Page 25 of Trapped With You

My breath caught in my throat at the softness of the caress.

The walls of the library juddered with the next claps of thunder. Cade’s gaze gleamed with an unnamed emotion as it bore into mine. “What does it say?”

I opened the scrunched-up paper to reveal the next dare. Wordlessly, we bent our heads together to stare at it.

East Wing

Balthazar Building

X – XIII – XXI

Sixth Floor

A picture is worth a thousand words…

“Balthazar Building—the dormitories?”

“Yeah, I think so,” Cade said quietly. “The roman numerals must be the combination to get inside the building.”

Balthazar Building harboured the abandoned dormitoriesand was linked to the old bell tower, located in the east wing. The building was off-limits and I’d never seen the inside of it. According to rumours, it was the most haunted place in all of St. Victoria.

“How do you know that?”

“I have a hunch. Shaun once mentioned that you need a code to get inside the building.”

“Ah.” I clicked my tongue. “Makes sense.”

“I don’t understand the ‘A picture is worth a thousand words…’ but we can figure it out once we get there.”

“Okay.” I tightened my fist around the key. “Let’s do this.”

Cade swept his hand in front of us almost in a condescending manner. “Ladies first.”

Hah. Now he chose to show his ire and not when I made the cheating comment.

I sashayed to the library doors. Inserting the key, I twisted slowly and the lock unlatched with a soft click.

Gracias a Dios, it worked.

I shoved the doors open and gave Cade a condescending smirk of my own. “Gents first.”

Without sparing me a glance, he walked ahead with the swagger of a young kingpin, his broad shoulders stiff and his posture on high alert as he scanned the dark hallway for any threats.

And unceremoniously, my eyes caught the back of his black leather jacket.

Where I once paintedProperty of Ximenain stark white.

An old memory flitted into my mind. The day we sat together on a bench in St. Victoria’s courtyard. I decided then and there that he would be mine.

That I’d paint, stitch, and brand my name on every inch of his possessions. So everyone who looked at this boy knew he belonged to me.

Back then, we were so young and naive to the future that awaited us.

My throat dried up and my feet stayed rooted on the ground, unable to move as another rush of turbulent emotions slashed me.

I only had one question for him, but no will to utter it.

Why did you ruin us, Cade?