Red Mask applies pressure to my elbow to pull me towards the kitchen and dining room while barking questions at me that I am too dazed to answer.
“Are you alone? Who else is in the house? Are you expecting anyone?”
When I don’t answer him, too busy looking over my shoulder back at Black Mask who’s locking the front door and flipping the lights off, he grabs my other arm forcing me to look at him, and gives me a little shake.
“Hey, Blue! Focus! Is there anyone else in the house?”
This whole thing is so surreal that I scoff out a deranged laugh.
“Yes! My lawman dog, Sheriff Skipper. She’s so vicious you better watch out. She might yap your ears right off before she arrests you!”
He cocks his head and his eyes widen at me like I’m insane and then we both tilt our heads down to see Skipper sitting at our feet with a wagging tail. I roll my eyes and let out a second choked laugh at the vision of her in her tiny sheriff’s costume.
“Arrest these varmints, Sheriff Skipper!”
Skipper leans into the command by jumping up and resting her tiny paws on the guy’s leg and giving him a single little yap. It could mean, “Unhand her!” or “Do you have bacon?” Either or, it’s not going to save me from whatever is going on here as Red Mask chuckles and shakes his head.
Before he can reply, Green Mask and Black Mask join us.
“The house is clear. There’s no one else here.”
Red Mask nods and drags one of the dining table chairs over and pushes me down into it.
“Find something to tie her up with,” he tells the others.
It’s probably the alcohol talking combined with the complete absurdity of the situation that has me sassing, “Bondage on the first date? What makes you think I’m that kind of girl?”
All three of them stare at me like I have two heads but I’m committed now so…
“I mean, I am…but you shouldn’t just assume that!”
Black Mask scowls at me but Geen Mask has a small grin forming as he shakes his head and turns to find something to tie me up with.
Red Mask lets out a full-on laugh.
“You’re a real live wire, aren’t you?”
I shrug one shoulder and as what’s happening sets in mutter, “Fuck my life.”
Black Mask is glaring at me when he snarls,
“What the fuck do you have to complain about? In your expensive, oversized house and your fancy fucking dog? If you sit there with your mouth shut, we’ll be out of your hair in a couple hours and you can go back to your perfect little life with only an exciting story you can tell your rich friends over brunch.”
The bitter, angry tone of his voice has me rearing back a bit but then I process his words and can’t help but start laughing as Green Mask comes back in with a handful of dog leashes I assume are to tie me up with.
I laugh so hard that tears come to my eyes and all three men are staring at me like I’m going crazy.
“Perfect life? Rich friends? Fuck you. You don’t know shit about me.” I get my breath back and lay it out. “Not my expensive house, not my fancy dog. I’m here for a gig. I’m house-sitting this place. You want to see my expensive house? Go look in the garage. That conversion van out there is my house!”
Black Mask crosses his arms and keeps on glaring but Green Mask passes the leashes to Red Mask and he kneels down in front of me and starts tying my wrists to the armrests.
“When are the owners due to come back?”
I shrug again and tell him.
“Four days.”
His hand comes up to my face and cups my cheek in a surprise move. I tighten up in reaction to the touch but it’s just so he can swipe away a tear under my eye with his thumb. He’s close enough that I get a better look at his eyes through the mask. They’re a light brown with gold specs in them surrounded by thick black lashes. Pretty.
