AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I head for the gym. I need to work off some of this excess energy, or I won’t be sleeping again tonight. Because after having seen and touched my sweet little mouse’s skin, I need more. And next time, I want her in my bed, eyes wide and mouth open as I fuck her hard and show her exactly what I was talking about.
But until then, I’ll have to settle on sparring with my men.
CHAPTER14
Gia
I knowhe’s there before I even open my eyes. Years of my brothers sneaking into my room to torture me has trained me to sleep lightly. I keep my breathing even, and my body relaxed as I wait. What is he doing? And where is he? I don’t dare look because who knows what he’ll do if he realizes I’m awake. After the dining room earlier tonight, I need to be very careful around this man.
Not because I think he’s going to force me, but because my reaction to him isn’t normal. It can’t be. I have no experience with men, but I know desiring your captor isn’t normal. The way my body reacted to him was frightening. It’s Stockholm Syndrome at its finest, which is exactly why I need to get out of here and fast.
Even now, thinking of it makes my body heat, and my heart race. And if I really focus, it’s like I can feel his fingers touching me now. I was sure that when he unzipped my onesie earlier he was going to try and take things further. I’m still surprised he didn’t, considering I was half-naked standing there, but the man must have some pretty strong self-control.
I was sure that he would be furious and send me back to my room once I walked in with that ridiculous thing on, but instead, I saw the flash of amusement in his eyes. And again, I thought he was going to hit me when I tossed all those things in his face and then got up and walked away. Some small part of me almost wishes he had because I wouldn’t be so damn confused right now. He would prove himself to be just like every other man in my life. I’m also pissed his words hit a little too hard when he hissed them in my face.
He’s right that I’m not free. I never will be. Either with him, my family, or hell, whoever I would be forced to marry. I’d always belong to someone other than myself. They say the devil you know is better than the one you don’t, but I crave that freedom. Finally to go somewhere because I want to, not at a certain time of day because that’s the time I’m allowed to go. Or to finally be able to make friends instead of avoiding people like the plague because I can’t risk someone finding out about them and my father killing or taking them. So instead I endure a lonely existence.
Even here it’s no different. I don’t have anyone to talk to but Nico, and that’s not really just a conversation. So I need to get out of here, and it has to be tonight if I can manage it.
I come out of my thoughts, listening carefully to see if he’s moved at all, but nothing. I know he’s still there. I can feel his eyes on me, feel him near. What the hell is he doing? I feel vulnerable, uneasy, and I want him to leave.
Finally, after what has to be another hour, I hear the soft fall of his footsteps. Slowly, carefully, I open my eyes, and turn my head to see him heading up the steps towards the library. Wait, why is he going up there?
It hits me like lightning.The secret passage! That’s how he got in here, and how’s he going to leave so I don’t hear him.
I have never been so grateful for all the times I learned to be silent when moving around because I ease out of bed and head up the stairs, careful to miss the creakiest parts of them so that I don’t make a sound. When I reach the top of the steps, I head down the hall and stop just outside the darkened room, eyes on the man who’s making his way to just underneath the ladder that leads up to the next level. I watch as he simply lays his hand on the edge of one of the shelves, and it moves with the softest of clicks. If I weren’t this close and listening for it, I never would have heard it.
He slips inside, and I rush toward it, my heart pounding as I barely manage to squeeze in before it closes up tight. I press myself against the wall, barely allowing myself to breathe as I wait, terrified he’s going to turn around and see me. But he just keeps walking, his feet making soft thuds on the metal floor as he makes his way through the darkened tunnel. The only light is the soft glow along the floor’s edge so that you can see your path.
I wait until I’m sure he’s walked far enough out of earshot before I move. I move slowly, keeping my ears open for any sound that he’s heard me or is making his way back. Or, heaven forbid, someone else coming along and finding me and alerting him.
As I make my way along, I realize how extensive the passageways are. They branch off in every direction, but I continue straight, trying to figure out my bearings. The last thing I need to do is get lost in here. And since the only way to get in, it seems, is with a hand scanner, who knows the next time someone will come through? Not the best way to die. Still, there has to be a way out
I stop when I hear a door open softly, and I hold my breath as I wait. Minutes pass, but nothing, so I continue on. When I come to a three-way fork of tunnels, I pause, considering. I have no idea where the exit is in this place, but there has to be one in each wing of the house. Based on the sunlight that comes in my room, I’ve determined I’m on the east side of the house, which means that heading straight means I’m going west. Statistically, the entrance to the house is in the north, which I want to avoid since that’s probably where they’d look for me first once they discover I’m missing. Same thing for South. So west it is.
When I reach the end of the hallway, I take a deep breath and wait, listening. I don’t hear movement or any kind of sound, so hopefully, I’m going to come out into an empty room. And, you know, hopefully, the door opens, and I don’t set off some kind of alarm. But if I do, I’ll handle it.
I put my ear to the door, holding my breath. Nothing. No sound, no alarm. I release a soft sigh of relief and then put my hand on the door and give it a very gentle push. It releases with very little sound, but I still wait, ever cautious. When I hear nothing, I push it open a little farther and look out. The room I’m in is dark, and only a faint glow comes from the door down the left wall.
I step out, pushing the door almost closed behind me, but leaving enough space I can squeeze through if I need to make a quick exit. I head for the closed door, waiting to see if I hear any movement beyond. Nothing. I take a shaky breath before I methodically turn the knob, making sure it doesn’t creak and give me away. Thankfully, whoever maintains this place keeps these knobs and hinges well-oiled because it’s silent as it opens. I peer out and look at the huge bathroom in front of me with a sense of dread.
Shit. I don’t need to look around to know this is Nico’s bathroom, which means I’ve entered his bedroom, and I need to get out of here before he spots me. I soundlessly shut the door and turn to creep back to the passageway. But I stop dead in my tracks when I see the very man I’m trying to avoid leaning against the now shut door, arms crossed over his chest, and a look on his face that has my blood running hot and then cold. It’s not anger I see on his face. It’s a dark kind of anticipation paired with an amusement that has nothing to do with him finding this funny. No, more like I gave him the excuse he needs to teach me a lesson.
I ease back a step, my hand finding the handle behind me in the dark, even as a low chuckle sounds through the dim room. “Oh now, my sweet little mouse,” he taunts, “you really have found yourself trapped, haven’t you? Though I’ll give you points for ingenuity to follow me. Had you gone through any other path, I probably would have let you go long enough until I decided to come and collect you, but here you are.”
“You knew I was there the whole time.” Though, why am I surprised?
“Of course. The entire tunnel is full of cameras, and not to mention, the moment you stepped inside, you set off a silent alarm that goes to my phone as well as Dante’s. I let him know I was handling your little escape attempt, of course. Couldn’t have him ruining the surprise, now could I?”
Anger burns in my gut. Damn it. But I’m not going to give up yet. I still can get out of here and make a run for it. “This is all just a game to you,” I accuse him, ever so carefully turning the knob behind me, but not pushing on the door. No need to alert him to what I’m doing.
“You’re the one who started the game,” he points out as he straightens, uncrossing his arms in one smooth movement. “And I have to say, I thought I’d spend the night pissed at you, but I enjoy this much more.”
“Why the hell were you watching me sleep?” I demand. I need to distract him long enough so I can get out and shut the door before he can reach me. It will only buy me a couple of seconds, but it’s enough for me to get to his bedroom door and out into the hallway. I know which way not to go now, and I don’t plan on stopping until I find my way out.
He doesn’t answer me, happy to be his creepy self. Instead, he takes one step toward me, and I make my move. I push the door open, letting the handle go, and turn to sprint out of the closet and into the bathroom. Laughter follows me, sending a chill down my spine. I don’t think about it, though, as I slam the bathroom door shut as I rush into the main bedroom.
The large double doors are much like my own, and I wrench on the doorknob when I reach it. Only to find it locked and unmoving. I curse, trying the other one, but it’s the same. I feel around the knob quickly, trying to find the unlock mechanism, but much like mine, there’s nothing. It’s an old-fashioned key lock. Panic pools inside me, and I quickly turn around, looking around the room, trying to find another way out. Just as Nico walks out of the closet, completely at ease.
