Page 10 of Room Twenty-Seven: Theirs to Punish

Fuck! I sit up, looking around my place to ensure I’m alone. I don’t need Luke or anyone else to witness what’s about to happen.

Kicking the blanket off my legs, I jump out of bed while the knocking on my door increases. My legs are still a bit wobbly, but I ignore it and pick up my panties and pajama bottoms from the floor and throw them on my bed.

“You need to be out by the end of the day. The locksmith is coming first thing in the morning to switch out the locks. Everyone in your apartment, including you, will be thrown out.”

Tears fill my eyes. What the hell am I going to do?

“Do you hear me?” Dave yells before rapping his knuckles violently against my door one last time.

Then the room falls into silence. I wait for him to say something again or at least hear his heavy footfalls receding down the hall.

Nothing.

Curiosity gets the better of me, and I tiptoe to the door to press my ear against the wood.

“Don’t bother her again,” a man’s voice filters through. The voice is familiar, but it’s too distorted for me to be sure.

“I won’t as long as rent is paid on time,” Dave answers.

Are they talking about me?

The other person speaks again, but I can’t make out what he says. I press my ear to the door further, but all I hear now is someone walking away.

Knock. Knock.

The sound of the knock is so incredibly loud against my ear, I stumble back with a gasp. Holding my ear, I wait a moment before I can hear again.

“Lilly, it’s Bane. Open up.”

Bane? I don’t answer. I don’t move.

A part of me hopes he’ll just leave. I need to clear my head. So much has happened in the past twenty-four hours, and I have to take a breather.

“Come on. I'm not gonna leave until you talk to me.”

I lean my forehead against the door. If he's anything like his brother and dad, he won't take no for an answer. He’ll probably stand outside the door until I’m forced to come out, which he already knows isn’t long.

“What are you doing here?” A bad feeling settles in my gut. I really hope Niklas isn’t with him.

“Let me in. I want to talk to you.”

“Just you?”

“Yes, I’m alone.”

Looking down at what I’m wearing, I realize I’m only wearing a shirt. I’m about to tell him to wait for me to get dressed when I remember he’s already seen me naked.

Taking a calming breath, I twist the lock and open the door.

“Good morning,” he greets. His large frame fills my entire doorway. He’s wearing a suit like last night, but today, it’s a dark blue one with a black button-up shirt underneath.

He carries a paper coffee cup and a brown bag in his hands.

“Hi.” I open the door farther, and he walks in. I catch a whiff of the coffee and something freshly baked. My stomach growls.

“I brought you coffee and a muffin.” He hands me both, and I take them eagerly. Maybe a little too eagerly, judging by the amused grin that spreads over his lips.

“Thank you,” I murmur before walking to my couch to take a seat.

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