I can’t imaginewhathe would want to show me, but I don’t think I really have a choice.
“Okay.” I whisper, allowing him to lead me out of the dining room into the hallway.
He takes me into the elevator once more, and we go up to the floor just above. As he’s leading me down the hallway, I realize I’ve been here before—walking down this same dark red carpet.
The raccoon. This is the apartment I visited when we found the raccoon.
At the realization, my chest fills with hope. I’m closer to Saffron than I thought. With any luck, the police will find me soon, and I can go back home.
“You seem in better spirits.” Seven turns to me with a grin. “Do you remember this place now?”
“Yes.” I try to keep the smile off my face. “We’re going to see the raccoon, right?”
“See for yourself.” Seven stops in front of a familiar door. He pulls it open, and I’m greeted with the sight of the most adorable little raccoon in the world. He looks a lot healthier now—he’s filled out, his hair has come back, and his leg is practically healed.
I look around the space, taking in the hand-built platforms, toys, and enrichment. Zorro has everything he could ever want here, and then some. If it's possible for a raccoon to look happy, this one definitely does.
As I take in the hours of work he put into the room, I’m reminded of howgoodSeven can be. Somewhere buried beneath those layers of rage and hate is a good man. He cares for me—that much is clear. But more than that,he’s willing to go above and beyond to show it. To be decent to me and the things I care about.
The fork in my sleeve suddenly feels heavy.
I clear my throat, pushing down the wave of emotion. “You did all this for a silly raccoon?”
“I did this for you. Because you wanted it to live. I’m making sure it lives.” He turns to me, his gaze heated. “I’d do anything to see you smile at me, Grace, to give me a fraction of your heart. I’d doanything.”
He leans in, and I don't pull back when he presses his lips to mine. I don't want to.
Seven deepens the kiss, his tongue dancing expertly with mine, and I begin to unravel, to give in to his twisted desires. Overcome with raw desire, I slide my hands up his chest, gripping his T-shirt and pulling him down to me, desperate for more of the pleasure he brings.
But then he touches the collar on my neck, and it brings me crashing back down to earth once more.
What the fuck am I doing?My eyes spring wide, but luckily, Seven is too caught up in the kiss to notice.
Using his distraction to my advantage, I trail my hands lower out of his sight, secretly reaching into my sleeve and wrapping my fingers around the fork I stashed there.
I only have one shot at this. I have to make it count.
I break away from Seven, giving him a seductive grin that I hope is sincere enough to hide my motives. His eyes glaze with lust as I bite my lip, and at the moment his eyes flick down to my mouth, I lunge forward, stabbing the fork into the first body part I’m able.
Instead of flesh, the tip of the fork meets nothing but air. I look down, noticing Seven’s hand wrapped around my wrist, stopping the fork an inch away from his chest.
“That wasn’t very nice, Grace.”
I swallow hard, dread pooling in my gut as Seven pries the fork from my hand, tossing it to the side. His expression is like thunder as he wraps his hands around my waist, pulling me flush against his chest.
“Why would you do something so silly? Now I have to put you back into the cage.” His mouth turns down in a frown, the shadows in his eyes thickening as he stares down at me. “Why, angel? Why did you do it?”
I bare my teeth in a snarl. “Because you’re messed up! I don’t want to be here with you!”
“Liar, liar.” He reaches up, thumbing my bottom lip roughly. “What a shame. It was such a beautiful dress, too.”
“What do you?—”
In one violent movement, Seven rips the dress from my body, throwing the tattered pieces of fabric to the ground with an animalistic growl. I try to turn, to run away, but Seven holds me tight, throwing me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing.
“Stop! Put me down!” I pound my fists against his muscular back, but he doesn’t seem to notice. “Put me the fuck down!”
In answer, he smacks my ass so hard that tears well in my eyes.That’s gonna leave a bruise…
