Page 49 of Silent Oaths
Julianfills him in.Maxwelllistens, his expression shifting from mild amusement to something more serious as the pieces start to fall into place.
“Huh,” he finally says, leaning back in his chair. “So, the games weren’t justLionelbeing his usual sadistic self.Ican’t sayI’msurprised, but damn.”Hepauses before he adds with a dry chuckle, “Atleast now, we have a valid excuse for how screwed up we are.”
Julianshakes his head, muttering something about howMaxwellnever takes anything seriously.Then, he says, “I’llkeep digging,” before standing to gather the papers.
Maxwellwaves him off. “Great.Letme know when you find the part where we’re not completely doomed.”
AfterJuliansteps out, he turns to me with that infuriating grin of his. “So, what’s the deal withIsabel?”
Inarrow my eyes. “Whatdo you mean?”
“She’sbeen awfully quiet lately.Ifigured maybe you finally scared her off.”
“Don’tbe an idiot.”
“Relax.”Heholds up his hands, his grin widening. “I’mjust asking.When’sthe last time you even saw her?”
Thequestion hits harder thanIexpect.Iclench my jaw, forcing my expression to stay neutral. “It’sbeen a couple weeks.”
Notsince the basement.
Itell myself it’s becauseI’vebeen busy.Thereis too much on my plate to waste time thinking about her.
That’sa lie.
Thetruth is,Ihaven’t been able to stop thinking about her.Theway she looked on her knees, eyes glossy, cheeks flushed from the sharp bite of my palm.Theway my cock strained against my slacks at the sight of her, the way she submitted beneath my hands despite the defiance still burning in her gaze.I’vethought about putting her back in that position, about going further, taking everythingIknow she’s afraid to admit she wants.
ButIcan’t allow myself that yet.
Maxwellraises an eyebrow, clearly surprised. “Weeks?Didn’tthink you had it in you to stay away that long.”
Idon’t respond.Hedoesn’t need to know the distance is calculated, that every second away from her has only fueled my obsession.
Instead,Iwatch him.He’sfishing for something.
“Isthere something wrong with her?”
Maxwellshakes his head. “She’sfine.”
“Max.”Myvoice is flat.
Heexhales, raking a hand through his hair. “Shehas been having nightmares, wakes up crying sometimes.”
That’swhyI’vecaught him sneaking down the hall almost every night.He’sbeen going to comfort her.
Astrange sensation settles in my chest, something dark and possessive, but it’s not jealousy.
Maxwellstands, stretching dramatically, like he just finished a hard day’s work. “Well, on that note,IthinkI’mgoing to crash.Orat least try to, assumingIdon’t dream about ritual sacrifices or creepy old cults.”
“Goodnight,Maxwell,”Isay flatly, not looking up.Mymind is elsewhere, fixated on the fact thatIsabelhas been in distress whileI’vebeen keeping my distance.
Andon the fact thatIdon’t want to stay away anymore.
Momentslater, the door clicks shut.
Iturn to my desk and press the hidden switch.Themonitor comes to life, and the feed turns on, showingIsabel’sroom.She’sasleep, curled up on her side, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.
Something’sdifferent tonight.Ican’t just sit here and watch her.There’sa knot in my chest, twisting tighter with every passing second.
