Turning back to Jacinta, she’s standing in front of an open window that’s big enough for us to climb out of.
“Go, get out while you both can,” Jaxon tells us. “I’ll be alright on my own.”
I shake my head. “No way am I leaving you here to deal with all of that on your own. We’ll work something out. Jazzy, you go. Get help and bring them back.” She shakes her head, looking like she’s about to refuse.
“Go, Jazzy,” Jaxon hisses. “You might be our only hope. They only need one person with Bucataru blood, so it’s riskiest for both of us to stay here. It’s almost guaranteed they’ll get rid of thespare. Look, get to the others, but be prepared for the fact that they’ll likely move us once they realize you’re gone. If only we knew what they actually wanted, we might be able to guess at their next location.”
“It’s got to be something in the vault or in the house. Why else would they need us?” I point out to them.
I leave Jaxon to drag a chair over to under the window, shoving Jacinta at it. “Go.” She dodges me and runs over to hug her brother before returning to me and doing the same.
“I love you both.” A tear trickles down her face, but I shove her again so that she climbs up on the chair and boosts herself out of the window. It’s a tight squeeze, which makes me almost a hundred percent sure Jaxon wouldn't fit out of it anyway. I give her a slap on the ass, and she continues to wriggle her body, getting further and further out the window. Thankfully, the opening must be on the side of a house that no one is paying attention to. I mean, why would they? They think we’re still neatly tied up in our chairs.
Her feet disappear, and I step up and peer out. It’s dark outside, so I have no idea what time it is. I can’t see any houses next door, but there’s the occasional rumble of a car coming down a nearby road. “Go get help, Jazzy. Head for the road. Maybe you can flag someone down.” With a final glance back, she hurries away. I wait with baited breath, but no one shouts at her to stop, and a sigh of relief bursts out of me when it seems like she got away.
Turning back to face the room, Jaxon’s watching me with hope in his eyes. “Did she get away?”
“Yup,” I confirm before starting a search around the room. There’s not much in here, but maybe I can find something to jimmy his shackles or break the chair he’s sitting in. When that proves to be a dead end, I walk into the bathroom.
“What do you think they could be after?” I ask my boyfriend.
“I have no idea. What could be of value apart from the items in the vault?” he calls back in a loud whisper.
“The paintings in the house are probably worth something, but my bet is they just want to make a grab at the contents of the vault.” I dig through a drawer located under the sink, finding a couple of old bobby pins at the back. Picking them up, I go back to Jaxon. “I have no idea how to do this, but it doesn’t hurt to try.” I show him what I found, and he nods even though there’s clear skepticism on his face.
Crouching down, I slide one of the pins into the lock holding the shackle in place on his right side. I can hear my heartbeat in my ears as I try to jimmy the lock, but after a while of trying, I sit back on my heels and look up at Jaxon, feeling helpless.
“I can’t get it,” I admit, and although I can see disappointment in his eyes, I know he isn't angry at me.
“Come up here,” he says, so I throw the pin to the side and gently sit down on his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck and leaning my forehead against his. “I love you, Harlow Summers,” he whispers before placing his lips on mine. He kisses me softly before pulling away. “I want you to go out the window and get away.”
I start to shake my head, but he keeps going. “Please, if you're not here, I don’t have to worry about them using you to get me to do something. I don't have to worry about them hurting you. They’re crazy, but they’ve been playing the long game, and they think the end is near. When they come down here and find Jazzy gone, they’re going to freak out. I don't want you in line for that reaction. They need me. I have the code for the vault and the blood. They don't need you. Who do you think they're going to take their anger out on?”
“No way. I’m not leaving you. I'm going to see if I can creep upstairs and look for the key. Or something. They’ve got guests. They're busy and distracted, and I bet if we wait a little longer, their minds will be fogged with alcohol and drugs. They were already high before they left.”
“Don't forget about Peter. He wasn't,” Jaxon warns me, and I huff.
“Did you not notice the track lines on his arms? I know a junkie when I see one, and if he isn't high by now, it won’t take him long,” I assure him before placing a quick kiss on his lips. “You just sit tight, and I’ll be right back,” I say, wanting to lighten the mood, but I see him struggle against his bonds like he’s trying to stop me.
“Don't you dare, Harlow,” he hisses as I step away and move to the steps. “Come back here. Harlow, if you do this, I swear I’m going to put you over my lap and spank you when I get out of here. There is a paddling bench with your name on it.”
“Can't wait, babe,” I tell him, blowing him a kiss, and I watch as he slumps, defeated in his chair.
“Be careful, please,” he begs.
I make my way up the steps, my shoes quiet on them. When I get to the top, I slowly turn the handle and crack the door open. The noise of a party somewhere in the house reaches my ear, so I push the door open enough to peer around it. The door opens into a hallway with a couple more closed doors located along it. To the left are the sounds of the party, and the right looks to lead to a living area and the front door. If I were on my own, I would beeline toward that door, but I won’t leave Jaxon behind, so I slowly head toward the closed door on the right. I want to avoid the party, and I’m hoping it might be a storage closet or a bedroom where I can find something to break the lock on the shackle.
Not being able to see the other side makes me nervous. I put my ear to the door in the hope that I can hear something, but it’s an older-style house. The door is solid wood, so no noise is sneaking through. I’m not sure if it’s empty or not, so I’m just going to have to take the risk.
Again, I slowly turn the handle then push the door open. There’s a faint light, like a lamp is on, but before I can open it more, a noise down the hallway draws my attention. Fuck, someone is coming. Pushing the door open, I slip into the room and duck down low in case someone is in here.
My heart is racing, and I'm trying not to breathe too heavily when another noise catches my attention. My stomach sinks. Lifting my head, I look around. I’ve found a bedroom, and it isn't unoccupied. But thankfully, the occupants are too busy to notice me. My eyes widen as I take in the scene. On the bed is Cecelia, naked and hogtied with a ball gag in her mouth. Behind her, a greasy-looking old man is making piggy sounds as he fucks her ass.
“Take my big fat cock, you stuck-up bitch.” He grunts and slaps her ass. “Your parents think they're so much better than the rest of us, but they still haven't been able to produce Bucataru’s little black book. I bet they don't even have it, or it doesn't even exist.”
He continues his thrusting, and when Cecelia turns her head, I get a look at her face. Her eyes are squeezed tight, and there are tears streaming down her face. I almost feel sorry for her, but then I remember where I am. I might not have gotten my wish about her being fucked by a cactus , but she doesn’t seem to be enjoying this either, so I’m pretty happy.
And now I know what Peter and Julia want, which fills me with an optimistic shot of triumph.
