“Oh, nice,” I say, feeling the anger surge back up again. I thought I had it under control, but clearly, I don’t.
He’s giving them everything they want. The fun things, the things he can use to manipulate them into thinking he’s a good guy. And it’s pissing me off.
Again, I worry about how overwhelming this must be for them. I know how it goes—from the outside, they look happyand like they’ve just found the biggest, best adventure ever. But tonight, when I try to get them to go to sleep, they are going to be full of questions and confusion, and their little minds are going to be racing.
And of course, there is the other side of this. The side where he makes them feel like all of this luxury is normal, and when I try to leave with them, I can’t give them the same things.
It isn’t fair or right.
He isn’t thinking it through. He knowsnothingabout what they really need, and he didn’t even try to consult me before blasting them with so many truths and such heavy information.
Meeting their dad and moving house all in one day…
I grit my teeth and bite back the angry words that are pushing against my lips.Do not fight in front of them. “Where is my room?” I ask politely. I need five minutes alone. I need to splash cold water on my face and recompose myself.
“The master bedroom is at the end of this hall…”
“I amnotsharing a room with you, Simon!” I blurt out in horror.
He smirks, shaking his head. “If you will listen long enough to let me finish… the master bedroom is at the end of this hall, andoppositeit is your bedroom. Yourownbedroom.”
I bite my lip, feeling foolish and even more angry because I can’t feel anything but anger at the moment. “Thank you,” I snap. “I’ll go and look at it.”
Spinning on my heel, I march from the room. Behind me, I hear Solenne laughing, squealing with excitement, and agitation runs deeper into my thoughts.
What happens when I have to leave here? Will the children hate me for it?
They already love this place, but they don’t know that we are trapped like animals without a choice.
I walk into my room, not really taking in the decor or the modern layout and open spaces. I walk straight to the window and stand against it, staring out over the city. It’s late afternoon, and the sun’s midday glare is starting to fade.
The city’s buildings are so much lower than us, as my view towers over them, over everything. It’s beautiful, utterly breathtaking. I can see why people would want to live so high up, above the mess, the noise, and the chaos. Even though we are in the middle of a thrumming metropolis, I still feel like I can breathe up here. Like the air is clear, and I have space.
My father’s house was also so claustrophobic and dark and stuff. I don’t know if it really was or if that’s how my mind made it out to be, because I couldn’t get away.
I sigh, letting the air full my lungs and stretch against them before I slowly let it escape.
What am I going to do?Another prisoner. Another mafia guard telling me what I can and can’t do. I literallyjustescaped my father and somehow walked right into a trap I never saw coming.
And the worst thing… my heart still leaps when I look at Simon. My body still spikes with yearning. My mind hasn’t managed to overrule the attraction, the magnetism, the need… my mind knows he’s keeping us prisoner, and my body is humming at the sight of him.
It makes me even more angry!
“Selene.” His voice comes from behind me, and I jump in fright, spinning to face him.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” he says, standing in the doorway.
“Oh, you want to pretend like you give a shit what I need or wantnow?Don’t pretend to be polite and accommodating, Simon. What do you want?” I snap angrily.
He looks taken aback.
“I came to check if you need anything,” he says.
“I need you to let me go. To not lock us up in your ivory tower. I need you to stop acting as if you own us or have the right to keep us here against our will!” I blurt out, my voice sharp and intense.
Simon sucks in his cheeks, narrowing his eyes at me.
“You’re safe here, so areourchildren,” he says coldly.
