“You said she’s with a nanny service, right?”I ask.
I try to pull out of Bear’s hold, but he doesn’t let me, tightening his arm around me, so I stop fighting.
“Yeah, she works with an agency,” Zion says, and an idea forms.
“I could pretend to be a replacement for her.Tell her to take the day off.Say she’s sick,” I suggest, and Zion flips his phone between his fingers.
“That could work, but what if he recognizes you?”Zion asks.
He could, but I don’t want to convince the guys of that.This could be my way out.I could bring Cleo back to them and then run for it.
“Haven’t you heard of makeup and wigs?”I raise an eyebrow.“I can turn from this into a different person,” I say, pointing to my face.
Bear presses a sloppy kiss on my cheek, and I don’t pull away or fight him.It’s nice to be wanted.Back home, no one would dare just kiss The Brotherhood princess.It was alwaysplease may I—formal, passionless embraces that meant nothing and left me wanting.
“Whatever you look like, you’ll still be my special captive,” Bear says, and warmth spreads over my skin, my cheeks heating.
I’m not sure if he means it as a threat or not, but something about being anything of his feels good.
I’m in way too deep here.I need space.To get away from them.I’m not one of them.I am their property, nothing more.But why does it hurt when I think those words?
Zion’s phone buzzes, and he checks it.
“Amirah, write out a list of everything you need, and we’ll get it.Rachel’s scheduled to work tonight.Natalie is going to get her out of it somehow.The clock is ticking,” Zion says, and I nod.
Bear takes me back to my room, and I write down the makeup and the blonde wig I’ll need to pull this off.I hand it over to Bear.He leaves but doesn’t close the door behind him, keeping it open.
Does he trust me not to run anymore?There’s no point in trying.I’d have to get to the front door still, and even then, there’s always one of the boys hanging around in the living room.
I’ll get my chance tonight when I’m back home in Daringville.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Bear
She runs her hand through her blonde wig before brushing it up into a high ponytail.I don’t even recognize the woman in the camera.I lean back in my computer chair.Damn, she was right.She can transform into somebody else.I don’t like it.She looks different.Weird.I can’t wait until this is over and she takes all that shit off.
She asked me where I got all these clothes from that I’ve given her, and I said I’d had them lying around.She didn’t like that answer, but if I told her the truth, she wouldn’t look at me the same way again.I’ll never let her know my secret.
“Bear, get over here,” Kai snaps, and I push back my seat with a grunt.
Zion and Kai have been busy planning out tonight while I’ve been glued to the computer, watching her.I left the door open on purpose as a test to see if she’d run again, given the chance, and she hasn’t.She wants to help us, and that fills me with pride.My captive princess is part of our gang of misfits.I don’t ever want her to leave, but whatever happens tonight with Cleo will change everything.After this, we’ll have to do something.Return Amirah or somehow destroy the ville, even without weapons.
I lean back against the couch armrest, folding my arms over my chest.
If we get Cleo back, will Kai and Zion hand Amirah back?Strike a deal?Or will they send her back in a body bag?I don’t believe that will happen.I won’t let it.I’ll fight for her.There’s no way in hell I’m letting her go.She belongs with me.Us.
I won’t sabotage saving Zion’s little girl, but if they choose to let her go, I will fight against them.I’ll ruin anything that gets in my way.Life without her in it isn’t life at all.She’s the only person in this fucked-up place who understands me; she really gets my kind of crazy.
“Bear, are you even listening?”Zion hits my knee.
I bite my bottom lip with a light shake of my head.
“Tate has gathered some men for us if we need them, but I want us to get in and out without too much noise.We don’t have enough weapons.Remember that Cleo’s safety is our priority,” Zion says, gaze set on me.
“And we need to conserve ammunition for when we need it,” Kai says, and I don’t know if he’s talking about when the boys come for Amirah or when we try to take over Daringville, but I hope it’s the latter.
“Whatever, and what about Amirah?”I ask.She’s all that matters to me.
