Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
“No one’s in here now,” she says. “Come on. Are you sure you heard voices?”
I give her a look that tells her I did, in fact, hear voices, and not the kind in my head.
“Okay, okay,” she says. “He wanted to keep you safe, and I know he’ll be back here soon.” She glances at a clock on the wall. “Your sister arrived this morning. Have you seen her yet?”
My heart squeezes. “No.”
Cosette looks at me with concern. “I don’t know why you’re here,” she says softly. “I don’t know what’s going on at all, but I know Nicolette’s supposed to be traveling now. I just saw her by the dance floor.” Her brow knits. “Are you safe?”
A lump rises in my throat. “That depends,” I answer. “Is being with Thayer safe?”
Her eyes soften as she reaches for my hands to give me a little squeeze. “There’s no safer place to be.” My heart turns. “Listen, I have to go,” she whispers. “I was supposed to be somewhere five minutes ago. But I know we have a haircut to take care of, so I’ll see you soon.”
She leaves after giving me another hand squeeze.
I want to see my sister.
I want to take what may be my only chance to see this place.
Thayer said he’d punish me, and not only do I not care anymore, I want to see what that looks like. Curiosity floods me at the thought of what he’ll do if I disobey him and hell, I reason, he put me in this room that wasn’t safe at all.
I look around the meditation room. Cosette said it was a public room, which I’m guessing means I should be able to access other rooms from here.
I’ll move quickly and won’t talk to anyone. I want to see my sister.
I open the door and look quickly down the hallway. I hear voices and see shadows of people in the distance, but no one is nearby.
The dance floor. Nicolette’s by the dance floor, Cosette said. Thayer and Fabien were going there as well.
I walk as if I belong here, as if I know where I’m going and why. My heart beats with excitement as I start to take in more details.
This place looks amazing.
There’s a room lined with mirrors, a workout area that leads to an enormous hot tub and steam room. As I walk past the spa-like accommodations, I see more and more, curiosity propelling me forward until I’ve nearly forgotten I came to find Nicolette.
“Savannah.”
My heart leaps at the sound of my name. Thayer and Fabien stand nearby, both of them glaring at me. Thayer reaches for me. “Is there a reason why you’re not where you should be?”
I swallow. “Several.”
He takes me by the arm. My pulse spikes at the look on his face, and I know then that I’ve crossed a line.
“I told you not to test me,” he warns.
Fabien purses his lips. “You could put her in my custody.”
I blink. Uh, excuse me? What the hell does that mean? Being in Fabien’s custody would be punitive, like I’m a child in need of protection.
“I don’t need to be in anyone’s custody.” Ugh, the nerve!
He looks from me to Thayer. “I know how Thayer will keep you in line, and if your sister—”
“I’m an adult,” I say through gritted teeth, suddenly angry that I’ve been tossed around like a stuffed doll and treated like I don’t have the wherewithal to know what’s good for me. “Thayer is doing a fine job of handling me, and what my sister thinks doesn’t matter.”
Fabien flinches as Nicolette’s voice comes from behind me. “Savannah?”
I turn to face her. A few seconds ago, I didn’t want anything to do with her. Now, my stomach clenches at the sight of her.
“Hey,” I whisper.
“What are you doing here?” she says, looking around the room as if people with ski masks and guns are going to come and get me any minute.
I swallow. “I was looking for you.”
She crosses the room to me in two steps and gathers me in a quick embrace. “Are you okay?”
My throat tightens and my eyes blur.
“Yeah,” I whisper. “I’m fine. I’m okay. He said I was safe here.”
“You are,” she whispers back. “But there’s been a security breach and we need to make sure no one finds out you’re here. Has anyone seen you?”
I nod. “Cosette.”
“Okay, go with Thayer now. Please, Savannah. Fabien and I will be leaving soon because we don’t want anyone to suspect anything’s amiss, and Fabien wants to investigate what happened to you. I know Thayer will keep you safe.”
We pull away and she gives Thayer a piercing look. “Won’t you, Thayer?”
“Of course I will,” he snaps. “But she’ll obey the fucking rules of the club, Nicolette.”
Nicolette looks from me to Thayer. “She will.”
“Hello,” I say. “I’m right here.”