“Looks like you made a wrong turn.” He moves closer.
There is something sinister in his tone; he was the guard that corned the maid.
I remember seeing fear in her eyes. My heart starts pounding faster in my chest, squeezing and crushing until I can hardly breathe.
They’re bad men.
Before I can think better of it, I take off past him, running back down the corridor, tripping, and falling forward.
Pain radiates down my leg. It feels like someone tore through me with a jagged knife.
Shit. That hurts.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, large hands grab me under my arms and lift me.
“Get off me!” My hands turn into fists, and I start to hit.
“Shh, it’s only me, firefly.”
The fight leaves my body. It’s only Gideon, and as much as I should fear him, at this moment, I don’t. He won’t hurt me.
But the guard…
I shiver.
“Are you okay?” His voice sounds velvety smooth yet edged in steel.
“I fell,” I respond matter-of-factly. Now that I know I’m safe, my fear has been replaced with a mix of embarrassment and anger.
“I see that, but what are you doing down here?”
I bite my lip, trying to think of a plausible answer. I can’t come right out and say I was trying to escape. “You said I had free rein.”
“That I did, but I didn’t think you would come here.”
“And where is here? Is that your dungeon? Is this where you keep your prisoners?” There’s a bite to my words, but he doesn’t acknowledge my comment. Rather, he places me on the ground, towering over me.
Smart move, Sasha.Why don’t you piss off the ruthless drug dealer?
Not my finest hour.
His gaze is dark, and I can’t read it. “Are you hurt?”
“I think I’m okay.” To prove this point, I move, transferring my weight from one foot to the other. Unfortunately, I realize my mistake too late, because before I can stop myself, I’m hissing in pain.
“Let’s get you back up to your room and look at your leg.”
“Okay…”
Gideon sweeps me into his arms, and for a moment, I consider objecting, but my leg does hurt. I’m pretty sure I’m bleeding, so instead, I just allow him to carry me down the hall and up the two flights of stairs.
It feels like I’m floating.
The whole way up, I bury my head in his chest.
I shouldn’t.
I know I shouldn’t.