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“Okay,” Bruce says, righting himself. “Ready?” His question is directed at both of us, but only Burke answers with a curt nod. I don’t move. “Annabel?” he asks. “You can still back out if you’re not sure.” I shake my head.
“That’s not it,” I whisper, my words lingering in the air.
“Then what is it, little girl?” asks Burke in his deep, gentle voice, one hand already poised on the doorknob. Embarrassed, I feel tears stinging my eyes.
“All my life, I’ve dreamed of this,” I whisper. “All my life, I’ve hated my family. I’ve been so alone even though I was surrounded by people who allegedly loved me,” I say in a rueful tone. “Now, I’m leaving and it’s the happiest day of my life,” I confess in a choked voice. “And it’s all because of you.”
The men lean forward and kiss me gently.
“It’ll all be over soon,” growls Bruce. “And no one will ever hurt you again.”
“We’ll take care of you,” adds Burke, breathing into my hair. My body floods with happiness. Then I remember what we’re about to do, and the adrenaline kicks in. They both feel it, too, and nod at me, their eyes intense.
“Leave now. We’ll see you down there in a few minutes. Wait for us by the first gate in the park,” orders Bruce. I nod. I pick up my bags, give them one last kiss, and unlock my bedroom door. It’s been years since I’ve been out on the landing while the house is asleep. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been locking myself in my room every evening after dinner, trying to avoid my father at all costs. It feels strange now to be walking down the hallways like I did when I was a kid, without a care in the world.
As I pass Roger’s door, I take a moment, knowing it’s unlikely that I’ll ever see him again. But no, I feel nothing. My heartrate doesn’t accelerate, and my mind remains woodenly numb. That’s what Roger’s done to me.
I keep walking. When I pass my mother’s door, I have a moment of doubt. Shouldn’t I say goodbye? No, because it’ll ruin the entire plan. And yet, I feel terrible just stealing away in the middle of the night like this. After all, my mom is a victim too of Roger’s bullying. But then I tell myself Marisa will be fine. She’s survived for a long time, and she can survive a little while longer. Meanwhile, I have to do what’s best for me and the baby.
Soundlessly, I ring for the elevator and start the long, smooth descent to the ground floor. It’s not until I cross the lavish lobby and see security at the front desk that I realize I haven’t thought this part through. The staff is going to see me leaving in the middle of the night, and they’re going to report me to my dad.
“Hello, Miss Annie!” calls our super, as he leans against the front desk, chatting with our night concierge. “This is very late for you to be up, no?” he calls out across the lobby.
“Um yes,” I say, thinking on the spot. “We’re in the middle of finals, and a friend of mine is having a breakdown about our test tomorrow,” I lie. “A good old sleepover and some more studying should do the trick.” I’m surprised how believable it sounds.
“Sure thing, although I was never great about studying myself. Should I call you a cab? Or Harvey can do it,” he says good-naturedly, indicating the concierge.
“Um, no thanks, Mr. Vivaan, I’ve ordered an Uber. In fact, he’s waiting for me now. Have a good night!”
I rush out of the lobby before he can say anything else. Phew! That was a close call! As I dash across the street and into the dark of Central Park, I hope Mr. Vivaan doesn’t suspect anything. Or if he does, hopefully my dad won’t come storming downstairs demanding answers until late tomorrow morning.
Once I’m in the park, I turn around and stare up at the building where I grew up. It’s the same as always, with imposing gray walls and giant windows that reflect the moonlight. I squint upwards, looking for my bedroom on the topmost floor. It’s funny – I really was a princess locked in a tower, but now, that’s all changing.
With my heart hammering in my chest, I wait. Where are Bruce and Burke? Minutes go by, and nothing happens. The silence is too quiet, and I start to get worried. When a siren sounds in the distance, I almost have a heart attack. Shit. They’ve been caught. My parents have called the cops. Blue lights swirl as the siren grows louder, and I start hyperventilating. Shit, shit, shit.
Just as I’m about to run across the street and head back upstairs, a huge hand closes around my wrist and pulls me back, knocking the wind out of my lungs as I’m crushed between two rock hard bodies. Immediately, I know it’s my lovers. They’re safe, thank goodness.
