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There is a flutter in my stomach, and I’m filled with the belief that everything will be alright.
Chapter twenty-two
Irelynn
October15,2018,8:30p.m.
I slowly regain consciousness, my eyes fluttering open. William is pacing across the room, his phone against his ear. He’s speaking in a low tone. An overwhelming urge to not let him know that I’m awake hits me, so I close my eyes, my ears straining to catch every word he says.
“She’s still out. But I need to move Damian now. He’s tied up and gagged, but he’ll likely regain consciousness soon. Let’s drug him with a sedative to keep him out longer, so we won’t have any problems.” William pauses near the bed and I feel his eyes roving over my face, before his soft footsteps slowly move away as he paces. “Dad wants Damian brought home. You know those old tunnels under his mansion? He wants him locked in there. Claims he’ll take care of him.” William pauses again, his soft footsteps drawing closer. “Irelynn should be fine here. She probably won’t wake until I return. Trevor should be here soon. He is going to sit outside my bedroom, just in case. But there shouldn’t be any trouble.”
As William’s feet pace in the opposite direction and his voice grows quieter as he moves away, I sneak a quick peek. He’s changed into different casual attire, likely because he had Damian’s blood sprayed all over him. I quickly close my eyes so he’s unaware that I’m conscious.
“Keep me updated about Emma. It will take me around two hours there and back, and of course, however long it takes me to get Damian to his new quarters.” William releases a sarcastic chuckle. “Wait until Damian regains consciousness and realizes where he’s being held. He will be livid. And he’ll learn that dear old dad used the hell out of him for his own purposes, but now that he proved to be a liability, he won’t inherit a damn penny.” He pauses, listening for a couple of minutes. “No, Mike and Kaleb are going with me.” William paces back and forth, not saying anything for a few beats.
Then he resumes speaking. “Of course, Bryan. I’ll take care of everything. I’m just glad to hear that Emma has woken up. Stay there with her—she needs you. I’ve got this under control.” He pauses, grabbing his water bottle from the nightstand and taking a drink. “No, Bryan, I’m taking care of Emma’s medical expenses. Don’t worry about a damn thing. I made sure she has the best people taking care of her.” He paces, listening for a few more beats. “That works. I’ll talk to you later. The guys just texted. They are here to get Damian. We’ll be using the van to transport him. I’ll update you when I get to Dad’s. Now focus on Emma and give her my love.”
He hangs up the phone, then moves closer to the bed, leaning over me. William’s hand moves to my forehead, gently swiping a lock of hair from it, his touch gentle.
I hear him move across the room and I open my eyes enough to see what he’s doing. Standing at his desk, he opens the top drawer, taking out a small notepad and paper. Closing the drawer, he bends, writing something on it. I snap my eyes closed as he folds it and then moves toward me.
He places the note on the pillow beside me. Then he leans over and gently kisses my cheek. “I’ll be back soon, Irelynn. Everything will be fine.” He stands straight, then moves toward the door. The light in his room goes off as he flips the switch, then opens the door.
Muffled voices reach my ears as he gently pulls it closed. My eyes snap open, the light from the TV casting a glow of illumination around the room.
He must be talking to Trevor.
I wait, listening intently. After a few beats, I hear William saying, “I’ll talk to you later. You know how to reach me if you need me.” The sound of his feet grows distant as he moves away, then I hear him running down the steps.
My heart pounds inside my chest. I turn my head, looking out the huge windows in William’s bedroom, the full moon lighting up the outside world. Slowly sitting up, I crawl off the bed, heading toward the window. I stay away from it because I don’t want anyone to see me.
The quiet noise of a vehicle draws my eyes to the road below, the headlights cutting through the darkness, illuminating the paved road in front of it. I watch as it heads down the road, further and further away, until I can no longer see it.
This is it.
Emma is gone and so is William. The only obstacle is Trevor, who is outside the door.
My conversation with Emma rolls through my head, her voice so plain, it’s as though she’s in the room with me.
“If you ever get the opportunity to escape, take it. Go down the stairs and to the left. Keep going until you reach the room at the end of the hallway on the right. Through that room is a door. Enter code 3328# and it will unlock, without disturbing the alarm system. The other doors will remain locked. You have thirty seconds to get out and close the door. If you don’t, it will trigger an alert to the main system, which notifies William’s phone.” She paused, making sure I was taking it all in. Her hand was gentle on mine. “Go around the side of the house and head down the road. There is a path to the right of it, where the woods begin. Use it because it will provide tree cover, but it’s still close enough to the road that you won’t lose sight of it. And make sure someone can pick you up. The road is long and if William knows you tried to escape, he will be furious.”
That’s the problem. How can I contact someone?
My eyes move to William’s laptop on his desk. I have to take the risk.
Moving quietly toward it, the light of the TV aiding me in navigating through the darkness. Quietly, I open the same drawer William did moments ago, planning to leave him a note, hoping to soothe some of his rage. Doubtful, but it’s important to me.
My eyes widen when I see a cell phone lying beside the pad of paper. Picking it up, I recognize the phone case.
Oh my God! It’s Max’s cell phone!
Pressing the power button, I feverishly pray it isn’t dead. I press the speaker button to ensure it’s off, not wanting Trevor to hear the phone.
As I wait for the phone to power on, I listen intently. It sounds like Trevor is either playing a game or watching something on his phone, which makes me breathe a little easier.
I’m going to need a weapon of some sort.
Pulling the drawer open further, I find a couple of syringes with some type of clear liquid toward the back. Lifting one out, I’m careful to keep the needle away from me.
