Page 152 of Lady Killer

Fully lit up, he looked like a fallen angel. Beautiful beyond measure . . . Colder than the ninth circle of hell.

I squinted, the darkness now overpowering.

“Yeah, a storm’s come in.”

Fumbling with the doorknob, I couldn’t think anymore, so I just did.

I crashed out into the hallway, struggling to orient myself in the dark.

As my eyes adjusted, wainscotting and wallpaper appeared before me.

The estate. Where on earth was Nixon’s bedroom in the estate?

Behind me, Nixon’s voice echoed. “Of course, I’ll keep an eye on her.”

Making a split-second decision, I charged to the right.

My room. I have to find my room.

I would find my room and then I would be . . .

What? Safe?

At this point I didn’t know, but I knew I had to get away.

My aching throat cried out in protest with every breath as I raced down the hall, looking for any marker of familiarity.

Thunder boomed again, sending me skittering.

“Luz.” Nixon’s voice rang out somewhere in the distance. “Where are you?”

Runwas all I could think.

Lightning flashed again, and I saw a shadow at the end of the hall.

Sprinting in the opposite direction, I tore down the dark corridor, blindly dashing around the corners. The carpets burned the soles of my feet, but still I ran.

Suddenly, the hall broke wide and there it was.

The pug-faced man. I had never been so happy to see him.

My room was just at the end of the hall, on the other side of the landing.

Thunder shook the house once more as I turned the corner.

I was so close.

Lightning struck.

I was halfway across the landing and—

Solid arms caught me in my gut, knocking the wind from me as I flew to the ground. The world spun like a Tilt-A-Whirl as Nixon’s hold on me forced the last of the air from my lungs.

“Where do you think you’re going, pet?”

My throat locked up, and I took big, gulping, empty breaths as I scratched at his arms.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” He half dragged, half carried me.

---