Page 85 of Pretty Monsters

"If they tracked everyone down, which they would if no one knew where I lived, then they probably realized Jess was missing. From there it would be easy to figure out where they might likely find her. Has she ever been here before?" he asks, flipping through something on his phone.

"No, why?" Ford asks.

Lucien turns his phone around and shows Jess's social media. It's filled with pictures of her friends, and some of the photos have the apartment building in the background.

"Well, it looks like we're staying here or going back to the cabin," Ford says.

Shane shrugs. "Jess has never been to the cabin, but it wouldn't be hard to track it down to us. It's still in my grandfather's name."

"There's a room next to the shooting range where we can lock her up. I'll have to make some changes to the knob so that she can't get out from the inside. Right now it's an unfinished bathroom, but it'll serve its purpose to detox Jess and keep her from leaving," Ford says. He goes into his office and comes back with a large toolbox.

"Everyone should get some rest. I'll take the first watch. Someone else can watch the other side of the building," Lucien orders, taking charge.

"I'll do it," Shane volunteers. "I'm going to finish putting in the alarm system I'm nearly done with. It'll help us know if someone tries to break in."

"A simple alarm system won't be good enough," Lucien warns.

Shane casts him a glare that says,I'm not an idiot."This building is meant to hide battered women from their abusers. A simple alarm was never in the plan."

* * *

Fear has taken root,and I can't seem to shake it. The only thought in my head is,they found me.My body is exhausted, but my brain is running at warp speed. I know if I'm caught my fate will be worse than death. Sin said I'd pray for it if I fell into the hands of the man my father expects me to marry, and I don't doubt it for a second.

Somehow I always knew my father had a plan for me. I never believed my nannies when they told me he sent me to boarding school to protect me. On some level I knew that my being sent to exclusively all girls' schools was to preserve my value to him. And the only thing he seemed to think was worth something was my virginity.

I did a good job playing the naive little girl, and it worked to disarm many of the people put in charge to look after me. Being locked away for safekeeping didn’t mean I was kept safe. I learned quickly to look out for myself, because I didn’t have anyone else. Over the years I heard bits and pieces about who my father was, and speculation on what they thought he'd do with me when I graduated.

I bided my time, trained with any instructor willing to teach me self-defense. Even still, I was over my head. I'd like to say I had a plan the night I heard I was to be married to a stranger, but without Sin and Lucien I doubt I would have survived.

In that regard, I can understand Sin's need for control. Having never had it myself, I desperately craved it. Choosing to submit to him may seem like an odd way to exercise power over my own life, but the fact it was my choice gave me strength.

I know I can stop anything from happening between us. If I say no, he will honor my word. Our arrangement is nothing like the control my father wants to exercise. My opinion and wishes won't matter. I'm a tool to him and nothing more. Sin looks at me like I'm everything, and that alone makes me feel powerful.

Moving to the stairs, I can feel Sin before I hear his steps. He moves quietly, and my body shudders in anticipation. His hand grips the back of my neck, and I can feel the heat from his body as he presses close to me.

"Your mind is racing princess," he whispers, his hot breath flicking against the side of my neck.

"Shut it off for me," I beg.

"Don't worry, you don't need to think about anything for the rest of the night, except for doing as you're told."

A shiver courses down my spine. He told me this is what he needs, and I believe him. The tension radiating off of him needs an outlet, but I didn't tell him how much I need his strength.

Even when he's rough, which I imagine he will be, I feel safe. The thoughts plaguing my mind shut off under his touch, and I feel more alive than I've ever felt before.

I take a second when we make it upstairs to regard the progress they made earlier in the day. Where it was open and barely framed the first time I saw it, there's now a wall of doors leading to small dorm style rooms. The bathroom has privacy. It still needs to be painted, and there's a considerable amount of drywall dust to be cleaned up, but it's the privacy I crave.

He leads me to a room near the back wall and opens the door. Inside there's a full sized bed, a small dresser, and a mirror that is conveniently located near the bed. Our bags are on the floor near the dresser, but they're still packed.

The bare cement floor has been covered with a plush area rug. It's as homey as possible considering it was nothing but posts and blank space only this morning.

"I'm on the edge, princess, so if you have changed your mind, better tell me now."

"What will happen if I have?" I haven't, but I want to hear what he's willing to do.

"I'll leave you alone."

"If we do this, will you stay?" This is what I'm really worried about. When he said he needs control I’m not afraid he'll be rough, I hope he will be, but I don't want to be treated like a toy. If he leaves afterwards to maintain emotional distance, I won't be able to be with him.

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