KEIRA
Ipress my back against the door after Phoenix locks me in, sliding down until I hit the floor. My skin still burns where he touched me, his accusations cutting deeper than any knife could. The way he'd grabbed me, spoken to me… treating me like some common whore sneaking off to meet a lover.
My tank top has twisted around my torso, and I yank it straight with indignation. "Damn you, Phoenix." I wrap my arms around my knees, fighting back tears. I refuse to let him break me.
If he only knew the truth, but how can I possibly tell him now? The hatred in his eyes tells me that there’s nothing I can say or do to change things. Even if I wanted to explain everything, he'd never believe me. Not after what my family did. Not after he's convinced himself I betrayed him too. Hypocrite.
I can’t stay here on the floor and wallow. There is someone relying on me. Someone I have to protect. I only hope that I can.
I force myself to stand. I need to be stronger than this. Smarter. Phoenix is in charge, and I imagine he’ll continue to be. I can’t hope my father’s men will rescue him, and even if they did, my situation wouldn’t be much improved. My only recoursenow is to bide my time and play my cards right. Even if it means letting Phoenix think I'm exactly what he believes me to be.
I climb into bed frustrated and worried about Brigit. I can only believe that if they’d found her, Phoenix would be demanding to know more about her. I shudder to think about it.
If I'd been stronger back then, fought harder against my parents, maybe things would be different now. But I let them lock me away, cut off all contact. I believed their lies about his family’s deaths.
Worse, I let them use my mistakes as justification for murder. "We did this because you want to keep your little secret," they'd said. The words still echo in my head, a constant reminder of my role in destroying the man I loved.
I retrieve my secret phone from where I'd hidden it beneath the mattress before Phoenix's men stormed the house. I’d learned long ago how not having a phone made me vulnerable and powerless.
My fingers hover over the keypad as I craft a message to Nanny Fiona.
Are you both safe?
I delete it immediately. Too obvious.
Everything okay with the renovations?
I type instead, hoping Fiona realizes what I’m trying to find out. Phoenix's men could be monitoring my phone. They could trace the message. I need to make it as benign as possible.
I pressSendbefore fear paralyzes me completely.
The message shows as delivered, but no reply comes. It is the middle of the night. Minutes stretch into eternity as I stare at the screen, willing those three dots to appear.
Nothing.
God, what if they found them? What if Phoenix already knows? What if?—
The guard's boots scrape outside my door, and I nearly drop the phone. I shove it under my pillow, patting it down. When it’s quiet again, I pull it out.
Five more minutes pass.
Surely, Phoenix would have said something if he found them. My stomach twists into knots. I remind myself that Fiona knows what to do. She won't fail now.
My phone buzzes, and relief surges through me.
Project looking lovely. No concerns about the new paint job.
Brigit is safe and well. I delete both messages immediately, tucking the phone away. I settle into bed to sleep. I have a fitful night, but at least Phoenix doesn’t show up in my dreams again.
The next morning,I rise, shower, and dress like my life is normal. When I finish pulling my hair back, my door opens and one of our servants brings in a tray of food, setting it on a small table near my window.
Knowing Brigit and Nanny Fiona will be hungry, I make egg sandwiches from the toast and wrap it in my napkin. I’ll figure out how to get it to them later. I eat the fruit parfait and drink the coffee.
I hide the food when the servant returns to pick up the tray. When she leaves, the guard locks my door and I’m stuck wondering how I’m going to get food up to the attic. I hear talking and go to the door to listen. I’m in luck. The guards are being called downstairs. When I’m sure no one is in the hall, I get the food, pick the lock, and hurry down the hall, up the stairs, and toward the door up to the attic.
I feel like at any moment Phoenix is going to appear, but he doesn’t. I enter the attic, open the door to the secret room, and step in.
"Oh, thank God." Nanny Fiona stands with Brigit behind her. "We've been so worried."
