Page 70 of Deadly Rival

His fists clench, and he strides into his bedroom. I stare at the open door. It was never me. I should feel relieved, but all I can manage is nausea. I can imagine Harrison’s reaction when Maggie told him. Threats and fury. And while she was dealing with that, I made it worse with my stupid teenage jealousy.

Harrison, though. The bastard. He saw what I went through after Maggie’s death, the guilt that almost broke me, and let me carry it all. Probably too scared of what our dad would do to him if he found out. I’ve known for a long time that my brother is a piece of shit, but each time I think he can’t get any worse, he does.

Sebastian exits the bedroom with something clutched under his suit jacket, and it doesn’t take a genius to know what it is. He strides toward the front door, face set. I rush forward and put myself in his way. “Don’t. If you go after Harrison, he’ll kill you. He doesn’t play fair. He’ll have people waiting.”

For a single instant, his face shifts. He looks at me, eyes wide. “And why would you care?”

I open my mouth, but the words stick. I can’t answer that. I really can’t, because I don’t know. After all he’s done to me, I should be glad to see him dead. Shouldn’t I? Surely if he dies, I’ll be released. But the thought of my brother blowing a hole in Sebastian’s head has me planting my feet.

“Don’t let him win. If he’s told you this, it’s to goad you. He wants you to go rushing in. Don’t be stupid.”

A shadow of a smile flickers over his lips. “I’m happy you care so much about my welfare. The door will unlock in four hours if I’m not back. Jacob and Quinn are one floor up. Number 14.”

“Jacob. Isn’t he military? Take him with you, at least.”

“No. I’m not letting anyone else get hurt.”

He takes a step toward the door. I don’t move, and he sighs. “I can leave you chained up in time-locked cuffs if you prefer. It’ll be uncomfortable, though.”

And I’d have no chance to do anything to stop this madness. I step aside. He pauses at the door, lips parted as he studies me. “I’m sorry.”

Before I can ask what for, he’s gone.

The door clicks shut. I wait long enough for him to make it into the elevator before tugging on the handle. Locked. That was too good to be true anyway.

Panic scrabbles at the inside of my chest as I stare at the locked door. I imagine Sebastian exiting the building and finding his car, wherever it is. I don’t have long. I don’t even know where he’s going. Stupid. Why didn’t I ask? Not that he would have told me.

Think.

There’s no point screaming. Even if someone heard me, I’m sure no one would care. Women must scream all the time here. I shudder at the thought. Why am I so intent on saving Sebastian again? Is it guilt for Maggie? Angerat my brother?

Or is it just because he’s the only person who has really listened to me in a long time?

The thought comes out of nowhere, and I try to squash it, but it grows like a weed. I fell asleep happy last night, with his fingers clutched in my hand. I can’t bring myself to want him dead. Dad would be screaming at me if he could see me now, but I don’t care. I’m not like him.

Think. I can’t get out, but I don’t need to. All I need to do is send a message. But how? I stare at the door, and my vision wavers. I’m trapped. No phone. Nothing. How much time has passed now? Half an hour? If I know my brother, he’ll be somewhere close by. He wants Sebastian in a blind rage, not thinking.

Should I stick a note under the door and hope someone sees? It’s a start. I run into Sebastian’s office. His desk is a chaotic mass of knickknacks and paper surrounding a huge mouse pad with aStar Treklogo on it. Seeing the symbol, I can’t help but smile. Is cool, sophisticated Sebastian a secret Trekkie?

I yank open his desk drawer to hunt for a pen and find an iPad. I almost ignore it, but then a memory makes me snatch it up. Dinner last night, and Candice smiling from her screen. Is she locked to just that screen? No. While we were at dinner, she was monitoring something back at Hadrian’s office that called her away. She can probably be in ten places at once.

Could she access this screen?

I press the power button, but it’s out of battery. Of course it is. A quick hunt finds me a charger, and agonizing seconds pass as I wait for the iPad to come back to life. Maybe it’s broken? No. The low battery image appears, and then it turns on. No lock screen either. Maybe he doesn’t think he needs it here, or maybe he just hasn't gotten around to it.

Either way, I’m in. So what now?

The home screen is a jumble of apps. Streaming services, games. No email or banking apps. This must be a device he only uses for entertainment. I flick, desperate, until one catches my eye.

Room service.

Didn’t someone mention it at dinner last night? That we should have ordered the food for delivery? My heart races, skin growing clammy as I open the app. When the list of Compound restaurants pops up, I almost cry with relief. Someone will be looking at the orders. Someone will see.

I select Main Refectory, pick a random food item, then go to checkout. There’s a box for notes. Fingers fumbling, I type.

HELP. Sebastian in danger. Candice, or someone, please contact. I’m trapped in his room. Ophelia.

I hit send. Probably won’t—

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