Page 33 of Back In the Shadows

“Xavier, I’ll help you make a list.” Fiona reached in her handbag for a pen and paper.

“I’ll go. I’ll shop for my future bride. The produce has to be perfect like she is.”

Fiona’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? You rarely leave here.”

“But I do. Just to see the boss most of the time. I can still drive, though.”

My pulse fluttered. Was he leaving? Now that I knew where the door was, it was just a matter of figuring out how the hell to get out of this goddamn cage.

As if Xavier read my thoughts, he trained his attention on me. “Be a good girl, Ella. You don’t want to know what happens to people who don’t mind me.” He looked behind him at the kitchen table where his family stared at me with a faraway look on their expressions.

“I wouldn’t miss our date night for anything.” I beamed at him, wondering how the hell I’d become so efficient at lying. Nearly barking out a laugh, I reminded myself that I lied every day to hide my husband’s secret as well as the Horizon Society. I’d become a professional and hadn’t realized it until my life depended on that detail.

Xavier and Fiona turned their backs on me, leaving without a single glance in my direction. With a deep, shuddering breath, I tried to calm my racing heart and tense muscles. I knew the danger of being near him, always on edge for his next outburst that could result in my death. Every moment with him was a ticking time bomb.

I allowed my thoughts to drift to Sebastian and the kids, my chest squeezing so hard it was painful. In my mind, there was no other possibility than to live through this horrid nightmare. As I imagined Death showing up and carrying me out of this hellhole, I frantically ran my fingers along the cold glass walls, desperate for any sense of escape.

Even though I would be surprised if one were there, I was hoping to find a vulnerability. My pusle raced as I desperately searched for a way out. My thoughts turned to a conversation I had months ago with Cami and Ryan, where they mentioned using forensic experts to locate weak spots in materials. The memory came flooding back to me as I frantically chewed on my lip and stared at my wedding band and engagement ring. I wondered if I could use an everyday metal to break the thick glass near the lock and escape. The thought gave me a glimmer of hope amidst the panic and fear that consumed me. With newfound determination, I moved to the door and began to test my theory, hoping like hell it would work before it was too late.

I removed the platinum band and held my breath as I tapped the glass, then paused.

The light from the entryway spilled into the room, and I quickly placed my wedding ring on my finger again.

Footsteps traveled down the stairs and to my shock, Fiona emerged from the stairwell. She glanced over her shoulder as if she were making sure she wasn’t followed before she came over to the cage.

“I’m not here to let you go if that’s what you’re thinking.”

I sank my teeth into my lower lip in order to not scream at her. Since I wasn’t aware of her intentions, I didn’t want to dig my own grave, so I made myself remain calm.

I crawled closer to the side of the container and looked her in the eye. “I understand. Xavier is …”

“You can say it.” Fiona sank onto the floor and crossed her legs.

“You know there are a ton of spiders out there, right?” I rubbed my arms, shivering at the idea of them crawling out of their hiding places to investigate the visitor.

“Yup. They don’t scare me.”

I swallowed over the ball of anxiety in my throat. “I can’t say the same.”

A silence fell between us, and I wondered why she was here.

“How do you know Xavier?” I asked, hoping to get some answers.

“We work together. Well, that’s not really true. I work for his boss. But Xavier and I have known each other for years.”

“Did you know his family?” I pointed behind her at the stuffed humans.

She frowned and glanced in the direction I was pointing. Fiona started to giggle, and I wondered if she was unstable like Xavier.

“His family?” She held her belly as she laughed. “Is that what he told you? That those dolls are his family? Oh my God, well played, Xavier.”

“Not exactly. He implied that he killed and taxidermied his parents and sister.” I found nothing funny about the situation.

She wiped tears from her cheeks. “Sorry, I have a twisted sense of humor and sometimes I can’t help myself.” She snorted.

I stared at her, trying to understand what she was saying. “Are you laughing because those people weren’t real, or because they weren’t his family?”

“Oh, they are … well, were real. He’s a very skilled artist, don’t you think? His mom, dad, and sister were his first victims. You should see the others.”

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