1
DR. VAIL MIFFLIN, PHD IN HISTORY
The doorto this hiding spot—what I was almost certain was a real live panic room, something I had never seen—was ajar, thanks to Rowen. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Cillian shutting me in here. He probably thought he was protecting me, but anger beat around in my chest, stomping like a giant. I glared at the thick metal that blocked the entrance, only cracked open to let in fresh air becauseRowencared about my feelings.
Taking a deep breath, I tried not to wind myself up any more than I already had. The rooms in here weren’t much different from the ones upstairs, minus windows and homey touches. For a few minutes, I stared at the security screens on the wall to my left while I paced behind the chair that had probably been placed there to allow someone to watch them in comfort. It took a lot of effort to get myself under control. It seemed like Cillian cared, too, but unlike trying to fuck me better, the way he had a few days ago, this dick move of shoving me into a panic room was simply him taking away my choices. He hadn’t intended for me to be able to get out on my own. I filed this topic away for later to talk to him about.
Taking away my choices wasn’t okay.
This wasn’t something I would forget because I was too damned angry to let that happen. I ran a hand through my hair and sighed.
And of course, Cillian and Rowen hadn’t told me what they were off to do tonight.Oh no, why would they?Were Mom and Lor in any danger? If they were so worried that they’d shoved me in here, should the rest of my living family be sitting beside me? I growled in frustration and turned toward the screens, interested despite the situation.
Every part of the house seemed to have a camera trained on it, except for the bedrooms. For a few minutes I had fun staring around the house from afar, but nothing was happening, which wasboring. Whether or not it was true that I was in danger, I felt silly sitting here in this indestructible room waiting for trouble. I went around and inspected everything worth looking at in the panic room, which took me all of five minutes because the bed wasn’t bouncy at all when I tried to hop on it just for something to do. Heaving a sigh because I knew, deep in my heart, even Rowen wanted me to stay in here, I pushed open the solid metal door and crept out into the dark, oddly clean basement.
No one jumped out at me; although, would I hear or feel the bullet that ended me if someone was trying to kill me? I shivered.How morbid.But no, how many times had I told stories like that in class? A sharpshooter or cat-quiet hitman sneaks up on someone and snuffs out their life, either from a distance or with his cold, bare hands.
No, I won’t feel the bullet that takes me out.I scared myself into going back into the panic room to check the security screens one more time, but absolutely no one was inside or outside the house, and nothing unusual seemed to be happening in the neighborhood. Shrugging, I went out and up the stairs into the pantry. It was fun to climb out of the trapdoor and shut it. I took a second to tap it with my bare foot and grin.
It seemed to me Cillian was cautious with my safety, which... was maybe sweet, but I was bored, and honestly, I’d rather die. My stomach flipped unpleasantly as I thought about my dad and his awful death, most likely from one of those silent bullets. I sighed. Okay, I wanted tolive, but I still wasn’t standing around in a room with nothing to do.
My stomach let out a growl for something sweet to top off the dinner I’d shared with the guys—my guys. My face heated. Had we really discussed the possibility that I’d haveall of themin my bed? Nothing firm and serious had been uttered on the subject, but Rowen hadn’t said no, and Cillian readily admitted he shared his partners with Aspen. It seemed outlandish, and yet... Aspen had given me a long, interested look that had my dick plumping, and no one could argue Fallon’s good looks—he was stunning.
And they wantedme.
I glanced down at myself and slid a hand along my flat abs, dipping my fingertips below the waistband of my black boxers. Fallon’s silky blue robe flapped open around me, comfortable and soft. I wasn’t bad on the eyes, I knew that. My lips were nice, and any time a man complimented me it usually included something about my mouth. But was that really enough forfourmen? I shrugged and went out into the kitchen to the fridge.
Time would tell, and while I had enough energy for all of them—probably—I couldn’t control who did or didn’t want to fuck me. Thinking about the guys was better than all the other sadness that had been pressing down on me, but my grief still lingered like a bad taste after a night of drinking. I shook my head to try to clear it and had my hand on the fridge door handle when a knock sounded through the house.
I froze and spun around on the spot. My first instinct was to go back to the panic room and check to see who was out there. The knock came again, louder and faster, almost like the person on the other side was getting annoyed. Surely if it was someone who’d come to kill me, they would burst in without warning?
My inquisitiveness got the better of me. I stopped for a second, imagined Cillian’s firm scowl and him telling me to stay put, but when that knock came again—I broke.
Who is out there?
Curiosity thrilled through me, tingling over my skin and raising goose bumps on my body. I touched the cool gray oak top of the island as I snuck across the white kitchen tiles and out through the informal dining room. I slid my fingers over the round oak table on my way past. There were still a few crumbs near the edge because no one had wiped it down after dinner and I swept them off as I went. I reached the hall and could see the front door. Then, even though it felt silly, I crouched and continued on. I was almost to the door when there was a scrape in the lock. I straightened and laughed at myself; it was just the guys.
The door swung open, and I didn’t recognize the faces of anyone there—a tall man with white-blond hair and a scar, and another one at his side with his dark hair up in a bun. I turned and stumbled.
“Wait! You scared him, Boss.”
“I did no such thing” came a cold reply.
I tried to run but my knees weren’t firming up the way they should, and I didn’t get too far along the hall.
“Wait!” Someone grabbed my hand. I tripped attempting to tug myself free and yelped when I landed on my ass. The fall stung, and I tried again to yank my hand loose.
“Don’ttouch him, pet.”
The man let go of me, and I stared up at him. He had a long nose that might have made him look stuck-up, except his curvy pink lips curled in a friendly smile. His deep blue eyes trapped me for a few seconds.
“Who are you?” I croaked out, wincing.
The man crouched. His hands were still out like he might want to pat me to see if I was okay, but the tall man with the scar behind him loomed and glowered. It took me a second look to notice his nice black suit.
The man in front of me tapped my shoulder. “I’m Conall. Are you all right?”
I blinked and nodded.
