“Shoot.”
“When we were at the party,” she asks, walking her fingers up my thigh, “how did you know it was me? I mean – we both had masks on.”
“Oh, Bailey,” I chuckle. “How could I not? I knew because of this.”
I caress the scar on her face. It’s faded slightly, but it’s still there. When I saw it at the party, my heart almost fell out of my chest. I never want to experience that kind of dread again. Just thinking about the fact that she somehow ended up at that party last night threatens to throw me into a rage.
Because she cleaned, I do the dishes. It’s amazing how comfortably domestic everything feels with her – and so quickly. How things should be. My family’s dark and hidden lives always disgusted me, but now that I know what it’s like to have a real connection with someone who sets your heart on fi
re, it repulses me even more.
I tried for years to get out, but every time I got close, they found a way to pull me back in. But now with Bailey by my side, I’m going to have to try harder. The whole goddamn thing has to come down for her to be safe.
We spend the day together as I show her around the grounds. This is my third property, and I haven’t been here in years; my parents won’t suspect I’m here and that will give me a little time to figure out what to do with Bailey. I’ll have to find somewhere to keep her safe. Moving her around every few days isn’t an option. I couldn’t do that to her.
We make love again after lunch and go for a short hike up to the top of the crag overlooking the back acreage. The evening sun dances off her face, and I realize that in the last day I’ve somehow morphed into something of a romantic. Never thought that would have been possible, but it feels so natural with her.
“Are you cold?” I ask.
“No, I’m fine.”
“Why don’t we spend the night up here?”
Bailey smiles. “That sounds awfully nice, but won’t we get cold?”
“I’ll go back down to the house and get us a sleeping bag,” I reply. “We can share it.”
I pull her close and kiss her. It feels natural, like we’ve been together for ages. She’s precious to me now. A treasure. I must do everything in my power to protect her from my family. And honestly, that’s why I’m suggesting this now; not because I want to do something romantic, but because I’m still trying to be careful. On the off chance that someone does come checking around the house, I can’t have her there.
“Okay,” she says softly. “That sounds really nice.”
“Be right back.”
I leave her with a kiss on the cheek. It feels uncomfortable lying to her about my motivations, but the alternative is much worse. Telling her would only make her worry. And it’s not like worrying will solve anything.
No. For now I have to lie to her to keep her safe. Because that’s all that matters now.
6
Bailey
When I wake up, my head is killing me, and I can’t see a thing.
No. That’s not true. I can see, but there’s something obscuring my vision – something soft and white pressing against my eyes.
“She’ll fetch a good price overseas. I know just the guy for her. Russian billionaire. I’ve dealt with him before.”
It’s a man’s voice, but not Ethan’s. The realization sends a dose of adrenaline through my body.
I realize I’m sitting on a chair. Where am I? Where was I before this?
“You see her plump little tits? I wouldn’t mind having a go with her myself,” another man’s voice replies, each syllable chattering up my spine like a spider’s pincers.
“Then she wouldn’t be certified pure.”
“She ain’t,” the man scoffs. “Ethan had a run at her. Believe that.”
“And he’ll be sorry for that,” the other laughs. “If he isn’t already with that lump on his head. He’ll think twice about defying us again.”