“No.I’m going to the city,” she explains.“Señor Esguerra”—she glances at Julian—“said he’s fine with that as long as I take one of the guards with me.I don’t need as much security as the two of you, so I figured I’d use the day to explore Chicago.”She pauses and gives me a concerned look.“You don’t mind, do you?Because I don’t have to go—”
“No, no, you should definitely go.Chicago is a great city.You’ll have fun.”I give her a big smile, ignoring the sudden wash of envy.I want Rosa to have this kind of freedom; there’s no reason for her to be stuck in the suburbs.
There’s no reason for her to be confined like me.
The driveto the park takes less than thirty minutes.As we approach, I realize where we’re going, and my stomach tightens.
I know this park.
It’s the one where I was walking with Jake the night Julian kidnapped me.
The memories that come are sharp and vivid.In a dark flash, I relive the terror of seeing Jake unconscious on the ground and feeling the cruel prick of the needle on my skin.
“Are you okay?”Julian asks, and I realize I must’ve gone pale.His eyebrows come together.“Nora?”
“I’m fine.”I attempt to smile as the car comes to a stop at the curb.“It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing.”His blue eyes narrow.“If you’re not feeling well, we’re going back to the house.”
“No.”I grab the door handle and tug at it frantically.The atmosphere in the car feels heavy all of a sudden, thick with memories.“Please, I just want some fresh air.”
“All right.”Apparently sensing my state, Julian motions to the driver, and the door locks click open.“Go ahead.”
I scramble out of the car, the anxious feeling in my chest easing as soon as I step outside.Taking a deep breath, I turn to see Julian climb out of the car behind me, his face taut with worry.
“Why did you choose this park?”I ask, trying to keep my voice even.“There are others in the area.”
He looks puzzled for a second; then understanding displaces worry on his face.“Because I had already scoped out this place,” he says, stepping toward me.His hands close around my upper arms as he gazes down at me.“Is that what’s bothering you, my pet?My choice of location?”
“Yes, somewhat.”I take another deep breath.“It brings back certain… memories.”
“Ah, of course.”Julian’s eyes gleam with sudden amusement.“I guess I should’ve been more cognizant of that.This just happened to be the easiest park to secure, since I had all the schematics from before.”
“From when you stole me.”I stare up at him.Sometimes his total lack of repentance still catches me off-guard.“You scoped out the park two years ago for my kidnapping.”
“Yes.”His beautiful lips curl in a smile as he releases my arms and steps back.“Now, are you feeling better, or should we go back?”
“No, let’s take a walk,” I say, determined to enjoy the day.“I’m fine now.”
Julian takes my hand, lacing my fingers through his, and we enter the park.To my relief, in the daylight everything looks different than it did on that fateful evening, and it’s not long before the dark memories recede, retreating back to that forbidden, closed corner of my brain.
I want to keep them there, so I focus on the bright sunlight and the warm spring breeze.
“I love this weather,” I say to Julian as we pass by a playground.“I’m glad we came out.”
He smiles and brings my hand up to brush a kiss across my knuckles.“Me too, baby.Me too.”
As we walk, I see that the park is unusually busy for a Friday.There are older couples, moms and nannies with their charges, and a good number of people my age.I’m guessing they’re college students, home for the long weekend.Here and there, I also spot a few military-looking types doing their best to blend in.
Julian’s men.They’re here to protect us, but their presence is also a stark reminder that I’m still a prisoner in a way.
“How were you able to find me?”I ask when we sit down on a bench.I know I should stop dwelling on the past, but for some reason, I can’t stop thinking of those early days.“After our first meeting at the club, I mean?”
Julian turns to look at me, his expression unreadable.“I sent a guard to follow you home.”
“Oh.”So simple, yet so diabolical.“You already knew you wanted to steal me?”
“No.”He clasps both of my hands between his palms.“I hadn’t come to that decision yet.I told myself I just wanted to know who you were, to make sure you got home safely.”
