So cool.
Another guard maneuvered the cart of food through the opening. Its wheels squeaked slightly.
I went on with the rest of the guards and realized that the elevator car was roomier than I'd expected.
Inside there was wood paneling and a faint scent of cypress.
Soft music drifted from hidden speakers. It was the gentle plucking of strings.
It felt like stepping into someone’s secret calm—a place that wasn’t meant for chaos.
A guard pressed the button for the third floor, and as the doors whispered shut, I caught several of the guards glancing down at the cart. Their eyes lingered on the carefully wrapped bento boxes stacked on the lower shelf.
The youngest guard smiled as he looked at a box.
Aww. He likes his little surprise.
I was starting to understand that even killers liked to be loved on and fed.
Warmth bloomed in my chest.
I'll make more for them this week.
I thought of things that would travel well in a bento box. My grandma's hot peppered sausage balls popped into my mind immediately. Sautéed garlic, peppers, Bisquick, cheddar, sausage, and cream cheese—my grandma’s southern alchemy.
They were perfect at any temperature, held together beautifully, and had that savory, comfort-food taste that always made me close my eyes on the first bite.
Yeah. That’s what I’ll make the guards tomorrow.
The thought of sharing a piece of the South with these guards who'd been so kind to me felt right, like building a bridge between worlds, one carefully packed bento box at a time. It reminded me that when my grandma fed someone, it was her way of saying, “I care about you, and your feelings are safe with me.”
The elevator hummed as we ascended, and for once, I didn't feel like I was being escorted.
I looked up at my guard on the right. "Is this the only elevator in the house?"
"There are three of them throughout the mansion."
“I wonder why Sako didn’t show me, during my house tour.”
“Usually only service staff and guards use it.”
“Aww. Got it.”
We rode up, and the smell of Eggs Benedict and banana bread filled the small space.
The elevator stopped at the third floor and the doors slid open.
Warm light spilled out.
I stepped forward. . .and froze.
What the hell?
Kenji stood in the middle of the hallway.
Naked.
Completely, gloriously naked.
