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“But you had a temper tantrum and ran off with something that belongs to me anyway. I shouldn’t be surprised. You like bulldozing your way through situations instead of talking shit out. But I decided to give you the benefit of the doubt this time.” He leans forward at the same time a smirk slithers across his cocky facade. “This is me asking you nicely to return what’s mine.”

“She’s not yours.”

“That’s a matter of semantics. You see, the paper I signed and the million I was willing to pay say other?—”

His words get jammed in his throat when my hand fists around his airway. “Get the fuck out of my office, Percy. The next time you pull this shit, you’re leaving with a bullet in your head.”

Fear clouds his eyes before he can mask it and all I can think about is how Delilah never flinched when I had her against that wall this morning.

On cue, my shoulder protests from the grip I have on him, a reminder that I’m not at one hundred percent today.

Slowly, I relax my fingers and watch the color return to his face.

I don’t stop the laugh that tumbles out of me at how scared he looks. And when a coughing fit takes over his ability to speak, I reclaim my place behind my desk.

“Close my door when you leave, Percy.”

Chapter 12

The Undoing

DELILAH

Iused to think making it through the seven a.m. rush at the coffee shop without messing up an order was exhilarating. Turns out, I didn’t know what that word meant. Because whatever feeling took over me when I pulled that trigger at breakfast surpassed exhilarating and was damn near euphoric.

Euphoric enough to make me eat more than the fruit Ms. Agnes put on my plate for breakfast. It’s the first time I’ve had an appetite since being here and I didn’t miss the joy on her face when I finished the stack of pancakes she served me.

After breakfast, my restlessness led me to the back yard. Past the rose bushes and to the edge of the pool before I went back inside to grab a blanket from the living room to use as a barrier between my dress and the earth. Because the possibility of a grass stain is more upsetting than the smattering of red dots already set into the lilac fabric.

The tinkling of Titus’ collar is a prelude to his nosenudging my cheek before he settles on the blanket beside me. Expectation and admiration shine brightly in his eyes as he watches me, and it’s second nature to reach out and massage his shiny coat. If things were different, I would almost believe this is what peace feels like.

My lips twitch at the crimson stain on the skirt of my sundress as I pull my knees to my chest. I don’t let the smile bloom because as long as I’m in this man’s possession, he’s winning and there’s nothing to smile about. But if I deserve hell, Adonis deserves that new nick on his shoulder. I hadn’t accounted for the recoil after pulling the trigger, but it wasn’t bad for my first try. The odds of him being arrogant enough to leave another gun unattended in my presence are slim. But if he does, at least I know what to expect and that I need to adjust my grip to give him more than a shallow wound next time.

Next time.

Another twitch of my lips almost makes me feel guilty for cuddling with Titus. I despise his owner, and he seems oblivious to the fact. Either that, or his loyalty lies with whoever is giving him belly rubs at the moment.

As I run my hand over the underside of his stomach, my fingers tingle with the memory of the metal grazing my palm. A second later, my throat burns at the memory of his forearm slamming into my neck.

Yeah,exhilarating.

I stretch out on my back and turn my face toward the sun, letting my eyes slip shut and imagine the days in my near future when this is all behind me. Whether it’s delusion or denial, I don’t care. I have to believe I’ll be out of here soon.

Until then, I’ll enjoy the sun on my face and the peacethat comes with knowing I’m at least giving my captor a run for his money.

Rubbing my fingertips against the ache on my forehead, I release a breath. I can’t remember the last time I didn’t have a headache. Indigo always made me a peppermint tea whenever the pain was too bad. Granted, the tea never cured the headaches, but the splash of honey in each cup was as sweet as knowing somebody cared enough to try. I wonder what she’s doing right now.

Full of clouds and blue, the sky captures my attention until I forget about this morning and all I can remember is this moment. I always believed my soul resides in the clouds; it’s so much safer up there.

It’s not a windy day, but the trees still quiver. Ms. Agnes says they’re aspen trees. They bow with a dramatic whoosh, surrendering to the subtle breeze rippling through their branches. All I can hear is the rustle of green leaves and the world is quiet.

Quiet.

Quiet.

Quiet.

I must doze off because the next time I open my eyes, I’m still outside in the grass. Titus is gone and so is the sunlight. But only because Victor is blocking it.