Page 47 of Brutal Prince

Me: Yes (: Are u up 4 it?

Gretta: Yes.

Me: Willing to de-mask the watcher?

Gretta: Worth a try but only if we can make it look like an accident.

Me: Ok. We’ll see how it goes. We’ll pick you up later.

Gretta: We?

Me: Darryn’s coming as bodyguard.

Gretta. OK. Good.

TWENTY THREE

Gretta

“Are you an only child?” he asked, running circles around me on his bike.

“Yes,” I answered, going dizzy watching him.

“I have two brothers,” he informed me. “I’m in the middle. That’s my little brother Shitpan,” pointing to the boy in his own little world making leaps over small rises on his bike. “That’s his real name, you know. He usually lives with my aunt, but is here for the holidays.”

“You’re lying.”

His laughter was sharp and chilling. The beautiful boy frightened and intrigued me all at once and I didn’t like being alone with him.

“Shits his pants all the time,” he told me, turning to the boy and calling out, “Don’t ya, Shitpan.” The boy glanced up and a flash of fear crossed his features and I knew he was just as wary as I. “I have to babysit him when my parents are at work.”

Shitpan was heavier set with a big head, like he was going to grow up big whereas the beautiful boy had finer features, streamline and high cheek bones and a longish chin. At the ripe age of fourteen, he was already handsome in an eye-catching way. And he knew it.

His eyes were the only feature that I’d deem ugly, just because they had habit of following me everywhere. Even in my nightmares. They were a murky green brown, more green than brown on bright sunny days, with a black blotch on the left iris. They were the gateway into a dark void where a soul should exist. He was no monster, because even monsters cannot survive without basic needs.

Curiosity was my biggest downfall and I couldn’t help but go along for the ride, just because I found it hard saying no.

I got the distinct impression that no one said ‘no’ to my nightmare.

Once you go in you never find your way back out.

I found myself again in room 23, this time with Ollie by my side and Darryn sitting on the floor outside. I’m not happy to be here, but one must keep up the pretense. I told Mom the truth this time that I was with Ollie and she beamed from ear to ear.

The room was empty and I’m fully aware that there must be an alternate entry, possibly through the bathroom. The last time I was here with Ollie the masked man simply appeared out of nowhere. Which meant the hotel did this deliberately.

“Do you think this place is a voyeurism hotel?” I had heard these places existed, I but I imagined boudoir décor, not plain rooms without an ounce of personality.

He sat down next to me on the edge of the bed, placing his hand on my thigh. “Maybe.”

“Is Darryn alright?” I asked him, noticing how quiet and distant he was on the ride over.

“He’s got family issues,’ he answered, moving his hand closer to my core. “Do you wanna start?”

Obviously, he had no interest in talking about Darryn. All Ollie wanted was to get down to business. “You think they’re already watching us?”

He leaned in and started nibbling my neck, “Ah huh,” running his hand up my blouse to tweak my nipple. “Take your top off and lie back on the bed,” he whispered.

I did as he asked, kind of liking the fact we were being watched by some stranger. At least this time I was aware of it, although I struggled to fully relax.

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