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He directed me to the back of the ship with a hand on my lower back. His fingers grazed my lower spine. I counted the steps until we got to a red door that had a small display window on it.
He reached up and knocked three times. I waited. His hand was still on my back and my insides were on fire. The door opened and I forgot to breathe. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but it wasn’t this. Somewhere between my duties and what I wanted, I lost sight of myself.
I stepped through the doorway, careful not to pay too close attention to the smaller details. The room was dimly lit, with smaller lanterns that lined the bookshelf behind a heavy desk. An old map was carved into the office desk, a large leather chair behind it. There were old books lined across the shelf behind it, and directly opposite me sat an open fire. The air was warmer, the space smaller.
He led me to one of the chairs in front of the fireplace. I slowly lowered myself onto the chair, keeping my eyes connected on both. They were so different, yet I had heard so painfully similar.
The new one sat on the chair behind the desk, picking up a rolled smoke and playing with it between his fingers as the other sat beside my chair. The hairs on the back of my neck stuck up in warning. I knew this could be a bad idea.
“Is it secure here?” I broke the silence with a simple question. One I hoped wouldn’t annoy them. I didn’t want to do that. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when it came to this.
All I had was orders.
“No one comes here without my knowing about it, and no one gets out.”
I took his answer as I would. I knew I could. If there was one thing absolute, it was that they didn’t lie about this. About what happened here.
“Good.” A smile touched my lips even though I didn’t want it to. I wanted to choke, and spew, and be sick all at once.
This was a bad idea. Something about this one sent shivers down my spine. He had eyes that matched the gates of Hell and an air about him that made all the warning bells inside my head go off.
I had no choice now. I had to see this out.
Shiloh
My muscles ache. I know I have to open my eyes, but I can’t bring myself to move because the first thing I feel is the throbbing in my legs. The fatigue in my bones. It’s a poison that can’t be cured. What happened last night? My eyes pop open and I squeeze the sheets that surround my body, groaning when I try to roll out of bed. I reach aimlessly for something. Anything. Hopefully a glass of water to wash down the taste of whatever it is that’s sticking to the back of my throat. My hand collides with a hard object before a loud smash sounds, and I quickly jump. Wheremybed is pushed against a wall, leaving no space for a bedside table, this has one. I know instantly that this isn’t my room.
Pressing my palms into my eyes, I scrub the sleep away and force them to part. The room is a blur, but I try to blink through it to take in my surroundings.
Oh God.
Clean white walls, plaster lines carved into the high ceilings, a large bay window to the side with net curtains hanging over, a super king four-post bed finished in gloss white, two relaxed lounge chairs, and a red rug in the center at the foot of the bed. There’s also a dresser tucked to the side of the door, right beside a LED lamp that’s about five-foot high.
“What the fuck!” I pull the sheet up to my face but smack my chin at the same time.
Maybe Cooper brought us here. I quickly turn to check the rest of the bed, but it’s empty. Clean and unslept in. My phone. I need my phone. I start rummaging through the marble low-set drawers on either side of the bed before moving to the tallboy dresser. There are clothes neatly folded inside and eloquently organized. Maybe this is where we ended up last night and I slept in some random girl’s bed. Judging by her clothes, I’d say she’s the same age as me, even with similar style. My head thrums to a beat so hard I wince, hissing when pain cuts through the center of my brain. What the fuck did I drink last night?
Slamming the top drawer closed, ignoring the underwear and clothing, I turn around and lean against the dresser, slowly dropping to my knees to check beneath the bed.
Fuck. Come on. I never drink. Ever—I stop my train of thought, pulling memories up from last night. It’s not until I’m sitting at the end of the bed that I realize…
I can’t remember anything from last night.
Closing my eyes, I squeeze my thighs so hard my nails bite into my flesh. I remember parking the Jeep. Walking down the beach with Cooper in hand. I remember Dion fucking Quinn. I remember wanting to leave. I left. Got home, invited to The Game! Oh my God. I—my eyes fly open.
Nothing. I remember nothing past the hot girl clicking her fingers and then lights out.
Making my way toward the little bathroom that’s off the bedroom, I pause when I see the setup. A single clawfoot, deep bathtub sits in the center of the space, no shower. Just a bathtub. It’s big too, I could almost call it a spa. The cabinets are filled with products. Shampoos, conditioners, soaps, face wash, and even makeup. Every seal is unbroken. Picking up the shampoo, I examine each one until I’ve checked them all.
All sealed. Unused.
I release the bottle of Drunk Elephant and step away from it like I’ve been caught touching something I shouldn’t. Fear leaves a dusting of goose bumps down my spine. I spin around as I feel eyes crawl over my skin, but there’s no one there.
Empty.
Leaving the bathroom, I find the bedroom door and sigh out a breath of relief as my hand comes to the crystal knob and I twist it to the side. Jarring it back, it locks instantly, and I shove it forward to see if I’ve pushed it the wrong way, but the same thing happens.
I bang my fist on the door. “Hey! What the fuck, Cooper! This isn’t funny!”
