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I hope she doesn’t run.
I quickly typed in the code, and the door unlocked. I stepped back and waited for her to look at me.
“Let me guess. I’m free?” she joked darkly. “Or is it a ‘run and I’ll hunt you’ kind of thing?”
“It’s time for a shower.”
“Now you’re suddenly concerned about my smell?” She studied her dirty nails, then she looked at me and her mouth drooped, and her arms fell heavily to her sides. She knew it was something bigger than just a shower. “Where am I going?”
“I’ll explain everything later.”
For some reason, I felt nervous, too, maybe because I didn’t have any idea how tonight would go. I was as prepared as I could be to win the bid, but Castillo was unpredictable. I wouldn’t put it past him to change his mind again and make a spectacle like shooting her in the head in front of everyone to show off his power or just because he felt like it.
“Come on.” I pointed at the door with my head and waited for her to step outside the cage. She swung her feet around and slowly stood. I could tell she was contemplating her options. “Listen, I hadn’t planned to tie you, but the house is surrounded with Castillo’s men. Men who won’t be as kind as me. So, if you plan to run, I’ll tie you now and take you to the bathroom like a dog on a leash. Up to you.”
She eyed me carefully. “Please tell me I’ll be showering in an actual bathroom.” She tried to sound like a fancy lady, but I could see the flicker of fear in her eyes. Up until now, she used a small area in the basement that looked like a dressing room with a white plastic sheet for privacy.
“They might be animals,” I pointed to the ceiling, “but I’m not.”
“Time will tell, won’t it?”
“We’re going up the stairs,” I decided to explain to help smooth things for her, “across the living room, and into my office.” Her eyes darted to me. “Where I will lock the door behind us, and then you can go into the bathroom alone and shower.”
“Can I say no?”
“No.” I kept my voice calm and matter of fact as I tried to anticipate her next move. She studied me for a moment and tried to hide the fact that her hands shook.
“Fine.” She stood, squared her shoulders, and walked past me. She stopped in front of the basement door and waited. I opened the door, and she huffed as she realized it wasn’t locked. I waved her through, and she looked cautiously at the steps before taking the first one.
“I feel like I should be walking down not walking up,” she hissed. It took me a moment to realize what she was saying.
“You’re not walking to your death, Lexi.”
“Says the man who’s had me locked in a cage in his basement for how long?”
I didn’t answer.
When she opened the door at the top, she came to a halt, and I saw Alejandro on the chair holding a gun.
“We good, Ale?”
“Yeah, boss, we’re good.” He kept his eyes on Lexi. She jumped when I wrapped my hand around her arm to keep her moving. The last thing I needed was one of Castillo’s men looking through the window and getting any ideas. I pushed her through my office door and closed it behind us.
She went to make a move but thought better of it.
“Can I—can I have a little?” She pointed at a bottle of water on a side table.
“Yes.” I watched as she spilled a bit of the sparkling water when she tried to pour it into a glass. She used the bottom of her shirt to dry it, and I hid my amusement at her sorry attempt to clean it up. “If this is really it,” she closed her eyes as she drank, “I need something other than booze or water in my stomach.” I shook my head and waited for her to finish. It wasn’t lost on me she was checking out the room. I really didn’t care what she did in here. Nothing was important. My house was meant for guests, so anything important was kept out of view anyway.
“I can get you something to eat.”
“You’re not like the others.” She lowered her glass and placed it on a coaster.
“Others?” I wasn’t sure who she was referring to.
“When the other girls speak about the Cartel, they always said how scary they are or how rough they are, but I don’t get that feeling from you.”
“It’s an illusion.” I shrugged.
