Page 43 of Room Six

As far as I am concerned, I’ve said my piece and I’m ready to get back to work.

Then why does your chest hurt so damn much?

“Magnolia,” Oliver draws out, savoring my name on his tongue. The allure of falling into his arms even now after all they did to me is strong. It’s hard to just wash away the love you have for another human being.

“Lia, I missed you. Please give us a chance to explain.”

“You mean another chance at crushing my soul? No, thank you. You don’t deserve that from me.”

Breathing heavily, I slam my fist repeatedly into his chest, but he doesn’t flinch or back down. He just eats up the space between us and puts his arms around me like he has the right to touch me.

Pain so unreal I can’t even catch my breath takes over my muscles and locks my chest down tight.

More arms come around me and I’m locked into a circle of warmth.

“Danika,” I whimper. Not out of lust or relief but so much pent up frustration and hurt that my words and voice fail me.

“Magnolia, petals. Our beautiful flower.”

Hands stroke up and down my bare back making me wish I opted for a potato sack instead of a revealing dress that made me feel attractive for one night of the year.

I shove at hard bodies and they back away far enough to where I can look them all in the eye.

“You don’t get to call me that!” I drive the tip of my finger into tight muscle and then nail the closest one with a swift right hook.

And then I run like the devil wants me dead.

Nine

Magnolia

“Run, petals, run!”

Rune’s hissed taunts chase me into the darkness. Wind whips through the willows and the long hanging branches snap. Large hedges of lovers trimmed into scandalous poses are a blur in my visions as I put foot to grass. I don’t dare look back.

Silk and lace do nothing to keep my breasts from swaying heavily as I run. I grab at the long lengths of my dress, uncaring the ends will be ruined. I dodge around a marble statue and dash straight ahead. I don’t know where I am going at first. I just need to get away. It’s too late to turn back and run for Raja’s office.

I just need to get out of here. If I let one of them touch me I know myself. I will fall at their feet and beg for them to take me back. Pathetic and weak, but it’s the truth.

Gas lamps flicker here and there but the shadows are deep and I can’t make out the faces of members scattered among the hanging willows. I haul in a lung full of moist air. Fingers of fury skitter across the sky. The storm I knew was coming is almost here.

As if Mother Nature is against me, the skies open up and the downpour soaks everything in a burst of rain.

There’s only one place I can go. I planned for a day like this. I didn’t want to use my backup plan unless Einar pushed me to flee for my life, but right now the three mafia men on my heels threaten my freedom, too. Just differently.

I slip, right myself and try again. I run. Water sloshes and my muscles ache from the force of keeping upright. This far from the club there are only a few lamps dotting the rolling grass with small sitting areas for members. It’s not long before the manicured garden fades into untamed wooded areas. Wet leaves lick against my bare legs. They don’t slow me down. More sitting spots are out here too. Probably for some primal kinky play.

But that is not this.

A small shed comes into view. I come to a barreling halt, skidding in the mud. My hands slam against the old, scarred wood. Lightning bursts and catches on metal. A gleam of green catches my eye.

“What the hell?” Dripping wet and scared out of my mind, I grab at a silver chain hanging from a nail. A nail hammered into a charred number six in the middle of a door.

“Who put this here?” I push inside the shed and lock the barn-style door behind me. There is only one other way in here and I lock it too. With both entrances secure, I grab the box of matches and candles I hid here eleven months ago as a backup plan. If I ever write a book on how to escape that puppy would be eight hundred pages long.

Warmth and light fill the place in no time. I hold up the necklace I found hanging on the outside. It must be from some member. The chain is silver and the gem inside a silver pendant is an emerald. It’s beautiful and someone will be missing it.

I slide it over my head with a mental note to mail it back to Raja so he can find its rightful owner. The place is sparse, but there are no hanging garden tools or dusty tractors that scream horror flick in the making.

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