Aside from the anger and determination to see me and Rhett rot in jail, there’s more in his blue eyes...
Desperation.
He’s having a hard time hiding it, along with the fear beading in a sweaty mist at his hairline.
“You thinkIhid her,” he mutters, revealing the face of a completely deranged man at the end of his wits when he meets my eyes. “She never got home.”
Color drains from my face for the second time this evening, his words pounding like a punch to the gut.
5
HAILEY
THREE DAYS EARLIER
The door to the room I’ve been locked in for four days opens wide and two bulky men enter. I recognize Darius first, the scorn across his face when he killed Matthews will live forever in my nightmares.
Behind him comes Jax, carrying a tray with a sad-looking sandwich and a glass of orange juice—the same thing they’ve brought three times a day since Matthews abandoned me here. I didn’t touch anything for two days, but yesterday I caved, gulped the orange juice in one go, then sat in the corner, waiting forsomethingtohappen.
I was certain the juice was spiked but two hours later there was no adverse reaction. My stomach growled whenever I caught sight of the sandwich, but the mere thought of taking a bite shook me with nauseous dry heaves.
I can survive much longer without food than drink so the juice will have to do for now.
Dad’s teaching has been bouncing around my mind since I arrived:the average human can survive three minutes without oxygen, three days without water, and three weeks without food.
It’s only been four days. I’ll be fine.
Darius waits for Jax to leave my breakfast on bed number one and exits the room. Once we’re alone, he steps further in, laying a flowy pink negligee beside the food. I’m still wearing the same clothes I arrived in: Nash’s hoodie and a pair of jeans. I don’t smell so hot, but that’s a problem for another day.
Darius stalks closer to where I sit in the corner, my knees bent close to my chest. They haven’t gagged or tied me up. I guess there’s no point limiting my movement while I’m locked away.
That makes sense but what doesn’t is that no one’s spoken one word to me all this time.
The light’s been on since Jax shoved me in here, and I haven’t moved other than to grab the juice or use the bathroom: a big communal room with a row of showers down the left wall and a row of toilets on the right. No separators, walls, curtains... no privacy if more than one person were using it.
Darius crouches before me, his eyes narrowing as he rakes his heated gaze over me. “Wash up, eat, and get dressed.”
I push myself further into the wall, marginally increasing the distance between us. My body’s a lead weight and I’m so hungry I barely care that they might’ve sprinkled drugs on the sandwich but thinking about chewing makes me sick.
“Don’t think you have a choice,” he barks. “You have thirty minutes. Unless you enjoy showering with a crowd, you better start moving. Believe me, it’ll be better if you cooperate.”
With that, he stands back to his full height, casting a quick glance around the room. He frowns at the perfectly made beds but shrugs it off and leaves.
I haven’t used the beds. I couldn’t pick a number, obsessing over what the order might mean, Jax’sI’d choose very carefullyechoing in my mind over again. If there are more people coming, would I be safer in bed number one or thirty? Maybe somewhere in the middle?
I’d be safest with Nash.
My insides coil, twist, and turn whenever I think about him... in the stark fluorescent light of this room, that’s all I’ve done. Instead of choosing a bed, I’ve been sitting by the wall, battling sleep, thinking about Nash, and analyzing my reaction to the flashback.
I should’ve stayed at Lakeside. I’d still be safe. Or as safe as one can be with a liar.
Safer than here, that’s for sure. Nash never hurt me.
No one hurt me here, either,yet, but Jonathan’s lifeless body lying on the gravel, still holding onto his dead daughter, haunts me every time I close my eyes, so I guess it’s only a matter of time before they do. After all, they brought me here because they want the evidence... and I don’t know where it is.
I also don’t understand why no one has asked me a single question about it yet.
It makes no sense and waiting for the ball to drop is slowly driving me crazy.
