I can’t lose control, she warned herself. I need to get back to the mountain road and get out of here. I don’t know what Tav wants from me, but I intend to be gone before I can figure it out.
She thought about what he had said, about how she would never get off Blanca Peak, but she didn’t believe it. The drive up the mountain, she had kept her eyes open for markers to dictate where she was and what turns Tav had taken. She was sure she could find herself back in town before he noticed she was gone.
Lora rose from the bed and hurried toward the sliding glass door. Grabbing hold of the handle, she pulled, but the door did not give way. Frowning, she jiggled the lock, switching it in the opposite direction, but when she tried again, it still did not move. Panic welled in her heart again, and dizziness overcame her as she noticed the key lock.
He foresaw me trying to escape. Of course he did.
Lora was furious at herself for underestimating her captor. Tav was much smarter than to let her take off now that she had shown her hand. She cursed herself for being so impulsive when they had first arrived. If she hadn’t tried to leave then, she might have had an easier time going now.
She eyed the glass, then the lamp sitting on the bedside table. It would be easy enough to break the glass and run, but Tav would be sure to hear such a racket and come after her. She wouldn’t have much in the way of a head start.
Think, Lora. There is definitely a way out of here.
She thought of how he had locked them in as soon as they had entered, and her faith was restored slightly. She had to get her hands on the keys and sneak out, possibly when he was sleeping.
Unless he’s locked me in this room.
The thought filled her with dread. She rushed toward the bedroom door, and to her relief, the door gave way in her hands. There was not a squeak to indicate that she had pried the door open, and for a moment, Lora stood in the threshold, listening for signs of life in the house. There was not a whisper of sound to indicate that anyone was there, so she felt a burst of hope.
Did he go out and leave me here?
She had not heard him leave, but the water had been on in the bathroom after he had left the bedroom. Lora inched out into the hallway, her neck craned toward the main floor. But as she moved, the floorboard creaked beneath her feet.
“You done already?” Tav called.
“No!” Lora yelled back, withdrawing to the bedroom and all but slamming the door shut in her wake. She looked for an interior lock, but there wasn’t one, and she rushed back to the bed to sit and think.
Once more, her heart hammered wildly in her chest, and she pressed her lips together, willing herself to be calm.
Having a panic attack isn’t going to help me out of here.
She closed her eyes and fell back on the bed as the sound of Tav’s footfalls neared her. A gentle knock on the door told Lora that he stood outside, but she did not bother to respond.
“Lora?”
“What?”
“Can I come in for a second?”
“Do I have a choice?” she replied sullenly. The door opened, but Lora kept her eyes shut.
“Are you sure you’re not hungry?” he asked. “Oh. You didn’t even have a bath.”
Her eyes flew open, and she stared accusingly at him.
“This is not a day spa, Octavius. You’ve kidnapped me.”
His jaw twitched uncomfortably, but to his credit, Tav did not snap at her.
“I know it seems like that right now, but this if for your own good.”
She sat up and stared at him imploringly.
“You promised to explain yourself once we got here,” she reminded him. “And you haven’t.”
He sighed and hung his head, purposely avoiding her eyes.
“I don’t think you’ll really understand if I try,” he said quietly. “It will probably confuse you more.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“You think I’m too stupid to understand?”
Tav scowled slightly and folded his arms over his chest.
“No,” he replied shortly. “I don’t think you’re stupid at all. I think that you’ve already been to hell and back, and I don’t want to burden you with stuff that…”
“That what?” she fired back. “That I’m too slow to comprehend?”
Tav’s scowl deepened.
“You’re trying to pick a fight with me,” he said flatly. “And putting words in my mouth. I think maybe we should table this discussion until the morning when we’re both a little more clear-headed.”
Lora almost snorted, but she checked herself, her eyes trailing nonchalantly over his muscular frame. Unexpectedly, she felt a surge of heat shoot through her as she realized again how attracted she was to Tav.
How can I even look at him like that? He’s holding me hostage! She snapped at herself, but the more she searched him for signs of the keys, the more she recognized that she still found him attractive. In her mind’s eye, the love they had made on the sofa downstairs was still fresh in her mind.
Was that only this morning? It felt like a lifetime ago. How could so much have happened in such a short time?
She swallowed her desire and wrenched her eyes away from Tav, but not before she caught the look in his eyes. There was a sad wistfulness about him that twinged her heart.
He really thinks that he’s doing this for a good reason. I wish he would explain it to me.
In the meantime, she did not see the keys bulging from his pocket or anywhere else, which led her to believe that perhaps he had set them down somewhere.
“Can I get you anything at all?” Tav sighed, sensing that their discussion was over for the time being.
“My freedom?” she replied sarcastically.
“Lora…”
She turned her head back to him and narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Can you at least contact Oliver and tell him I’m safe? He must be going out of his mind with worry.”
“I doubt that very much,” Tav replied shortly.
“Please, Tav?” she begged. “What if you’re wrong about him, and you just took me away from my family who loves me?”
She could only imagine what Oliver thought when he returned to look for her.
“Just call the tip line again and—”
“No, Lora. I can’t. I was already in touch with the reporter who aired your story, and she caught him lying. He’s not your brother.”
Lora bit on her lower lip and exhaled, not wanting to fight anymore.
“All right,” she muttered, knowing that arguing wasn’t going to get her anywhere. “I just hope he doesn’t call the cops.”
“He won’t,” Tav said with his familiar confidence. “Trust me, that guy is up to no good.”
Trust him. Yeah right.
Sighing, Tav turned back toward the corridor, leaving Lora’s mind to race with what to do next. She decided she would wait until Tav fell asleep before trying anything else.
After Tav left the room, Lora turned off the lights in the bedroom and curled up on her side to stare at the crack of light under the bedroom door. The walls were far too thick to hear anything happening on the main floor, and eventually, exhaustion took her over. Her eyes grew heavier, and she fell into a dreamless sleep.
When she woke, she had no idea what time it was, but the moon rose high and almost full in the sky.