Oakhill Cottage

Twenty

Theo

Dylan and I meet in the office for a chat.

"Everything alright?" He asks as he sits down in the chair in front of the desk.

I sit down in the chair behind the desk across from him slowly. "I hope so. That's what I'm trying to figure out."

He cocks his head to the side. "You think I had something to do with that?" He gestures his thumb behind him at the door. "Seriously?" He huffs.

I watch him silently for a moment. "I don't know, you tell me."

He frowns. "No. I had no part in that."

"Then how come you never told us you used to work for the Blue Pistols?" I ask.

His eyes widen as he sits up more. "How'd you find-"

"Doesn't matter how I know. The problem is that you didn't tell me." I snap.

He sighs. "Okay, yes I was. I didn't tell you because I knew you wouldn't trust me. I can promise you, its been a year since I've talked to them. I want absolutely nothing to do with them." He explains carefully.

I study him for a second. "You know, I want to trust you. You seem like a good guy. I'd hate for there to be any problems between us. Neither one of us wants that, trust me." I warn gently.

He exhales. "You can trust me. And I kept my word when I said I'd help you guys track them down. You need me."

I slowly rise from my chair. "Okay." I say. "But one fuck up, one wrong fucking move, and you're out. Got it?"

He nods as he stands. "You won't have to worry about me. I won't let you down."

. . .

Stella
The following day

As I grate tumeric, my mind wanders about Amber again.

She was Max's pet. I can only imagine what that was like for her. No wonder she left.

I had checked her room a couple weeks ago when I did my investigation. There wasn't anything in her room that was a lead in her escape. There was no evidence left behind either.

There are cameras peaking at every inch of this property. There are alarms set for each entrance into the house and in the yard. You couldn't escape without triggering something.

I toss the grated tumeric and ginger into the dandelion tea I brewed. The tea sits in a white mug that says, Fuck mornings on it. I then add a tablespoon of honey and stir the hot tea.

Serena walks in and reaches into a cabinet for a cup. She wears pink pajamas that are short enough to expose her ass.

I suddenly remember that Serena knew Amber. Maybe she knows something.

She's the last person I want to talk to, but I'm desperate.

"Hey," I ask after I stop stirring the tea.

She turns to face me after getting water from the fridge. "What?"

"What do you know about Amber?" I ask.

She makes a disgusted face. "Ugh, that she's a man-stealing whore." She answers and begins to head out.

"Do you know how she left?" I stop her.

She turns to face me. "No, they never told me what happened. The girls said she escaped, I guess."

She doesn't seem to know much either.

"Are we done?" She asks. "Cause I gotta finish sucking Damon's dick."

I nod before she turns away.

I should've known she'd be no help. She never liked her anyway.