Page 41 of Locked in Wonderland

I turned slowly, careful not to make any sudden movements, and peered into the darkness. I could make out the outline of a chair and a large shape sitting in it, but little else. “Why?”

Something moved. A hand reaching out to the side. Its purpose became obvious when a lamp flickered to life, bathing the room in warm light.

An enormous man sat in the chair, his chest twice the size of mine.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

“Because of me.”

“Right.” I found myself nodding. “I… er… needed somewhere safe, and the door was unlocked. You should probably… lock it.”

The man rose from the chair, towering at least a foot above me. I gave serious consideration to going back outside. Then I remembered the gang. They might still be close. At least this guy didn’t have a baseball bat. Not one I could see, anyway.

“Don’t need to,” he said. “Nobody’s coming in here.” A pause. “Except for you.”

He came toward me, and it was all I could do not to shrink back. Instead of attacking me, he held out a meaty hand. “Donovan Doyle. Those who know me well call me Dodo.”

I shook it. Mainly because I didn’t dare do anything else. “Lysander Carroll. People who know me well call me…” I paused. “Actually, they call me Lysander. I’ve never been fond of Xander and there’s not a lot else you can shorten it to.”

Donovan laughed.

Given his size, it came out as a low rumble that reminded me of a jet engine. He lumbered back toward the chair, leaning against it. “You can stay here.”

“I can?” Did I want to?

He nodded. “Sure. It’s not safe outside at the moment.”

“Yeah, I noticed. When is it safe?”

He shrugged. “Not now.”

“Right.” I forced myself to think the situation through. Nobody in Wonderland did anything for free, which meant that Donovan’s offer came with strings attached. “What payment are you expecting for letting me stay here?” I asked. “Sex?”

He stared at me, his expression unreadable. “I’d snap you in half.”

Which wasn’t a no. “Probably,” I admitted. “I just want to be clear on what’s expected of me. I’ve been burned a few times.”

He nodded slowly. “People do a lot of taking in Wonderland.”

“They do.”

He headed for a door at the back of the room. “No sex.”

“No?” It was hard to keep the relief out of my voice.

He disappeared through the doorway, leaving me standing there alone and unsure whether I was supposed to stay put or follow.

“Are you hungry, Lysander Carroll?” he called.

“Starving.”

“Come and eat, then.”

I didn’t need asking twice. I found him in a small kitchen barely large enough for him, never mind the two of us. He gestured toward a table designed for a single occupant. “Sit.”

I sat.

“It’s only soup. I hope that’s okay.”