Footsteps thumped down the stairs, and the front door opened and slammed shut again. Moments later, the car started, and I went to the front window to watch the gates roll back and the car pass through them. Once he was through, they shut again, locking me back in here. I let out a sigh. Tam hadn’t even bothered to say goodbye or tell me how long he’d be. What was I supposed to do with myself all day?
I picked up a strawberry and bit into it, sweet juice coating my tongue. He hadn’t expressly forbidden me from leaving. It wasn’t as though I was a prisoner here, but I was scared of screwing up and Tam sending me back to my father. I didn’t want to face my father’s rage or the disappointment from the rest of the family. There were other things I should be scared of, too, namely the potential of the Gilligans attempting to take over our turf if our two families ended up divided, but for some reason that worried me less than my father’s anger.
My phone buzzed again. Stupidly, I hoped it might be Tam, perhaps apologising for the way he’d acted this morning. But it was my brother, Jayden.
Hey, sis. How was your first night? It’s quiet at home without you. J. X
I highly doubted it was quiet back at the hotel, but it was good of him to let me know he was thinking about me. I quickly messaged back.
Too quiet here, as well. Wish I was back home. X
Going to be in Soho for lunch. Meet up?
I hesitated before messaging him back. Tam had only said that he didn’t want me letting anyone else in here, not that I couldn’t leave. Besides, I was Hallie Wynter, I wasn’t going to let the likes of Tam Cornell tell me what to do. Being his fucking prisoner had never been a part of the agreement.
Let’s do it.
Feeling better now that I had something to do rather than just hang around Tam Cornell’s house on my own all day, I took my phone back up to the bedroom. I chucked it on the bed and then went to my bags to find something to wear. I should really unpack, too. I didn’t want to leave all my stuff in my bags. Maybe if I put everything away, Tam would start to realise that this setup was for good, and that he’d just have to get used to having me around. I went to the large mahogany chest of drawers opposite the bed and pulled open the top drawer. It was filled with t-shirts, all plain, in either white, black, or grey. Tam Cornell was not someone who liked his colours or patterns.
I located a couple of empty drawers at the bottom. After selecting a pair of jeans and a strappy top to wear that day, I put the rest of the clothes folded into the drawer. Then I carried my toiletries into the bathroom and stacked everything up next to Tam’s.
There, it looked like a proper couple’s bathroom now.
I grinned to myself. Tam was going to hate it.
I glanced over to the shower. I was sure I could smell Tam’s bodywash on the air. Was there any trace of his semen left in the shower stall? Why the hell was I even thinking stuff like that?
Pushing the thought of Tam naked in the shower out of my head, I quickly used my toothbrush and scrunched some water into my hair to redefine the curls, and then put on enough makeup to make myself presentable. The bar Jayden liked was owned by one of his mates, so I knew exactly where he was going to be. Central London was the one place in the city neither the Wynters, nor the Cornells, nor the Gilligans ran. It was free territory. If any of us were forced out of central London, it would make living in the city near impossible. We all needed it for transport links, plus meetings and entertainment. I didn’t know how long things would stay that way—with the Gilligans trying to edge in on other territories, maybe they’d decide to fight to keep us out of central London as well, but then again, if the Wynters and Cornells joined up, perhaps we’d be the ones keeping the Gilligans out.
I was able to open the front door, but as I pulled it shut, it locked automatically behind me. I went to the gate and hit the button on the inside to open it.
Nerves tumbled in my belly, but I told myself I wasn’t doing anything wrong. I’d never agreed to be locked up in this place, and I didn’t need Tam Cornell’s permission to do anything, never mind go and see my own brother.
I walked through, and the gates must have been on a sensor or timer as they shut behind me again. I suddenly realised I didn’t actually have a way of opening them from out here. I wasn’t able to get back into the house unless Tam came home to let me in. My stomach clenched. Tam would know I’d gone out. Not that I’d had any intention of keeping it a secret from him, but if I could have avoided the conversation, I would have done. Now I had no choice.
It was a fifteen-minute walk to North Greenwich Station where I jumped onto the Jubilee line. I could have called my father’s driver, but I didn’t want to alert my father to what I was doing. I was happy to be out, feeling like a normal member of society for once, instead of some kind of fucked-up princess in a fairy tale, held captive by both her wicked father and her evil prince. Ever since that hideous day of the wedding, I hadn’t been able to bring myself to go out in public, feeling as though everyone knew who I was and what had happened, and that they’d all be talking behind their hands about me.
I had to change lines once more to get to Oxford Circus, where it was only a short walk to Soho. I joined the throng of tourists and businesspeople in suits, walking shoulder to shoulder with them. You could always tell people who didn’t come from London, because they always walked at a fraction of the pace of those who did. London people marched. Tourists ambled, while the Londoners rolled their eyes and tried not to fall over them.
For once, I just felt like a young woman heading out into the city for drinks. I didn’t care that it wasn’t even lunchtime yet. I deserved a bit of fun after everything I’d been through.
I reached the bar and recognised the bouncer on the door.
“Miss Wynters,” he greeted me. “Your brother is already here.”
“Thanks,” I said and trotted past him.
I spotted Jayden at the bar. He’d already ordered a bottle of champagne.
“Champagne breakfast?” I said as I approached. “What’s the reason?”
He turned to me with a grin, and I threw my arms around my brother’s neck and hugged him tight. At six foot something, he should have been fully grown, but I swore he got taller every time I saw him. He was in his usual getup of jeans and a leather jacket, with silver rings on his fingers and one through his ear. His long dark hair curled over his ears and around his neck.
“Do we ever need an excuse?” he said.
“I suppose not.”
I perched on the barstool opposite him. I couldn’t say I was exactly in the mood for celebrating, though I was happy to be out from under the oppressive roof of Tam Cornell’s house. That I had to return continued to niggle at me, however.