Chapter 3: Sweet tooth (Claire's POV)

I sat on the bed, staring off into space. 

He took my phone away. 

I winced, rubbing my neck. That still hurts. I wonder if he just did that to put me to sleep or just snap a bone in my neck. I put my head back against the headboard and grabbed the remote, flicking through the TV. 

The door was pushed open and Leo walked in. "Your dad's calling." He threw my phone at me and stood at the door. 

"Can I get a minute?" I asked. 

"No, cause you'll convince him to get you out of here. And I only get paid if I keep you safe. Which will never happen if you get out." 

I rolled my eyes and put the phone to my ear. "Hello?" 

"Claire, how are you?" he asked. 

"Is that a joke?" I asked. 

"Sweetheart, I told you to cooperate with him," he sighed. 

"Cooperate with him? Dad, he clamped his hand over my mouth, threw me in a car, and put me to sleep," I said, all the while glaring at a smug-looking Leo. 

"It could have been done a lot smoother if you just listened," he replied. 

"I give up," I scoffed. 

"You're going to stay there with him until things get a little calmer." 

"And how long is that?" 

"I don't know, it could be a while." 

"How long is a while?" 

"More than a few months, honey." I threw my head back at the headboard, grabbing my sore neck immediately. "Sweetheart-" I hung up before he could give me any more excuses and tossed my phone on the bed. 

I tied my hair up loosely in a bun while trying to find the point so reduce the pain. How the hell did he find it so quick? 

"It's not that hard to find," he smirked. 

"You did this to me," I glared. 

He rolled his eyes before walking over and sitting beside me. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me up, making me sit straight. I looked anywhere but at him while he shifted closer. "You're gonna have to look at me, as much as you hate me, the feeling is mutual," he said. 

I turned to him, crossing my legs and scooting forward. 

"You're gonna have to get closer than that," he replied. I scooted forward a little. "Closer," he ordered. I glared at him before scooting further back, pulling my knees up. "Really?" he deadpanned. He grabbed my ankles and jerked me forward, pulling me closer to him. 

I resisted cursing at him while he lifted his hand and placed it on the back of my neck, his thumb behind my ear. I looked down at the bed while feeling his gaze on me. His finger trailed along my skin before settling on the back of my neck. 

"It might hurt," he mumbled, "Just a bit." 

I looked up at him and- oh my god. His eyes. Were they always like that or am I just noticing because we're sitting that close? They were hazel but had so much green. And so much blue. And so much brown. They were just hazel. But they were beautiful. 

He pressed down on my neck and I winced. "Ow," I grabbed his arm, eager to pull it down. 

He pulled away slowly, eyeing me wearily. "Good?" he asked. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding before nodding slowly. His eyes scanned my face before he stood up, grabbing my phone with him. 

I was hoping he'd leave that there. 

"Dinner at eight," he said before leaving, closing the door behind him. 

I leaned, back hitting my head against the headboard. "What the hell did you get me into, dad?" 

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I stood up and pulled the door open. I threw the towel into the hamper before leaving and going down for dinner. I ran my hand through my hair and ruffled it out before leaving the room and going downstairs. I looked left then right. 

Which way was the kitchen again? 

I jumped when someone patted my shoulder. "Right," Flynn chuckled before leading us to the kitchen. Leo was cooking. 

Leo was cooking us dinner. 

Leo was cooking. Shirtless. 

I could be held hostage forever looking at someone like that. 

Claire, no. 

Claire, yes. 

Shut the fuck up. 

Gladly. 

I sat down and kept my gaze on the counter, my nails tapping against it. He turned around, sliding our plates over to us before throwing a shirt on. 

Damn it. 

Claire, stop. 

Yes, I have conversations with myself, what about it? 

I grabbed the fork and poked at the food, not wanting to eat the food my kidnapper was feeding me. What if he poisons it? 

"Are we gonna have to feed you now?" Flynn teased. 

I rolled my eyes before starting to eat. I barely ate. I couldn't keep the food down. I lost my appetite. I was up in that room with nothing to do. All my mind could think about was what a fucked up life my dad is living and how it's affecting me. 

"I'm not hungry," I pushed the plate back before standing up and going back upstairs. 

"Claire!" I halted at the stairs when Leo called my name. I turned around and walked down until I could see him. "Get back here," he barked. I rolled my eyes but listened nonetheless. "Eat," he ordered. 

"Make me," I replied. 

"You're not gonna like that," he warned. 

I sighed before sitting back down, forcing in as much food as I could. Which still wasn't much. "Look, I'm not hungry, okay? I can't eat right now," I slid the plate back but he pushed it back to me. 

"You can't sneak around here at night looking for food." 

"Why not?" 

"Because he says so," Flynn spoke. 

"I don't care what he says," I scoffed. 

"You might want to," Flynn mumbled. 

I turned to Leo and saw him staring me down. "Please?" I asked. He huffed before slightly nodding at me. I got up and went up to the room I was staying in and climbed into the bed. 

I went to sleep fairly quickly but I woke up in the middle of the night. I was hungry. I groaned and kicked the covers off. 

I want ice cream. 

Do they have ice cream? 

Go look. 

I stood up and slowly pulled the door open. I stuck my head out. It's so dark. There was only one light on downstairs which was barely visible from up here. I blinked and tried adjusting to the dark and once I could see a little bit better, I started walking. 

Once I made it to the stairs, I was able to see the light and make my way down to the kitchen. I opened the freezer and saw a tub of chocolate ice cream just sitting there. I grinned to myself before opening the cabinet I saw Flynn put the bowl in after lunch. I grabbed a bowl and a spoon from the dishwasher before getting a few scoops. 

I turned around to leave, freezing when I saw Leo just standing there, leaning against the counter. "I thought I told you that you can't sneak around here for food at night," he spoke casually. 

"I wanted ice cream," I mumbled, "How did you know?" 

"Your room is across mine for a reason," he said before walking over and taking the bowl out of my hands and putting it in the freezer. 

"My ice cream," I pouted. 

"Get back to bed," he ordered. 

"Gee, grandpa. I want ice cream," I whined. He glared down at me. "I have a sweet tooth," I lied. I don't, except on occasions like this. 

"I don't care," he replied. 

"My sweet tooth will hate you." 

"Then we'll add that to the list," he said, grabbing my wrist. 

"My ice cream," I fake cried. He began pulling me to the stairs. "Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, ple-" He put his hand over my mouth. I made the best puppy-doe eyes I could and he didn't budge at all. Not even an inch. "I'll just sneak back down here," I shrugged when he pulled his hand away. "It's one bowl of ice cream, come on," I mumbled. 

He huffed before walking to the freezer and grabbing the bowl, stuffing it in my hands. I sat down on the counter and ate my ice cream while he stood there and watched. "Can you not watch me eat ice cream? It's creepy." 

"What do you want me to do? I was sleeping," he glared. 

"Then go back to sleep." 

"I'm supposed to be keeping an eye on you," he responded. 

"Aren't you taking this a bit too literally? What am I gonna do?" I asked. 

"Look, I'm letting you eat your stupid ice cream. Just eat," he ordered. 

Gladly. 

I finished the ice cream and left the bowl in the sink. He grabbed my wrist and turned the light switch off. "I can walk on my own you know," I said in the dark. We got to the stairs and I stubbed my toe. "Ow!" I cried out. "Are you dumb? Who turns the lights off and climbs the stairs in darkness?" I asked rhetorically. 

"I swear to god," he mumbled. Next thing you know, he swoops down and picks me up, carrying me all the way up there, leaving me stunned. 

What the-

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Chapter three

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next chapter: money