Finders keepers.I rolled my eyes at the corny text. Knowing my two captors, they’d be happy to play along and make me pay for breaking one of Dom’s precious rules.
As I careened upstairs, pivoting down the long hallway that led to the South Wing’s door, I knew it was a risk I had to take. The feeling of familiarity that this mansion had stirred inside me hadn’t dissipated as I’d hoped.
More than ever, I needed to know why I recognized every corner of this place. And why Dom was hiding it.
The door was in sight now. Still closed, I knew it would be unlocked because all of us were home. Except for Dom — who was out for some business meeting or the like.
Shoving open the plastic sheet, I slid the pocket door to the hallway open and slipped inside, closing it behind myself. Leaning on the wood, I took a second to catch my breath as I took in the dim hallway. Most of the doors in the long hallway were closed, cutting off the sunlight from the hallway.
Through the dim light, I started down the hall. The smell of dust and must filled my nose. Despite the heavy construction smell, the whole place looked like it hadn’t been touched in decades. A layer of dust covered every surface.
The wood panelling and wainscotting on the walls looked worn, a far-cry from the renovated, preserved parts of the house.
This must be how the whole house looked when Dom bought the place.
I felt a sneeze building in my nose but tried to hold it back, not wanting to give my two captors any hints as to where I was.
But why would Dom wait to renovate this part? It looked like the whole place had been ignored in all of Dom’s planning.
My steps slowed as I let my body guide me down the hall, something taking over as I walked.
It was like a ghost that had haunted these halls for years had possessed my body. And then, my feet stopped in front of a closed door. A wave of familiarity washed over me as I reached for the doorknob.
Like I’d done it a thousand times but from a much lower vantage point, I twisted the cold, glass knob — not yet updated to Dom’s preferred metal. The bracelet around my wrist burned into my skin as I felt the weight of what I was doing.
There would be no turning back, the flood gates opening.
If I was lucky, I could run back down the hall, close the South Wing door and hide in the house. Leo and Spencer would find me, they’d never know I was down here.
But I knew it was too late for that. Even if I hadn’t turned the knob yet. There was no world in which I couldn’t know what dark secret rested behind this door, the thing Dom wanted to keep from me most.
Sucking in a deep breath, I twisted the handle and pressed the door open.
A diffused sunlight met my eyes, making me blink to adjust to the brightness. Despite the white curtain in front of the window, the room was still lit enough to see unlike the dim hallway.
Stepping into the room, my forehead wrinkled as I looked around.
My heart stopped in my chest.
Now I understand why she doesn’t want me in here.
Swallowing hard, my eyes flicked around the room. I knew it. Knew this room like the back of my hand.
A one-to-one replica of the bedroom I had at my dad’s best friend's house.
No, not a replica. Itwasmy bedroom.
Isaac. It’s Isaac’s house.
36
KIERA
The house was alwaysfamiliar to me. I’d just spent weeks trying to convince myself it wasn’t. But now, I remembered.
A wave of confusion hit me as I stepped a little deeper into the room.
Dom. Why does Dom have this house? Why would she want to preserve this?
