Chapter Seventeen
Going Stir Crazy
Lark
The tussle and talk with Emmett, along with a tampon doing its job, relieve a great deal of my stress. I'm by no means great— or even fine. Any bit of reprieve is welcome, though. I'm also examining many of our past interactions in a different light. Unsure of how I feel about it all, I shelve it under 'things to deal with after getting out of crazy town'.
The guys are all gathered in the living room, minus the two currently getting the stink eye, arguing.
Marcus is protesting something Brent said that I hadn't heard.
"It's not safe. We can't protect everyone out there." I try to figure out what Marcus needs to protect us from.
"Everyone needs the exercise. And to get out of this tiny ass apartment. We're all going stir crazy and tripping over each other. I'm going whether anyone else does or not."
I deduce he's wanting to take us to a gym of some sort, and I agree with him. Even though the wrestling with Emmett has my brand burning, I'm itching to stretch my muscles, and a treadmill would be awesome.
"We're going. I'll try not to punch anyone. We can go at whatever time there's the least amount of people."
Narrowing his eyes at me, Marcus says, "That's half the problem. If someone gets handsy, neither you nor those three can do a thing about it. Brent and I can if it's a guard. Anyone else, and Apollo has to handle it. Even then he might not be able to intervene unless it's blatantly warranted. That's the other half of the problem. There are people at all hours, and they're not the best society has to offer. I'd know, I've been on the receiving end."
A frown marring his countenance, Apollo tries to come to a compromise. "We'll need to plan carefully and have an exit strategy, but I think we can make it work. I want you all to understand there are scenarios we can't anticipate. The responsibility for your choice is on you, I won't be held culpable for something outside of my control." A flick of his eyes toward me, and I know he's thinking of the brand and all that followed.
He's correct in assuming I still hold him responsible for that. A simple warning or any information at all regarding everything that's gone on would have gone a long way to avoid my ire.
The following evening is our opportunity for escaping the boredom. Everyone that could cause large issues for us at the 'Facility'— as this place is known as— is at a party. Apollo filled us in some, and now we know that we're in the subterranean levels of an exclusive spa. He wouldn't tell us the name or the location, though I'm sure Rex and Emmett know, and I don't fuss about it. I want out of these rooms too badly to care. He did tell us it's a high end place and even the upper level guards will be gone, posing as security— leaving only the ones that he can order about if needed. A plan begins to unfold in my head. I keep my mouth shut until I can devise exactly how I want it to go.
Apollo goes over the rules one more time.
"No talking unless you need assistance. Only master," my nose wrinkles in displeasure, "or sir if you need to address Marcus or myself. If anyone touches you, come stand behind me. And do not hit anyone."
Nods from all of us spur Marcus to unlock the door and lead the way while Apollo takes the rear. I want to make an inappropriate joke about it, but I want to go on our excursion more.
We file our way silently down the hall, only the shushing of our footsteps accompany us. We pass several closed doors and go around corners before we reach the gym. It's eerily silent even though I'm sure there is no way all those rooms aren't occupied. It's goes a long way toward showing how complete the soundproofing in this place is. Which should work to my advantage.
Entering a state-of-the art gym, I head directly for the treadmill, setting it to a near sprint. We're all dressed in t-shirts and shorts that we can move easily in. I'd already done my stretching while Apollo was going over his list of do's and don'ts. I roll my eyes at Rex and Braeden taking up the ones on either side of me. There aren't enough for all of us, and Apollo takes the last, leaving the other three to the ellipticals.
Sweating through my shirt a half mile in, my short breaths show the toll the inactivity has taken on my body. I push through to a full mile and walk on shaky legs to the rowing machine. I'll be damned if I don't at least finish a basic routine. The guys seem to fare better or at least hide it better, except for Apollo and Marcus. I'm sure they get regular workouts as I don't know where they go when they're not in the apartment with us.
By the time we're done, I'm soaked through and feel like my bones are the consistency of gelatin. This is ridiculous. Not to mention the irritating ass burn. The guys rarely remark on theirs, and as long as it's not infected— which Marcus checks for daily— I'm not going to complain. The water cooler stationed by the door is glugging away every time I refill the paper cup I'm using from the stack next to it.
"That's a five-gallon jug; if you keep trying to drink it all, you're going to get ill."
I flip my middle finger behind me in the direction the good doctor's voice comes from.
"Well, that's not very ladylike," he drawls.
Snorting mid swallow, I inhale a good amount of the water in my cup. The sputtering and choking I have going on brings my never far away crowd of men. I need to get a girlfriend or two. There has to be a rule about the amount of attention allowed for male to female ratios. I'm positive I've exceeded my fair share. Eyes and nose running and red-faced from embarrassment and coughing up a lung, I glare at Brent.
Voice croaky, I address him. "Take your ladylike expectations and shove them up your ass. Or maybe you'd be happier having one of them do it." Barb delivered, I stomp to the door marked as a bathroom.
It's worse than I'd imagined. My splotchy face, soaked hair, and shirt aren't at all attractive. Should deter anyone we might run into. Thoroughly done with the excursion, I go back out into the equipment-filled area to wait by the door. The guys take the hint I'm giving by ignoring them, and I'm grateful no one tries to talk to me.
Equipment shut off and put away, Marcus once again leads us out in the same formation we'd come here in. One turn around a corner away from our hallway, a keening filters down to us. I try to pick up the pace and get a restraining hand on my arm from Braeden. Apollo moves up the line around us all to go investigate.
In any other scenario, I'd think the noise isn't unusual; except here, the soundproofed rooms should have been blocking it. We follow Apollo albeit more slowly.
I wish I could say I'm shocked by what we come upon.