Page 74 of Bitten By Desire
“Yeah, but you didn’t tell mewhyhe was dangerous. And I was thinking that everyone I know is lying to me and I want answers.” Why wasn’t Zoey giving us the all-clear? What was taking so long? God, what if Theo had hurt her?
“I swear I’ll tell you everything I know about Theo Gold. But first we have to get out of here, okay?”
I knew they knew each other!I felt pretty good about my vampire theory. But I knew there were flaws. Like the fact that vampires weren’t actually real. Hopefully Bennett knew the truth. And I didn’t even care that Bennett had been lying to me about Theo. Because Bennett had shown up when I needed him. That’s what mattered. He was here helping me out of this mess.
Bennett’s phone buzzed. “They’re outside talking about the lawn.”
Interesting choice, Zoey.That’s not at all the angle I thought she’d take. “Let’s get out of here.” We ran over to the ladder.
I climbed down first and looked both ways, even though I knew Theo was outside. I’d gotten so much evidence…Crap.I’d dropped Theo’s sweatshirt. And I’d grabbed it instead of taking a picture. I needed that proof. I needed Zoey to believe me.
Bennett hopped off the ladder.
“I forgot something,” I said. “I have to go back up.”
“There’s no time.”
“It’ll just take a second.” I started climbing up.
He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me off the ladder.
“Bennett, let me go! I need the evidence!”
“What evidence?” He set me down on my feet, but kept his arm around my waist.
“He had a Wildcats sweatshirt. It was my proof that Theo is Callum Walsh. I need it.”
Bennett dropped his arm. “I believe you. Can we please just get out of here before Theo comes back…”
I ignored him and climbed up the ladder as fast as I could. I was not leaving this house without that sweatshirt.
“Fuck,” Bennett said under his breath. But I heard his footsteps on the ladder following me.
I ran back over to the portrait in the corner. Theo’s sweatshirt was lying on the floor in a heap. I picked it up and pulled it on so that I couldn’t possibly leave it behind.
Bennett’s phone buzzed. “Damn it. He’s coming back inside.”
Why wasn’t Zoey flashing him?
“Come on, Emma, we have to go.” Bennett grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the ladder.
We both climbed down. Bennett pushed the ladder back up and closed the drop door to the attic. He grabbed my hand again and we ran toward the stairs. But just as we turned the corner I saw the top of Theo’s head. He was staring at his phone and walking up the steps.
Bennett pulled me toward the closest room. He tried turning the doorknob, but it didn’t budge.
Zoey and I had already tried to check these rooms. “They’re all locked,” I whispered and pulled him toward Theo’s bedroom.
“This is probably where he’s heading,” Bennett hissed.
“Do you have a better plan?” I threw open Theo’s closet door. It was as organized as the rest of his house. But at least it wasn’t empty. I tugged on Bennett’s hand, closed the closet door behind us, and pulled us behind a row of freshly pressed suits.
Bennett’s phone buzzed.
“Turn that off,” I whispered.
He put it on silent and slid it back in his pocket.
And then we both waited. And waited.
