Page 24

With Jude.

My mask-wearing “bonus” that just increased to a whopping 50k when Nathan spoke to me alone.

Fifty thousand to get through to Jude.

Fifty. Freaking. Thousand.

That’s so much money I can’t even imagine having it. It’d certainly help pay off all the collection agencies I owe so I can start cleaning up my credit. This really could be the fresh start I desperately needed.

Which is why I’ll endure living with the paranoid Park.

“It’s going to be okay,” I assure my cat, nuzzling his fur with my face. “I promise.”

His purring is loud and calms me as we make our trek across the property. Even though Jude is massive and could probably get to his house in three seconds, he walks slowly, checking over his shoulder every once in a while to make sure I’m still following.

It’s petty, I know, but I take great pleasure in the fact he has to carry my stuff.

Despite dragging my feet, we eventually make it to his creepy house. It’s every bit as intimidating as it was a couple of days ago when I first arrived and he tried to fire me.

This time, I’m going into the belly of the beast.

Jude sets the carrier down to open the door, then he picks it back up and waits for me to enter before him. I swallow down my unease and tentatively step inside.

The inside foyer is exactly as I’d imagined. Dark wood paneling on the walls, black-and-white photos of people from another lifetime adorning an entryway table, and a dim chandelier doing a half-ass job of lighting the space.

Light from outside is sucked away when Jude closes the door behind us. It snicks shut so softly but vibrates with finality through each one of my bones.

I’m really doing this.

“Let’s go,” Jude grunts. “I’ll show you to your room.”

Since I’m still shellshocked by what transpired this morning, I numbly follow after him. He turns left and takes the stairs two at a time. I’m given an eyeful of his muscular ass and decide I deserve it for the hell of a day I’m having. Funky meows in agreement. We’ll take the small wins where we can.

His figure cuts through the darkness of the hallway, moving with an unsettling determination past several closed doors. Then he abruptly stops and sets the carrier down. “This one’s yours. It has a bathroom en suite. Consider your appointments canceled for the day.”

I grit my teeth, biting back a snappy remark. I’m not exactly in a position right now to argue. Fifty thousand is on the line here. Quietly, I follow Jude into the room that’s a far cry from the one I just vacated.

This room is old. Outdated. Dark.

Everything in this house so far is dark. The shadows cloud around me, clawing at me. It makes me want to open a window or turn on every light.

Jude sets the carrier down and then tosses my suitcase onto the bed. The mattress that covers the queen-sized bed is ancient but at least colorful. When he unzips the suitcase, I stare at him in confusion. Heat floods up my neck and settles on my cheeks when he grabs a handful of my underwear.

“W-What are you doing?” I demand, voice shrill.

“Unpacking.”

Funky fidgets, clearly ready to check out our new lodging. With a frustrated sigh, I set my cat down and then rush over to take over unpacking. Jude snaps his head toward me and glowers at me through his creepy mask.

Sometimes he scares the shit out of me.

There’s a feral quality in his eyes that screams unpredictable.

Since he’s a giant, he could knock me to the floor without breaking a sweat.

Just like Sean.

The oily, terrible feeling Sean causes in me doesn’t just slick over me, it downpours. I stumble away from Jude, trying desperately to keep my trembling hidden.