“Oh. No.” I settle back toward the bar, tapping my fingers on my glass. I should drink it. Take a sip. Dull the horribleness of this conversation and escape for a bit. But, for some reason, I can’t. I keep seeing Sawyer’s face on top of the tank.
The man keeps up with it. “So, what do you do for fun?”
“I…” the question floors me. What do I do for fun? I draw a blank. For the last week, I’ve sat lost in a hotel room in a strange city, doing nothing but crying over men who are bad for me. I think back to the old me. This. This is what she did for fun. Drink. And mindlessly scroll social media.
It hits me suddenly how empty I used to feel. How empty I feel again.
I swallow harshly. My eyes cloud with tears. I didn’t realize until I met the men how much I had lost myself. They helped me find it again without even trying.
“Uh…you okay?” the man asks.
“Yeah. I…cut hair for fun.”
As I’m talking, a man comes up to the bar carrying flowers. He drops them off by me. “Someone said to give this to you.”
I turn, looking around. What the hell? I look back at the bouquet, and my heart stops.
Purple and white blooms. They’re foxglove and hemlock.
I push back from my stool, heart racing, and check the room again. I don’t see anyone. There’s a little card with the flowers. My hand shakes as I reach for it, adrenaline running through my body.
Nice shirt. But you looked better in mine.
I drop the card. Oh my god. He’s here. I back away from the bar, then whirl, half walking, half running. I’m almost to the elevator before a hand grips my shoulder and yanks me back into a hard body.
“You lost, little bunny?”
Chapter 89
Cali
Athrill runs through me. I know that voice. How is it possible?
I yank away to look at him. But Sawyer’s arms band tighter around me, pinning me to his chest.
“Wanna play a game?”
His dark voice sends shivers down my arms. My chest heaves. I’m surrounded by the smell of cologne.
Sawyer squeezes tighter, just enough to hurt. “Yes…or no?”
I gasp, the old fight filling me. “No.”
Suddenly, I’m shoved away. I stumble a step before turning. Three figures, all in white Ghostface masks, stand there, blocking my way to the front of the hotel. They’re big and menacing, dark tattoos tracing down their arms.
One of them cocks his head, saying mockingly, “Run, bunny.”
The fire that I lost this whole week runs through me. I feel more alive than ever. And I do. I run faster than I’ve ever run. I dart down the hall toward the stairs, ripping open the door to goup. I take the stairs two at a time, darting up them as fast as I can. My breath comes in pants, but I feel like I’m flying.
Fuck, they’re here! All I can feel is excitement as I run.
There’s a bang as the door to the stairs slams. I scream.
“What a good girl, running from us.” The voice echoes, then gets dark and menacing. “But you won’t get away this time.”
His voice shoots straight to my pussy, and my adrenaline spikes.
I reach the third floor, where my room is, and yank on the door to get in. It’s locked.