Page 46 of Guarded from Corruption

The apartment that used to be my little haven feels empty and claustrophobic. With each passing hour, the walls seem to close in a little more. The small sounds—the ice maker, the ticking of the fancy clock my parents gave me for Christmas one year—feel ominous instead of the dull white noise they used to be.

I’m beyond jittery, and I’m fighting myself not to wear holes in the carpet from pacing. I don’t want to do anything to raise suspicion, and walking through my apartment for hours probably isn’t the best idea if I want things to appear normal.

So I’m reorganizing my bookshelves for the zillionth time. This time I’m arranging them according to color and size, which I actually hate, but I’ve never done it this way before, so it’s somewhat distracting.

Not distracting enough to keep me from jolting whenever I hear an unexpected sound. A car alarm a few buildings over. A door slamming in the parking lot. Footsteps moving down the building hallway.

Not coming for me; not this early, at least. If the team’s expectations are correct, the people after me will come well past midnight, when it’s quietest. When they have the least chance of anyone seeing them.

Assuming they come. It's not a certainty, just a prediction. It’s possible those awful people have moved on, and they don’t have any interest in me anymore.

I’m not sure if I’d be relieved or upset about that. On one hand, I’d be safe. But the other… those women will still be out there, waiting.

Just as I’m finishing the blue section—I have a lot of blue-covered books, I’ve discovered—my phone chimes with a message.

Although I want to lunge for it, I force myself to pick it up casually.

Act normal. Act normal.

But when I see Niall’s name, it’s an effort. A small, panicked part of me wants to tell him I’ve changed my mind. That I want him to go home with him.

It’s just a short message, but I almost burst into tears, anyway.

Hey hun. You’re doing great. I’m so proud of you. And you look beautiful today. I’m not sure if I told you.

Sniffing against the prickles in my nose, I tap out a quick reply.

Thanks. You did. But you can tell me again, I don’t mind. Are you guys okay out there?

Three dots appear for a second.

We’re fine. In the parking lot outside. We can see everything in your apartment, and the building. Nothing suspicious yet.

A pause, and then another message comes in.

Remember, everyone can see the surveillance. So…get changed in the bathroom. I don’t want my friends seeing you naked. And the first time I see you like that, it’s going to be in person.

I’m torn between being creeped out all over again by the camera in my bedroom and anticipating the first time I see Niall naked. Not just seeing all his muscles, but touching them. Discovering if he has any tattoos I don’t know about. Finding out if he’s as big as I think he is.

An ache builds in my core, a desperate need coiling and building.

I send a message back to Niall.

I can’t wait to see you naked. In person.

The incongruity of the situation almost makes me laugh. Waiting to be abducted, terrified, but still texting about getting naked with my boyfriend.

Although. It’s a better distraction than organizing books.

The three dots blink on and off a few times before I get his response.

You’re going to distract me. Now I’m thinking about you naked.

I actually smile at the phone.

Good.

He has a point, though. Maybe now isn’t the best time to talk about this. So I send another text.

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