Twisted Devotion

Chapter Twenty

Ava's mind raced, her thoughts tangled in a web of fear and confusion. She needed a plan, a way to make Dominic believe she was willing to comply, at least long enough to find a real chance at escaping. But right now, in this moment, she felt trapped by more than just the walls of the cabin.

Dominic finished locking the door and turned to face her, his eyes still holding that unsettling mix of tenderness and obsession. Ava forced herself to remain calm, to think strategically. There was no use fighting now—not when she was outmatched and isolated.

"I know you're scared," Dominic said softly, moving toward her, his voice thick with emotion. "But you don't need to be. I've always protected you, Ava. I've always cared for you more than anyone else ever could."

Ava's stomach churned, but she kept her expression neutral. "I—I don't know if I can do this, Dominic," she whispered, her voice trembling with a calculated vulnerability. She took a deep breath, lowering her gaze. "I'm just so confused."

Dominic's face softened, and he reached out to cup her cheek, his touch almost reverent. "You'll understand soon. I've been waiting for this for so long, Ava. I built this place for us, a place where we can be together, away from everything and everyone that tried to tear us apart."

Her pulse quickened as his words sank in. He had built this prison with her in mind, planned every step of this horrifying scenario. There was no reasoning with someone so deeply lost in his delusion. But if she could convince him that she was willing to listen, to give in, maybe she could buy herself more time.

"I don't know if I'm ready," Ava whispered, her voice barely audible. She forced herself to look into his eyes, her fear masked by a feigned hesitation. "I need time, Dominic. I need to process all of this."

Dominic's expression shifted, his eyes softening with a trace of hope. "I'll give you time," he said gently, as if he were offering her a gift. "I don't expect you to understand everything right away. But I promise, Ava, once you see how much I love you, how much I've done for us, you'll know that this is where you're meant to be."

Ava nodded slowly, her throat tight with the effort to keep herself composed. "Okay," she whispered. "I'll try."

His relief was palpable, and he smiled, a faint, almost boyish smile that twisted Ava's heart in ways she didn't want to admit. "Thank you," he murmured, stepping closer to wrap his arms around her. She stiffened at the contact but forced herself not to pull away.

"You're safe here," Dominic said softly, his breath warm against her hair. "I'll take care of you. Always."

The weight of his arms around her felt like a cage, and every instinct in her screamed to run, to fight, to do something. But there was nowhere to go, no one to help her. The cabin was isolated, and Dominic had made it clear that no one would be looking for her. At least not for a long time.

Ava swallowed hard and pulled back slightly, creating just enough distance to breathe. "I'm tired," she said, her voice shaking with a mixture of exhaustion and dread. "I think I need to lie down."

Dominic nodded, his eyes filled with concern. "Of course. You've been through so much today. Rest, and we can talk more in the morning." He led her to the small bed in the corner of the room, his hand resting on her lower back as if guiding her to safety rather than imprisonment.

Ava sat on the edge of the bed, her body tense, every muscle coiled with the urge to escape. But she knew better. The door was locked, and Dominic was watching her every move. There was no escape tonight. Maybe not tomorrow. Maybe not for weeks.

Dominic knelt beside her, his hand brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I'll be right here," he whispered, his voice laced with that unnerving tenderness. "You don't have to worry anymore. I'll never let anything happen to you."

Ava forced a small nod, her throat too tight to speak. Her gaze flicked around the cabin, taking in every detail—there was a single small window on the far wall, but it was too high up, too small to be any real hope of escape. The walls were solid wood, no cracks or weaknesses that she could see. And Dominic... he wasn't going to leave her side.

Dominic stood and crossed the room to a small table, where he began to prepare something from a bag of supplies. "I'll make us something to eat," he said, his voice casual, as if they were just two people sharing a quiet evening together, not a captor and his prisoner.

Ava lay back on the bed, her body sinking into the thin mattress. She stared up at the ceiling, her mind racing with the horrible reality of her situation. She was trapped in this cabin, alone with a man who thought this was love. There was no one coming for her. No one even knew where she was.

The weight of that realization pressed down on her, suffocating her hope.

As Dominic hummed softly to himself, his back turned, Ava closed her eyes, her hands gripping the coarse fabric of the blanket beneath her. She would have to be patient. She would have to survive. But for now, for tonight, she had no choice but to stay.

"I love you, Ava," Dominic said quietly, not turning to face her, but she could feel the weight of his words. They hung in the air like a dark cloud.

Ava's eyes stung with unshed tears, her chest tight with the crushing weight of her situation. She had to find a way out of this. But for now, all she could do was nod and whisper, "I know."