Chapter Twenty-One
Romy
I ’m going stir-crazy in this house. With no one other than my nemesis to talk to, I feel like I’m spending too much time thinking and rethinking. Everything is beginning to jumble together, making me wonder if I’m going insane.
I’ve officially put together every puzzle in Caius’s game room multiple times this week in an effort to avoid the man. Ever since I caught him impersonating me a few days ago, I haven’t wanted to even look at him. Avoidance has been a better strategy. The boredom is killing me, though. I’ve even considered bundling up and taking a hike to see what I could find, but the snow has been heavily falling for hours. It’s well below freezing and windy, too. Leaving the crackling fireplace to walk blindly in a forest on a mountain in a snowstorm doesn’t seem like a good time, not to mention stupid.
My phone buzzes with a text and I scramble to look at it.
Gareth: I’m outside. We need to talk.
Me: Can’t you just walk in?
Gareth: Locked.
Interesting. Theo had no problem walking in, which means he has a key. Why would Gareth not be given a key to his brother’s house?
He could knock and Caius probably would have left his office to answer, but Gareth chose to message me instead. For some reason, this has the hairs standing up on my arms.
Me: I’ll be right down. Which door?
Gareth: Carport.
I abandon my nearly finished puzzle, stuff my phone into the back pocket of my jeans, and then quietly head down the stairs, careful not to clomp down them in my boots. I’d rather not speak to Caius if possible. Once in the mudroom, I unlock the door. Gareth pushes inside, bringing in icy air and a swirl of snowflakes with him.
“Gear up. We’ll take a walk.”
Gareth flashes me his charming smile, but it doesn’t disarm me like it has before. If anything, it puts me more on edge. He lied to me about Megan and set me up. After our text exchange the day after, I haven’t been responding to his efforts to reach out. As much as I want to flip him off and send him packing, the curious part of me needs to know what he wants to discuss.
I yank off a giant black fur-lined parka off a hook since it looks the warmest and pull it on. I’m instantly breathing in Caius’s masculine cologne. I consider ripping it off and tossing it onto the floor but manage to refrain from doing so and zip it up instead. I grab a beanie, a scarf, and gloves too. Once I’ve pulled the hood over my beanie and tightened the tie under my chin, I nod at Gareth that I’m ready.
He opens the door and guides me out with a giant palm on my back. It’s probably not the smartest thing to go off alone with this mountain of a man, but I’m doing it anyway. I lift my chin and stare into the thick trees, mostly hidden in the quickly dimming evening. Maybe I should have scrounged up a flashlight too.
“Should I be afraid?” I ask once he’s closed the door behind us.
He chuckles. “Nah. I can take a bear.”
I’m reminded of something I’d seen on social media this past summer. Would you rather be alone with a man or a bear? Most women said they’d prefer the bear because men are unpredictable. My stomach twists. Gareth is bigger than most men. I’ve never seen a bear up close, but I believe it’d be a tough match between the two.
“Glad you’ll keep me safe,” I say lightly. “If the bear starts to eat you, though, I’m not sticking around to rescue you. Sorry, bud.”
He laughs again, but it feels forced this time. The fake nature of it makes me uneasy. It’s not too late to turn around.
And run back to your prison?
Back to your captor who impersonates you and threatens you?
None of this is ideal. I may as well hear Gareth out. Maybe I’ll learn something new.
“This way,” he says, clicking on a small flashlight. “You can see my footprints from my way here.”
I fall into step next to him, trudging through the thick snow. Neither of us speaks for several minutes as we follow a trail through the woods. It’s eerily quiet aside from the crunching of snow beneath our boots and our heavy breathing.
“So…” I say, prompting him to talk about what it is we’re here for. “What’s up?”
He snorts. “What’s up?”
“We’re certainly not taking an early evening stroll through a Winter Wonderland because we’re besties.” I flash him a sugary sweet smile. “So yeah, what do you want, Gareth?”
He thumps his chest with his gloved fist. “You wound me, Ro.”
“Call it even for betraying me,” I snip back, shrugging my shoulders. “Tit for tat.”
I can barely make out his features in the near darkness of the forest, but I can hear his teeth grinding together. He’s pissed. At what, I don’t know.
“Theo told me something interesting,” Gareth says, voice colder than the air penetrating my parka and chilling my blood. “Caius is divulging all the family secrets, huh?”
I frown at his words. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Right.”
“Seriously,” I say with a huff. “Explain what you mean. I’m not a mind reader.”
He’s quiet for several moments before he stops. Now that our footsteps aren’t making noise, the wind is audible as it whistles through the trees.
“You know where Caius came from.”
I shrug my shoulders. “So?”
“Why would he tell you that?” he demands, his thin patience becoming visible. “It’s not something we speak about. Our pasts.”
I discovered these things all on my own, but this confirms I was right. Since Gareth seems so bothered about Caius being the one to tell me, I’m definitely going to use that to my advantage.
Irritation prickles through me, sending heat to my cold extremities. “I don’t owe you answers, nor the truth. You’ve done nothing but lie to me.”
He tilts his head, ear to shoulder, and then the other side, the bones of his neck cracking audibly. It’s evident he’s having a hard time keeping his cool trapped behind his teddy bear persona. I’m learning he’s a grizzly beneath his handsome smile.
These men may be good at their games for the outside world, but they brought me into the heart of their world. There’s no hiding one’s true self when you spend enough time around them.
I see you, Gareth Crowne.
“Family is everything to me,” Gareth growls. “Everything. And, lately, it feels like it’s slipping through my fingers.”
Is this another mind game?
Make me feel sorry for him? To what end?
“What does that have to do with me?” I demand, unable to tamper down my anger. “I’ve done nothing to you people.”
He studies me for a beat and then continues trekking along the trail. I have to hurry to keep up with his long strides. I’m not going to let him intimidate me. In case he forgot, I’m their prisoner. I’m not really Caius’s girlfriend.
“I think he’s forgetting his place in our family,” Gareth states with a grunt. “He’s done nothing but ruthlessly claw his way up to our father’s side, but when you show up, suddenly things change. Caius changes. Something’s going on.”
“And that’s my fault?” I ask, scoffing at him. “You’re seriously blaming me for your fucked-up family problems?”
He stops suddenly and whirls on me, his massive body towering over mine. Fear detonates in my chest. I have the sudden urge to run away like a small bunny desperately hoping to escape the jaws of a predator.
“Caius feels nothing,” Gareth explains slowly like I’m a stupid child. “I’ve been trying for years to get him to show some sort of emotion toward me.” His nostrils flare and a puff of white air escapes him, reminding me of a dragon about to spit fire. “With you, he’s different. I can’t put my finger on it, but I see it. I sense it. Under his icy exterior is a man who feels. For a stranger, no less. And yet, with his own brother, nothing.”
I’m beginning to get the picture now. Kind of like when my puzzle is about sixty percent done. I don’t need to look at the box any longer as it’s coming together quickly before my eyes. As it appears, I’m eager to piece it together as fast as I can.
Gareth craves the love of his big brother but never gets it.
Somehow, he wrongly believes Caius has given me this love that was supposed to be his. Are we even living on the same planet? What Caius gives me is frustration, intimidation, and confusion—not love. He doesn’t even like me. I’d go as far as to say he resents having to babysit and pretend to be my boyfriend. If anything, I’m a wrench in Caius’s perfectly constructed plans.
“This sounds like the conversation needs to be had between you and Caius,” I tell him, side-stepping him so as not to be so close. “I’m not sure how any of this is my fault. Need I remind you that you people took me from my life and planted me in yours . I didn’t inject myself into this family. You’re the poison, not me.”
He snorts in derision. “That was a dream, remember? You’re Caius’s live-in girlfriend.”
I roll my eyes because this was the same man who was going to help me escape said “dream” several days ago and turned me over to the devil himself instead. The poor attempts to break my mind aren’t working this time.
“For such a big, strong man, you’re incredibly insecure,” I bite out. “Excuse me. I’m going back. We’re done talking about this.”
He grabs hold of the back of my parka before I can go far. I start to scream, but his leather-gloved hand covers my mouth and his flashlight drops into the snow, bathing us in near darkness. “We’re not done talking. I need to show you something so you understand my position.”
Terror has me immobilized. If this man wants to keep me under his thumb, he can physically do it without blinking twice. Fighting him isn’t an option. I could probably scream, but I’m not sure my voice would carry all the way to Caius’s office.
And would he come save me?
They’re all monsters.
I force myself to relax, and thankfully, Gareth releases me. Spinning around to face him, I offer my fiercest glare, though he can’t see it. He bends over to retrieve the flashlight and then shines it in my eyes, blinding me.
“Come on,” he grunts. “This way.”
I follow after him because it’s not like I have a choice not to. He’ll just force me to do whatever it is he wants. While he walks, I pull my phone from my pocket and tug off my glove with my teeth so I can type a message to Theo.
Me: Gareth is taking me somewhere. He’s angry. Come find me, please.
Theo: On my way.
This family is full of liars, but I trust Theo to come through. He’s been the closest thing to an ally in this ordeal, which is ironic since he’s the one who got this ball in motion. I stuff my phone back into my pocket and put my glove back on before my fingers fall off from the cold. Gareth steps into an opening, gesturing at a cabin. It’s the same one Caius pointed out when he brought me to his home.
Gareth’s cabin.
The quaint place is lit up, all the windows glowing with light, promising warmth inside. I’m not exactly eager to escape the snowy hell we’re in to seek haven in his home. He’s losing his cool and thinks me to be responsible for it.
We walk onto the porch and stop several feet before the window. Gareth, arms crossed over his muscular chest, stares into the cabin, an unreadable expression on his face. I follow his gaze, my heart sinking at what I see.
A young girl, no more than six or seven, sits cross-legged on the rug, playing with Barbie dolls. She wears a small smile as she pretends to make her Barbie walk to the pink plastic doll car.
“Who’s that?” I croak out, unable to tear my gaze from the girl with the bouncy golden curls and rosy, chubby cheeks.
“Kaitlyn. My daughter.”
I blink several times as I process this information. “And you leave her all alone while you harass poor women in the woods?”
“She has a nanny.”
A woman’s voice calls out, but it’s muffled, so I can’t make out what she says. Kaitlyn tenses and her smile fades into a tiny frown. This sends a ripple of anxiety down my spine.
“She doesn’t look happy,” I blurt out. “Maybe you should check on her.”
“Nah, she’s fine. She loves the nanny.”
She loves the nanny.
A full-bodied shudder makes its way through my body. I swivel around, unable to look at the child inside any longer. It makes me nauseous and worried. I have too much to worry about already.
Headlights bounce through the trees, distracting me. Thank God. Theo will find me soon. Before I can set out to meet him, Gareth stops me again, grabbing both my shoulders. I stifle a scream as he manhandles me around to face him. A manic gleam shines in his eyes.
“Family is everything to me. Dad saved me—saved all of us—from the hell we came from.” He nods toward the window. “And then I saved her. Our entire existence relies on the closeness of our family. I refuse to let some outsider wreck everything for me.”
He’s threatening me.
“What are you saying?” I demand, a challenging tone in my voice. It’s easier to be brave knowing Theo will rescue me. “That I’m going to somehow take your adopted daughter away from you?”
Although, if I ever get out of here, would it be so bad if I got the child out of here too? This family is shrouded in darkness. Nothing good can come of it for Kaitlyn, especially when they keep company with other monsters like the murdering Solomon Grayhawk.
Gareth doesn’t have to answer my question. The barely hidden rage on his features tells me everything I need to know. He’ll kill me if he thinks I’ll somehow mess up his family dynamic. Just like a territorial grizzly. No fear, no hesitation, no regrets.
“Sometimes the worst people are the ones you trust the most,” I spit out, jerking out of his hold. “I’m not the problem here.”
Thankfully, Theo has pulled up close to the porch. I hurry to the passenger side and climb into the vehicle. Gareth stares through the windshield at me, a promise of a future discussion where we continue this threatening talk.
Theo waves to Gareth and then starts driving back toward Caius’s house, glancing several times my way to check me over.
“You okay?” he asks, concern in his voice. “Did Gareth…” He trails off, leaving me to fill in the blanks.
“Hit me? No. Though I think he wanted to,” I spit out bitterly.
“But he didn’t, you know, do anything else?”
I’m momentarily confused until I realize he’s asking if he sexually assaulted me. This doesn’t cause fear in me but instead fear for his young daughter.
“No,” I say slowly. “Is that something I should be worried about?”
Theo shakes his head and flashes me a boyish grin. “Nah, just making sure.”
I’m reminded of the time Gareth took me to his bathroom at the lodge. Caius was irrationally pissed about that whole situation. Maybe he was afraid Gareth would take advantage of me. Again, Caius’s perceived nobility annoys me. Why does he have to be a protector in my eyes?
Theo pulls up to Caius’s house but doesn’t shut off the engine. He does reach into the back seat and retrieves a box that rattles in his grip. When he hands it to me, I grin stupidly.
“You got me a present.”
He laughs. “It’s just a puzzle.”
“No, it’s not,” I say quickly, inspecting the box. “It’s a thousand-piece Paris Locks of Love jigsaw puzzle. This will keep me busy for hours.” I can’t help but grin at him. “Thank you.”
I swear he blushes, unable to hide his own smile. “I tried to find a complicated one since you’re so good at them. It says the average person needs about five to twelve hours to complete it. But you’re not average, are you?”
Shaking my head as I admire the box, I say, “No way. I think I can get it done in three. I’m going to try.”
Theo, though he’s definitely crushing on me, reminds me some of Bastian. My brother was the one who got me involved in puzzles in the first place. When I was a young girl and having trouble coping with horrible things I went through, he brought me a jigsaw puzzle meant for an older child. He sat with me for an entire day as we put it together. That day was the first one in a while that I was able to turn off all the bad stuff and completely zone out. After that, I was addicted.
“Thanks again for the rescue,” I say to him before leaning over the center console to kiss his cheek. “Want to come inside?”
He grunts before adjusting himself in his jeans. “Not a good idea. You should go.”
I follow where he points and discover Caius standing under the carport, staring at us from the shadows. What a creep.
“Ugh,” I groan.
Before I can climb out, Theo grabs my arm, stopping me. When I glance over at him, his eyebrows are pinched with worry. “Be careful. What you just did… That stuff can’t happen. It’s dangerous.”
“Because of Caius?”
“He has demons,” Theo says softly. “They’re deeply hidden, but we all know they’re there. Just don’t push him too far. I don’t think I could protect you from him.”
So Theo can protect me from the burly, slightly unhinged, possibly sexual predator Gareth, but the cold, calculating Caius is the bigger problem. Somehow, I fail to see that logic.
“You know it’s going to have to be you who gets me out of here one day,” I tell him softly. “Soon.”
Theo hangs his head, neither agreeing nor denying. It’s comforting to know that I’m at least penetrating his heart. One day maybe I’ll fully convince him.
I blurt out a goodbye to Theo and then climb out of his vehicle. Rather than walking straight into the house, I make my way over to Caius. I’m compelled to look him straight in the eyes, letting him know he can’t intimidate me by hiding in the shadows wearing his sourpuss face.
“I thought you ran away,” Caius states, voice sharp like a blade.
“You didn’t put much effort into finding me.”
“Survival out here is impossible. It would’ve been a fruitless effort.” He inclines his head to the side. “Either you’d come back, or you’d die.”
Does he mean the elements, the wildlife, the unbearably cold temperature? Or is it more sinister than that? Could he know what sort of feral beast lurks beneath Gareth’s carefully arranged facade?
“Problem solved, huh?”
“The problems would exponentially multiply,” he reveals, baring his gleaming white teeth at me. “I said I like a challenge, not total annihilation of my life.”
At least I know he still needs me to stay alive. Being the youngest daughter of one of the wealthiest, most well-known families on the East Coast has its perks.
“Don’t worry,” I mutter, hugging the puzzle box to my chest. “As long as you keep Gareth away from me, we’re good.”
He tenses slightly, but I pick up on it. So Gareth is the one he thought might be the reason for my demise. And why does he even care? Rather than divulging anything else to me, he barks out an order in his usual dismissive tone.
“Get packed up, little girl. We have a big travel day ahead of us in the morning.”
Right. A trip on Solomon’s yacht. Lake Erie, here we come.