Page 25 of Blissful Devotion

He holds my gaze, his eyes holding mine, letting me know just how serious he is.

It takes me far too long to realize he’s waiting for my response, and by the time he releases me, I’m so exhausted that all I can do is fall back onto the mattress. I might have just slept for twelve hours, but now I feel as if I’ve been up for days, and the world is just too much.

He looms over me for a moment, and I worry I might have to try and make a break for it, but before I can, he pulls back. Moving to the table, he picks up the tray full of food and sets it on the bed.

“The baby needs food.” He points at it as if I’m a dog in training, expecting me to fall in line, and honestly, that’s what he’s going to get.

I pick up a grape from the bowl of fruit and pop it in my mouth. The flavor explodes in my mouth, and I’d never admit it out loud, but it’s good, really good.

With a sigh, I eat the rest of the fruit, then turn my attention to the French toast. I don’t trust Lorenzo, but I’m starving, and he’s right; the baby does need food.

“I’ve brought you new clothes.” He waves a hand to the end of the bed, and I notice there is, in fact, a fresh pile of clothes.

How did I miss that?

“When you’ve finished eating, get dressed and meet me downstairs.”

Itake my time, eating every bite as if it’s going to save me, yet it still doesn’t seem like it was long enough.

Lorenzo closed the door behind him when he left, but after setting aside my dirty plate, I move to the door to ensure it’s really closed. It is, but unlike last night when I checked it, today the handle turns, and my heart skips a beat.

It’s silly; of course it’s unlocked if he wants me to come downstairs, but I still have to fight the urge to make a run for it.

Where would I go?

What would I do?

No, for now I need to behave, take in my surroundings, and see what I can learn so that when I finally get a chance, I don’t waste it.

Even though I know that’s my best bet, it doesn’t stop me from craving freedom.

“Soon,” I promise myself, then turn back to the bed and grab the first thing my fingers touch: a soft maxi dress with sleeves that look like they will cover at least half my arms.

It might be winter, but the room is warm enough. This will do.

Either the guys will come for me, or I’ll get out myself. I won’t stay trapped.

I can’t.

Never again.

I have no choice but to leave my hair down since I don’t have a hair tie, so I waste a few more minutes brushing my hair, then my teeth. Then I stack the plate and the fruit bowl back onto the tray and take it with me as I finally leave the room.

The second I hit the hall, I stop dead.

Everything in me tells me to go, to make a break for it, and I want to. Fuck, do I want to.

Instead, I force one foot in front of the other down the hall to a set of stairs that I vaguely remember coming up last night. I manage to make it back to the elevator but have no idea where to go from there.

“Katherine?” The soft, feminine voice makes me jump, and I nearly drop the tray of dishes. I whip around to find a girl behind me.

“Lo siento,” she says in another language I don’t know, then cringes; this time, when she speaks again, it’s in English.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” She steps back, bowing low, and while my heart races and the urge to run grips me, I manage to stay in place.

Neither of us moves for a moment, as if frozen, before she finally peeks up and sees me staring.

I open my mouth as if ready to say something, but nothing comes out, and honestly, I don’t even know what I would say; my mind is blank.