Page 152 of Anton

When he resumes pacing, I steal a glance over my shoulder and spot one a few yards away. If I can get him back to the part of the bunker where he was when I woke up, I might have a chance.

“What are you doing?” He rushes toward me, sending my heart into a violent rhythm.

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“Are you trying to run away?”

“No. Of course not.” I fight to keep my expression calm. “I was only looking at how big this place is. I’m really impressed by what you built.”

One corner of Drew’s mouth lifts, but no warmth reaches his eyes. “You’re lying to me.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.” He sighs. “You’re a terrible liar, Penny.”

“I’m sorry.” Tears spill down my cheeks. “I’m just scared.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.” He crouches in front of me and grips my shoulders. “I love you. You’re my sister and I’m supposed to protect you, so please stop making this harder than it needs to be.”

“I’m not trying to make it harder. I just don’t like it here.” I swallow and search for another way to keep him talking. “Do you have somewhere for us to live?”

“Of course I do. It isn’t much, not compared to what you’re used to, but we’ll make do.” His hold loosens slightly. “We used to survive with less, didn’t we?”

“I was so little. I don’t remember.”

“Yes, you were. I remember when they brought you home from the hospital. They left me alone for days, locked downstairs with barely anything to eat.” His eyes settle on me with a devotion that flips my stomach. “But I loved you the instant I met you, and I knew you would be mine forever.”

Another rush of fear splinters through me.

“Drew…” I lean forward as far as the ropes around my ankles allow, trying to sound gentle despite the terror slicing through me. “I want us to be brother and sister. I do. So why don’t we leave this place and go wherever you planned to take me?”

He studies me far too long, making my pulse pound, then some of the tension eases from his face. “Not yet. We need to wait a little longer. When they least expect it, I’ll kill every last one of them.”

The room tilts around me, dizziness threatening to pull me under.

He can’t do that. I won’t let him.

“And when I’m finished…” he continues. “I’m going to kill that Russian you keep letting near you. It’s a shame I missed the first time.”

Oh my God.

No. No. No.

My nails bite into my palms as I stare up at him, fighting to keep the horror from showing on my face.

He tsks when fresh tears spill down my cheeks. “Don’t do that. Don’t cry over him. He’s bad for you, Penny. You can’t see it because he got inside your head, but I saw how he looked at you, like he was convinced you belonged to him.” His features harden. “But you’re mine. All mine.”

My throat constricts until every breath becomes a struggle.

“Trust me, I won’t miss next time.”

A sick wave churns through me, and I fight to hide how badly I want to scream for Anton, my father, anyone who might hear me.

But I’m alone, trapped in the one place none of them will ever think to look.

ANTON

It’s been over thirty minutes since she left, and I’ve barely moved, staring at the crushed photo of her that still lies on the floor.