Irealize I should get some sleep. Sleep is the only thing, at this point, that can help.
Because how the hell am I going to figure out how to escape Logan Colt if my brain can’t work?
And yet, I can’t do a thing but lie in bed, clutching my girl’s hand as she sleeps in her crib.
Maybe I shouldn’t have lied to him about the rape. Maybe he would have helped me if he’d known.
But I just couldn’t bear to see the way he looked at me. Or rather, the way hedidn’t. It was just too hard to know that he probably saw me as ruined. A disgusting whore who let herself get violated.
I guess Idocare what he thinks of me. I care a whole fucking lot.
Maybe I am manipulative—he’s right about that. I’m nothing but a liar, but I’d do a lot more than lie to get him to look at me normally again. Even though normal, for him, is so cruel.
Goddammit, I’m so fucked up. He sure reminded me of that tonight. I’ve been getting attached to my captor. That’s what he is—my captor.
And I’m his captive. Hisprisoner.
It took those harsh words for me to remember it.
Now, I need to figure out how to escape.
_
By the time I drift off, the first rays of sun are already piercing through the sky. I must sleep deeply, because when I open my eyes again, the little hand hooked around mine is missing.
It takes me a moment to remember it had been there. Another moment for me to look into the crib. A third to realize it’s empty.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!
I jump up from the bed, grabbing the sheet and whipping it around my naked form, before dashing outside.
“Aurora!” I shriek. “Aurora!”
I run around the building, calling her name desperately, only to come to an abrupt halt.
Relief floods me as I see her toddling in the grass, running after a ball. Relief, tinged with fear when I notice the person sitting just a few feet away. Logan.
What the fuck?
He hasn’t heard me walk up, and his entire focus is on her.
“Big girl,” he croons. “Look at you run!”
“Piggyback ride!” sing-songs Aurora, toddling up to him, her arms spread out. “Want a piggyback ride!”
“Uh uh. We have a long car trip ahead, baby. You’re gonna be sitting all day. Gotta stretch those legs. Come on, let’s play again. Catch the ball!”
I stare at him as he talks to her, my mouth hanging open.
Am I dreaming?
He looks exactly like a doting father, his face smoothed of all frown lines as he rolls the ball gently toward her. In the cheerful sunlight, it’s hard to remember his cruel words from last night.
In fact, I have to force myself to remember them.
I must have made noise, because a moment later, he whips his eyes away from Aurora and fixes them on me. And suddenly, the dangerous man is back.
“What the hell are you doing?” he hisses.