Page 39 of Dark Knight

I finished the shower like nothing was wrong. When I got out, I expected to see the same heart and arrow on the mirror, but I didn't. Instead, I saw the arrow had become part of an eight-pointed star that surrounded the heart. I had no idea what it meant, but I knew a cage when I saw it.

As casually as I could, I got dressed and left the room, making my way through the house and straight to Dylan's office, hoping that I'd find him inside. Honestly, I had no idea where he would be if he wasn't there, so this was my only hope, especially since I passed through the empty dining area on the way there.

The door wasn't shut, but I didn't hear anything from inside either, so I knocked lightly. Dylan's grunt was the only thing I got in response.

When I pushed the door open, I saw him sitting, staring at a sleek-looking laptop that was popped open in the middle of the desk. His crisp, white shirt looked brilliant against his dark hair, tanned skin, and the dark wood that surrounded him. He looked every inch the businessman, even if he wasn't wearing a tie.

His dark hair was coiffed just so, making me want to run my hands through it and mess it up. The Dylan I'd become comfortable with was a little more disheveled than the one currently sitting in front of me.

I softly cleared my throat, which made him look up from the laptop. His gaze went from steely to soft in a matter of seconds, which warmed something inside of me.

"What can I do for you, sunshine?" he asked, closing the screen a little too quickly as though he didn't want me to see what was on it. He laced his fingers and set his hands on top of the closed laptop.

"I need to talk to you about something. Can I shut the door?"

He nodded. "Whatever makes you comfortable."

I quickly shut the door behind myself before walking further into the office. After taking a steadying breath, I said, "I think there's somebody following me."

His eyebrows raised. "Oh, what makes you think that?"

"I found things moved in my room, and someone has been drawing messages on my mirror in the bathroom. They're in the house, whoever they are. Do you have any new staff or anything like that?"

"The only new person in this house is you, sweetheart." My heart froze in my chest for a moment before beating again painfully as a wave of adrenaline rushed through me. I hadn't even noticed that Hud was posted up in the corner of the room.

I looked over at him. His normally messy honey-colored locks were carefully combed into place and he wore a suit just like Dylan. His suit consisted of charcoal trousers and a clean, white shirt. He, of course, wasn't wearing a tie either.

The shirt was tighter than I imagined was comfortable and seemed to strain to contain him. If he moved too quickly, I imagined it would burst, which seemed like a waste to me. It certainly made him look more intimidating, as though his muscles were demanding to be used. I wondered if that was the point.

"The first time I saw something drawn on my mirror, it was a heart and an arrow. The second time, which was just now, the arrow had become part of a star." The star seemed to pique their interest.

"So you're saying if we go up there right now and make your bathroom all steamy, there'll be a heart and a star on your mirror?" Dylan clarified.

"There should be, yeah. Do you not believe me?" I asked.

"It's not that I don't believe you, but you've been through something very traumatic. I wouldn't be surprised if you've got some things that you need to sort through in your head and with your emotions. I'm not saying it's impossible, sunshine, but it's not like we've ever had anything like this happen before.

“The only thing that's changed is you coming here. There's no other new staff members or anything like that. Plus, most people aren't insane enough to try and break into the house of one of the crime families in the area."

"I mean, when you put it like that, it makes me sound like the crazy one, but I swear I'm not." I had to keep reminding myself that what I saw was real. I didn't think Dylan was gaslighting me on purpose.

The problem was that in his mind, his house was a fortress. It was the Cave of Solitude. Nobody could get to him here. But if what I was saying was right, people certainly could get to him in his house.

"I'm going to go up and take a look. You stay here," Hudson murmured as he got up. He slipped soundlessly from the room. The door didn't even make a clicking sound as he walked away.

I went and sat politely in the chair opposite Dylan. "Don't let me stop you from your work. I mean, if there's no heart on the mirror when Hudson gets in there, I'm clearly losing my mind. Right?" There was a bit of spite to my voice that I couldn't control.

I knew he had his own reasons for denying that somebody in this house might wish me harm, but it still hurt that he didn't seem to believe me. I had to remind myself that we didn't really know each other all that well. We only met a week ago at the most.

He made no move to open his laptop back up. Instead, he asked, "Are you upset with me?"

"Maybe a little," I replied honestly.

He pushed up from his chair and came around the desk to sit on the edge in front of me. The position made me feel like a student in front of a teacher. It wasn't that he was that much older than me–I would guess maybe five years, ten at the most–but he had an intimidating presence, one that I couldn't deny. No matter how much I tried.

"This might sound strange, but I trust the people that I employ to keep my home secure. If they can't manage that, then I'm employing the wrong people, and I would hate for that to be the case. It’s not that I don't believe you, but I don't want what you say to be the truth. If Hudson confirms that there is a heart and star on your mirror, then we've got a bigger problem."

He ran a hand through his hair before a mischievous glint came in his eye. "Would you like me to distract you until Hudson comes back?" The tone of his voice was suggestive to say the least.

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