Page 54 of Bliss & Her Idols

I stare at Jinn.

“Chair,” he mouths.

I knew that Jin was playful from his vlogs. But he’s a volatile whirlwind.

I guess that I truly don’t know the real Jin, the ever curious one from Cricket’s letters who thirsts to know everything about the world outside his own prison from games to family meals.

I feel to the side of me.

My fingers close around an oak chair that’s stacked against the wall. I grimace as I wrangle it around Cricket in the small space. It scrapes along the floor, while I shove it toward Jin.

Jin grins, before waggling his fingers like he’s about to pull off a magic trick. Then he wedges the chair underneath the doorknob.

He takes a deep breath, before he risks letting go. “See? It won’t turn.”

We all wait in the silence.

Jin rubs his right shoulder.

He’s definitely still suffering from chronic pain.

“I needed somewhere quiet to calm down the Omega, Mr. Stapleton,” Jin tries, listening intently. I imagine that he’s had a lot of experience with how to deal with — manipulate — his bodyguards. They may think that they have the control over this man who burns brighter than anyone I’ve met, but I have the sense that they really don’t. “Please don’t keep banging and growling. It’s scaring our VIPs. Give me half an hour. Just concentrate on your breathing, good Omega. In and out…”

Jin’s eyes sparkle, as he acts out helping Cricket through his imaginary panic attack.

Yet he puts on the performance with enough authority that clearly he regularly helps someone with their attacks.

I wonder who…?

Cricket clasps tighter onto me and plays along, whimpering and breathing faster.

A loud sigh comes from the other side of the door.

Stapleton’s voice is quieter now. “Zoe has informed me that you havefifteenminutes. Find a way to get this door open, before I do. For your sake.”

Jin waits for a moment, listening to Stapleton’s footsteps walk away, before he slumps with relief against the door. “Finally, we’re alone.” Then he grins like this is the most thrilling moment of his life, rather than topping the charts or winning a Grammy. “Wow, this is what freedom feels like. It’s been years since I’ve been somewhere that I shouldn’t be during the daytime. Alone with people who aren’t approved by my manager, Rory Idol. Alone with the sexiest Omegas I’ve seen.Not on schedule.This feels incredible. Is this what it’s like to be free?”

“We’re locked in a closet.”

“Details.”

I really should have thought about the added risks of attempting to rescue acreative.

Jin taps Cricket on the shoulder. “You can stop pretending to have that panic attack now. You should take up acting. That was impressive.”

“I’m not pretending anymore.” Cricket heaves for breath. “You’ve trapped us in here, and all those people sound angry.”

Jin’s expression falls. “Ah, sorry. Fuck.”

Shock at Jin’s swearing appears to be enough to startle Cricket out of his spiraling anxiety.

He twists in my arms to stare up at Jin. “You cuss.”

“Don’t you?”

“But you never cuss.”

“You mean that I don’t inpublic. It’s against the rules. I’m not in public now. I’m with you.”

---