Page 75 of The Lair

“Never got around to buying anything for this room,” he explains, but there’s a weird edge to his voice that tells me there’s something else to it.

Even though I’m curious, I don’t pry. Everyone is allowed to have their own secrets—I would know.

“So… this is your place.” I steal a look at the dogs running outside through the window. When I turn to Travis, his eyes are already on me. “It’s beautiful.”

I cross my arms, glancing away from the first man I’ve ever felt completely safe around.

Would it really be so bad to say yes? I’d have my own bedroom and bathroom, and I’d sleep soundly every night knowing Travis is just down the hall and two massive dogs protect the property at all times. There’s no way anyone would even darethink of breaking into his place.

Maybe hiding out in the lair with the big bear is exactly what this scared rabbit needs.

“What do you say?” Travis stands tall and imposing. My eyes land on the green beads around his wrist. “Do you want to move in with me?”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Age 18

“Areyou one thousand percent sure about this, Allie?”

Under normal circumstances, Jada’s frown would’ve made me rethink the whole ordeal, but not when it came to this.

“I’ve never been more sure about anything.”

It was a quiet summer night on Jada and Paul’s front porch, just a couple months after my eighteenth birthday. We were sitting in their rocking chairs, a small table between us. She’d madepollo guisadofor dinner, then surprised me with my favorite salted caramel ice cream. My parents thought I was at a friend’s house, and life was good for the first time in too long.

“Changing your name is a big decision,” she insisted. “I will support you if this is what you want, but please think carefully.”

“I have, Jada. For three years.” In my sitting position, I drew my legs against my chest. “I want to do it. I want a new life away from my family and everything they did to me.”

Reaching over the small table separating us, she grabbed my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I understand, Allie. I really do. You deserve a good life more than anyone else I know.”

I shifted my gaze to the fairy lights on the porch, willing myself to keep the tears bottled up.

Grateful didn’t begin to cover how I’d always felt about having Jada in my life. Her support, her guidance, and her love were the only reasons I managed to push through.

She had been the only adult to go out of their way toreallycheck on me after Claudia. She hadn’t agreed with my family forcing me to be in videos and pictures and knew how much it hurt me socially at school. After my kidnapping, she promised me she’d always be there for me even when she wasn’t my teacher anymore—a promise she’d kept.

Jada and her husband were the only adults I trusted and felt safe with. Their spare bedroom had become my safe haven when I couldn’t stand being at home. I spent most days there now that I was over eighteen and my parents didn’t have so much control over me.

Which was why it hurt to say my next words.

“I also want to move away,” I said quietly. “From California. Go somewhere far. I can’t stand living here any longer. Not after…you know.”

She gave me a sad but understanding smile. “Of course. You go on and explore the world in freedom. You’ll always have a home here if you change your mind.”

I nodded, my throat closing with emotion. “Thank you.”

“Do you know where you want to go?” she asked. “My sister has a pretty big property in Dallas. I could ask her if she has a spare room for you. That way, you’ll have your freedom, but also the safety of knowing somebody in a new city.”

“I’d love that. I was thinking of leaving in a few months. Maybe next year. I want to plan things very carefully.”

“Whenever you’re ready, honey.”

Night crickets and the wind chime on her porch were the only sounds for a while. I was deep in thought, feeling more confident with every passing second that changing my name and leaving California was the right choice, when Jada spoke again.

“You know,” she started, “I have a feeling you’ll come back.”

That made me frown. “To LA?” She hummed, and I snorted. “No way.”

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