Soap runs down my body, and while I scrub my skin, I think about her, trapped in that room. I wonder what she’s doing. She must be asleep after all the energy she’s used up over the past two days—she’s so feisty. I should make sure the staff takes her some food, though. She’s no good to me if she starves.
After the shower, I am refreshed and less agitated. I hadn’t realized just how much she’d managed to get under my skin, to take up space in my thoughts. She was just meant to be a tool, and she became the entire focus.
But now I can get back to work.
I’ve got so much to do.
Standing in the middle of my room, I smile, staring out over Boston. It’s good to be back.
It’s good to be out of hiding.
And now it’s time to start some shit.
Chapter 6 - Tatiana
The lock clicks shut after the door closes, and I’m left standing alone in the bedroom, staring at the wooden door and wondering how the hell I got into this situation.
My body is sparking with desire and tension. Not something I expected to happen, but apparently, the moment he steps close to me, my logic falls flat on its face and my hormones take over.
I shake my head and close my eyes, pressing my fingers against them to try and massage away the frustration, and how freaking hot he is.
The image of him looking down at me is still fresh in my mind.Whatever.
He can be as hot as he likes; it isn’t going to change the fact that I’m about to make his life a living hell in every single way I can.
First things first, I desperately need a shower and some fresh clothes. All the running and fighting and kicking and screaming—it turns out it’s quite a workout. That, and sleeping on the musty mattress on the floor last night. I just feel icky.
I walk straight to the bathroom and strip my clothes off, tossing them onto the floor, not in a neat pile, but spread out all over the place. I’m being petty, and I don’t care. The more annoyance I can create, the happier I will be.
The shower runs hot almost as soon as I turn it on, and steam quickly fogs the glass doors.
I step inside, and the warmth against my skin and my muscles disarms me.
For a second, standing underneath it, I fight tears and a flood of emotions.
I’m scared, even though I don’t want to admit it, even to myself.
I’m worried about what he has planned for me.
But on the other hand, why would he put me in such a nice room—and why would hemarryme—if he was going to hurt me?
The bottom line is that I have no idea what he’s capable of, and I need to get out of this place as soon as I can.
The shampoo pours in a thick pink stream into my hand, and I lather it over my hair. It smells of strawberries and roses.
The conditioner is luxurious and creamy, and I let the scents wash over me like a soothing blanket. The calmer I am, the more focused I will be.
This guy has no idea the type of life I have lived with my brother; he doesn’t know how resilient I am to his bullshit and threats.
Icanand Iwillget through this.
I’ll wait until tonight, after everyone has gone to sleep. I’ve snuck out of my brother’s estate so many times; those guards never caught me—I imagine these guards are going to be just as easy to get past.
After scrubbing myself from top to toe, I can think more clearly. When I wipe the mist off the mirror in the bathroom, the girl in the reflection is no longer some dirty kidnapping victim—I’m me again, and I’m ready to get the hell out of this place. Back in the room with a big white towel wrapped around my hair and another wrapped around my body, I take a good look around.
Right—let’s see what we’re working with.
The room looks like a normal bedroom. It could be my room, any girl’s room. It’s comfortable and simple and neat, and dare I say—cozy.
