AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We must travel for hours. By the time the van finally stops, I can’t tell how far we are from Sergei’s property. It’s still dark out. In the early morning hours, I’m guessing. As the door opens from the outside, I tense.
“Come on.” The man, Eric, grabs me and drags me from the van before I have a prayer of mounting an attack.
I blink to make out our surroundings as a gravel-like substance irritates the soles of my bare feet. The moon illuminates snatches of bushes and looming shadows—but a familiar stench makes my heart lurch. Fresh roses.
Like the kind that bloom on Winthorp manor.
Before I can be sure, Eric unfurls a strip of cloth from his pocket and wraps it around my eyes, snagging pieces of my hair in the process. Then he shoves me forward over uneven terrain that quickly gives way to a smooth, firm surface.
The air here feels thinner. Colder. A basement or garage?
“Be careful with her,” a chillingly familiar voice commands from up ahead. “That’s close enough for you. Let her go.”
Grunting, Eric releases me, and I hear his footsteps echo as he retreats.
I’m left shaking, tears welling behind my blindfold. My body quakes down to my core, resisting the confines of my old cage as the doors to it figuratively slam shut. I’ll never escape before it’s too late. Eli and Mouse are already recaptured. So much for my so-called teaching. I’m just a pathetic doe, always on the run. I’m trapped. Forever…
Enough.Gritting my teeth, I bite any sobs back as heavy footsteps approach me. The time for self-pity is over.
Mouse.
Eli.
Theyconsume my concern. To save them, I’ll do anything.
Even if it means placating Robert. He’s the one approaching me, his steps unsteady over what I sense is concrete flooring.
“Elle…” Soft fingers swipe at my cheek in their search for my blindfold, undoing the knot—but that’s as much as he’ll allow himself to touch me. “Are you hurt?” Robert scans me from head to toe. His finger hesitates near the corner of my mouth.
Licking the area, I taste blood.
“She’s bleeding,” he says before swallowing in distaste. Anger distorts his expression, and my heart pangs as I catch the subtle resemblance between him and Eli. They both can’t hide their emotions for long, and now? Robert is murderous. “You bastards will pay—”
“R…” I try to speak. “Rob—”
“Sir!” A louder, masculine voice cuts me off. A man dressed in a black suit brushes past me and leans toward Robert, murmuring something into his ear.
“Damn it,” Robert hisses, his hands clenching into fists. “Put her with the other one. They won’t look for her there.”
Before I can react, the blindfold is drawn over my eyes a second time.
“This way, miss.” Someone grabs my arm and steers me in a different direction.
I strain my ears, desperate to track any other figures nearby or any clue as to my surroundings.
“Mr. Winthorp will see you shortly,” the man adds. “You’ll be home soon enough.”
Home?
Rather than elaborate, the man leads me forward until he comes to an abrupt stop. I stiffen as he tugs at my blindfold, removing it. Frantically, I blink to make my vision come into focus: vast darkness. A heartbeat later, a door closes behind me.
I’m in a room. That much I can tell.
I feel along the nearest wall in search of a light switch. Despite flicking it, no light comes on. Eventually, I wind up sinking onto a carpeted floor with my back to the wall. Only now do I realize I’m not alone. A slender figure creeps through the darkness toward me.
I stiffen, but they’re too slight to do much damage, almost as tiny as Mouse.
“Hello?” a woman whispers, her voice familiar.
