He turns to face me and smiles. “How is our little doll?”
My cell vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out, seeing it’s a message.
Laney: I can’t sleep. Come over and fuck me until I black out.
I ignore it, placing it back in my pocket, and look at Law. “What? Oh, yeah, she cried herself to sleep.”
He grins, looking down at his watch. “We’re right on time then.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
GRAYSON LAW
I MAKE MY way through the kitchen and to the living room, taking a bite of the sandwich I just made. I was fucking starving when we returned from Death Valley with Henley, and I dismissed the staff for the night in order for us to play with our doll. So, it was up to me to feed myself.
Going over to the couch, I bend down and pick up Vanessa. The naked doll lies there like a prop in a horror flick. I sure as fuck don’t want my mother or James finding this. A naked doll with its hands and ankles zip-tied together in a hog-tie position with tape covering her face is bound to bring up some awkward questions I’d like to avoid.
Taking another bite, I set the sandwich on the coffee table and yank, breaking the ties, and her legs and arms go back into place before I rip the tape off as well. Then I stuff it all in the front pocket of my jeans so as not to leave the evidence behind. Picking my sandwich back up, I make my way upstairs and enter her room, knowing she’s asleep.
I put the doll down and walk over to her side of the bed, pulling the covers back. She’s on her back, naked. Like I expected her to be. Scout won’t do any more than what is required of him. He has no problem undressing her but actually putting clothes on is too much to ask.
I reach up, grab the hem of my shirt and pull it up over my head. Bending down, I push her head through and then slide her arms into the holes, careful with her wrists. Well, at least he took a second to take care of them.
She arches her back and lets out a moan before turning onto her side, facing me. I kneel so my face is even with hers and push back the hair that’s fallen in her face. Her eyes flutter open, and she looks at me, but I’m not sure she sees me. They’re bloodshot from crying earlier and look dazed due to the drugs. She’s long gone.
Then I remove her cell out of my back pocket that I took earlier when she was passed out in the back seat and place it on her nightstand. “Good night, doll. Sweet dreams.” I pick Vanessa up and close her door, heading to my room.
HENLEY
It’s been two days since the guys tried to scare me to death by handcuffing me to a dingy, disease-infested bed at Death Valley. I haven’t seen them very much, thank God. They don’t talk to me at school, and I’ve been able to talk Lacey into going off-campus for lunch. Every time we do, she acts paranoid and always looks around like we’ve got CIA agents tailing us.
Jamie has tried to come up to me several times to start a conversation, but I ignore her. I have nothing to say to her at this point. If I could avoid Scout for the rest of my life, I would. But I know he’s not going anywhere. I have to tolerate him. Jamie, I do not!
This isn’t even about girl-code. It’s about how she sought revenge on me. And I know what I did to Datson was fucked up, but I just can’t see how the two are equal.
I walk into Lisa’s house and see my dad and her standing in the foyer. She’s helping him with his cuff links. “Where are you two going dressed up?” I ask, looking over her black evening gown and his all-black tux.
“We have dinner reservations,” she answers with a smile.
I figured. “Well, have fun.”
“Tomorrow night,” she adds as I go to walk away.
I frown. “Then where are you going tonight?”
“Paris,” my father answers, holding out Lisa’s Fendi coat to slide her arms into.
I raise a brow. “Come again?”
Her smile grows. “We’re going to Paris for the weekend. He surprised me with dinner reservations at my favorite place for our ten-month anniversary tomorrow.”
Oh. “That’s … sweet.” And way over the top, but totally my dad. “Happy Anniversary,” I say.
“Thank you.”
“We’ll be back late Sunday night, Henley. Will you be okay here by yourself?”
“James.” She slaps his arm playfully. “She won’t be alone. She’ll have Hamilton.”
I refrain from rolling my eyes. “Right.” He gives her a tight smile.
“How’s the house coming?” I ask, wondering when the hell I’ll get released from this prison.