Page 54 of Monster

Lucy looked back at me when she got to the stairs. “Coming?”

I sighed inaudibly and quickly followed her to the stairs, touring the house for the first time.

“How many bedrooms are there?” I asked when I walked past a room with the door open. A look inside had me thinking it was probably Braxton’s room. I wondered how he was dealing with everything that had happened. I also wondered where he was.

“Four, including the office downstairs,” she answered without looking back. I paused on the stairs.

So there was room for me to be somewhere other than with Dominic?

What. The. Hell.

We came downstairs, and I could only look around with wide eyes.

This… was not what I was expecting.

Not for the president of the King’s Men MC. The man was rough with sharp edges that cut, and he lived in a nice, luxurious house with a housekeeper?

“How long has he been here?” I asked.

“About thirteen years,” Lucy answered.

“And how long have you been working with him?”

“A few years longer than that,” she answered, and something about her expression told me not to pry. “Since he was living in Las Vegas.”

“Las Vegas?”

She nodded. “That’s where the King’s Men originated. It was started by a man named Brooks Tanner. When Dominic took over, he brought the club to California.”

There were so many questions swirling inside my brain. I kept my mouth shut, afraid I might say something that crossed a line with her.

My focus shifted to the front door.

“I wouldn’t,” Lucy said.

I turned to her. She wasn’t that much bigger than me. Plus, I was much younger than her. Did she think she would be able to keep me here if I decided to make a run for it?

“Our closest neighbor is about a mile away,” Lucy added. “And Dominic has men posted outside the house. You wouldn’t even cross the property line, and the privileges you have right now would be gone.”

My lips snarled. “Privileges? You mean my freedom has to be earned?”

Something softened in her eyes, something that looked a hell of a lot like pity, before she schooled her expression. “I don’t make the rules, Emmy. But don’t do anything stupid until you know more.”

“Know more about what?” I asked. When she didn’t answer, I laughed. “All I did was save Braxton. Dominic should be getting on his fucking knees and thanking me, not holding me here. I have a life outside this house, and he just decided to take it away?”

“Calm down, Emmy—”

“I am calm!”

She didn’t say anything to that. My fists clenched, and I took a deep breath.

We were silent for a beat. “I’m going to make some breakfast and maybe do some baking. Would you like to help me?”

I blinked, trying to will the tears away. I did not want to break down in front of her.

“I’ll be in the kitchen if you decide to help,” she said.

She turned and walked away from me.

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