“I have a plan,” I murmured. Jackson flicked his eyes up for a millisecond. “Well, part of one.”
Jackson nodded and stood, leaning over the table as he sorted through the books. It appeared that he was looking for something new to read. I quickly whispered my plan.
“It’ll work.” He sat down, opening a book. He didn’t realize it was upside down. “And if Zane doesn’t come down today, he will eventually.” He absent-mindedly flipped the page. “You should get ready just in case.”
My hands began to tremble. I placed them on the table and pushed myself up. My heart thumped in my chest, and I took short, shallow breaths. I went to the vanity and ran a brush through my hair, watching the girls in the mirror.
Lily was picking at her nail polish. Rochelle sat perfectly still, perched on the edge of the cot, looking beautiful and bored.
I flipped my head upside down and raked it into a ponytail. Then I went to the dresser and pulled out a pair of black leggings, trading them for the baggy pajama pants I was wearing. I looked over the shoes next. There weren’t any in my size that didn’t have heels. Going with a pair of brown boots with a wide, two-inch heel, I snatched them and sat on the cot.
Rochelle was watching me. I could feel her eyes on me as I zipped up the boots, yanking it over the ankle bracelet. My hands started shaking uncontrollably, and the smell of melting plastic permeated the air. Sweat beaded at my forehead. I forced myself to lie back against the pillow.#p#分页标题#e#
I heard the metal folding chair scrape against the basement floor when Jackson stood. He walked over to his cot and put his shoes on. My stomach churned, nerves increasing the nausea three fold. I started counting, imagining Jackson pulling a sweatshirt over his head. I could feel his body heat when he walked over, then I felt the cot sink down.
I felt a shade better just knowing he was next to me. I sat up, grinding my teeth, heart pounding.
“We can do this,” he whispered.
“Yes,” I agreed, voice breaking. I put my hand on his thigh. Jackson put his hand on the mattress behind me, leaning back so that his body brushed against mine. I reached over him, making sure my chest smashed into his stomach and grabbed a book that he had placed on the foot of the bed.
I heard the coils of Rochelle’s cot squeak. Please, please work. I sat up, twisting so I was angled toward Jackson. He slid his hand in a bit. Our bodies touched innocently, but it was enough to raise suspicions.
“This part always makes me sad,” I spoke. I cleared my throat. “When Scarlet falls down the stairs.”
“Yeah,” Jackson agreed and read the passage out loud. The basement door opened. Trepidation flooded my veins, and I suddenly had second thoughts. “You can do this,” Jackson whispered.
“I don’t know,” I said back, my voice quaking with every word.
“Yes,” he pressed.
“Okay.” I moved my head quickly and nodded. The girls got up and moved to the base of the stairs.
“Rochelle, no,” I heard Lily whisper.
We pretended not to hear. Jackson inched his fingers across my back until his hand rested on the curve of my hip. I tipped my head to the side, letting it fall on his shoulder.
“Just…no,” Lily begged. “It’s nothing. He’s trying to make her feel better. You saw her crying over Phoebe. She doesn’t like him like that.” Her dangly earrings jangled as she shook her head. I closed my eyes and tried to telepathically tell her to calm down. If all went as planned, she’d be free too.
Despite our practice with the cards, Lily did not get my message. I could almost feel her panic from across the room. Adrenaline surged through me. Two sets of heeled feet climbed the stairs. Jackson put the book down and took my hand. We looked at each other for a fleeting moment.
Then I sprung up and went to the vanity. I unplugged the curling iron and wrapped up the cord as fast as I could. Jackson moved to the side of the staircase, pressing his body against the wall, concealed by shadows. I turned on the shower and scrambled back to the cot, sitting with my back to the stairs. I held the hot metal iron away from my legs and out of sight.
Zane rushed down the stairs, his shoes echoing with each heavy step. He came to a halt.
“Where’s Jackson?” he demanded.
Right behind you, dipshit. “Shower,” I answered and didn’t turn around.
“I heard something interesting,” Zane said and strode over to the shower. He had a gun tucked into the back of his pants. I thought my heart was going to explode. Part of my brain screamed at me not to follow through.
I felt a flutter in my stomach. I had to. We had to. The flutter turned into a spike of adrenaline. I rose from the cot, gripping the curling iron. An evil smirk twisted Zane’s pretty face. He stuck his hand out, slowly moving it toward the shower curtain. I moved just as slow, sneaking up behind him.