Page 15 of Claimed By my Stepbrother
“You couldn’t be anywhere safer. Let me show you what your life could be like here. Just give me one day.”
“If I do, will you let me leave?” she asks, helping herself to a cup of coffee. She sucks it down black, not even giving it a chance to cool down.
“You’re free to go wherever you want, babygirl, but I’m always going to have an eye on you for your protection,” I promise her. "And, your home will always be here with me."
Before she can respond, my phone buzzes, and a message demands my attention. Cursing under my breath, I empty my mug in the sink, rinsing it out before I turn to Sirena.
I hate to leave her here when there is so much unsettled between us. I walk to her, pulling her into a tight hug. "Preppy caught some punk counting cards on surveillance, so I’ve got to head into work to take care of it. I’ll be back as soon as I can," I promise her before leaning back.
"And, if you're a good girl, I'll eat your pussy again tonight." Her blush makes me chuckle, and I walk out of the kitchen to get dressed for the day.
With a hungry kiss, I leave Sirena safely behind my front door. In the elevator on the way down to the garage, I text Nutso and ask him to stop by and stay with Sirena as an extra precaution.
I'll be checking on her remotely through the home security system throughout the day. I've already placed trackers inside of her purses and shoes, so even if she somehow manages to escape from the penthouse—nearly impossible since she doesn't have a door sensor—I'll be able to keep an eye on her.
I’ve finally found the most precious thing in the world, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep her.
Chapter eight
Footloose
Sirena
DespitewhathappenedwithKnox last night, I can’t just stay here in this marble tower for the rest of my life. I do trust him, but I need him to trust me, too.
It’s Ivy’s birthday, and we had planned to do some shopping before we went out for a celebratory dinner. I knew there was no way Knox would let me leave alone—and there’s no way inhellam I going to take him along and have to explain to Ivy what’s happening between us.
When Knox was called into work, I started thinking of ways to get out of here. I know it’s going to take some serious scheming, but I think I can sneak out. I know he’s watching me—and he’s likely tracking me. I just don’t know how much time I have.
As I’m in my room changing, I hear my phone ping just seconds before a voice calls out. I freeze because it is most definitely not Knox. I grab my phone, quickly unlocking it.
Knox:That’ll be Nutso. I’ve sent him to keep you safe. Behave. ??
I’m livid that his need to protect me has inadvertently ruined my escape plan. Deciding to retaliate in the only way I can, I release my inner brat.
Sirena:I don’t need a watchdog, Knox. You have me trapped here in your tower. Who could possibly get to me here?
I wait a few moments, but no response comes.Good. Maybe now he’ll back off and let me make my own decisions. It makes me slightly bitter to admit it, even to myself, but a part of me gets a thrill at Knox’s protectiveness.
At the moment, I have things to do, and Knox has put a thug named Nutso on babysitting duty. Clearly, if his name is anything to go by, I don’t want to mess with him. Unable to postpone the inevitable, I throw on some loungewear, putting jeans and a tank in my purse to stow by the door just in case I can make my escape, and walk downstairs to greet my new manny.
I set my purse at the bottom of the stairs, hoping he doesn’t notice.
Nutso is… not at all what I was expecting. I was envisioning a mafia thug out of a movie, but his outfit is the only horrifying thing about him. He’s wearing a crocodile jacket over a white mesh tank with distressed white bell bottoms, and Chucks. It’s both surprising and displeasing to the eye. Clearly, he’s earned his name—even his outfit looks psychotic.
“Hi, I’m Sirena,” I say shyly, catching his attention and letting him draw his own conclusions about me.
He glances up from the remote, looking at me for a moment before he speaks. “Hi, little lady.” His nickname both annoys and thrills me. He, obviously, doesn’t perceive me as a threat.I can work with that.“I’m Nutso. I’m gonna stay here with you while Knox is working. Hope that’s okay.”Not like I have any choice in the matter.
“Sure. He texted to let me know you’d be here. I’m—I’m just going to be upstairs reading. Help yourself to the kitchen.” He nods, turning back to the TV and quickly flicking through the channels. I watch him for a moment, trying to get a read on him, but he’s a wildcard.
After a moment, I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and jog up the stairs, grateful that they’re well constructed and perfectly silent. I go back to my room and end up staring out the window at the desert, hoping for inspiration to strike.
After a while, still no closer to a plan, I decide to do some recon. The current threat to my escape is an unknown psycho currently sitting in the living room. I tiptoe out of the guestroom to the top of the stairs. I hear voices from the TV and jeering that can only be coming from Nutso.Great. He’s one of those highly annoying, possibly—or in this case definitely—crazy yell-at-people-on-television-even-though-they-can’t-hear-you people.
Peering around the corner into the living room, I can see that he’s distracted watchingAmerican Gladiators. He has a soda on the end table and a devious idea pops into my head. Now, I just need to see what Knox has in his medicine cabinet.
Quickly darting up the stairs, I go into Knox’s bathroom and find a bottle of Valium.That’ll do.I wonder, briefly, what he needs it for. He always seems like nothing bothers him. Determined to ask him later, when I’m not rushing against the clock for my freedom, I take two pills and crush them up with the flat bottom of the bottle.
