Enthralled: Tainted Book Four

15. Cutie Pie

Gemma

With the sharp snap, the little gold scissors broke in half, and I let out an exasperated sigh.

This was the fourth pair I'd destroyed trying to pick the lock, or at least break it enough to open, on the iron cuff around my ankle. I wouldn't have minded the ungainly bracelet so much if it wasn't connected to a metal chain that was anchored to the wall.

At least the chain is long enough to give me access to the bathroom, I thought, trying to look on the positive side, but it was getting harder and harder to stay optimistic the longer I was imprisoned here.

And separated from Kerry.

Although I wasn't being harmed in any way, and Darius brought me nearly anything I asked for, hence so many pairs of scissors, being kept away from him was crushing me more every day.

Until I met him, I had always kind of scoffed at other girls when they rambled on about missing their boyfriends or whined about not getting to see them as frequently as they wanted to. I had always thought I was too independent for that, to secure in my own person to need and want someone so fiercely.

Now, however, I knew it wasn't so much about giving up part of myself or my freedom as it was wanting to share everything with the person who mattered the most to me. My joys, my tears, my triumphs, and my failures. My likes and dislikes, my favorites and my would-nevers. The worries I had, my dreams for the future, any thought that crossed my mind, really...

And I hadn't realized how much of that I did with Kerry until I suddenly couldn't anymore.

If it hadn't been for that time Lilas wove our dreams together, I might have lost my mind with how much I missed him.

"Gemma?" called a voice I didn't really want to hear, followed by three knocks on the door. "I'm coming in!"

That was a little odd, and I tilted my head to the side.

Darius usually asked if he could come in and waited for my response. If nothing else, my captor was courteous and respectful.

When the door flew open and I got a good look at his sweat-beaded brow and wild eyes, I realized something serious had happened.

Oh, no. Don't tell me...

"Samuel Castle has betrayed us," he confirmed in a panic, pacing back and forth in my small room.

"Well, we knew it was going to happen." Sighing, I tossed the broken scissors on the bed and stood. "It was only a matter of time."

"But I was so sure it would work! That I could finally gain our freedom!"

"And you will. I have a Plan B, remember? One that Castle knows nothing about."

My words didn't seem to help him. Instead, they only made him pace faster as he sank his hands into his thick black hair and pulled it.

"I don't want to be a slave anymore!" he howled.

"Hey, hey, Darius, come on. Calm down." I kept my voice low and even. "He made the move we knew he would, but this isn't checkmate. We're still on the board, and it's our turn."

He finally stopped pacing and dropped his hands. Tipping his head back, he stared at the ceiling before letting out a frustrated sigh.

"What is Plan B?"

For a second, I hesitated to tell him, not because I couldn't trust him, but because Kerry was going to be so, so mad at me for this.

Still, what choice did we have? Like Kerry said, when you're backed in a corner, any weapon will do.