Page 11 of Safe and Sound

“I’ll start looking for all the bodies she’s buried, she won’t be able to set foot in a car without getting pulled over and drug tested and something tells me, Stella, your friend isn’t going to pass those tests.”

“Why? Why are you being so mean? Why would you try to hurt Marcie?”

“Because, princess, you belong to me! I want my two months with you and I will get them, uninterrupted and undisturbed and I will go through anyone who tries to get in my way .”

I run the tip of my finger over her cheek before encircling her throat with my hand and dropping a small kiss on her pouty mouth.

“Sweetheart…” her eyes flutter open, “leave the choker on.”

Chapter Nine

Estella

Rennik has me so messed up I can’t even think. Not to mention exhaustion is dragging at me as well. All I do during the car ride to his place is sit and stare off into space. We took Mom to the airport and saw her off before Ren bundled me into the front of the car and buckled me in.

He has his own penthouse suite in the building his father owns, not that he has to rely on his dad since he is making big money himself, but he liked the location and didn’t want to waste time looking for another place when he moved out. Walking into his home I understand why he would be reluctant to leave it. It’s beautiful. Windows span most of the room with floor-to-ceiling panes of glass. Couches are everywhere and lead into a kitchen that has running lights under each cabinet giving it a feeling of warmth and home.

Having never been here before it is definitely not what I was expecting. Maybe…staying here won’t be so bad.

“So…where do you want me?”

I fight against saying something about the smile that stretches across his lips -lips I’ve felt against my own- and just focus on all the new stuff surrounding me.

“This way, princess.”

I follow him to a second living room, this one smaller and more intimate with a staircase in the back of it that curls up the entire wall. He goes up the first flight of stairs and down a hallway.

“There’s three stories. The third floor is a lounge area. The windows open and recess back so it becomes an outside area with a pool and dining area. Most of the bedrooms are on the second floor.”

He stands by a large set of double doors before pushing them open and stepping back so I can enter ahead of him. Once inside all I can do is look around. The room has a huge bed in the middle up against the farthest wall done in all black. The frame is low to the ground and done in a platform style that understates the enormity of it. On one side is a complete wall of windows that look out over the city lights. It’s stunning really.

“This is it?”

He goes to a door hidden in the wall that I didn’t notice before and opens it. Inside hangs suit jackets and shirts neatly pressed on one side and empty space on the other.

“I made space in the closet.”

“Made space?”

He nods and that wicked smile is in full force. A sinking sensation hits my tummy hard.

“Am I going to…share the room with someone?”

Does he keep girls here all the time? Is he planning to make me…one of his harem?

“Yes.” Oh, no! No, no, no! “Me!”

“What?” The fear I had formed in my head -my worst-case scenario- is no more. It’s completely gone only to be replaced by something new entirely.

“This is my room, Estella.”

“Your room?”

He nods. “You will be sleeping in my room, in my bed, next to me. Every night!”

“No! What?! No, you can’t! Mom would never be alright with this. This is wrong!”

What the fuck is he even thinking? My mom will kill him if she finds out. Ben might kill him. Why would he want this? He doesn’t even like me! This is bullshit! And another one of his stupid scare tactics. Done just to see me panic, but this time I’m not falling for it.

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