“Go to hell,” I seethed.
A faint smile ghosted across his lips. “I can see I’ll need to give you some time to adjust,” he said. “The hunt isn’t over yet, so we’ve still got a while. And we always give the girls a little time to settle in before the process begins anyway.”
“Process? Whatprocess?” I asked, my voice rising. “Is it to become some sort of brainwashed sex slave? Isthatwhat this place is for? Is that what my sister was going to expose before you motherfuckers had her killed?”
Julian crossed the distance between us before I could step back, his presence filling the space like a shadow swallowing light. “I’m going to explain everything to you, Violet,” he said. “But only once you’ve calmed down.”
“You think I’m going to calm down anytime soon?” I shot back, glowering at him.
“No, obviously not. So as I said, I’ll give you some space for now,” he replied. “But don’t worry, you won’t be bored in here. There’s plenty of books, all in your favorite genres, and a TV with access to every streaming platform. A maid will bring your meals to you, and I’ll send someone to clean this glass up as well. Andwhen your emotions aren’t running so high, we’ll talk properly, and I’ll answer all of your questions.”
I blinked. “Did you say the TV has every streaming service on it?” I asked, mind suddenly whirling.
“Yes. Why?” he asked, cocking his head.
“There’s some shows I like that are only on certain platforms,” I muttered, avoiding his eyes.
He laughed. “I know why you really asked, and no, you can’t access the internet on it just because it’s connected to the Wi-Fi,” he said. “I already tested it to make sure. But of course, you’re welcome to try. Maybe it’ll help you realize the truth.”
“What truth?” I asked, gaze snapping back to meet his.
“That I’m never letting you go, because you’re mine,” he replied. “You’ll see that eventually.”
With that, he turned, walked to the door, and left. The lock clicked behind him, soft but final.
I sank to my knees, shaking, staring at the shattered glass glinting on the floor.
You're mine.
The words echoed in my head, over and over, until I wanted to scream. But I didn't. Didn't cry, either. Didn't give Julian the satisfaction, even though he wasn't here to see it.
Instead, I picked myself up, walked to the sitting room, and threw myself onto the leather sofa. I grabbed the TV remote from the coffee table and turned it on, half out of spite and half because I wanted to see if there was any way to access the outside world through it.
There wasn't.
Julian had been telling the truth. The TV had every streaming service imaginable, but no browser, no way to send messages, no access to anything useful. Just an endless catalog of shows and movies to keep me distracted.
I turned it off and tossed the remote aside.
The hours crawled by.
I paced the room, counting steps. Examined every inch of the walls for hidden passages or weak points. Went through the closet again, this time actually looking at what was there. The clothes were beautiful, expensive, and clearly chosen by someone who knew my style. That should’ve been flattering, but instead, it was deeply unsettling.
Just how long had Julian been watching me? Planning this?
Next, I tried to read, pulling a book from the shelves in the sitting room. It was one of my favorites, a thriller I'd read three times already. The fact that Julian somehow knew that along with everything else creeped me out, so I only managed two pages before throwing it aside.
The sun climbed higher in the sky, and I eventually checked the time on a clock that sat on the bedside table. Nearly noon. I'd been awake for hours, and no one had come. Just me, alone in my beautiful prison.
Maybe that was the point. Isolation. Break me down through loneliness and boredom until I was grateful for any human contact, evenhis.
But it wasn't going to work. At least that's what I told myself.
Around two o'clock, I heard footsteps in the hallway outside. I tensed, wondering if it was Julian again, coming to check if I'd calmed down yet. Then came a soft knock.
“Miss Calloway?” A feminine voice spoke to me, muffled through the door. “I'm here to clean up and bring your lunch. I just wanted to let you know I'm coming in.”
Not Julian. A maid.
