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EMERY
"Let me out of here, you fuckers!"
My fists ache from pounding on the door, but I won't stop. If I have to be locked in here alone and hungry and bored out of my mind, then they have to listen to me scream.
I just hope Isabella can't hear it.
This is the longest I've ever gone without seeing her. For so long, it’s been just the two of us against the world. No family, few friends.
Some nights, when I got home late from work, I'd send the babysitter home, then curl up in bed next to her and cry.
I'm the parent. I'm supposed to be strong for her. But Isabella is my rock. She keeps me going when nothing else does.
So missing her now feels like a physical pain. Every time I dwell on it too long, I lose my breath. It’s happening again now. An invisible hand pressing on my chest, squeezing the air from my lungs and the tears from my eyes.
I stumble back from the door and turn so the cameras don’t see me cry. More specifically, so that Adrikdoesn’t see me cry.
That's what he wants—to break me down and watch me fall to pieces.
But I refuse to yield.
Just as I step away to catch my breath, the door finally swings open. I'm so shocked that I yelp and fall back on my ass.
Adrik fills the doorway. "That was your plan?" He looks down at me haughtily. "Bang and scream for days just so you can trip over yourself when the door actually opens? With a scheme like that, it’s a miracle you haven’t escaped yet.”
I jump to my feet and put a safe distance between us—though I'm not sure such a thing exists where Adrik is concerned. It always feels like he's too close. Taking up too much real estate in my senses.
"Considering I figured you were going to let me starve in here, I wasn't expecting anyone to come in."
"Who says I’m not going to let you starve?” he says coolly. “Maybe I just want to watch.”
“I’d rather you put me out of my misery now than be forced to spend my last minutes with you, thanks.” I spin away from him, trying to ignore the tingle that runs along my spine knowing he’s standing behind me.
"What about Isabella?" he asks. "Would you like her company instead?"
My heart stops and restarts in a matter of seconds. As soon as it's beating again, I spin around and rush towards him. I almost grab Adrik's arm before I think better of it and lace my fingers together behind my back.
"Please," I say, choking back a sob. "I want to see her. I'll do anything."
He smirks and it’s straight-up devastating. The fullness of his mouth. Bright blue eyes against his midnight dark hair.
If he told me right now I was in hell, I’d believe him.
Only the devil could look so good.
"If only we had time to test the limits of that promise," he murmurs. Then he shrugs, disappointed. "I'll have to settle for you playing your part for Diane."
I frown. "Who?"
"The service dog breeder is here for a home visit," he explains. "They want to see what kind of loving, nurturing environment we foster here. Which is exactly what we’ll show them. Won’t we?"
“Oh, shit,” I breathe. “I forgot about that. That feels like… like a lifetime ago.”
“You’ve tried to kill me twice since then,” he reminds me. “I suggest we don’t mention that part to her.”
“You really want me to go talk to her?” I ask.
“We don’t have a choice.”
“You’re Adrik Tasarov,” I say, as if he needs reminding. “Don’t you always have a choice? You could just send her away and tell her to keep her dog. You don’t have to do this.”
“Of course I don’t have to,” he snaps. “I don’t have to do any of this. But because of your big mouth, I promised a little girl a service dog. Should I go break Isabella’s heart?”
He turns to leave and make good on his threat. I lunge forward and snag his arm, dragging him back into the room.
“No! Of course not. But—”
“Then change into real clothes.” His eyes flit over my bare legs and my tank top. “I don’t think you want me to do that for you.”
“Don’t you even fucking think about it.”
“I’ll think about it all I want, darling.”
* * *
“You have a lovely… home.” Diane hesitates over the word like she isn’t sure what to call it.
Completely understandable.
Adrik has been showing her around his “house” for the last half hour, and I’m still not entirely sure we've been in every room. This is the first time I’ve been on an official tour, and I’m speechless.
“It feels more like a castle sometimes,” I chuckle. “I used to get lost going to the bathroom.”
Diane smiles over at me, but the expression doesn’t reach her eyes. “Lots of places to hide around here.”
“Most of the doors remain closed for heating and cooling purposes,” Adrik explains. “And there are pocket doors to close entire hallways when they are not being used. Our family quarters are isolated to one wing of the house. That’s where the dog would be.”
Oh, right. We’re still in an interview. I keep forgetting that part. Being locked away for a couple days did a real number on my social skills.
I smile and nod. “And Isabella is so excited that I’m not sure she’ll ever let the dog out of her sight.”
Just before Adrik let Diane inside, I got to see Isabella for the first time in two days.
“Are you feeling all better, Mama?” she asked as soon as she saw me.
I looked at Adrik, but he gave me nothing. No nod, no wink. I have no idea what he told her when she asked where I was. So I just squeezed Isabella tightly. “Much better. Especially now that I can squish you.”
She giggled and then Stefan whisked her away to the ballroom so Adrik and I could deal with Diane.
Diane smiles and writes something down on the notepad she’s carrying. “Where to next?”
“That was it,” Adrik says. “The full tour. If you want to follow me back to the kitchen, I’ve had the maids prepare a spread of—”
“What about that?” Diane points down the hall.
I follow her finger and see a dead end. I’m about to say as much when I realize… it’s not a dead end. The wall I’ve walked past ten different times since I’ve lived here is actually a door.
It’s a hidden door, built to match the wall. But sure enough, there’s a bronze handle recessed into the wall and an almost imperceptible seam running around the edge of the frame.
Diane is eagle-eyed.
“The dog won’t be going in there,” Adrik rumbles. She doesn’t sense the threat in his voice, but I do. I know the sound of violence, the signs of it in his clenched jaw and tight fists.
“I believe that, because I’ve never been in there, either.” I say it with a laugh, but when I look over, Adrik isn’t smiling. His mouth is set in a firm line. His hand on my lower back tenses.
She won’t be deterred. “What’s back there?”
Good question, Diane.
“Staff rooms.” Adrik turns away from the conversation, heading back in the other direction. “This entrance was sealed a long time ago. The staff enter through another door on the exterior. I leave it to their personal use.”
Diane gazes skeptically back at the door. I wonder if she’s going to push. Adrik has kept his cool so far, answering her questions when she asks and following procedure. But I keep waiting for him to lose his patience with this whole thing and call it off.
Patience is not one of his virtues.
“Like I was saying,” he continues sharply, “the maids have arranged a spread of snacks and drinks while we hash out the remaining details.”
Adrik walks confidently in the other direction, sure we’ll both follow. He has no reason to believe we won’t. I’m positive everyone has trailed along behind him his entire life, too intimidated to object.
Diane marks something on her notepad and then clicks away after him. I start to and then stop, looking back towards the door.
I know where the staff rooms are.
And they aren’t behind that wall.
So what is back there?
When I turn around, Diane is looking back at me, a curious glint in her eye. I force a smile on my face and hurry after them, promising myself I’ll come back later and see what’s hidden.
I have a feeling Adrik has more than a few skeletons in his closet.
* * *
