Plus, Liesel is completely safe locked in the bedroom.
I head upstairs slowly, even though I want to rush in and start shooting. I want to get my adrenaline pumping. I have to be smart if I’m outnumbered, though.
I inch forward room through room, floor through floor, but I find no one. I reach the top deck, thinking I may have imagined the threat.
I look around the top deck and find no one.
I sigh.
Maybe I’m just being paranoid?
I turn to head back down with my gun at my side when I feel something sharp hit my neck.
I reach back, and I feel a dart in my neck. I yank it out, but whatever drug that was just pushed into my system works quickly. My legs weaken, my heart races, and my eyes spin.
I turn my head, trying to get a look at my attacker, but all I see is the darkness, the moon, the stars. I don’t see anyone.
And then I collapse.
8
Liesel
My head pounds as I open my eyes, and I know things are very, very wrong.
A chill hits my spine despite me still wearing Langston’s leather jacket. There must be a hole in the back, letting cool air in.
I blink several times, and then I lift my hand to my head to try and soothe the pounding headache. That’s when I feel the weight of chains on my wrists. I look around the room to assess the danger, although I see nothing but darkness.
I’m no longer in the safety of Langston’s yacht.
I’ve been taken.
Did Langston do this? Is this the place he was taking me to get answers out of me?
It must be.
I take a deep inhale, but all I smell is sweat and blood. I try to examine myself, but I don’t see any signs of injury, so I don’t know where the blood smell is coming from.
There is a quiet drip of water hitting the stone floor. It’s the only sound. I don’t hear anything or anyone else.
I’m in a prison by myself. I should be thankful I’m no longer on the yacht, that Langston did what I asked and moved me to a dank dungeon.
I lean my head back against the stone wall to try to keep my head from spinning. I can’t remember anything from last night—nothing after Langston left the bedroom to go check on the intruders.
Whatever drugs Langston used are strong.
I move my legs and realize they aren’t chained, just my wrists to each other. After my head stops spinning, I force myself to stand and explore my new room. I’m sure there is no weakness. No hole that I can make bigger. No breakable door. No escape. Not this time. But I still have to check.
My hands trail over the wall as I walk around the room. The room is a circle of stone, and my mind creates a medieval tower. I reach up, but I don’t touch the ceiling. And after I’ve walked for a while, I suspect I’ve walked in a complete circle several times but never found a door.
I frown as I look up. The door must be above me.
“Dammit, Langston! Really? You think you need to lock me up like this to get answers? You coward! Show your face.”
A moan.
My eyes dart back to the ground. There is someone in this room with me.