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But even though I tell myself I should be happy to be rid of the damn thing, my chest aches as I peel the diaper away and wad it up to put in the trash. There will be no more diaper changes, no more doctor’s visits, no more bottles. None of the things I’ve endured over the past few weeks in my brother’s house.
Which is exactly how you want it. Stop being a baby and get a move on.
Spurred on by the voice in my head, I wheel my suitcase to the bathroom and grab my toothbrush and everything I can find that I might need during my travels. I have no idea how long I’ll be stuck on the ship, and I don’t want to arrive back in the states a stinky mess.
With my bag packed, I open my nursery door and peek out into the hallway. The coast is clear, at least for now, so I creep toward the stairs, pausing again at the top to listen for voices.
Nothing. Everyone else must be gone or asleep.
Thank god.
It takes me several minutes to get down the stairs, as every noise makes me freeze in place, holding my breath as I wait to see if I’m about to be discovered. But eventually I make it to the bottom of the stairs, and then to the front door.
As far as I can tell, there’s no security system installed. Which, I suppose, makes sense seeing as how the island is so self-contained and all the residents go through such extensive background checks. The lack of a security system actually makes me feel much better about sneaking around outside in the dark all by myself.
Feeling bolder than I have in days, I open the front door and step outside into the cool night air.
Freedom.
Excitement bubbles in my chest as I pull the door firmly shut behind me and begin my trek down the front steps to the driveway. I probably should have tried to find out where they keep the keys to my brother’s cars, but I don’t dare risk going back inside and wasting precious time snooping around.
Besides, the island isn’t that big. Surely it won’t take me too long to get to the docks, right?
Wrong, I realize within the first half hour of walking. Not only is the walk taking much longer than I anticipated, I realize as I’m strolling along that I have no idea where the docks even are. I have a vague idea of where town is, as I’m pretty sure I’ll end up there if I just keep walking straight.
Maybe if I can make it into town, I can figure out where to go from there. Ihaveto figure it out, somehow, or else I’ll miss my one chance to escape.
Not only that, but I can only imagine how furious Jasper will be when he realizes I’m gone. For the first time, I’m forced to consider exactly how much trouble I’ll be in if he catches me before I can sneak onto the ship. I’ll never sit comfortably againif that happens, and the scenarios my imagination conjures are enough to have me picking up the pace.
One way or another, I have to find that ship.
Jasper
Half asleep, I reach for Juliet. The little brat must have rolled away from me during the night, and I miss the soft weight of her in my arms.
But when I don’t feel her, I pry one eye open to see where she’s gone to.
Only to find the bed beside me empty.
“Juliet!”
Rolling out of bed, I stumble to the bathroom, my heart pounding. A quick glance around dashes the hope I’d had that maybe, maybe she’d just needed to potty and didn’t want to wake me to change her.
I race for her nursery, flipping the lights on as I rush in.
Empty. Again.
Where the hell are you, princess?
Returning to my bedroom, I grab my phone from the nightstand and dial Richard’s number as I hastily pull on clothes.
“What’s wrong?” Despite the lateness of the hour, Richard’s voice is alert, ready.
“It’s Juliet. She’s missing.”
“Missing? How?”
“I don’t know! She’s not in my room or her nursery. I’m going to call Evander and have him send out a team while you check the house.”