Page 6 of Mind Maze

Because of me.

Shame and guilt have me tearing my gaze from Theo, instead fixating on Kaitlyn. She stares at me, scowling. Apprehension shines in her gaze. I make her nervous. Understandably so.

“I’m Romy,” I say to her, offering my hand. “You must be Kaitlyn. So nice to meet you.”

Kaitlyn inspects my hand, studying my fingernails intently. I grimace, knowing exactly how she feels. Once she realizes I have short, unpainted nails, she gingerly takes my hand to shake it. I quickly let her go, not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable.

“Is Uncle Caius here?” she asks, casting her gaze past me.

“No, he’s, uh, working,” I say, though I’m not sure if he is or not.

“He’ll be back later,” Theo assures her, ruffling her blond hair. “You can play dominoes with him then.”

This answer satisfies her and she relaxes, though she still keeps me within view.

“I’m going to head back to the lodge,” Theo tells me. “If you get tired of babysitting, let me know and I’ll send the nanny over.”

“No,” me and Kaitlyn both say at once.

Theo frowns but nods. “Okay. See you soon, babe.”

He leans in and kisses my cheek near my mouth. Another wave of guilt washes over me. This time, I feel as though I’ve just cheated on Caius, which is ridiculous because we’re not really a couple.

But he saved you…

Theo leaves without another word and I’m alone with the young girl. We stare at each other in silence.

I have questions screaming at me, all of which I want answers to, but I ignore them all.

“You have dolls?” I ask, pointing at her bag. “Can I see them?”

Kaitlyn’s face brightens at the mention of her dolls. She nods, a smile tugging at her lips. “Can we play in the game room?”

My chest warms that she’s familiar with Caius’s home and knows it well enough to have a favorite spot to play. After she pulls off her outerwear and kicks off her snowy boots, I let her lead the way up the stairs. Once we’re settled on the floor, each of us on either side of the coffee table, inspecting her dolls, I ask a question that’s driving me crazy.

“Do you like your nanny?”

Her full-bodied shudder is the only answer I need.

Caius

Theo is visibly shaken by Gareth’s death. I wish he’d learn to button up his emotions better. They’re ripe for exploitation.

In this family, theywillbe exploited if available.

His are practically presented on a silver platter.

Dark shadows ring his eyes and his lips remain tugged into a perpetual frown. If I know Theo, he’s taking this the hardest. Dad adopted him ten years ago. I was seventeen and Gareth was fifteen. At age ten, he desperately craved love, and Dad doled it out generously. Losing a brother he adored must be heartbreaking for Theo.

Even knowing Gareth’s dark, twisted tendencies, Theo always gave him the benefit of the doubt. He’s loyal like that.

As for me, though?

Me and Gareth never saw eye to eye. He did things that made me blind with rage. I never acted upon that rage…until I finally did.

I lock up that night tightly in my mind. Sitting in front of Dad and Theo while reminiscing on how I lost my shit, subsequently murdering my brother, will only make my guilt obvious.

This is the ultimate psyop.

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