Dollhouse (Angel of Mercy #2)

Chapter 1

ONE

I’ve lost my footing again.

It’s been the cruelest coincidence, the number of times I’ve had my life crash to pieces in the last few months. Over and over.

It’s so disconcerting.

The fake bank robbery. Falling for the villain. Sharing myself with all of them. Tonight’s been the kicker, though. My muscles haven’t stopped shaking yet from the adrenaline of finding myself trapped in my room, the fear of being locked away again wracking my body.

Noah told me he didn’t send the emails out—the ones that showed everyone who I’ve become for the three men in this car—that it’s just another trick from Bundy’s hackers. Maybe he’s telling the truth, but nothing makes sense anymore. Nothing feels true.

In my bones, everyone feels like a liar.

My teeth chatter as the car speeds through the night, carrying us down an empty highway to the next phase of this unending nightmare. Noah’s warm thigh cradles my head, but I keep my eyes shut tight, pretending to be asleep.

Is any part of this real? Him? Us?

His large hand rubs absentmindedly over my arm, back and forth. Yesterday, it would have been comforting, but today it feels like a trap.

Those same hands carried me back to the house against my will, sobbing, before the charade of safety was ripped away from all of us. God, he’d been so convincing, pleading with me to remember that he would never hurt me like that. The part of me that needs Noah wants to believe he’s right.

And yet? I lie here with my head in his lap, feigning sleep. Afraid of what will happen next.

I want to trust him—more than anything in the entire world, I do—but my eyes stay shut, pretending. Hiding.

Nothing makes sense.

My head goes in slow circles, while his hand does the same.

Neither one makes me feel better.