Instead, I found myself inside a walk-in closet that made me squeal internally. It was so large that calling it a closetwas the understatement of the year. It was easily the size of my apartment. The second thing I noticed was that the decor matched the bedroom. The third was that it was empty and waiting to be filled. There were two levels with curving stairs that led to the second floor, but I was too exhausted and wary of falling into Ocean’s glittery trap to explore, so I resumed my search of the bathroom.
I discovered it adjacent to the closet through a connecting door and found it as grandiose as the closet and bedroom. The clawfoot tub with gold baroque feet stole the show, and I had the fleeting thought that even if Ocean changed his mind about marrying me tomorrow, before I had the chance to soak in that gorgeous tub, he’d have to drag me out kicking and screaming.
Unlike the closet, the bathroom was fully stocked with products I didn’t recognize, and that discovery brought immense relief. Ocean already knowing the exact brand of toothpaste or toilet paper I used would have felt a little too intrusive.
Reluctantly, I fell into my usual routine because it was the best chance I had of sorting my thoughts and coming up with a game plan.
If Ocean thought I was marrying him after he showed his ass tonight, the motherfucker was delusional.
I couldn’t call Hunter because he had my phone.
I couldn’t escape while locked inside this room—the nail in the coffin where I’d laid my fantasies to rest.
My best chance of getting out was finding my wayin—past Ocean’s defenses. It wasn’t until I shed Ocean’s hoodie and the rest of my clothes, and I was up to my neck in warm water and fragrant bubbles with my head resting comfortably on the engraved satin pillow, that my mind began to form a plan. Once the groundwork was laid and I was confident it would work, I stood and stepped out of the tub. As soon as I began dripping water everywhere, I realized that I had nothing to wear.
I briefly wondered if it was his plan to get an early glimpse of the goods until I spotted a robe hanging on the back of the door. I preferred to wear as little as possible to bed, but it would have to do.
I had trouble containing my excitement once I left the bathroom and saw the bed again, but since I knew he might be watching, I kept my expression neutral. There was a mountain of throw pillows on the bed, but I didn’t bother removing any of them as I settled in the center of the bed surrounded by them. And most importantly,hiddenby them.
It was nestled in that cocoon of pillows that I closed my eyes and said a prayer for Hunter and my brother.
I’ve had weird mornings, but nothing beat the one after I was stolen by the mafia and ordered to marry the underboss. It started when I woke up sprawled on top of a bed that wasn’t mine, surrounded by extravagance meant to tame me. The sash on my robe had slipped free of its knot, so my bare breasts and belly were exposed to the sunrise-lit room as I lay on my back. It wouldn’t be that bad if it weren’t for the fact that I was also drooling with my mouth wide open.
Guilt immediately consumed me when I thought about Hunter and the night she must have had. She wouldn’t have slept at all, and here I was sleeping a little too well. Grumbling to myself, I stretched my body like a cat and pried bleary eyes open. I blinked to clear them and take in my new prison now thatit was morning. My survey was interrupted by an unexpected surprise.
“Ahh!” A startled squeak left me once I realized I wasn’t alone. I scrambled to collect myself, and in my hurry, I ended up getting tangled in the sheets that silkworms—boiled alive in their cocoons before they could turn into moths—died to make and tumbled over the side of the bed, landing in a heap of pillows, blankets, and my own shame.
At least he couldn’t see me now.
As I lay there, wishing the floor would open the hell up and swallow me, the awkward silence seemed to stretch on forever before he spoke. “You good?”
Peeling myself off the floor without responding, I only made it as far as sitting on my now sore butt as I stared across the rumpled bed at Ocean sitting at the small dining table. It was only a few feet from the bedside, and he had his phone in his hand, ignoring the untouched feast splayed out before him. He was also dressed for the day in one of his suits that made my mouth water. It was a light gray, minus the jacket, which was folded over the back of his chair. His vest and dress accentuated his chest and arms.
“Why are you in here, Ocean?” I croaked.
His gaze silently roamed me for a moment before he returned calmly, “I asked you a question,mo aingeal.”
Because he cared, or was it to assert his dominance? I decided I didn’t want to know the answer because one threatened my plans and the other would only push me to act rashly. “I’m fine.”
Ocean nodded with satisfaction and then gestured toward the table, where a small feast awaited. “Good. Come eat.”
Holding my robe together, I stood on shaky legs and slowly rounded the bed like a stray that didn’t know whether to trust the offering of food but was desperate enough to risk it.
Besides, there was nowhere to run. One glance at the door told me that it was still locked because Ocean was much too smart to let down his guard.
At least…not until I gave him a reason to.
That’s how I found myself sitting across from Ocean, sharing small talk and breakfast with the creeping suspicion that this was my new normal. I could run from it, hide from it, but there was no shielding myself from him. Whatever secrets, thoughts, and pieces of myself I didn’t give away over the hour-long meal, he saw anyway, and it hadn’t even been a day. I’d been dreaming of what it’d be like to be Ocean’s girl for so long that it disturbed me how little it mattered that the reality was a lot more terrifying than I’d imagined.
Istill wantedhim.
But I loved my brother, and I missed Hunter.
Ocean had taken them both from me, and for that, I vowed never let him have a single day’s peace so long as he kept me from them.
I was sipping my tea from the gorgeous china when I heard a beep at the door. Two uniformed women entered. They wore simple black dresses with a white trim around the short sleeves and collar. I sat up a little straighter at their sudden appearance, a plea on the tip of my tongue, but the cold burn of Ocean watching me so closely silenced my cry for help.
The staff quickly cleared the table and then departed, leaving only a roaring in my ears that dulled when Ocean spoke.
