Page 74 of The Caged Girl

“Is the pilot employed through Declan or Alister?” I whispered to Sage, who kept staring at Myles in shock.

“Declan,” she said quietly.

“I need you to find his mother. If you do a quick search, you’ll find her. I can’t look anything up without being detected, nor can you on Ivory Island.”

“I’m going to give him snacks,” Sage said calmly. “White rice and yogurt?” She was talking to herself as she stood and walked to the back of the plane.

Myles looked at me nervously. “Listen, you’ll be okay. If she tries to keep you, I want you to bite her and run for your life once you’re back in America. Run toward a busy area, okay?” I brushed my hands against his cheek.

“We just have white rice and plain yogurt…” Sage brought a crystal bowl out for Myles. “Declan likes for me to maintain the same diet.”

“Sage, he’s not going to be around to tell you what to do anymore.”

“Mrs. Rothschild?” The pilots voice cut through the intercom.

“Bye, Myles.” I felt sadness and relief as I shut the lid to the bench. “Let him out as soon as you’re in the air.”

“I’ve been notified by Mr. Bradley Ivory that Mr. Rothschild will be leaving Ivory Island by boat to explore nearby islands. We will be preparing for takeoff shortly.”

Sage touched the cake pendant with a grin. “I like your necklace.”

“Thanks, have a piece of cake for me when you get to freedom, will you? Preferably not vanilla…” I wiped away a tear and got off the plane.

For the very first time in my life, I felt a sliver of peace. I wasn’t evil; I was still good.

* * *

I was exhausted, but my mind kept going back to the birth and Life Center. The pregnant women and the children in dog kennels.

I sat on the balcony of the penthouse and stared into the night sky, hoping Myles and Sage were already far away from the island of hell.

I took a bath, hid the necklace Bradley gave me, and put on a set of silk pajamas. Alister would come home at any time. I was already nervous about the possibility that he had cameras and had seen me.

The hours went by slowly, I paced around with no appetite, and I even had dark thoughts about swallowing the pill and killing myself.

But then I thought about my sister, Bradley, and the others.

“My gorgeous raven…”

“Alister.” I was already shaking at his presence.

He immediately hugged and kissed me before tugging his tie off and throwing it to the side. “I’ve missed you, especially after seeing you on camera today…” he trailed, letting his hands trace my neck.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I looked into his dark eyes. “Camera?” My heart was racing too fast.

He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes at me. “When you teased me from my office?”

“Oh yes, of course. I just missed you.” I nuzzled my face into his neck, hoping he’d loosen the grip of his hands.

“I want to have my own fantasy come true tonight, my love,” he whispered into my ear.

“Okay…” I shuddered at the thought of having any kind of intimacy with this sick man.

“If you do this for me with a smile on your face and no objections, I’ll grant you a wish.” Alister ran his fingers against my lips. “My very own princess Jasmine.” He beamed at me. “I know you want something from me…”

This couldn’t have been a coincidence. What did he know? “I’ll do anything you want. I’ll make your wildest fantasy come to life.” I started as he looked at me. “Anything, my love.”

“Let all the children that you kidnapped go back home.”

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