“Just trust me. And know that if she comes in here, I’m coming, too. So, if you want me to win, keep us both out.”
“Quinn—”
“I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
Landon searched my features, blowing out a breath before he finally nodded. “I can’t help you win without impacting you in the long run, so I’ll do my best, but I can make sure you’re brought with her if she gets put back in here.”
Though it was possible I’d regret it, I nodded. “Thank you.”
He pulled me into his arms for a quick hug, dropping a kiss on my head before releasing me.
And since I didn’t want to lose over a bleeding fucking heart, I went out to meet my group with my head firmly in the game.
Chapter Thirty-Two
We didnotmanage to escape on day one, which meant the guards locked us up for the night as part of the scene before releasing us to get some dinner and sleep.
As far as prisons went, it was a little lax. Cushy, even.
Not that I minded. It gave me an extra night to spend in the upstairs wing before I’d have to move downstairs.
Both my Knights had a reprieve from cleaning because the escape room lasted longer than the other two, and since our time would be limited once the parents arrived, I wanted to see both of them. As I headed upstairs, hoping to find my Knights, I fought off the dread from the impending change and focused on the Dread I wanted to have some time with tonight.
After everything in the bathroom with Vivian, one thing had been on my mind. And surprisingly, it wasn’t dick. Okay, it was a little bit, but there were other important thoughts that led to it.
Everyone had their secrets. Everyone had demons. Things we couldn’t share, monsters that came for us at night, but that we had to fight every day.
Alone.
Sometimes, completely unnoticed.
Over the last few days, I’d learned the truth about Kingston’s. And I’d pieced together that even my worst enemy—maybe even enemy number three now—had something she fought quietly.
My two Knights fought their demons, too.
Landon, with his memories, fought whatever haunted him in the dark. The same way I had.
And Max had something affecting him, too. He fought whatever drove him to put up walls and close off. At the end of the day, when he did that, he was just like Vivian in the bathroom. Protecting himself. Maybe protecting even more than that like Kingston had been.
Tonight, I wanted to find them and remind them they weren’t fighting alone, either.
I stopped at Max’s room first, but when he wasn’t there, I went to the bathroom. Even though I’d been thinking about his demons, I didn’t expect to find him the way I did.
He stood in the shower stall, one arm bracing against the wall, and his head bent forward to rest on it. Water sprayed his back, and steam billowed up around him. At first, he hardly moved.
After the long day, he could’ve been taking a moment. But with the way he’d acted earlier, I grew more concerned as I watched him.
Then, his shoulders shook.
And I went to him without thinking, sure that whether he’d admit it or not, he needed someone.
Needed me.
I undressed and opened the door to the shower. Max turned his head. His features drawn tight as he tried to contain whatever he was feeling.
“Max…” I stepped under the water and wrapped my arms around him, pulling him into my body even as he tried to wipe his face and pretend he was fine.
“I’m fine, Princess. It’s nothing. You don’t need?—”
