“We can talk to Henry tomorrow and ask if he can arrange a car and ferry ride back to the airport. We’ll get on the earliest flight that we can.”
Lee shudders against me, and I wrap my body around him tighter. “Thank you,” he whispers. “I’m sorry I’m ruining your trip.”
“This trip was ruined the moment Mr. Pierce locked my friends and me in that room and twisted my arm into thinking you were in real danger,” I reassure him. “As long as I have you, then my life is perfect.”
Lee pulls back and kisses me, wrapping his hands in my hair and pulling me closer to him. “What if we just stay in Scotland until our flight out? We can find a hotel and rent a car when Henry takes us back to the airport. Then maybe we can explore some of the country outside of this twisted castle and its creepy owner.”
I grin as I reach for the zipper on his pants. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. For tomorrow, I mean. Right now, I think I have a better idea. Let me take your mind off of the creepy castle and secluded island…”
He moans and continues to kiss me as I grasp him in my hands, pumping him slowly. I love having the power to undo him completely. I nip playfully at his bottom lip with my teeth. “I love you,” I tell him, quickening my pace as he hardens even more in my fist.
“I love you, too,” he says, groaning against my lips. “Fuck, Capri.” His breath comes in labored pants as he finishes in an explosive wave of pleasure.
I giggle and head to our bed as he cleans himself up. If I know my husband, I know he’s about to unleash himself on me here momentarily. I’m already salivating with anticipation.
There’s a soft knock at the door just as Lee comes out of the bathroom in a deep navy robe. He gives me a puzzled look, and I shrug. “Maybe it’s the dessert?”
“Ahh, that must be it.” He tightens the robe around him and slides the chair away from the door before turning the handle. “Come right in,” Lee tells whoever is on the other side.
There’s a loud bang, almost like an explosion. Thick, white smoke fills our room, choking me where I sit. The last thing I see before I succumb to darkness is the look of pure panic and confusion on Lee’s face as he reaches for me.
Chapter sixteen
Everything is immensely peaceful, except for the chill permeating through the air and settling into my bones. The subtle sounds of the ocean waves breaking along the nearby coast are soothing, lulling me to sleep yet again.
“Teagan!” Someone shouts my name, I think. But they seem so far away. I drift back into my peaceful slumber.
“Teagan! Wake up!”
I jerk awake with a painful jolt. I’m lying on a concrete floor, surrounded by hay and the smell of mildew. My entire body hurts as I struggle to take in the unfamiliar surroundings. Someoneisshouting my name. My brain is in a haze of confusion. I’m disoriented and nauseous as I gaze up at the slanted ceiling and bars above me.
Where am I? How long have I been asleep?
The last thing I remember is leaving the most awkward and uncomfortable dinner of my entire life. Josh was sitting there next tomyfriends like he owned the place. At least he wasn’t sitting with Lexi. I don’t know if I could have kept my mask of indifference up if they were here together. There’s no way Lexi invited him. So why is he here?
Mr. Pierce wasn’t what I expected. He left in such a rush and didn’t really tell us anything about himself. He told us dessert would come to ourrooms.
Oh no.
It starts coming back to me in flashes—the knock on my bedroom door and the smoke that filled the room moments later, rendering me unconscious before I could do anything.
“Teagan!”
I sit up quickly, causing my head to pound painfully. It feels like I’m taking an ice pick straight to my eye socket as I fight against the brightly lit room to search for the voice. The sound of waves nearby still lingers, and the air smells like the ocean back home. The sun is peeking through the small circular windows lining the walls above. At least it’s daytime. I wrestle the fog in my brain to take in my surroundings.
The first thing I notice is that I’m in a cage. It’s about four feet by four feet and surrounded by thick metal bars. The second thing I notice is that I’m not alone.
Directly across from me is Quinn. He’s locked in his own matching cage about six feet from mine. He looks rough. His hair is in disarray atop his head, and the white shirt he was wearing when I last saw him is torn on one sleeve and dirty.
I look down at myself and see that I’m also wearing the same dress I was in last night. Except I’m not lucky enough to have shoes on because I stupidly showed up to dinner without my heels. They’re still in that damn escape room in the castle.
“What’s going on?” I ask Quinn, my voice cracking as I realize how parched I am. Something about these cages tugs on a buried memory.
There’s a noise on the other side of me. I turn and see Amber, the woman from dinner who was sitting next to me. She’s crying and locked in a cage of her own. I don’t know much about her other than she’s another one of Mr. Pierce’s guests and an influencer invited to document this event. Her thick, curly blonde hair is sticking out in every direction, and she’s in the same ivy green dress that she was wearing at dinner.
I stand on shaky legs and take in the rest of the room. There are six of us locked in six separate cages. None of the cages are close enough to touch. Quinn, Amber, and I are the only ones awake so far. I breathe a small sigh of relief when I don’t see Capri, Lee, Lexi, or Josh. I may be angry at most of them, but I wouldn’t want them waking up to this confusing nightmare. I also know I can count on them to find me once they realize I’m missing.
They have to notice at some point, right?
