Page 1 of Survive the Night
Chapter 1
“Alice!”
Jeb’s shout made her jump, the tiny zipper tab slipping from her fingers. Alice glanced at the closed door. “Just a moment!”
“Hurry up.” Jeb sounded tense, making Alice’s fingers tremble in response. “Your brother is waiting.”
Her gaze darted to the clock. It was just past eight, and Aaron had told her to be ready by eight thirty. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t actually late, though. The punishment would be the same. “I’m almost ready.”
Alice fumbled for the zipper, only to have it slip from her fingers again. Gritting her teeth, she sucked a silent breath in through her nose and closed her eyes, willing her body to stop shaking. It would only delay her, and that would make everything worse. Opening her eyes again, she grasped the tab and slid it up until it touched the back of her neck.
Something scratched at her skin, and she frowned as she reached inside the collar. Had she forgotten to remove the dry cleaner’s tag? Her fingers closed around a small piece of paper, and she tugged it free. Taking the two steps toward the small trash can next to her vanity, Alice absently glanced at the now-crumpled scrap. It wasn’t the usual red tag the dry cleaner used, though. Smoothing it out, she saw something written in a slashing, aggressive hand.
Be ready to escape. Soon.
Alice froze, staring at the words. What was this? A joke? Why had it been attached to her dress? It couldn’t be meant for her, even though the wording made her desperately hope it was. How wonderful it would be to have a friend, one who would be willing to help her.
She didn’t have any allies, though. Not in Aaron’s world.
“Alice, for Christ’s sake.” Jeb swung open the door and stormed into the room. “It’s like you’re trying to piss off your brother.”
Years of practice allowed her to keep the guilty anxiety from showing. Closing her fingers around the slip of paper in a way she hoped looked casual, Alice glanced at her bodyguard over her shoulder. “Almost ready.” Her voice sounded calm, not revealing how hard her heart was pounding. “I just need to use the bathroom, and then we can leave.”
“No time.” Jeb grabbed her arm, his fingers pressing into old bruises, making it hard to hold back a wince. “You can go at the restaurant.”
Alice twisted free, despite knowing that he would make her pay for that small act of disobedience. Still, whatever Jeb’s punishment would be, it couldn’t be as bad as what would happen if Aaron found that message. “I can’t wait. I promise to be quick.” Without hesitating, knowing it would be impossible to escape Jeb’s grip if he caught her a second time, she darted for the bathroom.
The lock was something a five-year-old could unlatch with a piece of wire and some luck, but it would give her a few seconds, and that was all Alice needed. She allowed herself one last quick glance at the message, just long enough to convince herself that it was real. The words were still there, exactly the same as before, and her heart sped up again—this time, with hope.
Jeb’s heavy fist pounded on the door. With sweaty fingers, Alice shredded the note, allowing the bits of paper to fall into the toilet. She flushed and watched the tiny pieces spin in circles until they were sucked down the drain. After a last check to make sure every bit of evidence was gone, she pulled up her sleeves and washed her hands.
As she dried them, the lock popped out, and the door opened. Alice adjusted her sleeves so they reached her wrists, hiding the faded and fresh oval bruises that dotted her forearms. She turned to Jeb, keeping her expression blank, but inside she braced for his anger.
“Let’s go,” he grunted, and she relaxed slightly. Obviously, Jeb wasn’t willing to delay them any longer, even if he was irritated with her. He rushed her out of the bedroom and down the stairs, staying so close behind her that the thud of his footsteps was almost painfully loud.
“Alice!” The impatience in her brother’s voice made her want to run back up to her room, but that would be futile. Not only would Jeb stop her, but her bedroom wasn’t a sanctuary. There wasn’t a safe place in the entire house—or in Alice’s entire life.
The promise scrawled on that note flickered in her mind, but she quickly banished it. It could be a joke or a trick or meant for someone else or…who knew. She couldn’t get her hopes up. If she did, and whoever it was didn’t come through, the disappointment would crush her.
As she reached the bottom of the steps, Aaron was already charging down the hall toward her. “Alice! Where is that… Oh, there you are.” He stopped abruptly, frowning as he took in her appearance. Even though she knew he could find no fault—that he himself had chosen the blue dress for its nun-approved neckline and concealing sleeves—her stomach still soured with nerves. “What took you so long?”
She just stayed quiet. It was futile to protest, to tell him that she wasn’t late, that she was, in fact, fifteen minutes early.
Besides, he wasn’t really interested in what she had to say.
“Come on, then.” He turned to the front entrance. “The car’s waiting.”
With Aaron in front of her and Jeb behind, Alice made her way out of the house. The driver holding open the car door was Chester, and he gave her a subtle wink as she slid into the back seat of the SUV. She raised her hand in a tiny return wave, hoping he saw it but not daring to do more. When she was younger, she’d spent as much time as she could with Chester and his wife, Gloria. He’d taught her how to drive and take care of the horses, and Gloria had taught her how to cook and take care of herself. Both of them had showed her how to be a decent human being. After her father died, right before she turned eighteen, Aaron took over as head of the family and assigned Alice full-time bodyguards. It became impossible to sneak away to the kitchen or the barn. Surreptitious waves were the closest she’d gotten to talking to Chester or Gloria in years.
Jeb circled the car to climb into the front passenger seat as Aaron sat next to her. Chester closed Aaron’s door, and Alice had the almost irresistible urge to scramble out of the car and run. Only the knowledge that she’d barely get ten feet before Jeb tackled her stopped her from trying. They said to be ready, she reminded herself, fingers clutching the leather upholstery on the side away from Aaron, where her brother couldn’t see her bone-white, desperate grip. What if there really is a plan? I just need to wait a little longer.
Aaron glanced at her sharply. For one terrified second, Alice thought she’d actually said the words out loud. Then reason returned, and she was able to smooth her expression into its usual placid lines.
“Best behavior, Alice,” he warned, settling back in his seat. “This is an important meeting. First impressions matter. Make a good one, or there will be consequences.”
Fire flared in her belly, working its way up to her cheeks. With a huge effort, she kept her rage locked inside and gave Aaron a small nod, hoping that he’d mistake her red face for embarrassment. Turning her head, she stared blindly out the window, not seeing the irrigated lawns or brassy, overdone homes they passed.
Just a little longer, she repeated, turning it into a chant in her head. Just a little longer. If the note is real, if it’s meant for me, if there’s an escape plan…so many ifs. Wait and see and be prepared, just in case it’s real. It won’t kill me to wait a little longer.
