Billionaire Undaunted: The Billionaire's Obsession ~ Zane Read Online Free Page A

“I was too fat for him in the beginning, and I think he got more joy out of torturing me. Once I got thinner, he told me I was a dirty, disgusting pig.”
    Zane stroked her hair absently. “I’m so damn sorry I didn’t find you earlier.”
    She smiled up at him weakly. “I’m grateful you found me at all .” She hesitated before saying, “I wonder what he did with my car. He could have taken my keys, but I wonder where he hid my old Blue Turtle. ”
    “Your what?” Zane answered, confused.
    Ellie sighed. “I called my car my Blue Turtle . I had it for so long, but it just kept on going. It just got a little slower over time.”
    “It was never found,” Zane confirmed.
    “I assume that once you found me, you brought me here. Where are we?”
    “Denver. It was closer, and has medical facilities better equipped for the condition you were in. I did what I could the first night of the blizzard, but when you still weren’t coherent the next day, I headed down from the mountain. The snow had let up some, and I had to take the chance of getting you somewhere for treatment.”
    “I lost track of time. How long did James keep me there?” Ellie had lost her senses a little at a time, and the days and nights had all run together.
    “About seven months,” Zane answered reluctantly.
    Ellie’s mouth dropped open in shock. For a while, she’d counted the days and weeks that passed, but eventually she’d slept most of the time when James wasn’t there. After she’d tried everything she could think of to get herself free, her hopes of being rescued had faded. Little by little, her energy had gotten depleted, and she’d started rationing her food and water, never knowing when she’d get some again…or if she ever would.
    “My mom. She’s probably been heartsick.” If she’d been missing for months, her poor mother was probably worried.
    “I called her. Saying she was happy would be an understatement. She’s on her way here from Montana.” He waited a moment before he asked, “Do you want me to tell Chloe?”
    “No,” she answered immediately. “She deserves her time away after what happened with James. It sounds like she’s healing. I can see her when she gets back. I hope I’m healthier when I finally see her.”
    Ellie didn’t need a mirror to know she looked hideous, and the last thing she wanted was for Chloe to blame herself. Now that she knew the whole story, Ellie knew Chloe had been through enough. Although Ellie desperately wanted her best friend, she didn’t want her to see her this way. Knowing Chloe, she’d blame herself.
    “We haven’t told them anything. She doesn’t even know James is dead. I have a feeling Blake probably told Gabe.” Zane sounded slightly uncomfortable. “But I think she might be pissed that I didn’t tell her that I found you.”
    “It’s probably better that way, even if she’s a little angry. I’ll tell her it was my idea. Once she feels more together, she’ll be able to handle everything better. She might not fuss as much if I’m stronger.”
    “I think she might feel better knowing you’re alive,” Zane answered drily.
    “Not yet. Please.” Ellie knew Chloe, and she’d be heartsick if she saw her right now, emaciated and torn up from James’s frequent beatings. She didn’t want her best friend to see her as she was now, not when Chloe had been through so much herself.
    “Stop worrying about Chloe. She’s doing a hell of a lot better than you are right now. Do you need anything?” Zane asked hesitantly, looking impatient, like he needed something to occupy himself.
    She was going to need a lot of things, but she refused to think about that right now. “No. How long have I been here?”
    “Two days,” he answered gruffly.
    “I don’t remember,” she admitted, unable to recall her transport to the hospital.
    “Totally understandable,” Zane informed her. “You were confused because of the dehydration. Luckily, there shouldn’t be any