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And that’s the problem.
I don’t know.
I feel completely out of my depth in this strange and volatile new world I’ve been thrust into, and on top of that, I feel more like a prisoner than ever with the way they just left me in this room while they went off to take care of business.
From what I gathered, Malice and Ransom went to meet Vic in his room. I could try to slip out the bedroom door and make a run for it, but just like last night, I decide it’s a bad idea.
I’m safe here, at least. And out there, there’s a guy who would probably happily torture me for the information he wants. Better to be with the devils I know, since they have a vested interest in keeping me safe and away from whoever was asking Carl questions.
But I’m still stuck.
And as long as I’m here, I’m sure I won’t be allowed to go to school.
My stomach churns even harder at the idea of falling behind, especially when I’ve just been starting to hit my stride and have had time to really study and do my best. I’ve been banking so hard on college, putting all my hope into this future I’m trying to build for myself.
As if my thoughts are being broadcast through the universe or something, my phone pings with a message, and when I look at the screen, I realize that it’s from April.
APRIL: Professor Walsh is pairing people up for another assignment, and you’re in my group again. Meeting on Thursday. Don’t be late!!!
I close my eyes with a groan and toss my phone back on the bed, not answering the message.
It’s not fair.
She gets to keep going to school, worrying about assignments and her hair and whether her outfit matches her nails, easy and free. And here I am, trapped in this dangerous web of lies and vendettas and death.
I suck in a deep breath and then let it out, wrapping my arms around my torso as I try to calm down.
“It’s okay,” I whisper to myself. “It’s going to be okay.”
Looking for a distraction, I stop pacing and glance around the room I’m in, taking it in more thoroughly than I did last night. It’s a lot like Ransom himself, casual and comfortable. It’s not fancy, just the bed, a dresser, the nightstand, and a desk pushed against one wall, but it feels like a place Ransom has made his own.
I know I probably shouldn’t be nosy, but I can’t help myself. These men know so much about me, and it makes me ravenous for more information about them, so I start to poke around the room a bit.
He has a large desk set against one wall, and there are diagrams of various vehicles scattered across the wooden surface. On top is a drawing of a motorcycle, with some notes made in neat handwriting. When I pull open the drawer of the desk, I find a few photos. No people are in them, and they vary from a picture of a winding road to the view from off a mountain with the trees and the sky stretching almost endlessly.
I remember Ransom telling me about the rides he’s been on, and my brows knit together as I peer at them more closely.
Did he take these himself? Are these all places he’s been?
After putting the pictures back, I close the drawer. I turn, about to head for his dresser to poke around in there, when the door opens and Ransom comes back in.
I jerk in surprise, turning to him to try to cover up what I was doing.
“Did you get any useful info about the guy who’s poking around about Nikolai’s death?” I ask.
He shakes his head, a grimace twisting his lips. “We’ve got a lead, but that’s all it is right now. You’re going to have to stay here until we can take care of whoever this is for good.”
I nod, my stomach sinking. I thought I was prepared for this possibility, but it hits me hard anyway, making me feel like the floor has dropped out from beneath me. I may not be a captive in name, but that’s essentially what I’ll be. Stuck here, locked away, until they manage to take out their enemy.
“Hey.” Ransom’s voice is soft, and when I look at him, it’s like he can tell I’m about to have a major internal crisis. “Let’s get something to eat, okay? Want some breakfast?”
I nod, swallowing hard.
He leads me out of his room and down the hall, showing me around their place a little.
Despite my roiling emotions, I can’t help but be impressed with the way they’ve made this unconventional space work for them. The first floor contains a living room, kitchen, and a massive garage with a smaller room attached to it. The upper floor forms their living space, with a bedroom for each of them, stretching out along the hallway, and a bathroom between Vic’s room and Ransom’s room.
We head into the kitchen, and Ransom pokes his head into the freezer for a moment before pulling out a box of frozen waffles.
