Page 10 of Liars

Perhaps being hidden away on the other side of town was a blessing and exactly where I needed to be for the time being. No one would come looking for me here, that was for sure.

It wasn’t even the wrapped shoulder throwing me off. Had my cheeks always been that hollow? I desperately needed a shower and a brush. My silvery-blonde hair shone dully in my reflection, lacking its usual luster and shine. As did my light-blue eyes. They were darker, troubled, and stormy.

I hadn’t had a proper shower since the incident, and now the thought of a long, hot bath wouldn’t get out of my head. Especially since I was dying to shed these hospital clothes and into something of mine.

Speaking of mine… Where was my stuff?

Leaving the bathroom, I went in search of some clothes, throwing open the closet doors. I gasped. Not in excitement. In horror. Nothing hanging in the closet was mine. I scanned the jeans, sweaters, shirts, and other items inside, thumbing through some frantically.

No. No. No.

Nothing. Not a single item was mine. Most still had tags on them.

A section of my wardrobe at home was made of items for my school uniform. Variations of skirts, pants, sweaters, tops, cardigans, and button-ups all the same shade of blue, white, and black. I never thought I’d miss a uniform so much as I did at this moment.

A wave of anger surged inside me, and before I knew it, my feet were marching across the room, my hand twisting the handle, and the bedroom door flew open, but I halted over the threshold, staring into the hallway. My chest heaved from thefury pumping through my veins. I wanted to stomp downstairs and demand my godfather tell me where my things were, demand he take me home to get them, but I wasn’t alone. At the top of the stairs stood a man in all black. His eyes quickly swept to mine the second I’d opened the door, alert and intense. He had an earpiece hooked around his lobe. I’d seen his type before. Security.

Had Donovan put detail on me? Was this guy here to watch me? To keep me from running? Or to protect me? Was my guardian afraid someone might hurt me?

Staring wordlessly at the stranger, I would bet my left ovary he was assigned to keep me from leaving. What would happen if I tried to walk down the stairs and out the front door? I didn’t know why, but some rebellious part of me had to find out.

It was a split-second decision. Leaving the door open behind me, I walked into the hallway, toward the stairs, my eyes never leaving the security guard’s. As expected, he stepped in front of my path, blocking the exit. “Mr. Corvo would like you to remain in your room for the time being.”

My gaze narrowed as I glanced up, my neck craning back from his height. He had flawless caramel skin. “I need to speak with him.”

The guard didn’t so much as flinch. “He isn’t available, but I will let him know you wish to see him.” It was impossible to ignore his dismissive tone.

However, the problem was that I was far from done with this conversation. We were just getting started. “How long do I have to stay in my room?”

His huge chest was aligned with my nose. “Until I’m told otherwise.” He had a deeper timbre to his voice that I found pleasant and reassuring or would have if he weren’t currently acting like a boulder in my path.

“So, I’m a prisoner.”

He said nothing, just continued his rigid pose.

“What’s your name?” I demanded, cradling my arm.

“Evan.”

“Well, Evan, is there anything else I can do? Or would it be easier to ask what I can’t do?” I snapped.

I swore the corner of Evan’s mouth twitched. He had a handsome face, and if I were a few years older, I’d attempt a completely different tactic on him, and honestly, if I ran out of options, I was willing to play dirty.

“I’m here to keep you safe,” he stated flatly.

This was going nowhere. “Do you know where my stuff is?Mr. Corvo”—I dramatically emphasized his employer’s name—“said he had someone pick them up.”

“I don’t know anything about your possessions, Miss Steele.”

“Call me Kaylor. I have a feeling we’re going to be spending a lot of time together,Evan.”

Donovan might not have locked me in my bedroom, but I was a prisoner in this house no less. I just had a bigger cell.

I stormed back to my room, letting the door slam shut behind me. The echoing clap only gave me marginal satisfaction. It would take about a million more door slams to even come close to releasing the frustrations building within me.

Running a hand through my hair, I noticed something tucked into the back of the closet. It looked eerily like my schoolbag. A burst of joy, too much joy for something like a backpack.

I dug it out of the closet and plopped it on the bed, tearing at the zipper. My lips curled. My first genuine smile since… I couldn’t say it. Not yet.

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