Page 150 of Consume Me

He takes a step toward me but seems to reconsider and halts, saying to the guard, “Nothing to eat for our insolent guest.”

Guest. I bite a huff at his audacity. I am a freaking prisoner, but whatever.

“Where is your best friend?” I ask.

“We had to split up. Like I said, you won’t win this time.”

The door closes behind him, and I pace around.Focus, damn it.I rush toward the door, but it’s sealed shut. And I haven’t seen a way out. There is not a single window, and the walls are so thick that no sound could penetrate them. It must be underground.

I don’t know how many hours pass, but with every second ticking by, the more trapped I feel, losing any sense of time. Claustrophobia stretches its web, waiting for me to fall into its mesh, but I can’t afford that.

Instead, I focus on my breathing to remain calm enough to concoct a plan. Desperation pushes you to make stupid and rash decisions. I have one chance to do this right.

Felix is not even here, but that’s a problem for another time.

I will study the guard’s moves and try to get as much information as I can before I give my escape plan a chance. I remember what my father always told me in case something goes wrong. “Stay calm. Don’t let circumstances define your course of action, but remember the end goal.”

Breathing in and out in a soothing rhythm, I sink onto the edge of the mattress.

I am not some damsel in distress. I might not be the fighter Hunter and Celine are, but I am not someone who you can easily mess with. I just can’t draw attention to myself. I’ll play sweet, coy, and vulnerable. Once the guard begins to slack, I will have a better chance of stealing whatever I need from him to get out, find out where I am, and then make my getaway.

With my plan in motion, I calm down. “I am okay, Blake,” I whisper into the air, hoping my message will be carried to him.

I don’t want him to do something stupid, but knowing him, he will to save me. So I have to act fast. And staying strong is imperative. Whatever comes won’t break me.

After two hours, I stare at the names of three girls. One of them has to lead me to the final piece of information I need.

It has been a damn challenge trying to stay calm as I conducted the so-called interviews. Most came in for the appeal of quick money. Even if most of the students are trust fund kids, getting one million for babbling a bit is something no one can say no to.

“It puts a huge hole in your account,” Tyson says.

I don’t even care about the money. I am functioning on the resolve to get her back and desire to kill my father for daring to take her from me.

“How are you?” Celine asks in a gentle voice, placing a hand on my arm.

I groan a noncommittal response. After talking for so long, I am ready for action.

As Celine and I walk to the club exit, Tyson says, “Good luck. I hope you find her.”

“I will.” Whatever it costs. There’s no hoping. I simply have to.

But I also have to be smart and not let dejection make me lose sight of what’s important. Every hour counts, and our small gathering must surely have caught attention.

The moment we’re at the house, the group sits in the living room with their laptops open.

“Did you find something?”

“It will take me a while, but I think I know how they did it,” Bailey says.

“And you?” Hunter asks.

“We have three names,” I say.

“Let me check those,” Bailey says, and I tell her the girls’ names.

Bailey puts files together on each of the girls; they contain everything, from financial information to favorite foods. After she gives me their addresses, Kaden says, “I’ll come with you.”

We take my car, and I drive to the first location.

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