Page 66 of The Unraveling

I feel his eyes on me and turn to look at him, but when I do, he’s looking straight ahead.

My heart squeezes and more heat fills my chest. The space between us tightens, and I find it hard to breathe.

No. No. No.

We get to the building, and the car slows to a stop.

“Thanks,” I say as I rush out. “It was very nice of you to get champagne for us.”

“I’ll wait here, make sure you got in okay. Text me when you’re inside with the door locked. I don’t like this area for you.”

I nod. “Okay, will do.”

I need to get out of the car and away from him. He puts a complete spell on me.

I’ve never had someone worry about my safety like this. Jordan is so relaxed, so unruffleable, he never seems worried about something like an unsafe area. He just seems comfortable.

“Jesus,” I say to myself, going up to the building door, collecting myself. Someone is walking out when I walk in, so I don’t have to worry about trying to get Arabella to answer. Which is good, because I don’t know what her mood is going to be like after earlier.

I walk up the steps, go to the door, lift the mat, and—

The key isn’t there.

Oh, hell.

I try the knob, but it is, of course, locked.

I knock on the door. Once. Twice. Three times, and loudly.

No answer. But I can hear people on the other side. I press my ear to the door. It’s laughing.

“Arabella, can you let me in, please?”

There’s no answer, and I hear someone say shhh.

God. What are we, teenagers?

I’m not sure what to do.

My phone buzzes, and it’s a text from Alistair.

All ok?

I knock on the door one more time. “Arabella, this isn’t funny, can you just let me in? This is so fucking—ugh, Arabella!” I pound harder.

Nothing.

I step back and stare at the door. No wonder she didn’t give me a key. This is her way of keeping control over her harem.

I look both ways down the corridor, not sure what to do. But then I see my canvas bag in the corner. I open it and see that almost all of my clothes have been smashed into the bag.

What a bitch.

I go back downstairs and to the car. Alistair rolls down the window. “Problem?”

“She locked the door and hid the key. She won’t let me in. She’s there, but she won’t let me in.”

“That girl. Get in.” He opens the door and slides over.

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