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Violet felt him move behind her and assumed he’d tipped his head to Jason who eyed her, then him, and finally the clerk.
“Okay, Mr. Wilkens. Go on back through, and I’ll have someone down in just a moment.”
Violet realizedMr. Davis’s hand was no longer over her mouth as they started to move again.
“Wait, help me. I—”
She screamed her rage into his hand when it muffled her words again. The clerk hadn’t even looked up.
A man in the tightest pants Violet had ever seen and a silk dress shirt greeted them in the next room.
“Mikel Davis! Never thought I’d see the day, and she’s beaut—”
A grunt from the man,Mikel, cut him off.
“Kids brought her back.”
Violet watched him turn his eyes to Jason, who was looking sheepish.
“More surprises tonight.” He seemed less enthused about this, and dread rose anew in Violet.
“Ceremony will be at ten. How do you want her? Looks like we’ll be starting with the doctor.” His eyes roved appraisingly over her, and Violet begged him with her own to help her.
“Actually, she’s crazy. Didn’t realize till I’d already brought her back, so I uh—turns out I won’t be claiming her after all.”
The words seemed heavy, and they hung for a long moment. Violet drew a breath to suggest they just let her go then, butMikelwas quicker with his hand over her mouth. She glared up at him, but his face stayed stony.
“Oh, I see.” The man before them seemed to recover. “Well, perhaps the doctor anyway. Get her cleaned up, into something nice, and maybe someone else—”
“No.” Jason cut him off. “I’m not paying for it. Leave her as she is. It won’t matter anyway.”
Violet felt Mikel stiffen, then the moment passed, and he was dragging her through another open door, only this one led to what looked like a cell. A bare bed pressed against one wall and nothing else.
He sat her on the bed, and for the first time in what felt like hours, his grip loosened. Violet grabbed at his big arms, struggling before standing to follow him.
“Where are you going?” she demanded.
He pushed her back down on the bed with one last look she didn’t understand, then she was staring at the back of the door.
IT COULD HAVEminutes or hours when the door finally opened again. It was a cruel mockery, after her screaming, rattling the handle, and kicking the solid wood for it to happen so suddenly, so easily.
“Violet?” the man who’d greeted them earlier said, and she bristled. “Driver’s license,” he explained with a smile she could almost believe was apologetic.
“What is happening?” It was a question this time, not a demand for information.
She was tired, cold, hungry, and dehydrated, and the heavy noose of dread had pulled tight in the time they’d left her alone.
He shook his head, another apology in his eyes. “Initiation ceremony, if you will. We’ll head to the square, it won’t take long, then you’ll go get cleaned up and someone will help you get situated here.” The words sounded scripted.
“I just want to go home.” The admission struck her. Usually, the mansion was the last place she wanted to be, but now, she’d give anything to be there.
“I understand,” he said, and she was sure he didn’t since he seemed to be in on this whole crazy kidnapping scheme. “I need you to come with me, Violet, or someone will have to come down and bring you by force. There’s no need for that. We’re going to take a short car ride to the town square down the street, and then things will get clearer. Will you come?”
The question caught her off guard, and the repeated use of her name burrowed uncomfortably under her skin. It was familiarity unearned, yet she’d been dragged and forced enough for one night. Maybe she’d have a better chance to escape if she was walking on her own two feet.
It was surprisingly hard to get up. Her legs were sore from the trek here and struggling; her jeans were torn and stiff with dried blood on one side. Her jacket was gone, lost somewhere in the fray. She silently hoped someone would find it in the woods and look for her, while she pulled her crop top down—it did little to help with how cold she felt—and approached the man warily.
“Great.” He nodded at her, a smile on his mouth that screamed false. “Please don’t try to run away. We’ll be watched and escorted, and I can’t guarantee how you’ll be treated afterward if you do.”
