Maybe I’d take this whole freaking place down when I went.
Set it on fire.
“And how in the world could someone not like you?” I couldn’t help but give her the truth.
“Right?” She tossed her head back with a tinkling laugh, then she was back to looking at me with a cheeky smile.
“And maybe they don’tnotlike me. I think maybe they’re just leery of me or something? You know, because of my position?”
She whispered that part like it was a secret.
Right.
Her position.
Being with Silas, their president. I was suddenly burning with a thousandfriendlyquestions.
Like how long had they been together and how on God’s green earth did she put up with his pompous ass?
But I didn’t let any of them go, and her smile was softening as she peered at me. “What do you think of your room? I know it’s small and everything, but I wanted to make sure it was cute and comfortable.”
Surprise jetted free. “You’re the one who decorated my room?”
She shrugged a self-conscious shoulder. “I hope you like pink. It’s my favorite, obviously.”
“What kind of weirdo doesn’t like pink?”
I had to admit I was feeling a whole lot better about that pink knowing where it came from. Thankful that room wasn’t some sort of strange kinky torture chamber.
“Right?” She giggled, swaying Kai before a bit of shyness ridged her demeanor. “I knew I was going to like you.”
I felt a gush of emotion roll out of her.
Not loneliness.
Something similar but different.
Isolation, I thought. Like maybe she was trapped.
Another rush of worry blustered beneath the surface of my skin.
Concerned about how she’d ended up here.
I had no idea who these men were or what they were like, but I’m sure they were capable of deplorable acts.
She snuggled Kai closer, and her voice dropped in gentle emphasis. “And I want you to know if you need anything at all, you can come to me. I know Silas probably told you to keep away from me, being the grumpy boss that he is, but as far as I’m concerned, he doesn’t get to control everything.”
Confusion bound with the dread I felt for her.
She glanced toward the door that separated the office from the shop that had a small window in it before she returned her gaze back to me.
“I mean, I know he only worries with everything going on and he wants to protect everyone, but sometimes what we really need are people there to support us. Not just the muscle.”
Lightness filled the roll of her eyes.
I blinked, trying to make sense of her. Of this place.
Did she know I was little more than a prisoner?
