Rhodes' Estate

LACY

I have taken to locking myself in the bathroom. I know that this is a temporary solution to my problem— it's barely a solution anyway— yet I have made no attempt to leave.

The tiles of the bathroom are cold against my skin. I only wear a shirt and shorts, which does not help my case in trying to last as long as I possible can in here.

It has been at least three hours. I sprinted into the bathroom the moment James left, and I've been here ever since. No one has come to check on me, which is all the best.

My mobile isn't on me. I don't have any way to contact the police and explain that I have been abducted by four psychopathic men.

I bring my legs up to my knees, and hug onto them tightly. I just escaped one crazy family, only to be flung full throttle into the next.

Tears slide down my cheek, but I remain quiet. They fall down my face and land on my shirt and my arms. I make no effort to wipe them off.

Someone knocks on the door, making me flinch harshly. My gaze snaps up to my personal white, wooden barrier.

"Lacy? Are you in there?" James asks.

I keep quiet. In all honesty, this plan wasn't the best. But, at least I have some sort of sanctuary. There is a window, but it's locked, and shatter proof.

I reach into the shower, and turn it on, drowning out the voice of James. I settle back down onto my spot on the floor, and rest my chin on my knees.

The knocking continues. "Lacy? Can you even hear me? Are you alive in there?" The last question rang a lighter note, but it feels heavy.

James begins to jiggle on the doorknob. "Lacy, I'm going to come in. Open up the door, please!" I arch an eyebrow, leaning against the wall.

Only a moment later, the door is busted open. James strolls inside with a cocky smile, and flashes me a casual grin. "So, how're you?"

"Where's my mobile?"

"Don't worry, Lace. It's in safe-keeping for now. Besides, why need a phone when you have all of this charm?" He points to his chest.

"I'd like my mobile back," I say mildly.

"Not really an option right now. Take it up with Adam if you want to continue being persistent. But, the task at hand is dinner."

I look away. "Not hungry."

James takes a few steps towards me. I press myself further against the wall, keeping my gaze locked on the running shower. James turns it off.

"Starving yourself isn't going to do anything," James says matter-of-factly. "Liam is the best cook in all of Hampshire. You'd really be missing out."

I stand up, shocked. "We're in Hampshire?!" I was just in Kent. Only last week, my life had been normal— as normal as it can get with a neglectful family.

But now, I have been kidnapped. Kidnapped. James might act like he's all bright and bubbles, but he is one of the men responsible for abducting me.

I try to look for the best in people, but if those people are my kidnappers? I think not. I should have trusted my gut and gotten out of that town when I could.

Everyone was so strange whenever I was near them. They all looked at me like I was an angel reincarnated into an average human girl.

If only I had my phone, I could call the police and my social worker. I was supposed to get a fresh start after my family died. Being kidnapped by crazy men was not part of my plan.

James takes a dramatic whiff of the air. "Smell that, Lace? It's the smell of true goodness. Seriously, come on. The pasta is a family recipe."

I keep my gaze locked on anything but him. I hug my knees tighter. I close my eyes tightly, like if I could squeeze them together tight enough I'd be transported to a safe, loving home.

Tears begin to slide down my face until I can no longer stop them, and I begin to cry. I try to suppress the sobs, but it's no use. And once I start, I can't stop.

James kneels down next to me. He wraps his arms around me. "Hey, hey. Stop crying. You're probably hangry. I get hangry, too. Let's get some pasta."

My body trembles. I push James off me, and stand up. I briskly walk past him, and go to the double doors that lead to the balcony outside the room. They're locked.

"Give. Me. My. Mobile," I bite out, throwing daggers at James. He frowns slightly, then glances at the open door, then back at me.

"Lace—"

"Don't call me 'Lace.'"

"Lacy, this is for your safety. Clark worked for dangerous people, which, in turn, causes you to be targeted. If we didn't get to you when we did, they would have."

I narrow my eyes. "They don't care about me. They don't even like me. My family didn't even like me!" I blurt out before I can think.

James takes a step closer to me. "What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing. Get away!"

He arches an eyebrow. "I'm not leaving until you agree to come downstairs with me and eat the best food in all of Hampshire."

~~~

I sit at the wooden table, despite my better judgment. James sits right next to me. The three other men who kidnapped me sit across from me, the scariest one at the head.

They all eat the pasta. It looks like it came straight out of a three-star Michelin restaurant, and it smells even better, but I purse my lips and avoid eating it.

It might be a silent sign of defiance. It might just be because I'm stubborn. Or it could even be my body re-wiring back to my time with the Clarks.

"You ate?" He yells. "You dirty pig! I work hard to have money for food, and I'll be damned if a bastard like you eats it all!"

"But... but you said I could. Remember, Dad? Remember last night?" Tears well up in my eyes. I back away, my feet hitting the wall.

He charges towards me, and throws me to the ground. Mum stands at the staircase and watches her own husband beat her daughter bloody.

"Lacy? Earth to Lacy?" James calls out to me in a sing-song tone. I snap myself back into reality, and still find my eyes glaring at the darned pasta.

The most intimidating kidnapper opens his mouth to speak, "I'm sure you have questions, and I'll answer them now. But first, I'll tell you that my name is Adam Rhodes."

"You're not my brothers."

"Yes, we are, Lacy. We're your half-brothers. Our father was Harry Rhodes. Your mother was Imogen Clark."

I frown. "If you knew about me, why come kidnap me after my family's funeral? Don't you see what kind of an introduction that is?"

"We had no time to explain," Liam buds in.

"Of course you did!"

"Well, we tried to explain, I'll add," James says.

I stand up from the chair, and cross my arms over my chest. "You are a bunch of psychos who abducted me. That is illegal! I want my mobile back," I lecture, "promptly."

Adam stands up as well. He smooths down his suit, and flashes me an almost amused glance. "That simply can't happen until I know you won't run away."

"Maybe because you kidnapped me?!" I yell, absolutely fuming. "What am I meant to think of my freaking kidnappers?"

James stands up, too. "That we'll all hold hands and sing hymns."

I narrow my eyes. "You. Are. Mental." I say through tears.

———

Hello, loves!

I'm sorry this update is a bit late! I was busy with updating my other books, but hopefully the chapter was worth the wait.

Do you think Lacy is handling this situation appropriately? Or do you think her response to this dilemma of hers is unrealistic?

Vote and comment, please! The next chapter will be up sooner than later!

Au revoir,

Eva