Page 23 of The Immortal's One
Every muscle in my body is coiled tight as I inch the door open, praying no one waits on the other side.
I get it about half a foot open and pause to listen.
There’s no alarm. No footsteps race to intercept me.
I exhale, allowing some tension to drain from my muscles, and pull the door wider to poke my head out. A hallway stretches in both directions. It’s empty, save for more of the ornate, old-world décor.
I step into the hallway and ease the door shut behind me. If my abductor comes looking for me, I don’t want them torealize I’ve left the room right away. I need time to figure out how to escape.
You’re not getting far with a cracked rib.
I ignore my inner voice and stagger forward. Each step is a battle. Hope fuels me, stubborn and unwavering, even as my body screams for rest.
The hallway stretches out before me, disappearing around corners in both directions. I hesitate, uncertain which way to go, when voices reach me—distant and muffled.
I flatten myself against the wall, tears burn in my eyes from the sudden movement. My pulse thunders in my ears. Adrenaline floods my bloodstream. My only cover is the massive vase beside me, overflowing with greenery. I move closer to it, hoping I’m small enough to go unnoticed.
The voices continue.
I try to brace for a confrontation, but I have no idea what I should say. Or do.
Good news for me, no one comes around the corner.
Seconds stretch into what feels like forever until I decide the coast is clear.
Moving cautiously, I step out from my hiding spot and head toward the source of the noise. Rounding the corner, I stop dead in my tracks. A towering oak door looms ahead on the other side of an open loft.
Above, a grand crystal chandelier hangs like something out of a palace ballroom, its pristine surface gleaming. Beneath it, a wide, open foyer stretches below.
This place is massive. And… fancy.
Where the hell am I?
Shaking off the awe this place inspires, I return to the task at hand. The plush carpet muffles my footsteps as I cross the loft.
I stop next to the door, leaning my shoulder against the cool wall. I thought the door was closed, but it’s cracked. I work to steady my breathing, hoping whoever is inside won’t hear me through the narrow opening.
When no one bursts through the door, I assume I’m good.
I rest my ear against the crack between the door frame and the wooden door and listen.
“How could you be so foolish?” a woman’s voice cuts through the air, sharp with anger. She has an accent, but I can’t place it. “She’s going to have questions!”
“Would you rather we had left her there injured and at risk of someone else harming her?” a man retorts, strained and defensive.
It doesn’t take a genius to realize they’re talking about me. At least it sounds like my abductor isn’t planning to hurt me…
That’s something, I guess.
Careful not to bump the door, I peer through the narrow gap between the door’s hinges.
The room beyond is richly decorated, draped in hues of green and burgundy. I count four figures—two men and two women. The women sit on a forest-green sofa, their backs to me. One man sits in a chair, his profile visible. The other man paces between the sitting area and an unlit fireplace, his movement restless.
Thane.
Shock nearly chokes me. I press my hand against my mouth to smother the noise.
I hadn’t considered he’d be involved in my abduction, but now that I see him… I should’ve known. Both he and Des had said things at the club that didn’t sit right with me. Strange things. Things that made me want to get away from them.
