Chapter 17 Aurora
AURORA
“I’m going out for a while, but I won’t be gone all day.”
Right away, I can sense something is up. Since when does he announce his plans in any way? Usually, he keeps me in the dark. I’m the last person to know what’s on his mind or in his plans. I keep my questions to myself, pulling on a pair of socks like he never said anything.
“I expect you to behave yourself.”
Oh, great, talk to me like I’m a child. So that’s where we are.
I’m not delusional. I knew things weren’t going to change just because we had a single, mind-blowing night together.
But now it’s like he has to course-correct.
God forbid I get the wrong idea or anything.
God forbid I make the mistake of believing he’ll treat me like a human being instead of a possession.
I don’t bother responding, since what is there to say? He seems to be waiting for a reaction, which is even more reason for me to keep my mouth shut and pretend like he’s not here. He isn’t the only one who can play games. I was raised on them.
Finally, he gives up trying to draw me out and leaves the room. As usual, he closes the door behind him.
But this time, something is different. This time, he doesn’t lock it. I’m so used to the familiar click that it’s kind of unnerving when I don’t hear it. I have to wonder what he’s up to. Is this a test? If it is, he must really think I’m an idiot.
Instead of taking the bait, I pass a little time stretching, getting the blood flowing.
I’m too used to sitting around, and I can feel my body getting weak.
Maybe that’s all in my head, I don’t know.
What I do know is I already have enough of a disadvantage here.
I don’t want to make myself an even easier target.
It’s not long before I hear footsteps on the other side of the door. Faint but promising. My stomach growls at the sound, and I look at the clock on the nightstand. It’s almost eleven, and I haven’t had breakfast.
Then the footsteps fade away without Maggie coming in or at least calling out to me. Is he going to starve me now? Is that the new plan? Am I being punished for him enjoying my company?
There’s a tightness in my chest, squeezing my heart, pressing on my lungs until I have to consciously fight for every breath.
I can’t let myself fall apart, but I also can’t help remembering all the vicious little ways Dad would punish me for stepping out of line.
It never took much, either. The slightest infraction, an innocent mistake, and he would go out of his way to remind me who held all the power.
Stop. Breathe.
Sitting down on the corner of the bed, I clench my fists tight in my lap and close my eyes. I’m safe right now. There is no danger. Maybe Maggie forgot. Fine, that’s stupid, she wouldn’t forget about me. Maybe she got distracted.
Or maybe Liam told her not to feed me. I can’t delude myself. I’ll never make it out of this if I do that.
Footsteps again. My eyes fly open and hope lodges itself in my throat as the sound gets louder. Relief floods me when the doorknob turns.
Then it freezes in my veins when I see who’s standing on the other side. Not Maggie. Not even Liam.
Selina.
“What are you doing here?” I blurt out.
She has the nerve to recoil like she’s either hurt or surprised or both. “Ouch. Hello to you, too.”
Yeah, whatever. “Is there something I can help you with?”
She snorts, folding her arms as she leans against the doorframe. There’s something cat-like about her. Long and lean and graceful, but with an edge. And claws. “If you want something to eat, you’re going to have to make it yourself since Maggie is out sick today.”
It even annoys me that she refers to Maggie like they’re friends or something, but then again, they could be for all I know. I have no idea how long they’ve known each other.
“What’s wrong with her?” I ask.
“How would I know?” She rolls her eyes, then jerks her head in the direction of the kitchen. “So yeah, that’s the point. You have to fend for yourself.”
Right. This seems completely legit. “I’m not supposed to leave the room.
” Geez, am I this broken down? Like a beaten dog afraid to come in out of the rain.
I hate how submissive I sound, but I also don’t trust her.
And I don’t put it past Liam to test me.
That’s probably what this is, too. A test to see if I’ll defy him when given the chance.
I just really wish Selina wasn’t the one administering the test. From the very beginning, it’s been obvious she has a problem with me. I still haven’t forgotten the way she tripped me up when they first brought me here.
She has the nerve to sigh like she’s bored with the discussion. “Suit yourself. I just thought you should know I’m not cooking food for you. So if you’re hungry, you have to take care of yourself. That’s it.”
I am hungry. Very. The sort of hungry that won’t let me think about anything else but food. “Liam doesn’t want me walking around.”
“He’s not going to care as long as somebody’s watching you. I guess I can handle that much.” She rolls her eyes like it’s the most ridiculous idea imaginable.
I could make it fast. I don’t need anything super involved. I would even take peanut butter and jelly, if I can find some. “All right, I’m just going to fix something quick,” I decide when hunger wins out.
“Whatever. I don’t need your whole life story.” She reminds me of a cat again as she slinks away, leaving the door standing wide open. I wish I could shake the sense that I’m taking my life in my hands when I step through it and go to the kitchen.
She’s waiting for me, perched on the counter with her legs crossed. I wonder how they met, not like I’m going to ask. I doubt she would give me a straight answer, anyway. I piss her off just by breathing.
So instead of letting my curiosity take control, I look through the cabinets and pull down a jar of peanut butter. The sooner this is over with, the sooner I don’t have to look at her or breathe the same air.
“The two of you seem to be getting pretty close.”
I don’t bother answering—besides, what would I say? She’s trying to get under my skin. I don’t have to understand why to know that that’s what she’s doing. The why doesn’t matter, anyway.
“It’s a good thing his reflexes are so fast. Otherwise, you might not be here right now.”
So she knows about that. Well, I guess she would. He would tell his team all about what happened at the cemetery. It’s not important. None of this is important. All I can do is grit my teeth while smearing a thick layer of peanut butter on a slice of bread.
“I hope you don’t think there’s anything personal in that.
He simply still needs you a little longer.
” She says it with a snicker, like it’s the most unthinkable idea ever.
Him actually wanting to protect me. I’m sure she’s right, but I have to wonder if she believes herself.
Why would she need to say it if she felt secure?
Because she’s jealous, and it’s obvious from the way she had to claim him when she came in and saw us watching a movie together.
Something totally innocent, but it shook her.
Like he’s hers and nobody else’s. I guess if I cared about him, I might wonder just how close the two of them have been, but it’s none of my business.
Even if I can’t help but wonder. It’s not like I have much of anything else to keep my mind occupied.
“How does it feel?” Her voice has an edge to it now. Like it’s pissing her off, not being able to get a reaction. “Being here, but not having anything of your own? What’s that like?”
Don’t give her what she wants. And I won’t.
Even if I can’t help thinking how nice it would be to use this butter knife on her.
I might not be able to cut her with it, but I could jam it in her eye.
I’m not a violent person, no matter who my dad happened to be.
But I’ll be damned if she isn’t tempting me.
The sooner I get out of here, the better for both of us.
Only that’s not what she wants. When she hops off the counter to block my way, I groan softly. “What are you doing? I just want to get back to my room.”
“Your room.” Her teeth show in a thin smile. “It’s his room. Not yours.”
“Whatever. All I want is to eat my sandwich in peace.”
“You don’t deserve peace. Did you ever think of that?”
When she takes a menacing step toward me, snarling like an animal whose cage was left unlocked, I back away with my heart hammering. We’re alone here. She could do whatever she wanted and get away with it. What does that mean for me?
“I didn’t do anything to hurt you.”
Something tells me that doesn’t matter. “Maybe I just don’t like you.” Her piercing, hateful glare makes panic touch the edges of my mind. Right now, I don’t care if she sees how nervous she’s making me. This has nothing to do with pride anymore.
“Even now,” she snaps, looking me up and down. “You walk around here like you belong. But you don’t. You never will. Not here, and not with him.”
Well, I guessed that one. That’s why she hates me so much.
She backs me up against the counter, with the wall just to my left. Trapped. “You don’t have the first fucking clue what he went through, what we both went through,” she whispers. “Here you are, living in luxury, acting like you earned the right. We both know you didn’t.”
“I didn’t ask for this. You remember that, right? You were there that night.”
“I was there,” she spits out. “And I should have done more than knock you down. I should’ve gotten rid of you when I could.”
“You didn’t,” I remind her, while fear and anger fight for control inside my overheated body. “I’m sorry if you feel like I’m getting in the way of whatever is between you.”
“You couldn’t do that if you tried for the rest of your life.”
My mouth opens. Satisfaction warms my blood. The words fall out of my mouth before I can think to stop them. “Sure, the two of you are so close—but I’m the one who sleeps next to him at night.”
Her eyes fly open wide like I hit her, and it was the last thing she expected. And then she launches herself at me.
“Let go of me!” I drop my sandwich on the floor when she takes a fistful of my hair and yanks my head back. I wrap my hand around her wrist, struggling to keep her from pulling too hard.
“Think you’re so clever, don’t you?” she hisses inches from my face. “So fucking pleased with yourself, you spoiled little bitch.”
She tugs, and I bite back my cry of pain before raking my nails across the back of her hand in desperation. She sucks in a sharp gasp before shoving me away, knocking the wind out of my lungs when I hit the counter edge.
“Not so clever now, are you?” She grabs me, taking me by the hair again.
I know what she’s going to do before she does it, and the only thing that keeps my face from getting smashed against the counter is the arm I throw up in front of my nose to protect myself.
When I jab my elbow back to hit her in the ribs, she lets go.
I’m in a haze of panic, working on instinct alone, when my hand closes around one of the knives in the block. I swing around holding it out, and Selina barks out a breathless laugh. “Oh, please. What do you think you’re going to do with that?”
I don’t know. That’s the thing. It might just be enough to keep her away from me. “Back off,” I warn, holding the blade out. “I don’t know why you’re doing this. I just want to be left alone.”
She shakes her head and clicks her tongue. “I’m afraid it’s too late for that.”
She’s on me in a heartbeat, twisting my wrist sharply and painfully, making me let go of the knife so she can take it from me. “Lesson one, bitch. Don’t pick up a weapon unless you’re ready to use it.”
A soft ping brings me back to reality. The elevator. Liam.
I look at her.
She looks at me.
Then, while I watch, she drags the butcher knife across her arm. “Shit!” She screams, dropping the knife to the floor, grabbing her arm as blood trickles through her fingers like magic.
I’m still sputtering in horror, trying to understand what I just witnessed, when Liam comes running in. “What the—”
“She attacked me! I was fixing myself something to eat!” She goes to him, leaning against him, shaking as blood drips on the floor. “She used the knife on me!”
Oh, my god. “I didn’t.” It comes out as a weak whisper, barely audible even to me. “I didn’t.”
“Jesus Christ!” Liam barks, walking her over to the sink before glaring at me.
“She’s lying,” I croak, though I know he won’t believe me. I doubt he even hears me.
He grabs a dish towel and wraps it around her arm. “Keep pressure on it.” My horror only deepens as he takes hold of me, pulling me close enough that his enraged face fills my vision. “I should’ve known.”
“I didn’t do it,” I whisper, shaking my head, planting my feet, not that it makes a difference.
He still drags me from the kitchen, making me run to keep up with his long stride as he pulls me deeper into the penthouse, muttering to himself the whole time.
I’ve never been back here before. There’s a heavy door at the end of the hall, which he opens by punching a code into a keypad.
“Won’t make that mistake again,” he growls, swinging the door open. “I should’ve left you here to begin with.”
My body goes ice cold when I realize I’m looking into a cell.
That’s the only word for it. No windows, no comfort, only a cot and what looks like a combination toilet and sink, which he shoves me against. I fall, yelping when my bruised knees hit the metal.
By the time I catch myself and turn around to face him, he’s already out of the room and closing the door behind him.
He doesn’t say another word. He won’t even look at me.
This time, the lock clicks. This time, he’s going to make sure I can’t escape.
While all I can do is try to piece together what the hell just happened and how much worse life is about to get because of it.