Page 69 of Cedarwood Cabin

Biting my bottom lip, I try to hide the smile. “I’d really love that,” I whisper.

Dax leans down to me and plants a kiss on my cheek. “Great!” he exclaims, rubbing his hands together. “Lyka and I are just going to sort some bits out in the barn.”

“Okay,” I reply as I watch Lyka walk towards me. He leans down and his lips capture mine in a tender kiss.

“We’ll be back soon,” Lyka murmurs, caressing my cheek. They walk towards the door and leave.

I sit back on the couch, alone in the cabin. My mind races.

What am I doing? Am I in a relationship with two men? Brothers?

I get up and walk over to the window, watching Lyka and Dax head towards the barn.

I turn away from the window and glance over to the basement door. Lyka left it open. Curiosity gets the best of me as I walk over towards the door. I push the door and it creaks open as a cool breeze hits me.

I descend the steps. Pausing at the bottom of the stairs, my eyes widen as I see several cannabis plants bathed in artificial light.

I’ve never seen a cannabis plant before.

A faint light catches my attention and I head towards it.

As I enter the room, I see a computer sitting on a desk at the end of the room. Its screen is on, lighting up the room. I approach the computer and notice several folders on the desktop. One folder captures my attention—Fake Lockdown.

My heart feels like a beating drum as I click on the folder. Inside are multiple videos. Clicking on one, I start watching it—it’s an identical video to the news report I saw on TV.

It hits me in the gut—everything has been a lie. It was all fake.

Oh my fucking god.

Tears gloss over my eyes. I feel anger and betrayal hit me at once. I look around the room and notice my smashed phone on a table. I pick it up, feeling my hands shake, and it turns on without any problems. Tears fall down my cheek and my mind tries to understand it all.

Suddenly, strong arms wrap around me, pinning my arms to my sides. Panic immediately sets in as I scream out, “Get off me! Get off me!”

Lyka steps out from the dark and reveals himself, his face severe and stern. Before I can react, he snatches my phone from my hand and launches it at the wall.

Dax tightens his grip around my body as I try to kick myself free.

“YOU ASSHOLES! I trusted you! You faked a lockdown?” I wail as my voice breaks.

“Calm down…” Lyka commands.

“You’re only gonna hurt yourself. Calm the fuck down!” Dax instructs from behind.

I thrash my legs, desperate to escape, but Dax’s grip only gets tighter. My efforts to get out of his grip only make me weaker.

“Flora, listen…We did what we had to. You have to understand,” Lyka says.

“Understand?!” I choke out. “You fucking tricked me!”

“Seriously? You should be thanking us. We saved you,” Dax snaps, his soft, golden eyes now dark. I feel like I don’t even know him anymore. I can’t help but collapse into his arms.

Dax carries me up the stairs over his shoulder and Lyka follows behind. My body feels limp and lifeless. I struggle to come to terms with reality.

Dax sets me down when we reach the living room and I don’t hesitate—I make a break for the door.

“Stop her!” Lyka shouts.

I fling the door open and sprint outside. In haste, I trip on the steps and tumble forward, crashing into the gravel. Pain shoots through me, but I ignore it. I gotta get out of here. Before I can get to my feet, Dax pins me to the ground.

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