They both climb in the back, and I drive down the gravel path toward the front gates, which buzz open at my approach.
I’m watching her through my mirror, catching her stealing glances out the window before slinging them back on Bob. Drawn to both the mesmerising view of the forests andmountains and keeping an eye on the beast she’s convinced is going to eat her. I can’t hide my amusement.
“Where even is this house?”
“Middle of nowhere. First neighbours are like thirty minutes away. Gated, secured, cameras at every angle.”
I give her this as a hint,you will never escape, princess.
Bob moves closer to her, so she uses the bag as a shield, whipping it up between them.
“Give him something,” I coax.
She blindly reaches into the bag and pulls out a treat. She hands it out to Bob, who takes it gently.
“Good boy,” I say.
This seems to ease the tension in her small frame slightly. My dick presses against my jeans. It’s been hard since I walked into Cade’s bedroom. Boy, this is either going to be a lot of fun, or a fucking headache.
CHAPTER 16
ELODIE
Idon’t know how many miles of woods surround Caden’s home, but it’s more than I could probably run. This doesn’t bode well. My only shot is winning this incredulous bet that I absolutely don’t believe is legit. Caden made it seem simple, but we both know it won’t be. It won’t stop me from trying though. If The Hunt takes place in these woods, all I have to do is outrun him. And I could keep running.
I turned to peer out the back window as we drove down to the front gates. I hadn’t seen the outside of the house yet. It matched its interior. Built from black bricks, slate tile roof with two spire turrets on either side. The front stoop is under a pointed arch; black timbre beams built in a decorative way around the archway. The house is tall and dark, fitting for its owner. It sticks out underneath the summer sun, the burning rays unable to penetrate the blackness of it. An enormous shadow beneath a raging light.
After a long time driving in Fiz’s Audi Q8, which I must say, is the most comfortable car I’ve ever sat in, I see the first signs of civilisation. It’s a small town, but there’d be a phone, maybe a taxi service. I’d need a computer to wire the money to anaccessible bank account. If my one shot is The Hunt, I’ll take the money I have already. It’ll do. It’ll get me far enough from here and that’s the important thing.
Bob’s about ten treats down now, and his attention’s finally turned away from me towards his own window. He doesn’t seem so bad, but I’m not dumb enough to believe that giving him treats means he wouldn’t attack me if his stupid owner told him to.
Fiz had picked out a pair of shorts and a Sleep Token T-shirt during that horrible encounter in the bedroom that set my nerves on fire. He just placed the clothes on the bed and left. I was so sure he’d do something. We were alone, unsupervised. Why didn’t he do anything? It set me on edge. But, like he said, the fun hasn’t begun yet.
Caden’s clothes drown me, but I like the smell. Hopefully, wherever we’re going includes some sort of clothes shop and I can ask Fiz to take me. If I behave, I can swap his offer of an ice cream for one outfit that fits. I don’t know why I couldn’t stay with Alfie today. I’d be good for him; he makes me want to be good.
Fiz doesn’t talk to me the entire drive, he cranks the music up high. The only song I know is “Angels and Demons” by Jxdn. He’s not got bad taste in music. Neither has Caden, if I’m being honest. It’s been weird hearing music so casually again, to have melodies bless my ears after so many days filled with nothing but silence or the hissing caress of the darkness. I’m just grateful to hear it, I’m not sure I’d care what music it is.
After a while, Fiz pulls into a retail park. He opens my door for me and flourishes his arm. “Princess.”
I ignore him and get out.
He’s dressed in all black today: baggy cargo trousers that hang loose on his hips and a black T-shirt that show off his decent-sized biceps. His brown skin is smooth and shiny. I’mreluctantly drawn in whenever he shows some skin. His veiny forearms are completely bare. I have a clear view of the cords of muscle without the shadows of ink hiding them. No scars to mar the smoothness. I don’t get it. Why he’s not painted like his friends. Why there’s not a single decoration on a body so marvellous.
I won’t ask him though. Like hell am I going to show a sliver of interest in him.
The sunlight catches Fiz’s curls as he moves, highlighting the brown hues in them, shimmering golds at the ends of the coils, his whole silhouette bathed in gold. He leans into the car and brings out a black baseball cap, fitting it over his head, squashing down those curls to nestle at the nape of his neck.
Crisp trainers as white and polished as a set of veneers. The same white gold chain lacing his neck. In another life, I may have found this man irresistible. The way his brown eyes sparkle with mischief, how those dimples appear when he smiles genuinely and make him look annoyingly adorable. And whatever cologne he uses is absolutely mouth-watering.
However, as I stare at him now as he lets Bob out the car, I just want to punch him. How dare he be so beautiful but have wandering hands and such an obscene tongue. How dare he look so precious and be so vulgar beneath the flawless exterior.
There’s plenty of people around, the odds of one of them answering my scream for help have got to be high. But I don’t. The image of Bob leaping up on me and clawing my eyes out as soon as I open my mouth is too vivid and gut-twisting to allow me to do it. I have ten days, that’s it. If I can make it ten days, rein myself in, behave, and really give the opportunity to escape a go, I might get out unscathed.
Fiz’s arm comes around my shoulders, and he leads me towards the shops.
I wiggle away from his touch. “Don’t touch me.”
He doesn’t let me go, instead tucking me into his body. “Now, now, princess. United front here, don’t want to cause a scene.”
