“Oh, you mean Crazy Bitch? Yeah, we had a good chat.” I exhale roughly and remember he’s on her payroll. He might be nice to me, but that doesn’t mean I can trust him. She probably planned for me to feel safe with him, so when I least expect it, he’ll whack me with a crowbar and bury my body in the middle of the woods.
He holds out my items, and I take them. We stand awkwardly, both aware Victoria can see us.
“I told Eric I’d cook dinner tonight. Any requests?” he asks, breaking the silence.
“Well…I’d kill for some Chinese food. General Tso’s Chicken and an eggroll. Mmm,” I moan, then smile when he furrows his brows. “Okay, so not an option?”
“No.”
I inhale sharply and shift my neck from side to side to release some of the tension. “You should let me cook. I make some badass breakfast dishes.” The thought reminds me of Liam and when I lost our bet the very first weekend I came to live with him after my apartment caught on fire.
“Not a good idea.” He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Think about it and let me know.”
Ty leaves before I can say another word.
The next morning, I can barely get out of bed. My entire body is stiff and sore, and I’m cursing myself for working out as hard as I did. Last night, Ty made Southern-style chili, and it was as delicious as everything else he’s prepared. The three of us eat at the kitchen table, and it’s more awkward than going to prom with your first cousin. At least during the day I can eat at the breakfast bar and chat with Ty while Eric does other shit.
Instead of my typical routine of asking him a million questions he doesn’t always answer while he cooks, I start a hot bath. I twist my hair into a high bun and slip out of my clothes before I get into the massive tub. Victoria might be the biggest bitch of the century, but her taste is admirable. The jets soothe and release the tightness in my muscles.
I add some bubble bath and actually relax, forgetting for a moment that I’m being held here against my will. Most days, it’s easy to push it to the back of my mind, but as time passes, I lose a sense of reality and the outside world.
Once my body feels good and loose, I drain the water, and that’s when I realize I forgot to grab a stupid towel. It wouldn’t be such a big deal if the linen closet wasn’t on the other side of the gigantic bathroom. The chill of the air hits me the second I get out and tiptoe across the floor. As soon as I grab a towel, I immediately start drying off. Once I’m dry, I’ll wrap myself in one of Victoria’s plush robes.
“Maddie.”
At the sound of my name, I quickly spin around and drop my towel in the process. When I see Ty in the doorway, I shriek.
What the hell is he doing in here?
“Fuck, sorry.” He turns around, but only after I catch his gaze on my nipple rings.
Swiftly grabbing my towel off the floor, I wrap it tightly around my body. “What are you doing?” I ask nervously.
“I knocked on the bedroom door and called your name, but you didn’t answer, so I let myself in,” he explains. “I’m really sorry. I thought something was wrong.”
“Why would something be wrong?” Not like the windows aren’t locked and deadbolted. Or the two cameras in my room aren’t spying on my every move.
“You didn’t show up for breakfast, so I came to check on you, and then you didn’t answer, so…”
“You thought I escaped,” I finish for him.
“It was one thing that crossed my mind,” he admits.
“And there was another?” I prompt, walking toward him.
Ty slowly glances over his shoulder as if to make sure I’m no longer naked. When he realizes I’m not, he fully turns and looks at me. “Honestly, I thought maybe you’d harmed yourself or something.”
There are no cameras in here, but unless the door is shut, the ones from my room can see inside. I’ve never seen Ty this vulnerable before, and it makes my heart race at the thought of him being worried about me. At times, I get the feeling he’s putting on an act for his job’s sake. Still, I can’t be too careful because anyone in Victoria’s world is shady and deceptive, just like her.
“No, I just worked myself too hard yesterday and needed to soak in hot water.”
He blinks as if he’s fighting to keep his eyes on mine. “If you want some tips, I’m pretty knowledgeable about how to work out without hurting yourself. A close friend of mine owns a gym I used to work at, and I’ve been lifting and boxing for years. I know all about feeding and fueling your body properly.”