Page 45 of Heartless

“The door to your quarters will stay unlocked, and you’re not confined in this room, but don’t go anywhere past the kitchen.Everywhere else in the house is available to you.When she eyed the double door, I leaned in.“Don’t even think about it.I have people watching the house, and their job is to keep you in.”

Her head snapped up.When my jaw clenched, her chin dipped, and more of those silent tears drifted down her flushed face.

“If you need anything, ask Cam.That includes women things, food, books, or anything else, just ask her.In the office there’s a laptop if you want to write.I’m going to keep yours.No access to the internet.What’s the password on your cell?”

She shook her head.“There’s no password.”

“Biometrics?”

Her jaw quivered.“No.”

Fuck’s sake.What world was she living in?

She touched her chest.“What if...What if Nigel doesn’t give you back what he stole?”

I edged closer, and her shoulders went up again.“He will, and you’ll be free to live the life your daddy has laid out for you.”

After she’d tucked one of her curls behind her ear, the quiet of her voice made it raspier.“All right.”

“There’s food in the kitchen.Don’t even think about starving yourself.Your ass can miss a few meals, but I’ll force-feed you myself if you try that shit.”

More of those fucking tears.

“Am I clear?”

When she nodded, I exited the room.Once in my office, I turned on the monitor, displaying the six camera angles.

She stood at the window for a long time before padding slowly to the library.After fitting the earbuds back in her ears, she knelt between her books and started arranging them in piles.

Not once did she come out of the quarters.

****

Sienna

The next day, after a couple of hours of sleep and a long shower, I got dressed, and...I just sat on the sofa.I missed Mom.Amongst all the wonderful things Caitlin Winslow had taught me, the most important one was to look for the silver lining in every situation, which I truly believed had been key in beating cancer three times.

So, seated in the beautiful halo of morning light cradling the room, I hung onto that silver lining.I was confined, but the house was beautiful.Having no social or professional life meant I could write to my heart’s content.I was healthy, and I believed no one would physically hurt me.And Jake wouldn’t touch me because he was...disgusted by...My breath hitched, and I touched my chest.Come on, Sienna.Take a deep breath.I focused on the clear blue sky until my hammering heartbeat was under control.

I stayed there until pangs of hunger painfully squeezed my stomach.I had to eat, and I needed to keep strong.Just as I stood up, there was a soft tap on the door.

Keeping still while my heart knocked in my throat, I waited for the door to open, but when nothing happened, I said, “Come in.”

Camila entered, and her soft brown eyes hooked onto mine.“Good morning, Sienna.”

My voice was hoarse.“H-hi.”

Heavy seconds passed before she walked farther into the room.Her tone was cautious.“I didn’t know.Jake told me yesterday, but I didn’t know, Sienna.”

She must have read my confusion because she added, “I didn’t know you were in love with him.Jake told me you agreed to come here to get away from your dad.”

Heat surged to my face.“He’s not my dad.”

After a sigh, she said, “I’m sorry, Sienna.I really am.I don’t condone what Jake did, and I guess that’s why he didn’t tell me beforehand.”Another heavier sigh followed.“He said you’ve lost your mother recently.When did she pass away?”

As every time I thought about my mom, my heart squeezed.“Eighty-eight days ago.”

“You’ve just lost her,” she whispered.