Ethan studies the room, calculating. "The other bedrooms have similar setups. If we pull the mattresses in here..."
Twenty minutes later, we've transformed the bedroom into a nest. Mattresses from the other rooms cover the floor, forming a massive sleeping area. Sheets and blankets arranged in a surprisingly cozy configuration, pillows scattered in abundance.
"It's like camping," Mateo says with childlike enthusiasm as he flops down. "But with better amenities."
I laugh, the sound surprising me with its freedom. Ethan smiles, a rare, full smile that transforms his face.
"Come here," he says, pulling me down beside him. Declan takes up position on my other side, his large body curled protectively around me. Mateo sprawls at our feet, one hand resting on my ankle as if he needs the connection.
The four of us, naked and satiated. Outside, darkness presses against the windows, and somewhere, a threatstill lurks. But here, wrapped in their warmth, their scent, their presence, I've never felt safer.
"Sleep," Ethan murmurs, pressing his lips to my temple. "We've got you."
And for the first time in longer than I can remember, I surrender completely to sleep without a single fear of what morning might bring.
Whatever comes next, we'll face it together. The four of us against the world.
34
JADE
Morning light filters through the pool house windows, casting golden rectangles across the floor. I curl deeper into the nest of blankets on our makeshift bed, savoring the lingering warmth where three bodies had been pressed against mine through the night. The scent of them still clings to the sheets: Ethan's crisp cologne, Declan's clean soap, Mateo's spicy warmth.
From the kitchen, I hear the sizzle of bacon, the quiet clink of a spatula against a pan. The familiar scents of coffee and breakfast foods fill the air, creating an illusion of normalcy that's both comforting and surreal.
Last night feels like a dream, the kind you don't want to wake from. The memory of their hands, their mouths, their bodies moving with mine sends a flush of heat through me despite my exhaustion.
I pull myself up, wrapping one of the sheets around me like a makeshift dress, and pad across the cool tile to the kitchen.
"Morning, sleeping beauty." Declan's deep voice draws my attention to the kitchen area.
He stands at the stove, shirtless, wearing only a pair of low-slung sweatpants. The expanse of his tattooed back flexes as he flips pancakes with surprising dexterity for a man with such large hands. Those same hands that last night had gripped my hips with bruising force now delicately maneuver a spatula.
"Something smells amazing," I say, my voice still husky from sleep and overuse.
"Figured we could all use the calories after last night." A rare, small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.
The pool house has transformed overnight. What was once a stark, utilitarian space now feels intimate, lived-in. Our clothes are strewn over chairs, Mateo's tech gear occupies one corner, and someone, probably Ethan, has arranged our shoes neatly by the door.
"Where are the others?" I ask, leaning against the counter and stealing a piece of crispy bacon from a plate.
"Ethan's checking the perimeter. Mateo's in the office trying to trace the camera feed." Declan jerks his chin toward the small room off the main living area, where I can see Mateo hunched over his laptop, his face illuminated by the blue glow of multiple screens. "No staff today."
I already knew that. We'd agreed. No Gloria. No Sophie. No one except us.
Still, something twists in my chest.
"I sent them a message this morning," I say quietly. "Told them I was taking a mental health day."
Declan nods, flipping a pancake with precise, practiced movements. "Good call."
"But it's not a mental health day. It's a lockdown." I stare at the counter like it might explain how to undo what's already done. "And I hate lying to them."
Declan doesn't look at me, but his voice is steady. "I know."
"Gloria in particular. She always had my back," I murmur. "They're not just staff. I trust them."
Declan's expression softens slightly. "I know. But right now, we can't trust anyone outside this room. Not until we know who planted that camera, who's been watching us."
