Chapter Three
Romy
I ’m not crazy.
I recognize her. I know her. I’m afraid of her.
The plane’s engine vibrates as we fly across the US to New York. Everyone—Caius, Theo, and Orion—are relaxed. Annoyingly so.
As for me?
I can’t take my eyes off the woman.
There’s nothing outwardly horrible about her. Sitting beside Kaitlyn, both of them coloring in their own coloring books, she looks sweet and matronly. Her honey-colored hair is swept into a loose but practical bun. Even her outfit—a plaid dress and boots—is stylish yet demure. She wears a soft smile as she speaks lowly to Kaitlyn.
It’s her fingernails that make me shudder.
Red. Long. Terrifying.
She reminds me of the monster all those years ago—a monster Dad said didn’t exist. It’s what started me on this whole “Romy’s crazy” journey that led to multiple prescription changes and endless therapy sessions over the years.
Fabricated.
Made up.
Not real.
“Your mind is an unreliable narrator,” Maura used to say often, always followed by a throaty chuckle that made my skin crawl.
If anything good has come out of this Crowne abduction, it’s that I no longer have to see Maura. This is probably a time when I need her the most—when my mind is a chaotic mess and I’ve been forcibly withdrawn from my medication. However, not being made to talk to her about all my mental anguish is freeing.
Because she made you feel crazy.
They all did.
Bitterness burns like acid in my throat. I tear my gaze from the suspicious nanny and inspect my phone just to keep my eyes off the woman.
Caius reaches over, plucks the phone out of my hands, and slides it into his pocket before I can protest. When he takes hold of one of my hands and squeezes it, warmth surges through me.
This is the most frustrating part of all this.
I’m developing feelings for him.
I suppose that’ll happen when your pretend boyfriend murders your rapist. There’s just no coming back from that. Tricking Dad and Bastian into believing we’re a real couple won’t be so difficult.
What’s to stop me from blabbing anyway? Megan’s safe now. I could just refuse to leave Dad’s place. He’d protect me.
Or would he?
He didn’t protect me all those years ago from the monster, from my therapist, from the confusion that constantly plagued my mind.
But Bastian did.
The pain of seeing Megan and hearing my brother’s voice a few days ago is something I keep trying to push deep into a hole. I don’t want to admit that I’ve been duped by him—by all of them.
I don’t understand any of it and my thoughts truly are unreliable at this point.
Orion’s intense gray eyes bore holes into the two of us. We all know this thing between me and Caius is a ruse. They know I don’t believe it, yet we all pretend anyway. To what end?
Maybe finally getting to see my family will bring some much-needed clarity. I’m sure there’s a simple explanation that Bastian will provide. It’s possible it wasn’t even his voice I’d heard.
Liar.
As much as I want to convince myself of that, I know I can’t. His voice brought me comfort when I was at my worst. I’d know it anywhere.
It could have been a trick. Wouldn’t be the first time Caius has replicated someone’s voice. He has the capability with his AI program. Though that would be an easy out for me, I refuse to take it. I’ll get to the bottom of all this myself. Face to face. Dad may be able to lie straight to my face without flinching, but Bastian has tells.
“You don’t like Vivienne.” Caius’s smooth, deep voice jolts me from my racing thoughts. “She’s one of the best out there. Gets paid handsomely for her services too.”
I cringe at the thought of this woman being paid to be around children. Without proof or real memories, I can’t throw a fit, demanding for her to stay away from Kaitlyn.
You can’t save anyone, Romy, can you?
“I’m still figuring her out,” I admit in a whisper. “I get a bad feeling about her.”
Caius doesn’t sigh or argue that I’m being stupid for feeling this way. He takes in my words, digests them, and says nothing in return. I’d like to think he’s considering them rather than dismissing them. For once, I don’t feel crazy.
“Whatever happened to LuLu?” I ask, hating how my voice trembles. “Everything about the yacht after…”
He squeezes my hand quick and firm. I think it’s a warning. Orion’s head is tilted slightly as if he’s trying to hear what we’re saying from where he sits.
“I’m sure Ava handled her transfer.”
“To where?” I turn my head to meet his dark eyes. “Is she okay?”
I’m asking a manipulative murdering kidnapper if some trafficked girl is okay. Trusting that he’d care, much less give me a correct answer, shows just how far I’ve slipped when it comes to him.
There’s a connection between us. Trust, a budding friendship, more… Whatever it is, it’s stupid and reckless. It’ll only ruin my life more than it already is.
“Considering the police got involved, I’m sure Ava whisked the girls away quickly.” He leans closer, brushing a soft kiss on my cheek, and whispers, “Not here. Later.”
His breath tickles my flesh and I shiver. He’s definitely withholding information from his father about the whole ordeal. Knowing we have a secret together is satisfying. I’m more than just a captive here. I have knowledge.
Calista.
The name is seared into my brain and I want to ask him more about her. But based on how badly he’s reacted in the past at the mention of her, I know it’s not wise. In fact, I can’t be sure whether or not he murdered Gareth because he was raping me or because he heard me mention Calista’s name.
Surely Caius was defending my honor, not his secrets.
Surely.
“Are you nervous about seeing your family?” Caius asks, no longer whispering. “Think your dad will approve of your new lover? You going to tell him about the baby?”
Heat burns hot across my cheeks. His voice carries loud enough that Vivienne looks at us, eyebrows lifted in surprise. Orion, thankfully, is rapid-fire texting and no longer paying attention.
“I’d rather not share that with the world,” I grit out, digging my dull nails into his hand, “ lover. ”
He smirks. “Oh, yes. Our little secret.”
I don’t know why he seems to get off on telling everyone I’m pregnant. We haven’t even had sex yet.
Yet.
Amusement dances in his eyes as if he knows exactly what I’m thinking. Sometimes, like now, he’s almost playful. Almost. Too bad it’s always when he’s terrorizing me.
Theo, who’d been sleeping, jolts awake. At first, his bloodshot eyes are wild and frantic, but when they settle on us, he relaxes, affixing me with a lazy smile. At least he’ll be on this trip with us. I don’t exactly like the idea of Orion and Vivienne being here, but Kaitlyn and Theo will make it bearable.
When I feel someone staring at me, a cold, terrible feeling washes over me. It’s not Orion, but instead, Vivienne.
There’s something behind her seemingly innocent gaze that unnerves me straight to my core. I can’t put my finger on it, which makes it all the more stressful.
What is it with this woman?
I close my eyes, not wanting to look at her anymore, and rest my head against the back of my recliner. The rhythmic thrum of the plane’s engine does nothing to soothe my erratically beating heart.
Maybe it’s just me.
Maybe there’s nothing wrong with Kaitlyn’s nanny.
Not. True.
Deep in my gut I feel it. I may not understand it, but I know it to be the absolute truth. When I’m alone with Caius, I’m going to probe him for answers.
Evidently, I have a lot to speak to Caius privately about.
Unless I figure it out on my own first.
The hushed elegance of the building lobby Dad lives in should bring fond memories, but it doesn’t. It’s cold and depressing. I have the overwhelming urge to turn on my heel and run back to the rental SUV. None of the staff here are overly friendly. Most everyone does their job in a “be seen but not heard” kind of way. It’s something I abhorred as a child. The only good times were when Bastian would make faces at me, mimicking the doorman’s stoic features. My giggles would echo in the cavernous space, never failing to land us in trouble with Dad.
I’m having trouble coming to terms with the fact my brother is with Megan. He’s a liar like the rest of them—using me like a tool. When I see him, I’m going to get answers.
“What’s your end game?” I ask Caius when we step onto the elevator. “With me, I mean.”
He cuts his eyes to me and waits for me to punch in the code for the penthouse level before answering. “To make you happy, love.”
I snort and roll my eyes. A jittery feeling has taken root in me and I can’t seem to shake it. The closer we get to my childhood home and father, the more nervous I am.
“They’re not here,” I remind him, indicating we’re the only two in the elevator. “You can be frank with me. We both know whatever spell you tried to put me under didn’t work.”
His lips twitch like he might smile, but he ultimately keeps it in check. “So I’m a witch now?”
“Caius.” I cross my arms over my chest and arch an eyebrow at him. “I don’t know my place here. Megan’s safe, with my brother no less, so I don’t even know why I should continue to play along.”
Great.
Blab all your thoughts, why don’t you, Romy?
The elevator continues its ascent, infuriatingly slow as I remember. He scratches his freshly shaved jawline and grunts. “Honestly? I think I can use you.”
“Gee. Way to make a girl feel special.”
This time, he does laugh. It’s gritty like sand. I want to run it between my fingers, marveling over the uniqueness of it.
“You have questions,” he says smoothly. “I may have answers.”
Vague, but I’ll bite.
“And how am I useful to you?”
“You’re smart. Not easy to fool. And I like the sounds you make when you come.”
Thankfully, the elevator doors open on that note. I rush out, needing to get out of the suffocating space with him. His long strides quickly catch up to me and he stops me by hooking an arm around my front, pulling me against him. I hate how my body relaxes against his firm, warm one.
His nose nuzzles my hair over my ear and his breath tickling me there makes me shiver. “You’re a complication,” he murmurs, so softly I barely hear. “But you may also be an answer. I mean, you found her name. Your internet searches are thorough and impressive. I’m quite honestly in awe of how resourceful you can be. I can use this to my advantage.”
I want to ask him more questions and demand more answers, but Dad doesn’t like tardiness. Tonight, we agreed to meet with him and Eva for dinner. Just the four of us. The other Crownes and Vivienne are in a luxury hotel a few minutes up the road.
“All I heard was ‘me, me, me,’” I say, slipping out of his hold to walk to Dad’s front door. “I still don’t have any incentive to play along. Answers aren’t good enough.”
He sidles up beside me and threads his fingers with mine. It’s strange how familiar his hand feels to me. I don’t love how easily this man gets under my skin.
“I have the perfect incentive,” Caius whispers as he presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Play along and I won’t push for deeper investigation of my brother’s murder.”
I stiffen at his words. “You said it was an accident.”
We both know it was a lie.
I just need to hear him say it.
“Your DNA is all over his body, love. In fact, I’m pretty sure he took a handful of your hair there at the end.” He pauses as the memory floods in. He’s right. Oh my God, he’s right. “They might conclude after a drunken evening where you had an affair with my brother, you pushed him over the edge of the yacht to hide what you’d done. Dad and Theo would be devastated at such a betrayal. There’s no telling what they’d do and who they’d involve to bring justice for their family.”
I whip my head up to glower at him. “You’d frame me for murder?”
“I’d never do that to my girlfriend and mother of my child.” He smirks and then plants a hot kiss on my lips.
Point taken.
Play along and keep up the lie.
Or else…