His Broken Submissive : Mercy

32 Where Were You?

Jonathan

Izzy flits around the kitchen, bouncing between the stove and sink as her music plays in the background. The soak and lazy day went a long way to soothe her worn body.

I find myself unable to concentrate on the papers in front of me as I sit at the kitchen table. Her light mood and high spirits shine through, brightening the whole room.

Watching her blossom from that timid mouse into the woman I see before me is everything. There's no doubt challenges still lay ahead but she has come so far already.

Last night was incredible. I've gotten to know her well over the last few months and the more she opens up, the deeper I fall for her.

The trust she showed me spoke volumes of her own thought. She gave herself over to me fully, to my needs, my desires and she found her bliss in it.

She smiles softly to herself, moving to the beat completely at peace. I can see how at ease she is with no nagging though, no crash, just content.

The look on her face at the end when she saw her reflection will be forever seared in my mind. She couldn't take her eyes off of us until they rolled back as she fell apart on me.

"Jonathan?"

I look up and Izzy is staring at me, her brows furrowed in concern. "What?" I murmur, forcing my attention back on the here and now.

"Where were you?" She teases.

I grab her wrist and tug her onto my lap as she giggles. Izzy doesn't fight me and melts against me as I hug her tight.

"I'm here," I say with a chuckle.

"You were a million miles away," she counters, giving me a pointed look.

"I was just thinking," I admit.

Izzy sobers up and looks up at me through her dark lashes with a hint of uncertainty. "About last night?"

"Mmm hmm," I mumble. "I was just thinking about how far you've come."

"Oh," she gasps as she catches on. Izzy drops her gaze and tucks her hair behind her ear as she shifts nervously.

"I was thinking specifically about how well you handled it," I say, lifting her chin to raise her gaze. "I'm so proud of you Angel."

Izzy flashes me a bashful smile and blushes but I see how much of an effect my praise has on her. I wrap my hand around her wrist and rub soothing circles over her pulse spot.

"Thank you," she whispers. Izzy bites her lip and mulls something over before taking a deep breath. "I know things haven't always been easy... but thank you for not giving up on this."

"It's a process right?" I assure her. "As long as this is what you want I will help you in any way I can."

Izzy grins and relaxes against me. I brush her hair back and nuzzle her neck.

"Lord knows I can't get enough of you." My voice is huskies than I intend but it's the truth.

She giggles and hides her face in my chest. "Lucky for you I'm not going anywhere."

"Good." Her comment was no doubt meant as a harmless joke but it still leaves me uneasy.

I can't help but think back to when she nearly left without a word. The drive home knowing something was terribly wrong and her phone off left me with the worst feeling in the pit of my stomach. Seeing the cab ready to leave made my heart stop, thinking I was too late.

"So what did you ask me?" I mumble, changing my train of thought.

"Hmm? Oh! What kind of pasta did you want?"

"Whatever you'd like Angel, as long as you make it I'll eat it." Izzy rolls her eyes and opens her mouth to complain but my cell phone stops her.

I pick it up and see Tony's name on caller ID. Izzy slips off my lap and I answer, heading out of the kitchen to not interrupt her.

"Hello?"

"Jonathan. I'm sorry to call out of the blue like this," Tony blurts out, making my stomach drop.

"Not a problem. Is something wrong?" I ask, knowing there is.

"No? Maybe?" Tony sighs on the other end. "Has Izzy heard from Becca today?"

"I don't think so no? Is everything okay?" I close the door to my office, not wanting to alarm Izzy and pace around the small space as I wait for details.

"Shit," he hisses, making my skin crawl. "This isn't like her! I mean she has her good days and bad but she isn't answering her phone... Fuck!"

"Fill me in. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation," I say, trying to calm him down.

"That's just it," he snaps, unable to hide his frustration, "there's nothing. It was a normal day. She went to pick up some shoes and run some errands and that's it."

"Maybe traffic?" I offer, knowing that wouldn't stop her from checking in.

"She would have called. No, this isn't like her." I can hear the frantic edge to his voice.

"Well, where did she go? I can-"

"I'm already out and pulling up to the mall..." he trails off making me tense.

"What is it?" I ask when he doesn't say anything.

"Her car is here... why is her car still here?! They closed an hour ago!" I hear his vehicle ding as he no doubt jumps out.

My grip on the back of my chair tightens painfully as I strain to hear any clues of what's going on. I hear him suck in a sharp breath and my heart stops. "What is it?!"

"Somethings wrong! Her purse, phone, keys... it's all on the floor on the passenger side. Fuck, fuck, fuck!" He chants, his voice is frantic and strained. I can't imagine how he feels, but if Izzy just up and disappeared like that, I don't know what I'd do.

"Okay, take a deep breath, we're going to figure this out," I say, racking my brain for the next step. "Where are you, I can leave and be there-"

"Whitewoods mall," he cuts in.

Whitewoods?

The name sounds familiar, making my stomach drop and my eyes go wide. That's our local mall. I can't be ten minutes away! Shit, Izzy shops there too! What if this isn't a coincidence?!

"I'm not far, hang on man, I'll be right over." I shake my head to clear away my own negative thoughts and focus on the task at hand. Checking to see that Izzy is still occupied I bolt from my office and slip upstairs, quickly tossing on the first pair of jeans and T-shirt I find.

Tony rambles on, trying to make sense of what could be happening. Becca has struggled with an ex but says she's managed to cut all ties with him now. Apparently, her friend circle is limited to the club with Izzy being about all she has, though Natasha has recently been making inroads.

He can't think of a single thing that would put her at risk or make her a target, saying over and over again about how careful she is. His thoughts keep drifting back to her ex and the anger in his voice makes it clear that this is more than a male rivalry.

I grab my keys and wallet from the side table and head downstairs to tell Izzy before heading out. Halfway down the stairs movement catches my attention stopping me on the spot.

"Jezus Christ, how bad is she?!" I gasp, taking in the woman in front of me.