I gave him an exaggerated scowl. “I’m still wearing my running shoes.”
“I’ll buy you a new pair. Besides, it might be kinda fun to run barefoot on the sand. It’s probably better for your feet.”
“My feet are fine, thank you very much. And you just confessed that you hate running. I don’t trust your running advice at all.”
“Fair point. Do you want to swim back?”
“No. It’s a little hard to swim in sneakers.” We weren’t in very far, so my sneakers were awkwardly sinking in the wet sand beneath me. Swimming would be impossible.
“You’re really not letting up on the sneaker thing, huh? Don’t you have like a million pairs of shoes in your room?”
Yeah, there were tons of shoes and clothes in my closet. But I barely spent any time in my room. I spent way more time in his. Or out here.
It was strange. I knew my dad was keeping me in a well thought out cage. But it was hard to feel that way when I was out here. I felt…free. Especially when I was next to Miller.
I was pretty sure it was what my father wanted.
To keep me in a cage willingly.
“It’s not a big deal,” Miller said and lightly touched the side of my face. “Like I said, I’ll buy you a new pair. But to make up for it…we can head back to the house however you want. Swim, run, crawl…”
I laughed. It was going to be a squishy walk back in these shoes. “I have a better idea.”
“That look of pure evil on your face… What are you going to make me do?”
I smiled up at him. “Nonsense. I’m not the evil sister. But I am going to demand a piggyback ride.”
“Done.” He turned around and I climbed onto his back.
We laughed the whole way home. Especially when he kept threatening to roll us in the sand. He slowly walked up the stairs of the deck and pretended like he was going to open the sliding glass doors and walk right inside.
“What are you doing? You need to rinse off your feet!”
“They’re not even that sandy.”
So maybe he wasn’t pretending like he was about to open the door. “The outside shower is right there.” I pointed to the side of the deck.
“I’ll sweep. I swear.”
“It’s going to get everywhere. Miller…”
He somehow managed to open the sliding glass door while battling me. I started laughing because he really was ridiculous. Or maybe I was ridiculous. I didn’t even know anymore.
“Stop,” I laughed and tried to wrap my leg around his arm even though it was too late. He’d already taken the inevitable first sandy step. “All is lost!”
He started laughing even harder.
Someone cleared their throat.
Miller and I both froze. My dad was standing in the middle of the living room.
“Dad.” My voice died in my throat when I saw his expression.
My father’s face was…cold. Hard. Terrifying. “What are you doing?” he said.
I wasn’t sure which one of us he was talking to. I slid off Miller’s back. “I got my shoes wet. Miller carried me back so I wouldn’t get them all sandy too.” But I didn’t really know how to explain away our little wrassle back there. I knew how that probably looked. It looked exactly like it was. Like Miller and I were flirting. Being handsy. It looked like we were more than friends. Which was strictly against my dad’s rules. I smiled at Miller. “Thank you, bodyguard,” I said formally. “That’ll be all. Away with you.” Away with you? What the hell was I even saying? Miller was my bodyguard. Not a houseboy.
Miller cleared his throat. “Yes, ma’am. And I’ll sweep this mess up immediately.”
“Good. Make it snappy.” Seriously, what was I saying? I turned back to my dad. Our little display did not seem to pacify him at all. I tried to think of another strategy. “Hey, Dad.” I walked over to hug him but he held up his hand.
“You’re soaked. Go change. We have a lot to discuss.”
I nodded. Fuck. I really hoped I didn’t just get Miller in trouble. I kicked off my wet shoes and ran up to my room to change as quickly as possible. I didn’t bother to rinse the saltwater off my skin. I threw on a t-shirt and shorts and ran back down the stairs.
Miller and my father were talking heatedly in the living room. I watched in horror as my father pulled a gun out of the back of his belt and lifted it toward Miller.
“Stop!” I screamed as I ran down the rest of the steps. “Don’t hurt Miller.” I stepped in front of him and put out my hands, as if that would somehow protect us from being shot. “He’s done nothing wrong!”
My father ignored me and proceeded to reach around me and…hand Miller the gun.
Miller didn’t make eye contact with me. He just slid the gun into his waistband.
I looked back and forth between them. “What’s going on?”
“There’s been a little hiccup in my plans. I told Isabella the news that she was going away to get help. But she thinks the only reason she’s going is because you’re still alive. She’s convinced you’re out there somewhere. I tried to tell her otherwise. But I don’t know if she listened. The security at the institute she’s going to is good. But I’m worried it’s not as good as my own. She’s heading there on Monday. And I just wanted to make sure you’ll be safe just in case she…gets out. And finds you. And tries something. Or maybe even tries something before she arrives at the institute.”
“She thinks I’m alive?”
My dad nodded.
That was bad. Really bad. And yet…I wasn’t even really concerned about that. I was concerned about the fact that this afternoon could have gone very differently. My dad was a violent man. He easily could have shot Miller a few minutes ago. He wouldn’t have even blinked an eye. And it would have been all my fault.
“So no more leaving the house until I say otherwise.”
What? No. I needed to be outside. This house was stifling. The only reason I wanted to stay here instead of going to someplace new was because I got to be outside all the time. “But…”
“No buts. There’s a treadmill in the gym. You don’t need to leave for anything.”
Except my sanity. “She won’t recognize me. I cut and dyed my hair.”
He shook his head. “You have no idea what you’re up against here. You will not step foot out of this house. Do I make myself clear?” His voice was so icy. He hadn’t been this angry with me since before Christmas. Before I started playing nice.
I swallowed hard. “Yes.” He’d made himself perfectly clear. My cage had just gotten significantly smaller.
“Look at me.”
I hadn’t even realized my eyes had gravitated to the floor. I looked back up at him.
“And if I ever see something like I saw this afternoon between the two of you again? We will be having a serious discussion.”
But he didn’t say the word discussion normally. He’d basically just confessed that he’d murder Miller if he saw him touching me again. I clenched my hands into fists and glared at him. God, what I would give to be able to punch him square in the nose.
“I don’t have time to stay today. I just needed to make sure you were both briefed on the situation.” He pulled out his wallet and handed me a credit card. “Buy yourself a new pair of sneakers. And anything else at all you need.”