. I didn't lie when I told James on that camcorder that I wanted my own family and coveted his. We could be such a happy family, Iris, please give it a chance! After the children are born, we'll leave here and make a new life in Mexico. Mother has again made arrangements there. Just think, Iris, a second chance for a new life," Nathan gushed, his mind flashing ahead.
Iris would maintain the façade that Nathan desired of a Susie Homemaker wife. Her mind was racing. Looking blandly about her, she was formulating ideas of how to escape but time was not on her side. She knew she would protect the children at any cost. She would not abandon them to a fate of guaranteed abuse at the hands of Nathan Randall. Escape before her due date at Christmas and that Jim would find her were the strands of hope she would cling to.