Thank you again for everyone's feedback. I really enjoy reading them. I promise this story has a conclusion and it will be coming in the next few chapters.
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AD
"I have to tell you that I'm miserable, Santos," Loren cried. She leaned back against the desk drawer and closed it hoping Santos didn't see that she had been rifling through it.
"I've brought you food – "
"Do you think that's enough?" Loren screamed. "I'm being held against my will. I'm tied up worse than a forgotten dog in a back yard. And you say you love me?" Loren asked with bitterness in her voice. "Is this the way you treat someone you love?"
"No," Santos pleaded walking up to her. He pulled out a knife and for an instant Loren's heart stopped. He reached behind her and cut the rope that was tying her wrists together. Loren couldn't stop the sigh that escaped her as her hands and arms were finally free.
"I'm sorry, Loren," Santos said. "I had to do it. If I lose you . . . I'm dead."
Loren rubbed her sore wrists as she said, "What do you mean?"
"I have to complete this. Revenge must be complete."
"Revenge," Loren said. She knew he must mean Mitchell's revenge, but she had to get him to admit it. "What kind of revenge is worth your life?"
"The only kind worth dying for," Santos said. He bent down and cut the rope tying her ankles together. "Here's your food," he said. "You can sit here and eat."
Loren wanted to reject the food but her stomach betrayed her and growled. She sat at the chair as Santos pulled out Styrofoam containers of food. He had picked up Chinese food and even remembered what she said she liked. She looked up at him as he was busy at his task and wondered what was going on in his head. There had to be more.
"What revenge is worth your life?" Loren asked as she took her plastic fork and stabbed a pieced of sweet and sour chicken.
Santos didn't look up as he said, "An eye for an eye."
"So it's true," Jackie said walking into Chloe's apartment.
"Yes, mother, it is," Chloe said shutting the door. "Go ahead and say it. I'm being foolish. This is all a publicity stunt, or your favorite, this is all about Eddie."
"Actually, I would think it was more about Tyler than Eddie," Jackie said. "I figured after the police investigation it had finally gotten through your head that Eddie was done with you. I thought Tyler was all you had left. Apparently I was wrong?" The last sentence was a question thrown at Raymond.
"Mrs. Kowalski - ," Raymond started to say.
"You can call me Jackie," Jackie said.
"Jackie, I do apologize for not being traditional in our marriage," Raymond said. "It's just that Chloe and I got carried away while in Vegas this week."
Jackie shook her head as she looked at the pair. "I never thought I'd see that day. Raymond," Jackie smiled, "Would you mind if I spoke with my daughter alone?"
"Of course," Raymond said. "I should probably go get some things from my place. I'll be back," he said. He leaned in and kissed Chloe on the cheek before he walked out.
Chloe realized that nothing had ever been physical between them. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. He seemed to make it clear earlier that their marriage was one of convenience, which she was fine with to a certain degree. Even as she thought that, her heart turned cold. Is this what her life had become? Had everything become a scheme or a plan? She guessed that she only had herself to blame. Her pursuit of Eddie, her rejection of Tyler, and even her date with Dylan, were all orchestrated for another, greater purpose. Again, the universe was catching up with her and putting her in her place.
"What's going on?" Jackie asked. "I had to read online that you got married. And in Vegas? Chloe, are you pregnant?"
"No," Chloe said walking over to the couch and sitting down. "I can promise you that. We haven't even . . . "
"What?" Jackie asked sitting next to her.
"Raymond and I haven't . . . you know," Chloe said.
"But you're married," Jackie said. "I assumed you dated before."
"Not long," Chloe said. "Everything happened so fast. I woke up the next morning with a ring on my finger."
Jackie shook her head, "I don't like this, Cynthia, not one bit."
"Mom, there you go seeing the bad in everything. Why can't you just accept what's happened? I'm married. Let me live this part of my life and see where it goes."
"How well do you know this Raymond Cruz?' Jackie asked.
"Well enough to know that 'Cruz' isn't his real last name," Chloe said triumphantly.
"Really?" Jackie asked. "And do you know where his place is when he says he's going home to get clothes?"
Chloe gave her mom a 'go to hell' look mainly because she had a point.
"No, no, no," Eddie kept saying as he stared at the phone. "This can't be happening."
He took out his own phone and dialed Max as he dropped Tyler's phone on the table.
"Pop, call Joe . . . call someone. We have to fix this," Eddie choked out as tears began to spill from his eyes. "This can't happen. He needs to find her now."
"Eddie, what is it?" Tyler asked. Eddie looked at his face and saw genuine concern, but he still couldn't tell him everything.
"TMZ is running a story that she's missing. They can't . . . they can't do that. Get it pulled down now!" Eddie continued. "I have to sit here until he calls again."
Tyler continued to sit in stunned silence as Eddie listened to what Max was saying. Eddie eventually hung up and dropped his face in his hands.
"Eddie, look, I know what happened between us before . . . "
Eddie laughed bitterly as he raised his head and looked at Tyler.
"I'm so passed what happened with us . . . and Chloe," Eddie said. "I've moved on. But right now someone is threatening my happiness and Loren's. I can't let that happen."
Tyler's phone dinged, and he looked down and was surprised by the picture sent to him.
"This is what you called being over Chloe?" Tyler asked.
He turned his phone, and Eddie saw a picture of himself arguing with Raymond with Chloe in the background. Eddie figured the stalker was trying to make him miserable by making him relive his history with Tyler and Chloe.
"No wonder she's mad at you," Tyler said. "I'm no relationship expert, but it seems like hanging out with your ex and having pictures taken with a random girl looking like you're about to sleep with her is no way to keep a girl."
"You know nothing," Eddie ground out.
Tyler cocked his head to the side pensively. "Has Loren asked for space or is she really missing?" Tyler asked.
Eddie looked at Tyler and thought about how to answer.
"I don't know what I'm supposed to say," Eddie answered. "I just want her here with me. That's all I want. I'd give up everything for her right now. Ask me for anything, and it's yours. I only want her."
Tyler nodded his head. "If it was within my power, I would. I know what it's like to be in love. I'm not gonna lie; you're not my favorite person in the world, but I see you're in pain. If you're past what happened between us then I am too."
Eddie nodded and took a drink. He felt like a caged lion. He needed to be doing something else. His mind kept wandering to Loren and what she was doing now.
Eddie received a text from an unknown number. It was a picture of Loren. She was still wearing the dress from last night. Her head was bent over a plate of food contemplating what she was going to eat next. She didn't look scared or even tired. Eddie didn't know what to make of the picture. He had imagined her tied up and terrified. This picture sent to him looked like Loren was enjoying a casual lunch.
The text message said. "We're having a great time. You can go home now."
Eddie fought to hold it together. His emotions were going through a roller coaster of highs and lows. He wanted this to end. He wanted to call Loren and tell her to be ready in five minutes because they were going to the new pizza place she had been wanting to go to. He wanted to hold her in his arms, and kiss her until she whispered his name.
For a split second he pictured hurling his phone through a window to let out his frustration. He couldn't lose it here in public. Eddie knew that picture of Loren was made to look like she was having a good time. This was all part of the torture. Whoever was behind all of this was trying to attack him from all angles.
He had an idea of how to get the story down from TMZ. He stood up and threw down some money. "I have to go," he said to Tyler. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk to the press. At least not right now."
Tyler only nodded.
"And watch out for Chloe," Eddie said. "I thought I loved her, but all I knew was Chloe Carter. You knew both Cynthia and Chloe, and you still loved her. Seems to me it would be a lot harder for you to get her out of your system. You loved her knowing how bad she could be."
"I'm meeting Eddie," Max announced walking out of the bedroom. Mel, Ian, and Mitchell had been sitting in awkward silence in the living room for a few minutes.
"Loren?" Mel asked.
"No," Max said. "We're trying to cut off a story TMZ is running. Listen, Nora is asleep. She needs her rest, so don't bother her unless we find Loren."
"Sure, Max," Mel said. "I've got it covered."
Max walked out the door leaving the trio back in their tension-filled room.
"So, Ian, when's your next gig?" Mel asked.
"Are you trying to push me out of LA?" he asked dryly.
"No, I just . . . I'm trying to make conversation," Mel said.
"I was actually going to shoot Eddie and Loren's tour," Ian said. "That was the plan anyway."
"Hmmmm, me too," Mel said.
"I thought you were doing that job you were offered?" Ian asked.
"You were offered a job doing movies?" Mitchell asked.
"Kinda," Mel said, "I did a video for Loren when Eddie was missing a few months ago, and it caught the attention of some movie making people and . . . I feel weird talking about it right now."
"I'd like to see your video," Mitchell said. "I bet it's great."
"Well I video everything," Mel said. "And when Eddie went missing . . . well, really when we thought Eddie was dead, I made this video as a tribute to him. Loren loved it."
"It was a very sweet thing for you to do," Ian said.
Mel smiled. "They have this connection that I don't think anyone understands. I saw it the first time she met him. I think he felt it too. It took them a while to get in sync, but once they did you could tell it was special."
"Really?" Mitchell said. "That's unique if you can find it."
"I'd like to find it someday," Mel said.
"Me too," Mitchell said.
The silence in the room was broken by a knock on the door. Mel got up thankful for the interruption and opened the door.
A tall blonde stood outside clutching a purse in her hands with her head held down. Mel recognized the girl from somewhere.
"Is this Loren Tate's house?" the blonde asked.
"Who wants to know," Mel asked with an edge to her voice.
"I need to talk to her," the girl said.
"She's not here," Mel said, "But I'm her best friend, so you can tell me, and I'll see that she gets your message."
"I need to apologize to her," the girl said.
"You're the girl from the photos," Ian said as he walked up to the door.
"Yeah," she said clutching her purse tighter.
"That was you," Mel said with ice dripping in her voice. "Do you know all the trouble you've caused?"
"I know," the girl said. "Look – "
"There's nothing you can say right now that can make this better," Mel said. "You broke my best friend's heart, and I don't take that lightly."
"Come in," Ian said as he opened the door wider.
Mel shot Ian a questioning look as the blonde walked in and stopped cold when she saw Mitchell.
"Mitchell, hi," the girl said.
Mel immediately looked at Mitchell's face. All she saw was shock there. He didn't seem to recognize her, but then again he was an actor. He could have been totally prepared for this.
"I'm sorry," Mitchell said, "I don't remember meeting you."
"Oh," she said sounding disappointed, "I'm Haley. We met at the Foundation Room. You invited me back to your hotel room. Well, you invited me, but I was with Eddie."
"No," Mel said. "You can't convince me that Eddie went along with this."
"That's what I came here to clear up with Loren," Haley said. "I feel horrible."
"Here," Ian said. "Have a seat. Maybe you can start from the beginning."
"Thank you," Haley said. "I guess you don't remember anything, Mitchell?"
Mitchell shook his head. Mel looked over at Haley and tried to keep a scowl off of her face. She looked like Chloe. Same body frame, long blonde hair, and blue eyes. Haley didn't have the same coldness in her eyes like Chloe did though. That's where they differed.
"That's probably a good thing," Haley said. "I've felt terrible. Especially after reading all of the rumors online about Eddie and Loren breaking up. I swear, I was told that Loren was bad for Eddie. I was told that he could do better than her and that breaking them up would be a good thing."
"Who told you that?" Mel asked.
"The night before, I was out and met this guy who started talking to me. He said he knew you," Haley said motioning to Mitchell. "He asked me if I knew Eddie or Loren, and I don't so I said 'no.' He kept saying that Loren was like Chloe, and I had to get Eddie away from her. I'm a huge Eddie Duran fan, so I felt I was doing something good."
"That's ridiculous," Mel said. "Loren is nothing like Chloe. In fact, she's the complete opposite."
"I know. I mean, I figured that out after I met you two in the bathroom of Tabu the other night."
"That's who you are," Mel said. "Yeah, you looked shocked when you met Loren."
"I was," Haley said. "She was so nice. I knew I had made a mistake."
Mel choked up on the next words. She knew no matter what the answer was she had to tell Loren. "Did you sleep with Eddie?"
Haley smiled and then shook her head. "No. Not from my lack of trying. I was told that was the only way to get him away from her, but he was having none of it. And boy did I try." She started to laugh but then realized no one else shared her humor, so she stopped.
"Did you know those photographs were going to be taken?" Ian asked.
Haley shook her head, "No, I swear I didn't know anything about that."
"I don't know if I believe you," Mel said. "You could have been in on this whole thing. Who was this guy you met that told you Loren was so horrible?"
"He told me his name was Rick, but I have a feeling that wasn't his real name," Haley said. "He wouldn't give me his number or his last name."
"And out of the blue he came up to you and started talking about Loren?" Mel asked skeptically.
"He said I looked like Chloe Carter. That's how we started talking," Haley said.
"One thing doesn't add up," Ian said. "I believe you and your part in this, but there is still something that I don't understand."
"What?" Haley asked.
"How did you happen to be at the same club where Eddie was at Tuesday night? There are dozens of clubs on the Vegas strip, so how did you know where Eddie would be?"
"Rick told me to be at the Foundation Room and Eddie would be there," Haley said.
"So someone had to get him there," Ian said. Mitchell had been looking down at his phone and looked up when Ian asked, "Care to explain, Mitchell?"
Loren sat across from Santos watching him use his phone. He had his personal phone on him constantly. He used burner phones to call Eddie. She saw where he snapped a picture of her eating and sent that to him. She wasn't tied up, or crying, or in any kind of distress in the photo he sent Eddie. Loren didn't know what Eddie must be thinking right now.
"What's the final goal, Santos?"
"What do you mean?"
"This can't go on much longer," Loren said. "We can't stay here forever. Even if Eddie and I don't end up together, we need to talk and get everything out in the open. I can't move on unless I do that."
"You want to see him?" Santos asked.
"Yes, I want to see what he has to say. That's only fair to him"
"Fair!" Santos yelled. "He broke your heart, and you talk of being fair. Ugh!" Santos said as he stood up and paced the room. Santos reached into his backpack and took out his gun. Loren's heart jumped, and she frantically looked around for something to hide behind. She made a split second decision to stay in her seat.
"I wish I could just shoot him right now," Santos yelled. "He hurt you; how could he do that? It's not the first time he's hurt someone who loves him. That's what he does, and he needs to be stopped."
"What are you talking about, Santos?" Loren asked. "Who else did he hurt?"
Santos shook his head, "I can't tell you. It's not important now anyway. I have to stay the course."
"What does that mean?" Loren cried frustrated. "How long are we gonna stay here? This makes no sense; this has to stop."
Santos still had the gun in his hand as he ran his other hand through his hair. Loren felt like she was getting through to him. Maybe he could see how futile this was. The key to breaking him would be to get him to admit Mitchell was behind everything. Then she could convince Santos that all of this was wrong.
"This is out of control," Santos said. "I have to – "
Santos phone beeped with a text message interrupting what he was going to say. Loren was bothered by the fact that she anticipated each message praying the next one told him to let her go. She doubted that would happen, but she could hope.
"No," Santos whispered. "This can't be happening."
"What is it, Santos?" Loren didn't like the dread in his voice. His demeanor had changed. His shoulders slumped, and he looked defeated. Something had happened.
"TMZ is running a story that you're missing and possibly kidnapped." He looked up at her, and a tear ran down his cheek. "I was told in no uncertain terms what must be done if word of you missing got out, and now it's happened." Santos looked Loren straight in the eye, his phone in one hand and his gun in the other, and said, "I've been given the order to kill you."