Page 75 of Filthy Savage

There’s no other choice but to run. From how vicious Fionn sounded, he won’t care that it’s me. He’d kill me to protect himself. I know that. Whoever he once was is gone, and in his place is a monster.

And that monster wants me dead.

I’ll do everything to stop him. Because I have something to live for now.

As soon as I’m on the first level, I scan my card and sneak into a tiny, dark cleaning closet, my heart beating so fast, I grow lightheaded.

The men pass me. I can hear them right outside the door, wondering where I am.

“Find her!” Fionn snaps, and my chin trembles.

Don’t hurt me.

“Get the damn security tapes and find out who she is.” Icy fury laces through his words, making my tears fall even faster.

Because I still miss the man I remember.

Swiping away at the moisture, I gather some semblance of control. The only thing that matters is getting home to Fia and taking her somewhere safe. If he finds me on the cameras, he’ll know who I am and he’ll kill me.

Would he kill Fia too?

I choke on a cry, forcing myself to come up with a plan. If I can just get out of the closet and change into my regular clothes, and then get home, maybe I can beat them before they come to the house.

Waiting at least five minutes, I start to open the door, and don’t see any of the men. They don’t know what I look like. Not until they view the security video.

The hustle and bustle of people checking in makes it easier to split toward the locker room.

“Hey, Amara!” one of the other housekeepers calls from behind me, and my heart stills in my rib cage.

Pivoting, I force a smile. “Hey, Kathy. What’s up?”

She turns her gaze into slits. “Oh, nothing. I just saw you coming out of the closet and wondered why.”

Her mouth curls. She’s never liked me, especially after she found out I get paid more than her. She knows I’d have no good reason to be in there. That’s for the janitors.

Think!

“Um, I was looking for some Lysol. Ran out.”

“Oh…” Her face twists like I’m an idiot. “But you know we have some here, right?”

A nervous laugh bubbles out of me. “I swear, I can’t keep track of where everything is.”

“Mm-hmm.” She scoffs a laugh. “So, are you on a break?”

Oh God, shut up already.

I swear she keeps tabs on my schedule.

“Yeah, just going to grab some food from my lunch box. I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Yeah, sure, no problem.”

Waving goodbye, I strut past her toward the door leading to the lockers, my entire body trembling with the need to get the hell out of here.

When I’m inside, I keep eyes on her through the crack of the door, watching her walk away. Rushing toward my locker, I grab my clothes and start changing into them, checking my cell for any alarming texts from Lilith.

If I tell her that I’m coming home, she could call her dad. I can’t risk it. I don’t want anyone to know anything yet. Once I get home, I can tell her I felt ill or something. Doesn’t matter. All that matters is getting home.

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