"Genevieve?"

I opened my eyes to the darkness and for a moment I thought I was dreaming.

"Princess," he whispered as he bent down. The only light came from the door that was opened at the top of the stairs across the large basement.

I sat up slowly and stared at the dark figure next to the small cot I was tied to, "Dominic?"

"It's me, baby," he confirmed and even in a whisper, his deep baritone voice was like a sweet melody as it caressed my ears.

I threw my hands around his neck, "Thank God you found me," I exclaimed as I blinked out a few tears.

He wrapped his arms around my back and squeezed, "I will always find you. No matter where you are, no matter who or what forces try to take you away from me, I will always find you."

"I love you," I whispered into his neck and I never wanted to let go.

I took a deep breath and from his smell alone I could cry happy tears. I brought my hands into his hair and scratched his scalp lightly like I knew he liked.

"I love you more, Genevieve," he pulled back and took my face in his hands, "You have no idea how much of a mess I've been since you were taken. I didn't know if we would find you for a second there."

I sobbed out a laugh, "We?"

"My family," he nodded and kissed me, but I pulled away and wiped my tears.

He frowned and his brows knit together. Sadness plagued his features as he waited for an explanation.

"I haven't brushed my teeth in two days, Dominic," I whispered.

I hadn't been able to shower either so I knew I looked a mess. I was ashamed that as usual, he looked like a God in his dark suit, his short hair styled perfectly from what I could make of it, and his breath a warm spearmint-- while I looked unkempt.

He shook his head, "I don't care, Princess. I've missed you so fucking much."

He crashed his lips to mine and I felt a wetness on my cheeks that didn't belong to me. He pulled away but leaned his forehead against mine as he let out a shaky breath, "I was so fucking worried, Genevieve, fuck."

I pulled his lips to mine, "I was too. I was worried I would never see you again."

He was still trying to control his breathing as he swiped at his cheeks, "It's okay because it's over now. I'm here and I'm taking you home."

He leaned to the side for a moment before bringing something up to the dim light and opening it. With what I now knew was a small pocket knife, he cut the rope that tethered me to the bed and pulled me up so that my legs were around his waist.

"Close your eyes," he whispered gently as we made our way up the stairs.

"Why?"

He took a deep breath, "Please, listen to me, Princess. Close your eyes and keep them closed until I tell you to open them. Understand?"

I nodded and shut my eyes. I would listen to everything he asked of me from now on, as I knew the last time I didn't...

The smell of iron and...pee...was heavy in the air, but I did as I was told and squeezed my eyes shut.

I tried to focus on the man I was clung to: His shoulders broad, his arms strong as he held me up, his hands supportive under my thighs.

I kissed his neck and brought my hand into the hairs at the nape of his neck. He smelled like home and so like himself that I wanted to live in the scent.

I heard him open a door before stepping out into the cool but humid air and then I heard the door shut, "You can open your eyes now."

I opened them and saw us retreating from a white two-story house. I had been in a regular house basically the whole time?

"Why was I taken, Dominic," I whispered. I hadn't gotten an explanation from anyone, not my captors and not the man who held me in the basement.

"I'll explain everything to you when we get home. Is that okay, Princess? There are still a few things I have to take care of before I can sit down and talk with you."

I sighed as we walked further down the walkway of this house, "Okay. Where are we going?"

I heard a car door opening, "Ms. Carlyle, it's a pleasure to have you back."

I turned around in Dominics' arms and saw Charlie smiling. I pushed away from Dominic before wrapping my arms around Charlies' waist.

"I'm so happy to see you, Charlie," I buried my face in his chest as his arms wrapped around me.

"You as well, Genevieve," I heard him chuckle.

I pulled away and looked up at him, "I'm sorry we had a fight before I--"

He shook his head, "Water under the bridge, Genevieve. I'm just happy that you're back and safe."

I felt Dominics' hand on my lower back and turned. He had a slightly annoyed look on his face, but I put my hand to his cheek to silently reassure him that he is the one I'd been missing this whole time.

He was the one I couldn't wait to get back to. He's the one whose lips I couldn't wait to kiss, hands I couldn't wait to hold, arms I couldn't wait to be wrapped up in.

His face softened as he saw the love I had for him in my eyes, "Please wait in the car for me, Princess. I'll only be a few moments."

I nodded and Charlie helped me into the backseat.

"I really am sorry for everything that I said to you, Charlie," I murmured as I looked into his eyes through the rearview mirror.

I saw him nod, "It's okay. I know you're stubborn and that's okay. You should be able to speak your mind freely to me. After all, my job is to listen and observe."

I chuckled, "I like your opinions on things, though. You were right, by the way."

He nodded again and I saw a small smirk play at the corners of his lips, "I usually am."

I looked back at the house now, "What is he doing in there?"

"Um," I heard him hesitate.

I looked back into the rearview mirror, "The truth, Charlie. I value blunt honesty, remember?"

I heard him sigh, "He and Preston are cleaning up."

What could they be cleaning up?

I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand.

I remembered the harsh smell of iron, "They...he...

"Try not to think about it too hard, Genevieve. He's no stranger to these types of things," he said in a gentle voice as if talking to a child.

He's done this before? I shuddered at what he must've made me close my eyes from seeing. Was it the man--my jailor? Was it my captors too?

"They've...done this...for me?"

I saw him nod again, "You are a part of the family now, Genevieve, and they are fiercely loyal to their family. They all came together in search of you. Dominic and Preston have actually been working together for the last day and that is a difficult feat for them to accomplish as they haven't spoken but a few words to each other over the past several years."

"Really? All of them," I asked and my cheeks reddened and I felt that familiar sting in my eyes at the thought of the two brothers working together for a common goal--Me.

"Yeah: Dominic and Preston, Katherine, Elijah, and even Nathaniel. The other three are at the house still."

Oh, Jesus. I would be meeting the whole family now? What would they think of me? Would they think me stupid for not listening to Dominic? Hell, thought I was stupid for not listening. Would they like me? Would they think I was worthy of being with their brother?

I knew Katherine and Preston...fairly well, but it was Elijah and Nathaniel I was worried about.

"They already love you, Genevieve. Like I said, you're already a part of the family and they are fiercely loyal to their family."

I nodded and stared at the house again. I don't know if it was from the shock that I've been put through these past two days or what, but I didn't feel any sort of way about Dominic and Preston 'cleaning up' in the house. I tried to push the man who owned the house, the family he must have, and the fact that he was probably the reason Dominic had made me shut my eyes until we were outside the confines of the house out of my mind.

Instead, I laid down across the backseat and let the warm, idling car lull me into a slumber.