Текст книги "Slut"

Автор книги: Jettie Woodruff

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 6 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

I flipped on the light just to see if there was power and flipped it off. That meant the water was on, that’s all I cared about. I didn’t need to see. At least I could take a shower and use the toilet.

I turned in a circle, one big open room with an amazing ocean view. A rice-paper divider separated a king sized bed from the living room and kitchen, a closet with a squeaky hinge held a broom, and the door next to it was the tiny bathroom. A small shower and no bath tub. I hated trying to shave standing up. I smiled when I realized I didn’t have to do that.

I walked right to the glass doors and stood when I heard the trucks coming in. I’d looked in these doors many times, trying to see in. You couldn’t do it. Not from the outside. Paxton could have been standing right in front of me and he wouldn’t have known I was there. The other three windows weren’t one sided like the doors, but they were too high to see in. Therefore, I wouldn’t be using the lights. I definitely didn’t need a visit from Paxton.

I watched him with crossed arms, walk toward me, pacing back and forth while he talked on his phone. Just his actions were enough to tell me the conversation was about me. His arms flailed and I could see the anger in his face. The smile, taking over my face was uncontrollable. Paxton’s plan wasn’t going as planned, and it was eating him up. I sort of took pleasure in that. Paxton Pierce needed a taste of his own medicine.

I would love to say I upped him one; that I was the smart one and I didn’t need him. I did need him, but not the way he required me to need him. I watched Paxton walk to his truck, pissed off and backed away, wondering who was taking care of my girls. Had to be Tricia. I didn’t like it. I didn’t like it one bit. None of my neighbors were worthy of my girl’s. Not one.

I spent my evening looking up to the house, hoping to catch a glimpse of them playing outside, or swimming. God, I missed them. My eyes stayed on the house the entire evening, waiting for a preview. It wasn’t until the tide had come in that Paxton fired up the grill. Tears instantly welled in my eyes when I saw them, just a glimpse. The slope in the yard kept me from seeing them the entire time. I could see them perfectly when they slid down the slide, but I could only see the top of the two chains, swaying back and forth. An occasional, foot here and there, high into the air, but that’s it.

My eyes narrowed when I glanced back to Paxton, swearing he had a smirk. I retrieved the binoculars from Vans little backpack and zoned in. Sure enough, Paxton was smiling. His hips even moved a little to the music playing outside. Okay, maybe that was the sexiest thing about Paxton. I loved it when he swayed his hips like that, flipping his spatula like he was all that and then some. It was one of the very few times I’d seen him being playful. I gasped and dropped the binoculars when I saw him look directly at me and toast his bottle of beer like he knew I was there.

I instantly spun around, looking for a camera. “Fuck—fuck—fuck,” I said out loud when I saw it. Barely visible, but there. A normal person would have never known it was there. I on the other hand knew exactly what to look for. Perfect view, right in the center of the ceiling fan. Paxton knew I was there. There was no doubt in my mind that he’d been watching me the entire time. My heart pounded hard, drumming in both my ears while I debated on what to do. I had no phone to call Mi. She was the only one that I trusted, and she was crazy.

I quickly gathered my things, trying to concoct a plan. I had no idea what to do. Did I stay? Did I run? Where would I go? Nick hated me, I couldn’t stay there. Just when I thought about sleeping in my car, my heart stopped, hearing the knuckles on the glass.

“Open the door, Gabby.”

I tossed the transformer backpack over my shoulders and froze, stopping with my heart. My eyes stayed glued to his body while my body refused to move.

“I know you’re in here. Open the door.”

Once the dry lump moved down my throat, I gathered my bearings and straightened my posture. The little lever clicked loud in my ears when I raised it and opened the door, my eyes looking up to his. I don’t know how I looked on the outside, but the inside was insane, adrenaline pumping quickly through my veins.

“Let me guess, cameras?” I said in my best strong voice. The strong voice that sounded meek and cracked.

Paxton smiled down at me and crossed his arms. “Of course there are cameras, and I knew you would come here. Where else you going to go, right?”

“What do you want?”

“Dad, Rowan throwed an apple in the pool,” Ophelia yelled down from the bank.

All other thoughts suddenly disappeared. I didn’t care what he wanted. I didn’t care about anything but Rowan, Phi, and now Vander Delgardo.

“Can I go to them?”

“Of course.”

I stepped one foot out the door and his body stopped me. “After I get some answers.”

I chuckled and spit the sarcasm right at him. “You want answers? Try being in my shoes.”

“Dad,” Phi called again. “Watcha doing?”

Paxton stayed strong in front of me, keeping me from sidestepping him with a stiff posture. He called over his shoulder, but never took his eyes from mine. “Hang on, I’m coming. Stay there.”

“I have a right to see them.”

“You can’t just run up to them after leaving them. They don’t understand you disappearing like this again.”

I frowned, wondering if he was insinuating that it was my fault I’d left them. “What did you tell them?”

“That you were sick. You sort of are. I mean, I don’t even know what the fuck to call you.”

“The same thing you’ve always called me.”

“Slut? Or did you mean Gabriella? Which do you prefer, love?”

“Fuck you, Paxton. I’m not your doormat, and I’m not doing this with you. I have just as much right to them as you do.”

That thing about being strong and standing up to him dwindled to nothing when Paxton stepped inside. I was forced to take a step back, too, but I didn’t falter. Not on the outside anyway.

“I’ll let you come up after they go to bed. I will tell them you’ll be home when they wake up. This is over, Gabriella. You’re playing my way from this point forward.”

“I’m not staying in that house with you,” I said, again with my strong, crackly tone.

“Oh, but you are. You’re staying in my house, and you’re going to do everything I tell you to do. Just like old times.”

“What are you going to do, Paxton? You gonna call the cops? Maybe have me arrested for trespassing? Go for it, baby boy. I dare you,” I said while I watched the veins in his neck pop with the clenching of his jaw. My hand was patting myself on the back for my brass balls in my mind while my mind bragged. I did that. I stood up to Paxton and it felt good.

I yelped, taken off guard, when Paxton grabbed my throat and shoved me inside. My lower back dug into the counter and I grimaced in pain, dropping my left shoulder for relief. “Don’t fuck with me, slut. I don’t even know what the fuck to call you. You’ve been lying to me since the day I met you. I’m calling the shots, just like I’ve always called the shots. Stop with the fucking games. You understand me? Do you Gabriella?”

The grip he had on the back of my jaw kept me from responding with words. I moaned an incoherent yes and nodded with wide eyes. Paxton smiled and kissed my lips, releasing the firm hold he had around my neck and jaw. With a prominent smirk, he removed my cell phone from his pocket and dropped it into my hand. Just when I thought my heart couldn’t beat any faster, Paxton leaned in and whispered sultry words, kissing my neck and throat as he spoke, proving me wrong. “I’ll call you later. I like the fringes on these shorts. I can’t wait to see you bend over in front of me in them. Have a good evening, Mrs. Pierce.”

“What are you doing in there, Dad?” I heard Rowan ask as the door slid closed.

I walked over to it to see them both, butts planted on the ground, waiting for their dad. They both stood and ran to him when he walked toward them. Paxton scooped them up, and told them some story about catching a rat and to stay away from there.

“Well, fuck me sideways,” I said out loud to the empty room, and then I remembered I wasn’t alone. A camera in the middle of the room reminded me of that fact. I spun in a circle, swimming in a pool of ridiculousness. Trying to figure out where to put this piece of the puzzle was frustrating to no end. Now what the hell was I supposed to do?

I should have known. Of course the cottage had a camera, but why? “Why all the Goddamn secrets!” I screamed like a crazy person, right up to the little camera. I didn’t care if Paxton would see it. I wanted Paxton to see it. I couldn’t let it go down like this. If I went back into that house I was doomed, I would be his victim just like he wanted, and I would never find Van. I couldn’t let that happen.

Five

My plan was to beat the hell out of the camera, lock all the doors, and threaten to call the police if he came near me. That was the only strategy I could come up with, but somehow, barricading myself inside a tiny house with no food didn’t seem like the way to go.

A groan escaped from my mouth as my eyes glared at the stupid camera. An audible breath slipped between my lips¸ sputtering them with a feeling of conquest disbelief. My life was destined to eternal hell and no matter what way I turned, it led in that same direction. My guardian angel had a messed up sense of humor. Just when I thought I could see a glow at the end of the tunnel, another obstruction blocked my view and everything went dark. A metaphor for my life.

Next came the woe is me, poor Gabby, I’m doomed, feeling sorry for myself phase. For whatever reason, I knew that feeling wasn’t the best plan either; that behavior would land me right back where I came from. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be there anymore, and furthermore, I had a whole other person depending on me. I couldn’t sink inside myself; that may have worked before, but not now. Not with knowing about Vander. I had to make him my first stop.

With the gush of rejuvenation, I straightened my posture, grabbed the M&M pack with Mi’s number, and walked out the back door with my phone. Of course it rang right away.

“Hey, what’s up?” I said in a cheerful tone as my toes met warm sand, just off the pebbled sidewalk.

“Are you serious right now, Gabriella? Go back inside,” Paxton ordered. I didn’t need to see the look on his face to see the displeasure, I heard it in his tone. I’d seen it many times.

“I can’t. I’ve got to make a few calls that I don’t want you to hear. I’ll be back later.”

“Go the fuck inside.”

“I’ll talk to you later.”

“Gab—”

Once again the nerve thing took over my body, the effects of defying Paxton. At least it was easier to stand my ground through the phone. I didn’t have to worry about his strong hands around my throat that way. I think that helped calm the crackling in my voice.

Again, I answered the ringing phone, this time with a little more attitude. “What, Paxton? You’re not the boss of me.”

He laughed. Paxton laughed, but I wasn’t sure why. “I am the boss of you, little girl. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll turn around and go back inside the cottage.”

“Will you stop with that shit? I’m not your property,” I assured him, arms flailing in the air with my elevated voice.

“You are, baby girl. I bought and paid for you many times over. You think that new car out there was free? You think that swimming pool outside maintains itself? You think your clothes just magically appeared? Get your fucking ass in that house. You don’t want me to come after you.”

The threat pissed me off more than anything. I wasn’t scared at all. That may or may not have been due to the distance between us. I’m guessing it was, but nonetheless, I had brass balls and I was using them.

“Go ahead, Paxton. Come down here and bully me back to the house. See what happens.”

Another laugh, but not the kind that makes you want to laugh, too. This one was rebellious, angry, and downright evil. Enough so that it caused a chill to run down my spine. “Are you threatening me, Gabriella?”

“Didn’t you just threaten me? Look, I have to do something that you’re not going to understand. I’m not coming into that house with you. I will see the girls tomorrow while you work, and then I am coming back to the cottage. I don’t know how things were before, but they can’t be that way now.”

“What the fuck does that even mean, Gabriella? Are you threatening divorce? It will be a cold day in hell before I grant you that wish. You’re a slut, I made you, and I can break you. You will never see the day that you’re not a Pierce. Do you understand me? Hmm? You got that, slut?”

And just like that the anger bled through the phone, soaking me with the same infuriating fury that Paxton showed me. “Like I said before, fuck you. I didn’t marry you. Gabriella Delgardo married you. You’re supposedly the smart one. Prove that one.”

Silence filled the air between us and I knew I had just winded him enough to render him speechless. For a moment anyway. “You want to play that card, Gabriella? You really want to go there?”

“Did you know that identical twins don’t have the same fingerprints? Did you know that Paxton?”

“Why didn’t you tell me? Why all the lies, Gabriella?”

I heard Rowan call for her dad for the second time in the background. “Tell you what? That I had an identical twin? You tell me why I didn’t tell you. I don’t even remember the day I met you, let alone the day I married you. Why Paxton? Why didn’t you know I had a twin?”

“I’ve got to go cut up Rowans steak. Where are you going?”

“Not far. I plan on going back to the cottage, but not your house.”

“You can’t do this, Gabriella. This isn’t the way I played my hand.”

“What? You don’t like me calling your bluff? Show me your hand, Paxton. I’ll show you mine.”

Paxton and I exchanged hidden threats, each reading them loud and clear with the same meaning. “We’ll talk later.”

“I’m sure we will. Give the girls a kiss for me.”

I sort of stopped along the beach, thinking about Paxton and his stupid games. I knew exactly what his plan entailed; me being his submissive and bowing down to his every command. Had it not been for Van, I would have probably done just that for Rowan and Phi. But I couldn’t, not yet, not until I found the answers. I didn’t need Paxton Pierce to help me, I’d find them myself. He could play all the games he wanted to play. I was done. I gave up, forfeiting to my obstinate husband, stomping away with defeated anger.

Frowning at my handwriting on the folded candy wrapper, I tried to decipher the fifth number. It was either a seven, a four, or a nine. I couldn’t really tell, but the third time was the charm. It took two wrong numbers before I heard Mi’s voice.

“Dr. Chin.”

“Mi, it’s me.”

“Oh, my God, Gabby. I’ve been going out of my mind waiting for you to call. I even meditated on it. Hmm, I bet that’s why you called, it worked,” Mi explained, her voice elevating to a happy high.

I shook my head at her adult attention deficit disorder and her crazy culture. “Mi, why? Why did you want me to call?”

“Hey, how are you calling?”

“I’ll explain later. Did you find something?”

“Yes, but I’m not sure you want to hear it.”

Oh, man. That wasn’t what I hoped for at all. “What? Tell me. Did you find the Walkers?”

“Yes and no. I found Mrs. Walker. Mr. Walker died in an automobile accident eight years ago. Mrs. Walker is now Mrs. Phillips.”

I hadn’t even realized I’d stopped walking until I felt the cool water wrap around my ankles. I looked down and continued, going nowhere in a hurry. “Okay, did you talk to her? What did she say?”

“She hasn’t talked to Izzy in over three years. She said she tried to help her, but Izzy wouldn’t take it. She lost everything, her house, her business, and her kid because of drugs.”

“But I was with her. I didn’t get that from her when Nick hypnotized me. She’s all better now,” I said while feeling an instant need to defend her. Like I knew her.

“I felt like that, too. Regardless of Izzy’s soberness, that lead is dead, but don’t worry. I’ve got someone looking for Vander right now. Where are you?”

“You’re not going to believe me if I tell you.”

“You’re not with him, are you?”

“No, not really. I planned on camping out at our little cottage, but Paxton had a camera in there. He found me before I had a chance to be missing.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. He wants me to come home, but I told him no.”

“Good for you. Is this your phone? He gave it to you?”

“Sort of. Paxton doesn’t do anything for me without personal gain. This is his way of tracking my every move.” I may not have remembered who the hell I was, but I was smart enough to know Paxton’s motives by now. Without a doubt, I knew his eyes were on a little red dot and a map. I was the red dot.

“Okay, so what now?”

“I’ve got to go see Candace.”

“The guy’s wife that you cheated with?”

“That hasn’t been confirmed yet.”

“Yeah, okay. I don’t like it. That’s not a good idea. Let me come with you.”

“No, I’m fine. What’s the worst that can happen?”

“She could break your nose. I’m a baby doctor, not a plastic surgeon.”

For a brief second, I thought about it, but I refrained. I didn’t want to cause any more riffraff between her and Nick. “I have to go right now while his car his gone.”

“That’s an even worse idea. She can feed you to the sharks without anyone even knowing you were there. You better call me as soon as you leave.”

“I will. I promise.”

“Turn your phone off until you leave.”

“Oh, smart thinking. You’re way better at this than me.”

“That’s why you should let me go with you.”

“I’m fine, Mi. Thanks for everything. I’ll call you later.”

“As soon as you leave,” she ordered.

The advice about not letting Paxton track me was the best guidance Mi could have given me. I hadn’t even thought about that. Paxton would be on Candace’s doorstep in no time. I powered off my phone, seeing the full battery in the top corner. I wouldn’t be using that one as an excuse.

I felt like a criminal, lurking in the woods as I zigged zagged my way in and out of the neighborhood. Ducking behind buildings, outdoor kitchens, and even a trashcan heightened my sneakiness, leaving me feeling like more of an outsider than I already was. If Tricia saw me she’d be on the phone with Paxton first, and then Candace. That’s why I ducked behind her trashcan. She opened her front door while on the phone, but only her hand and half her body stepped out for the mail, not me. That one caused adrenaline to pump wilder through my veins. Jesus. My heart couldn’t take much more of that. Those people who craved adrenaline like a junkie, were crazy. I hated that feeling, and it seemed like I felt it way more than the normal person did. Of course I did. I was sneaking through backyards and diving behind garbage. Gah.

I took a deep breath, willing courage into my lungs as I made it to the side door. I knew from the girl’s coming over that it led to a shower house for pool guests. The neighborhood women were the only ones to use it. Anyone else would have used the front door.

One push to the doorbell button, and two quick knocks. My fingers flailed with my rapid breaths while I waited, dancing back and forth from foot to foot.

Crap. I wasn’t expecting Chance to answer. I didn’t have any planned words for her mommy, this was worse. Thank God, Chance made it easy for me.

“Gabriella!” she called, excited to see me while she hugged my legs.

I smiled and ran my hand down her hair and back. “Hi, sweetie. How are you?”

“I didn’t see you for a long time. Where’s Rowan and Ophelia? I want to play with them.”

Just when I was about to reply, Candace spoke from a few feet away.

“They’re with their dad right now. Go finish your piano lesson. You have twenty more minutes.”

“I want to play with Rowan and Ophelia,” she whined with a frown while crossing her arms defiantly.

“Maybe Tricia can bring them over tomorrow. Go practice,” Candace ordered again, shooing her away with a light shove.

“Bye, Gabriella,” Chance said while giving up, listening to her mother.

“Bye, sweetie,” I said with a warm smile. I realized at that moment that I missed her, too. Not so much her mom, but definitely her.

“Well, you have a lot of nerve,” Candace instantly began.

The cocky attitude I’d assembled disappeared when I saw the look in her eyes. I hurt her and I didn’t even remember it. My shoulders dropped as I lost the last of my boldness.

“I’m so sorry, Candace.”

“Yeah, I know. You’re so sorry, but you don’t know what for, right, Gabby? Or is it Izzy?”

I didn’t respond because I didn’t know how to. What did one say to that? It was true, I didn’t really know what I was sorry for, and truth be known, I was a fraud. I didn’t deserve to be called Gabriella.

“What do you want?”

“I want to know what you know.”

“No you don’t.”

“I do. Please, Candace. I don’t know who else to turn to.”

“Did you try my husband? I’m sure he’d love to help.”

I took a deep breath and dropped my eyes to the sandstone tile. With my head nodded to the floor, I spoke with a quiet, yet desperate tone. “I know something happened between Lane and I, but I swear to God, I don’t know what. You said you hired someone. I heard you tell the other girls. At least tell me what he found.”

Candace stormed off, leaving me standing there alone, caught off guard. I looked around with wide eyes, wondering what I was supposed to do. Was that it? She was just going to leave it like that?

“Here, I told Lane I already got rid of this when I agreed to move away from here and give it another shot. This is all I’ve got. There’s more, but I’m not going to be the one to let that one out of the bag. Talk to your husband.”

I took the gold envelope and frowned at her. “You can’t do that. That’s like girl code or something. You can’t tell me there’s more, but you’re not telling me. How fair is that?”

“You broke the girl code when you fucked my husband. Lucky for you, I believe him when he says it was years ago when we first moved here. I don’t know what goes on between you and Paxton behind closed doors, and I don’t care to. All I want to do is leave this place and get the hell out of here. Goodbye, Gabriella.”

Again, I was left with no words. Why the hell couldn’t someone just be straight with me? I didn’t return the goodbye. I stared at her, speechless with the new information she gave me. Information that I knew would leave me wanting more.

My sneaking through the neighborhood ceased as I made my way back, using the sidewalk instead of the backyards. It didn’t much matter who saw me now, except the girls. I was careful to avoid my own house.

Just as I was about to walk behind Paxton’s shop the sunset caught my eye. The darkness was held up by the sun kissing the ocean, a few more minutes and night would fall all around. The reds mixed with purple and yellow glistened against the water, leaving me with a feeling of loss. Like when my mom died. I felt like an orphan all over again, alone and frightened.

The entire mesmerizing view was gone at precisely the same moment I felt the wetness between my legs. Not the good kind either. “Damnit,” I said aloud as I carried on my journey to the cottage, powering on my phone for the flashlight. Why hadn’t I thought about that? I was never late. Clockwork and my period were a team with a schedule. I needed tampons from the house. I rushed along, using the light from my phone to unlock the back door, praying to find at least one in my little bathroom.

My hand went in first, flipping the switch for light. Light that never came. All I could do was laugh. The bastard turned off the power. The ridiculous giggle was for how stupid he was. I didn’t think for one second that he’d leave it off. The camera didn’t work without electricity. The laughter continued when I answered his call without a hello.

“What the fuck are you doing? Don’t turn that phone off again, do you understand me, Gabriella?”

“Yeah, sure, Paxton,” I said in a nonchalant tone, heading straight to the little bathroom behind the rice paper room divider. Sure enough, it was there. A bright red stain in my new panties. I leaned over, trying to use the light to dig for something to use. Nothing. Not one freaking tampon, not one pad, and only a half roll of toilet paper. The one on the holder.

“Where did you go?”

“You want the truth or do you want to continue with the lies?”

“I don’t like this side of you, Gabriella. You need to stop.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not really Gabriella, so—” I said while dragging out the word.

“Where the fuck were you?”

“I went to see Candace.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to know what the fuck is going on. You won’t tell me anything, so I’m going to find out myself. Did you know Lane and Candace were leaving? Lane already gave his notice.”

“I don’t care where they go. What did she tell you?”

“Turn the power back on and you’ll find out.”

“How? What do you mean?”

“She gave me the envelope from her private investigator. You know, the same one you hired to find out where I went the day I wrecked? Bet you wish you could do that day over, huh?”

“And what, Gabriella? Seeing those photos is going to make you feel better? Knowing you fucked your friend’s husband is the answer you’re looking for?”

“No, not even close. That’s just one piece of a thousand piece puzzle. One that I am managing to put together on my own,” I explained while I walked to the kitchen to find the paper towel rack empty, too. Damn. “I need to come up there and get a few things.”

“Okay, come on up, but you’re not leaving.”

“Forget it, I’ll call someone else,” I countered. I didn’t give him a chance to rebuttal. Mi was on the other line, beeping in my ear. She could get me tampons.

“Are you still there? You’re worrying me sick,” Mi admitted when I clicked over.

“No, but I just started my period and I don’t have anything. Can you bring me something?”

“Sorry, we only have one car. Nick just left for his chess club. What did you find out?”

I rolled my eyes at Paxton’s name blinking across my phone. “Nothing yet. She gave me an envelope, basically telling me that’s all she’s got, and to never bother her again.”

“What’s in it?”

“I don’t know yet. Paxton shut the power off on me. I can’t see shit.”

“Asshole.”

“Right? Let me look around for a candle or a flashlight. I’ll call you in a little while.”

“Ugh, okay fine. I got the number for a Miss Chadwick. She’s Vander’s social worker.”

“Oh, perfect. You’re awesome. I love you,” I boasted. Why, I wasn’t sure. It wasn’t like I could call her and explain this crazy mess. Hello, this is Gabriella, but I’m really Izzy. I’ll be coming after Van now. That wouldn’t work.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Call me later, but do it before ten.”

“Okay, see ya,” I said while switching over to Paxton’s call—again. I knew what Mi meant. Nick would be home at ten and she didn’t want him to know she was still meddling.

“What? I’m trying to find a tampon.”

“I’m sure you have some up here. Come home, Gabriella. The girls are expecting you to be here when they wake up. Have you even eaten today? I have a plate ready for you. Your favorite.”

I laughed with that one. “You’re a funny man. Like you even know what my favorite is.”

“Shrimp scampi, minus the shrimp. Just the sauce over those little bow ties you like. Broccoli on top, sprinkled with real parmesan and garlic with butter and Italian dressing drizzled lightly over it all.”

All of my motions stopped, shocked into a frozen state. I could have sworn I heard my stomach growl. To say I was impressed was an understatement. I did make that a lot. The girls loved it, and Paxton complained every time, eating more than his fair share.

“You can’t bully me into coming home, Paxton.”

“Yes I can, Gabriella.”

“You had me arrested. You didn’t even try to talk to me. You had me arrested.”

“Come up here. I’ll meet you out by the pool with a plate of food and a drink.”

“I can’t. I’m not that strong. I’m afraid I won’t leave.”

“I know. Come up here.”

“Fuck!” I audibly said to the blinking phone, assuring me that he wasn’t there. He hung up. I was screwed, and now hungry. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I said again. Fucker.

I used toilet paper for a makeshift pad, not about to go to him. No way. I knew how much control I had around Paxton Pierce. Zero. Zip. None. I wasn’t about to do that. No way.

I looked everywhere for anything that could portray light. Nothing. Not one damn candle, and the flashlight I found had corroded batteries. Deader than dead. I waited in the dark for as long as I could, using up the last bit of toilet paper. Walking around the room like a blind person, I felt my way around, remembering the little closet by the bed. Maybe I stored a candle or a freaking tampon in there. My fingers felt the wood and then the metal doorknob. The thought of something creepy and crawly crossed my mind as I touched a few clothes, an empty shoe box, and a loose board. I jerked my hand back when I felt the splinter, afraid for a second that I had gotten bit by a spider.

I screamed and slammed the little door when the lights magically came on, scaring the shit out of me. The whole cabinet shook, rocking back and forth until it steadied. I was going to prison for life. First-degree murder.

“You’re impossible. I hate you,” I said to the camera. The camera that wasn’t visible from the little cupboard. That got my attention as I recalled the second thump after I had slammed the door. Looking up again, just to make sure I wasn’t being watched, I cracked the door and looked inside, seeing the piece of wood on the floor and the same envelope as the one on my counter tucked away in the top of the closet.

I didn’t want to deal with Paxton. I wanted to see what the big secret was from Candace, and now this. I stared at the new information hidden above my head, debating my next move. I needed a tampon. That was my next move.

“I’m coming, but not because you told me to. I’m coming because I have blood running out of my vagina, and that’s it,” I assured the camera as I stepped around the wall, knowing he watched my every move.