Page 71 of Caged in Desire
We’re all trapped here together, as Henry has exercised whatever power he has as head of the family to call in a crap ton of security. He’s also ordered Ledger and Jack to keep all of usgirls and the baby within their sight at all times. Even though the threat was against me, Ledger and Jack were shaken up at the thought of anyone nefarious getting close enough to the compound to put a piece of mail in the mailbox.
Currently, Ledger is downstairs eating with everyone and will bring something up for me when he finishes and takes Jack’s place. Sitting on the bed with my arms crossed, I continue my stare down of Jack.
“She really didn’t know who you were? Like not even an inkling of an idea?” I ask, still trying to wrap my head around his and Margot’s love story.
He continues spinning in the desk chair he’s commandeered, but grimaces at my question.
“No, she really didn’t know. I know it’s fucked up.”
“She didn’t recognize your…you know…”
Stopping his spins suddenly with both feet on the ground, he gives me a horrified expression.
“Are you crazy! We absolutely, positively, certainlycannottalk about my dick. Henry would cut it off and keep it as a reminder for anyone who looks at you wrong! No! Not happening!”
He resumes his spinning, and I laugh, happy for just a moment to forget about all the scary things that have been happening. The pit in my stomach that’s been festering since the break-in has me feeling almost constantly nauseous, especially now that we know whoever did it was likely coming for me specifically. Clearing my throat, I try to appeal to Jack again.
“Don’t you think only giving meone roomis a little excessive? I mean, truly, Jack. What’s the worst that could happen by letting me have the run of the house?” I ask in my nicest, totally not up to anything voice.
Ugh, I don’t want to pull out the big guns, but I miss LJ. I should at least have the girls to chat with if I’m gonna be kept cooped up for God knows how long.
“I got so used to being around everyone,” I say honestly, even if I am trying to manipulate Jack. Desperate times…
“You’ll see them all soon, I’m sure,” he replies, although I’ve gotten his attention, and he’s stopped spinning.
“Yeah, I guess. I just,” I sigh quietly before meeting Jack’s gaze. Regardless of whether he lets me out or not, he and I have some childhood trauma in common, I think. “I just never got to have the feeling of truly fitting in somewhere until I got here, you know? I had Sasha and the staff, and that wasit.But here, it’s like I know we all care about each other and have each other’s backs. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
Rolling my eyes, I sniffle and then laugh.
“Henry locked me in here, and I’ll bet the girls are downstairs playing board games! Or planning LJ’s first birthday. Maybe his next nursery redesign. Or something for Margot’s wedding! And I’ll miss it up here with you, no offense,” I finish.
“It’s my wedding too,” he grumbles quietly, before sighing. “Alright. You win. Only because I miss Margot so much, though. Not because your little speech cracked my rock-hard, tough guy exterior.”
Laughing, I pop up from the bed and squeeze him in a side hug before he opens the door for me and gestures for me to head out first. Almost skipping through the door, I make a quick turn into the hallway when…
“Ooomph!” A masculine grunt comes from Ledger as the plate he was carrying crashes to the ground. He puts his hands on his hips and regards Jack and me with what strikes me as very disappointed dad energy.
“John Flynn Carter Sinclair. Katarina I-don’t-know-your-Russian-middle-name Sinclair. Exactly why are you leaving this room when our fearless family leader Henry expressly told you not to?”
Blinking up at him, I realize I’ll be turning around and heading right back to prison. Great. The urge to stomp my foot like a toddler is real.
“It’s Pavlovna. The kinda feminine form of her dad’s name. Russian thing but not really a middle name, per se.”
Ledger and I both turn to stare at Jack, who has picked up the sandwich that was meant for me from the floor and is already halfway through eating it.
“What? I know things. You get a Russian sister-in-law, you try to learn some shit. Good sandwich, by the way, brother,” he says, taking another huge bite, unbothered as ever.
Ledger closes his eyes, sighs, then looks down at me.
“Come on, Kat, let’s get you back in your room per Daddy’s orders,” he says, and I choke on air.
Any hope I have of hiding my reaction is gone as I cough, and Jack unhelpfully smacks me on the back as Ledger doubles over in laughter.
“Holy fuck, I didn’t know he had actually taken my advice. That motherfucker,” he wheezes as he ushers me back inside. “I cannot wait to tease him about this.”
I flop down on the bed dramatically and scream into a pillow, glad to be of amusement to the family but upset and bored at being quarantined once again.
“I’ll have to go remake your food since Jack ate it off the floor like a dog…” Ledger begins.
