Page 152 of Stains of Desire
Bernadette knocks on the door again.
I embrace Penelope tightly and kiss her forehead. "Go. I'll see you tonight."
She reluctantly hands me Millie's blanket and leaves, which I hate, but we can't stay in the bathroom forever.
I wait several minutes then exit the coffee shop. It doesn't take long to get to her hotel.
When I turn the corner, I look up and see Penelope's red hair blowing in the wind.
At least this is one thing that will be easy. The balconies connect, and there's a fire escape two rooms away from hers at the end of the building.
I cross the street and stand against a brick wall, staring at her for a while before I scratch my head. She doesn't move. I repeat my actions, and she hesitantly goes inside.
When it gets dark out, I pull the fire escape down, climb up it, then shimmy from one balcony to the next.
When I get to hers, I look through the glass.
She's pacing.
I double-check I don't see anyone else in her room and slide the door open, then lock it once I'm inside.
She turns. "You're here!" She comes flying at me, and our lips and bodies mold as one.
Clothes disappear. Limbs break out in sweat. The sweet smell of sex swirls in the air.
"I've missed you," she whispers.
"Me, too." I lightly suck on her neck.
"Don't leave marks."
I freeze, staring at her.
"If William sees them..." She swallows hard.
I sit up and tug her onto my lap. "What's he done to you."
"Nothing."
"Stop lying to me," I growl.
Her lips quiver. "I'm not."
Anger at William, not Penelope, festers. "It's been over three weeks. He's obsessed with you. For years, he made you—"
"I lost it," she cries out.
I hold my breath. "What do you mean?"
"He saw my bruises. He showed me the video of Millie and told me you died."
My stomach twists. I pull her closer. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. But when I got on the plane in London... I couldn't... I just... I went down the hole." She shakes her head, and tears fly off her cheeks. "He locked me in Millie's old room, but it was like she was never there. Everything was gone. And then the men came in."
"What men?" I bark.
"I don't know. They tied me down and stuck an IV in me. I don't know how much time passed. Then William told me that if I didn't snap out of it, he would kill Millie."
