Page 10 of Dark Knight

When I finally got my courage up, I left the bedroom, walking slowly down the hallway so nobody could accuse me of running and trying to flee the obligation I had to pay Dylan back for saving me from Sean. I also didn't completely trust my body. I'd been chained to a bed and barely fed for the last few weeks, so I didn't want to push myself any more than necessary.

The hallway was just as opulent as the bedroom, and as I progressed through the house, I realized that everything was of the level of luxury and comfort. This sort of luxury was beyond something I'd ever even thought I might experience, so I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to keep my wayward fingers from reaching out and touching things that were probably worth more than I could ever repay if I broke them. My nerves jangled as I made my way downstairs.

I wasn't sure why I thought it was morning when I woke up. Because when I finally found someone, it was Hudson, and he was eating the biggest burger I'd ever seen in my life. He didn't seem to realize that I was there at first, so I took a minute to actually look at him, which was more than I'd done when I first encountered them.

His hair was too light to be called brown and almost too dark to be called blond. It was longer on top than it was at the sides, but it was shaggy all over. If it wasn't for the tattoos that decorated his neck and arms and his serious attitude, he would have given off an almost Golden Retriever vibe, albeit a very muscular one. Lord, the man was ripped.

The black t-shirt he wore seemed to be a little on the small size, though it wasn't enough to look like it was bursting at the seams. Still, the color just highlighted the tan of his skin and the dark ink of the tattoos.

He reached up and ran a hand through his hair, making me realize it wasn't just his neck and arms that were tattooed either. There were tattoos on his temples, and if I wasn't mistaken, they peeked out through his hair as well. With his hair out of his face, he took another bite of his burger. My gaze fixated on the food, mouth watering at the sight of it. The smell of the fries and the grilled meat that wafted toward me as he moved made my stomach growl.

"Hungry?" he asked without looking up, which made me wonder how long he'd been aware of my presence.

I tried to answer, but my voice caught in my throat, fear skating through my system at the idea of being punished for leaving my room even though I hadn't been locked in.

When he looked up at me, his dark gaze locking with my own, I nodded. I wasn't sure what was happening or who these men were who had saved me, but I wasn't going to turn down food if they were going to give it, especially not after the few weeks that I’d had.

He slid a plain looking cheeseburger across the table in my direction, and I couldn't help but stare at the one he was having that was drenched in barbecue sauce and fried onions. Still, any food was better than no food.

I finally got my feet to move and crossed the dining area to the table before taking a seat and quickly unwrapping my burger. When I'd seen him sitting there eating, I hadn't even taken the time to look around. I'd been focused on him and the food, and I still was.

The burger was gone in a few bites, which made Hudson's eyebrows raise. He offered me another one, sliding it across the glass dining table in my direction, and though I started to reach for it, I didn't take it. I knew if I put too much in my belly, I'd just be sick. When I hesitated, he placed a bottle of water in front of me instead, which I was grateful for.

"Where's Dylan?" I asked quietly as I unscrewed the cap.

"He'll be here shortly."

I nodded as an awkward silence descended. I took a long swig from the water bottle, gulping a few mouthfuls down before forcing myself to stop. It was more than a little refreshing, especially after the grease of the burger. I chewed on the inside of my cheek, unsure what to say to this man, not even really knowing who he was.

He didn't seem bothered by the silence as he watched me. He glanced at me, holding my stare over the top of his burger as he ate.

I had to wrench my own gaze away, knowing that if I looked any longer, I'd just start babbling nonsense, trying to ease the tension I felt. The only option I had, if I didn't want to hold his stare, was to watch him out of my peripheral line of vision. I tried to take in the eating area as well as the man who was observing me just as much as I was him.

The room we sat in was surprisingly modern in comparison to the bedroom and hallways I just walked through. Everything was all sleek surfaces, black and chrome. Even the table we were sitting at was glass with black metal legs. I knew from experience that it was probably a pain in the ass to keep it clean.

"Do you guys have maids or something?" I hadn't meant to ask the question, but I was out there now.

"Why do you ask?" Hudson's gaze narrowed on me.

"Because this table is so clean. There are hardly any fingerprints on it. No food stains, nothing."

Hudson snorted, my answer seeming to both satisfy and amuse him. "Yeah, we have maids, and a cook that comes occasionally as well."

"Fancy," I muttered quietly, which just made Hudson laugh once more.

"You have no idea." I got the sense that, in some way, we were both amazed by this house, the staff, and the amount of money Dylan must have in order to employ people like that and live somewhere like this.

"How do you know Dylan?" I asked. I knew I shouldn't. I knew it was none of my business, but my curiosity was getting the better of me.

"That's a long story." Dylan's voice came from the doorway behind me. "So what's your name?" Dylan asked as he came to sit between me and Hudson, taking a chair at one end of the table.

"Evie. Didn't I already tell you that?"

"You did, but you were high as balls at the time, so I figured I'd ask again." He shrugged. "Do you know how you ended up where you were?" Dylan spoke slowly, and the slight pause before he avoided telling me I was at an auction let me know that he was choosing his words carefully.

"I was kidnapped." My tone was clipped, neither of us wanted to overshare. Since I still wasn't sure what relationship, if any, they might have with Sampson, I didn't want to mention him just yet.

"Do you know why?" Dylan tossed a fry in his mouth, seeming nonchalant about the idea that someone had taken me.

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