The Day Silence Spoke novel Chapter 38

Clifford had been searching for her all night. He had checked the entire route from the restaurant back home, but there was no sign of her.

He loosened his tie, but the tightness in his chest remained. He yanked it off and threw it on the sofa.

Ziven stood nearby, saying meekly, "Mr. Lambert, maybe she'll come back on her own soon."

"You haven't found her either?"

Ziven shook his head. "The street where she disappeared has no security cameras, but we've narrowed down the general area. The team I sent out should find her soon."

"That stupid woman!" Clifford sank onto the sofa, running a hand through his hair. "She'll go with just about anyone."

Ziven glanced at him, thinking, “Now he's worried. I wonder who was the one who abandoned her at the restaurant last night.”

Of course, he kept the thought to himself.

"I'll go out and look again," Ziven said, quickly excusing himself.

...

Latisha left after eating the eggs. She was waiting at a bus stop when Clifford's men found her. She recognized them and got into the car without protest.

When she arrived back at the villa, the tension in the air was palpable. She looked up and saw Clifford on the sofa. His face was dark, his hair disheveled, and his eyes were fixed on her like a predator.

His men quickly and quietly left the house.

Latisha bit her lip and walked toward him. Before she could do anything, he shot to his feet, and she instinctively took a step back.

"What are you hiding from?" He grabbed her wrist, yanking her forward. Seeing the fear in her eyes, he sneered, "What are you afraid of? You weren't afraid when you left with a complete stranger."

His grip was crushing. She struggled, but couldn't break free, a pained frown creasing her forehead.

Clifford looked at her dirty clothes. "Where the hell have you been?"

Latisha stumbled, catching her balance just in time to rush back to the door. She grabbed the frame, shaking her head frantically.

The storage closet was her nightmare, the source of a trauma that had haunted her entire life.

He was the one who had saved her from it all those years ago. Was he really going to be the one to throw her back in?

Her eyes pleaded with him, but he ignored her. He grabbed the doorknob, and despite her struggles, he slammed the door shut.

Darkness enveloped her. The memories, the fear she had buried so deep, came rushing back like a tidal wave.

She twisted the handle, but it was locked from the outside. She pounded on the door with her fists, but the man on the other side didn't answer. Her silent screams were too faint, too weak to convey even a fraction of her despair.

She pressed herself against the door, wanting to tell him she was scared.

So scared...