Captivated

CHAPTER FORTY ONE

Reign O'Connor

Another night passes and I'm still alone. Dane brought me some noodles and water last night, but he didn't say a word. He just put the tray on the bed and left. I guess he can't have me starving to death down here. This is the worst kind of punishment. I now understand why prisoners dread solitary confinement: it drives you insane. I swear I keep hearing a ticking noise even though there isn't anything in the room that would make that sound. Have I lost it already?

Hours pass and I don't hear from either Dane or Avery. I wonder if they're checking on Tori. I hope so. She doesn't deserve to be punished for my mistakes. I'm lying on my bed clinking my ankles together when all of a sudden the door opens. I sit up.

"Avery,"
"Reign," he says, then closes the door behind him.
"Where's Dane?" I ask in a panicked voice.
"Relax, he's at work."
"What day is it?"
"December 31st. It's New Year's Eve." he says.
"Oh."
"Listen Reign, I need to talk to you,"
"Oh that's funny, cause I need to talk to you too,"
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, I don't know, maybe the fact that you've been lying to me,"
"What are you talking about?"
"Avery, how old were you when your mother died?"
He freezes. I can tell I've caught him off guard. "Why are you asking me this?"
"Because Dane said your mother died giving birth to you."
He turns away from me so I can't see his face. "What else did Dane tell you?" he asks.
"Enough. Enough to know I've been lied to. And I don't think this was the first time either."
He turns around and looks at me. "Reign, listen to me –"
"Who is Breanne?"
"What?"
"Breanne. Who is she!?"
"I already told you, she was Dane's daughter. She died before I was born,"
"You're lying!"
"No Reign, I'm not. He's the one lying to you. He's talking nonsense to you and you're believing every word of it!"
I stare at him for a while, thinking; trying to figure out what to do. And then I start to cry. He comes over and sits beside me on the bed. I want to pull away from him. I want to scream at him for lying and to leave and never come back. But instead I lean into him as he holds me close. "Hey, look at me," he says gently. I turn my face up and look at him. He wipes the tears from my eyes. "I'm sorry," he says. "I want you to believe me. I really do. But you have to understand that Dane is a master manipulator. He knows I have feelings for you and he's trying to turn you against me."
I sniffle and try to wipe the rest of the tears away. "But... how do I know you're telling the truth?"
"Because," he says. "It's me. Why would I lie to you?"
I stare at him for a long time, trying to figure out what to say or think. He leans in and kisses me. I close my eyes and it's like in that moment, all my pain and anguish disappears. In that moment, sitting in his arms, I am his and he is mine. And I am perfectly okay with that. He pulls back and looks at me.

"Listen, Reign. I camehere for a reason. It's important,"
"What is it?"
He takes a deep breath in."We're getting out of here."
"What? When?"
He pauses. "Tonight."