Page 10 of Broken Discipline

I swallowed hard, keeping my eyes focused on Finn as he pulled black cargo pants over his bulky legs. Everything about his demeanor was smooth. Orderly.Controlled.The threat of police didn’t faze him one bit.

“He’s locked me in the room and I can’t get out,” I said quietly.

“But has hehurtyou, ma’am?” she repeated.

Finally, he faced me, his blue eyes pale and empty. Like I wasn’t even there. I was simply an object standing in his way.

“No,” I whispered. “He hasn’t hurt me. Yet.”

“Does he have a weapon?”

I couldn’t see one anywhere, but it was dark and I was in a strange house. I had no idea what he kept in his closet or under the bed, or even inside ofmydresser.

“I-I don’t know,” I whispered. “I don’t know what he’s capable of. I haven’t seen him in years. Maybe he’s an imposter. You have to help me.”

“Don’t worry, ma’am. We’ll send someone over to check things out as soon as possible. Your address?”

“I don’t know,” I panted. “He took me from my house and I—”

“Seventeen-twelve, Paradise Avenue,” Finn answered.

My stomach hardened. He was practicallyinvitingthem here. Who the hell was he?

“Seventeen-twelve, Paradise Avenue,” I murmured.

“Try to stay calm. We’ll be there soon,” the woman said.

I shoved my phone in my cardigan’s pocket. When the twins were born, my husband had removed all the guns from the house, which I had always thought was a good thing—the twins were curious, especially Larkin, who loved pretending to be a warrior as much as she loved tea parties—but now that I was alone with a strange man, I wanted to shake Bruce for his cautionary ways when it came to the twins.

That’s why we live in Opulent Gates, darling,Bruce had said.If we need protection, we’ll hire someone through the Marked Blooms Syndicate. We don’t need to resort to that barbaric behavior.

Finn’s pale blue eyes faced me, like a milky ocean in the night. His lips were firm, his fat bottom lip wet and parched. I covered my chest with my arms, but something was off.

Back at the Masquerade, Finn had left the door unlocked to prove that I could leave if I wanted. But here,now,in this strange house? I was locked in with him, an animal in a cage. Like he was hunting me.

“The police are on their way,” I said. He blinked slowly, unamused. “Who the hell are you, really?”

“Your husband.”

“You’re not my husband. My husband is Bruce Ast—”

“Your husbandwasBruce Astley,” he said, raising his voice.

The doorbell echoed through the house. Finn tilted his head.

“They’re here,” he said.

He grabbed the door handle and the metal lit up with a soft green light, reading his fingerprints. The lock clicked open. I darted to the side to get out, but he put up a firm arm, blocking my exit. The doorbell rang again.

“Mr. Carter?” a muffled voice called out. “Are you home, sir?”

Finn put a hand on my lower back. I jumped out of my skin, and I sprinted down the hallway, trying to find the exit. The house was a maze of gray, black, and white. The only pops of color were items I recognized from Bruce’s mansion.

The monochrome double front doors stood tall in front of me. I grabbed the handles, but they didn’t move for me. My chest tightened, tears welling in my eyes.

If what Finn said was true, I should have been happy to be free of Bruce. But this wasinsane.Finn had taken me from my home, and Bruce hadn’t given me a warning.

I stepped back, giving Finn space to open the doors.