Page 33 of Unhinged

“It was weird.” I slump down on the hay in the corner. “I don’t know how to explain it.” When I glance up, Luna looks at me with a concerned expression.

“Are you okay?”

I nod. “Yeah, it’s just that Taren is so confusing.”

She raises a brow. “Taren? You’re on first-name terms with our kidnapper?”

Heat flows through my veins as I’m on more than first-name terms with him. Memories of how he made me beg yesterday in the hotel room flood my mind.

“Yeah, well... it’s a long story.” I avoid her gaze. “But he’s not actually the guy holding us captive. It’s his boss.”

I’ve never felt more confused. I should hate Taren because he works for the woman who dragged us into this hell, but something tells me there’s so much more to his story. His touch is electrifying, his kisses addictive, and the way he looks at me, it’s like I’m the only person who exists in the world.

“Well, I think we have time to kill. Spill,” Luna says.

I told Taren I’d keep our plan secret. My friends can’t know he’s trying to break us out of here because he’s obsessed with me. I don’t know how I’d explain that to them anyway.

Hey, guys. Our kidnapper wants to fuck me, so he’s going to get us out, and I want to fuck him too…

I sense that wouldn’t go down so well. It’s crazy, but it’s true. I’ve never had a connection like I have with Taren with anyone before.

“Is that Alice?” Blake’s voice comes from the crack in the wall, giving me more time to develop a story.

“Yes, she’s back,” Luna says.

I walk toward the crack. “I’m okay.”

Blake breathes a long sigh of relief. “Thank God for that.”

“We thought the worst for a moment there,” Kali says, her voice a little hoarse as she appears at the gaping crack between the two cells.

“Don’t worry. I’m fine.”

“What happened?” Blake asks.

“It was weird, if I’m honest.” I sigh. “That guy, Taren, took me to Mexico City.”

“What the hell for?” Luna asks.

“I had to pose as his date at an event he was undercover at.” I shrug.

“He didn’t, you know…” Kali trails off.

I feel more heat flooding through my veins. “No.”

But I wanted him to. It’s fucked up, but it’s the truth. I wanted Taren more than I’ve ever wanted a man. And certainly more than I’ve wanted a man in the last two years.

“Why are you blushing?” Blake asks, eyes narrowing.

I shrug. “I may have had to kiss him a few times, posing as his girlfriend. And he’s not exactly bad looking, is all.”

“Oh my God!” Luna exclaims, shaking her head. “You’ve got a serious case of Stockholm syndrome.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic. I don’t have Stockholm syndrome.”

Blake clears her throat. “Not going to lie, Al, but you sound like you do.”

I grind my teeth. Maybe I do have Stockholm Syndrome. But I doubt it. Stockholm Syndrome normally takes time to develop. The moment I locked eyes with Taren, I felt something deep. A shift I can’t explain. “Whatever. The point is we’re in for a shitty fucking experience.”

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