Slowly, I made my way to the doorway. I was filled with nervousness. Would I really be able to roam freely? Would I be forced to stay in the room, keeping to myself?
Taking a deep breath in and releasing it slowly, I peeked my head around the doorjamb. Luckily, my hair was down, hiding my face and my fear. I felt like a little kid, sneaking about and waiting to be caught.
I was surprised to see it totally empty. No one sat in the chair feet from the door. There was no indication that anyone had been on guard to keep me safe. I knew someone was almost always out here, as I could hear a phone or game every once in a while, or whispering conversations.
Slowly, my bare feet sunk into the thick carpet, I made my way to the top of the stairs. Behind me, there were at least four other closed doors. A few family pictures lined the walls, but I didn’t take more than a glance at any of them.
Feeling my legs already weakening, I took a seat on the top stair, letting my side lean against the side of the wall below the banister. Raised voices from below reached me, but I ignored them.
“Hey,” said someone, his voice soft. I still jumped, jerking upright. “It’s okay.”
I took in his form. Dark, long hair hung past his eyebrows as he moved to sit on the other side of the first step. His green eyes were clear but filled with surprise. He had a little facial hair, giving him this weird vibe. He…he was different. It was like he’d rather be anywhere else than here. Most of all, he didn’t look at me like I was made out of glass.
“They can’t figure out what to do about you,” he said. “Not sure what the big deal is, but they can’t agree on where you should stay. Either here, or with your…with Caesar. He’s the man who spoke to you earlier. Ace wants you to stay here, since you seem content enough.”
He looked over at me and, for once, I didn’t drop my eyes right away. “It really should be up to you.”
I shrugged. I didn’t care where I went or where I breathed my next breath. I was just here…and would be until I wasn’t any longer.
“You know, you aren’t what I expected,” he went on. “I figured you’d be taller…like your mom.”
He knew my mom?
“She’s downstairs,” he said, cocking his head to the side. “But no one told you that, did they? Of course not.”
He stood, gesturing for me to follow. Feeling intrigued, I slowly stood. I stayed a few feet behind him as he searched for a picture.
“This is one of the last pictures,” he said, taking it down off the wall and handing it to me.
My hands cradled the frame. “Your mom,” the man said, tapping the picture of the woman who had a bright smile, long blond hair and light brown eyes. “Hannah. The boy is Peyton. The man is Caesar. And that girl was—is—you. This was a few months before you went missing.”
Huh?
I looked up at him, confused.
“You were five years old,” the man said. “I wasn’t part of this family yet; my parents adopted me when I was thirteen. They haven’t stopped looking, ever. I know Ace hired a PI and had some news about your location, and I didn’t think it was possible. But…I guess it was.”
He took the picture and placed it back on the wall, then led me farther down the corridor. “This is me when I was fourteen. I admit, I was in a bratty mood that day.”
Before me was a picture of a kid with glasses, glaring past the camera. His hair was a wild mess, like he’d had no reason to straighten it up. “I had issues. As many as you’d guess after seeing my mom shoot my dad, then take her life afterwards. I was a messed-up kid.”
“You still are, Dom,” Peyton said, none too pleased. I turned, ready to flee back to my room.
“Didn’t say I was any different,” the man said. To me, he smiled. “I am better. This family does stick to their word.”
“Dominic?” Zevon called, a question in his voice.
“I ain’t doing nothing,” Dominic—the man beside me—said, his body stiffening. “Scarlett came out here, and I was just keeping her company.”
“Fuck, Dom. You know what you were told,” Peyton hissed.
“Youwere told, Peyton. Not me. I was told to be on guard duty and only stop her if she were to venture downstairs. And to not enter her room.”
I made my escape as their voices rose. Someone threw a punch, and the sound of flesh meeting flesh brought me up short right as I made it to my room. Dominic was glaring at Zevon who, in turn, was huffing like the wind had been knocked out of him.
“You still can’t trust me, can you?” Dominic hissed, taking a step forward but stopped by a hand to his chest.
“That’s enough!” Ace shouted as Zevon went to dodge Peyton to get to Dominic. Everyone froze at the command. Even I held my breath as I inched away from the door. “What the hell is going on up here?”
