I take a few steps closer, but not close enough to touch, only to look out just a bit. Only to see what I can see while I’m far enough away for him to know I won’t run. There are cameras. They are always watching when I’m outside of the room. I know that much.
It could be over if only I asked her to open them. I wouldn’t do it. I wouldn’t dare.
As I stand there, wondering if it could really all be done with if only someone opened the doors, a man’s voice that chills me to my core is heard from the other side of the doors.
Paralyzed, I stand there and his shadow is cast along the carved glass.
“So it’s true, then? That bitch sent it?”
I can’t breathe. Nate’s voice brings me back to the freezing cold bath. Over the memory of my screams I hear him say, “Declan’s going to lose his fucking mind. I don’t want to be the one to tell him.”
I try to inhale but my head is light and nothing inside is working right. My body trembles as I remember the bath.
“You’re sure it was Braelynn?”
I nearly collapse right there at the mention of my name and the venom he holds behind his statements. I don’t see another shadow and it takes me too long to realize he’s on the phone and he’s getting closer.
What did I do?
“All I know is, I don’t want to be the one to do it this time.”
My head spins as his heavy footstep approaches.He’s coming for me.
I run, as quickly and silently as I can, throwing open the door and I don’t stop. I nearly fall as I come up to the bedroom door and inside, panic ensues.
Every word he said plays back to me:So it’s true, then? That bitch sent it?
“I didn’t send anything,” I murmur to myself as I pace at the end of the bed, staring at the bedroom door.
Sickness churns as I worry that Declan won’t believe me.
I didn’t do anything. I didn’t, did I? If I did, I didn’t mean to. I didn’t know.
Heaving in air, I try to calm myself but I can’t. Instead all I can hear is the cage dropping into the water and my screams.
I’m blinded by it all and I act without thinking.
Rushing to put clothes on top of the money in the bag, I’ve never acted so fast in my life. All the while tears stream down my face and the vision in front of me is Declan, as I’m lowered into the water and left there.
They’ll never believe me. Even if he loves me, they’ll never trust me. They’ll never let me leave. I scribble a note I don’t know is even legible.I’m sorry.
I’m out of breath and can barely see straight when I get to the foyer. It’s silent when I open the door to Declan’s wing. My heart races as I listen for Nate’s voice.
No one’s there and in a rush of adrenaline, I rush to the front doors and input the code. I hold my breath until they unlock and pull open so very easily. With the heavy door ajar, I’m met with a biting cold and a reminder I need to hurry.
DECLAN
The Club once felt like my hunting ground. Safe, controlled and secured. I could do whatever I’d like and rule over every soul who entered this place.
But now as I rewind the footage once again, with my tired eyes focused on the screen filled with the image of Braelynn, it feels like a prison.
One of my own making.
There has to be something I missed. I only have an hour, maybe two before the feds will be here. Or so the tip said. I wanted it done here. Not with Braelynn watching.
They’ll raid. I’ll be present and be picked up for questioning. Shortly after, I’ll be hit with a subpoena for a deposition. It’s all been done before and I couldn’t care less. All I care about is what’s on these fucking tapes. Whispers in the back of my mind warn me that it’s all there.
There’s a knock on the door a second after I hit play, and I call out for them to go away. “I’m not here. Leave.”