Nothing had really changed, after all. Now instead of Leo and Spencer fighting to keep me in this mansion, Dom was demanding I never leave. And now, instead of being trapped here by my own curiosity, it was my ‘protectors’ holding me hostage.
My mind was swirling with thoughts, but one kept prevailing.
I’m starving.
Leo and Spencer had planned on feeding me after The Hollow, but clearly, nothing last night went to plan.
A shiver ran down my spine. Free from the need to play nice, would my captors even bother feeding me anymore? I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to my luxurious meals cooked by the two hunks waiting downstairs.
A wave of nausea passed through my stomach as I remembered my kiss with Spencer. How simple it had felt, how perfectly gentle.
What if it’s all corrupted now?
Shaking my head, I knew I wouldn’t let that be true. It was real for me, even if she turned out to be a monster. And I couldn’t just stay up in my locked tower forever.
And if they wanted to keep me here, they had no idea what I was capable of — what I’d survived. If they wanted to make this hostile. I’d be happy to give it back to them twentyfold.
Taking in a deep breath, I got the courage to rise from the mattress and pad across the hardwood floors.
As the cold metal of the doorknob chilled my palm, the click of the lock the night before still rang in my ears. There was a finality to it: a truth that I wouldn’t be able to waltz out of this haunting mansion ever again.
With a deep breath, I turned the knob. And to my surprise, the latch clicked open.
Maybe they aren’t that mad.
Spencer or Leo must have snuck up here and unlocked it once Dom had left. There was still hope that I could reason with them.
Or maybe this is my chance to run.
Looking around the room, I couldn’t find anything to bring with me. Spencer had grabbed my duffel last night, and my phone with it. My shoes were all in the entry closet, and the only jacket I had was the one Leo had loaned me.
God, when did I get so comfortable here?
There was nowhere else to go but downstairs. To see what fate awaited me now.
Moving down the hallway, I tried not to make too much noise. If there was even a chance that I could get my shoes and get out the front door, I needed to take it.
As soon as I thought about leaving, I could picture Spencer’s sad puppy eyes when she realized I was gone. And the way Leo would beat herself up for driving me away.
My heart split in two in my chest. And it shouldn’t have. They were murderers. Clearly. Rich, kind, murderers. Whatever they were up to in the shadows was more sinister than I could have imagined.
I couldn’t get involved, even if their charms were working on me.
But as soon as I hit the top of the staircase I knew the unlocked door wasn’t an oversight. Not that these three left much room for errors.
A waft of fresh bacon hit my nose.
Breakfast.
They were up, waiting for me in the kitchen, and there was no way I’d get past that massive wood door undetected.
Sucking air into my tight lungs, I walked down the stairs. As I grew closer to the kitchen, I could hear the faint murmur of a news anchor's voice.
“Last night, the family of Rosa Lopez begged her kidnappers to make their demands…”
Before I even hit the landing, Spencer’s face peeked around the corner of the kitchen, her hand pausing the news report on her phone. “Morning, Bunny.”
The corners of my lips rose at the nickname, freezing me in my tracks.
