Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Brody stared around in wonder. “Are all these cars yours?”
The Fox nodded, looking back at Brody.
But he didn’t look at her.
Maybe you did drive him away.
“Fucking stop it!”
Both men gave her a shocked look and she ducked her head, embarrassed. “Sorry, didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
She waited for them to say something. Brody squeezed her hand. “Tutu, are you all right?”
She nodded.
She wasn’t. But she didn’t want to make more of a fuss.
More silence. She glanced up to find Brody staring at the Fox. But the Fox just turned away. “Come this way.”
They followed him to an elevator. But it didn’t go up. It went down.
No, no, no.
Her breathing came faster. The Fox had to use a fingerprint both to get into the elevator then again to exit it. How would they get out if they wanted to leave?
She rubbed at her chest.
Breathe. Just breathe.
They followed him into a huge room. It was gorgeous. Decorated in light colors with beams along the ceiling. An oversized sectional faced a large television. It felt surprisingly warm and cozy.
“The bedrooms are along that hall. I’ll put your duffel bag in the first one on the left.”
He disappeared and she gazed around.
“Tutu?”
Breathe. Just breathe.
You haven’t been kidnapped. You’re not trapped.
Windows. Where were the windows? There. She moved to one and looked for an opening. There was a wooded area on the other side. But the window didn’t open.
“Sweetie?”
“Open. I can’t open it.”
“I don’t think it’s a real window.”
“What?” she asked.
“It’s an image. A screen. Autumn, we’re underground.”
Turning, she stared at him. Her heart raced. Her breath came in short pants.
“She’s having a panic attack,” the Fox said from the hallway. He’d returned without the bag.
Trapped. She was trapped here.
She moved to another window. Same thing. Not a window.
“Autumn!” Brody called out, worried. He followed her as she walked around. “Sweetie, it’s all right.”
She backed herself up against the wall, shaking her head. Her legs gave way and she sank to the floor.
“No, no! I’m not staying here!” she yelled. “You can’t keep me here!”
“You have to stay,” the Fox told her.
“No! I have to get out. I can’t be trapped.”
Brody crouched next to her, his hand on her knee.
“Bunny, you’re safe.” The Fox stepped forward. “It’s all right. We’re not trapped in here.”
She shook her head. “I need to get out!”
The Fox gave her a sad look as he crouched next to Brody. He reached for her and she flinched.
She didn’t mean to. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her. But it felt like her skin wasn’t her own. It itched. It burned.
Especially over her scars.
The Fox drew back, appearing horrified.
Her lungs started to burn.
“Fox! She needs a paper bag! She can’t breathe.”
Brody jumped up and rushed toward where the Fox had disappeared earlier. She guessed he had a paper bag in his duffel.
“Baby girl, you need to breathe.”
She couldn’t. She shook her head.
He grimaced. “You’re going to hate me. Autumn, look at me.” His voice was sharper. Pure command that she couldn’t ignore. Her eyes shot to his. “Good girl. You like that, don’t you? Being the Fox’s good little Bunny.”
She did like that. Even if she wasn’t sure she liked him all that much at the moment.
“And my good girl is going to breathe for me. Just concentrate on my voice. And. Take. A. Breath.”
She gasped in a breath.
“That’s it. In. Nice and slow. What can you hear?”
“You.”
“What can you feel?”
“Cold.”
“I’ll get you warm.”
Brody rushed back with a paper bag. “Here!” He thrust it out at them and the Fox took it.
“Can you get her a blanket? Did you bring her favorite one?”
“I did! I did. I’ll get it. It’s okay, Tutu. I’ll get it.”
Brody sounded younger than usual. His panic had made his shields drop. That helped her take another breath for some reason. Maybe because she hated worrying him.
He rushed away again. The Fox took hold of her hands and she let him, even though she jumped slightly.
“Don’t be scared, baby. Please.”
His voice was hoarse, and for the first time, she heard pain in it. Deep, soul-wrenching pain.
Oh no.
Had she done that to him?
Then Brody was back with the blanket. He put it around her, hugging her tight. The Fox moved away, taking away with the calm he’d brought with him. She climbed into Brody’s lap.
She just rested against Brody, trying to stop shaking. She felt herself being shifted. He was carrying her, and then he sank onto the sofa with her on her lap.
Brody murmured to her reassuringly. Gradually, she slipped into the darkness, her mind unable to take much more. Her body was so tired it no longer fought her.
And she slept.
Brody ran his fingers through Autumn’s red hair. Poor baby, she was so tired. His heart hurt for her.
He sighed. This whole thing was a complicated mess. Yet, he wasn’t sad that they were here because he wanted the three of them to be a family.