Page 86 of The House Guest

‘Eventually, you’ll learn to like it. And if you don’t ...’ He shrugged.

His hands moved to his belt buckle.

‘No. Please. You can’t—’

There was a knock at the bedroom door. Irritation flashed in Gabriel’s eyes. ‘Who is it?’

Eden came into the bedroom. She didn’t even look at Ruth.

‘Emilio’s back.’

‘Are they both with him?’

Eden nodded.

‘Good.’ He rubbed his hands together, then grinned at Ruth. ‘I guess this can wait till later. Till after.’

‘I’ll stay here and watch her,’ Eden said, finally glancing down at Ruth.

‘Are you sure you don’t want to come with me? To see your father? After all the things he did to you, I thought you’d want to be there.’

‘I do. I just ... ’ Eden said. ‘It’s a big thing. I need to psych myself up for it. You talk to him first, and I’ll keep an eye on Ruth.’

Gabriel nodded and left the room, leaving the two women alone. Eden sat down on the bed.

‘Oh, Ruth,’ she said.

Chapter 38

The van doors opened and Emilio instructed us to get out. The driver stood beside the vehicle along with another man and a woman. I had to shuffle out in an undignified way, until Emilio grabbed me and pulled me forward. Callum followed and I looked around. We were in an underground car park. Emilio and the others marched us over to a lift. The door pinged open, and Emilio and the man and woman I’d never seen before pushed us inside.

I didn’t see anyone press a button, but in the next moment we were gliding skywards.

At least it wasn’t the woods.

I glanced at Callum. It was obvious he was trying not to seem nervous.

‘Finally going to meet your man Gabriel, are we?’ he asked.

‘You’re Eden’s father,’ said the woman. She was six foot and built like a nightclub bouncer. I’d heard the other man call her Brittany as we’d got into the lift.

‘I am indeed,’ said Callum.

Brittany spat in his face.

‘Seems you’re not very popular around here,’ I said.

Brittany turned to me. The lift was taking a long time to get to the top. ‘You’re the actress’s boyfriend. Eden should have poisoned you the night she left that house.’

‘I guess she was afraid the real cops would get involved,’ I said.

Brittany snorted and addressed Emilio. ‘Since when are we afraid of the police?’

But I knew their fear of a proper criminal investigation must have been what prevented Eden from killing me that night. And maybe they thought Ruth would be harder to convert if I was dead.

The lift stopped moving and the doors opened.

We were led out into a corridor where there were more people, all young and good-looking, and they took us into an apartment and patted us down. The blinds were drawn and the room was dim, with just a sofa, a table with two chairs, and a pair of doors that led, I assumed, to a bedroom and a bathroom. There was a little kitchen to the side. Then they all vanished except Emilio and Brittany, plus someone I took to be a security guy. He was holding a gun.

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