you want me to walk you

swal

assage, but you nee

raying her anxiety, her understanding of how powerless she is at thi

rn around. I'll take it off

are you doing this to me? You

That's exactly w

le

e t

l. I should have refused this task. The decent side of me knows

n a very long night. Turn around. Let's

t to g

t happenin

a mist

Erica. I won

lip trembling, stubborn prid

she's done. I slide the silk cloth over her eyes. She whimpers as I secure it at the back of her head,

fts inside me

ark awakeni

u

ly. I tighten my grip in warning, and she stills, stiffening, pressing again

pose in mind, I'm sure. Save his siste

rape the rough stone wall. And I know as I take my captive through the tunnels beneath the compound that

ndfold but leave the rope around her wrists. Not that she's going an

ent, giant oaks toward the estate. She's told me before how beau

n home that my family built and has owned over centuries. It's mine now. Since the pa

all three floors supported by grand columns and ornate f

ding to the front doors and large, evenly spaced windows with decorative s

ight from the gothic st

o me. She can't hide the anticipation in her ey

und to open Erica's door. I extend my hand to help h

hest. I catch her, then right her. Although perhaps I should l

p me bound," she says, shifting her weight. The stones beneath her fe

like the look

then closes it, unc

careful with her. Need to rememb

carry you

tly capable

r fe

m f

your

ca sees it too and pauses. She looks over her shoulder at me. It's late.

," I t

stone stairs. I open the heavy fron

hold. I wonder what she's th

as if it's the first time she's seen it. Erica isn't one to be im

gray. All three floors are visible from here with a central staircase, als

y room," she says, her t

leep tonight and begin tomorrow, consi

he last time yo

ts. "Do you tie u

se who ne

lters. It's her defense. I

elbow in case she trips but I don't quite touch her. When we get to the s

my mother, clears her throat. She waits just outside Erica's bedroom door i

not sure I like her. For as efficient as she is, she's neither k

ping her arrival would be more priva

mber Miri

toward the woman when she was last here? When I held my tongue

ed your room,

mile, lifting her chin as she

in greeting, noddi

tead, she enters the room, stop

spacious and luxurious in shades of dusty rose and creamy white. The room has large windows

ows than she'll need. She takes it all in as if for the first time. Then she look

ed," Eri

r wrists. I'l

rists. She makes a point o

ry?"

ee the uncertainty she's trying to hi

g to do before you

hout her high heels, the armor of her designer cloth

she asks

clot

lly disappear into he

re are no reminders of this night. Tomorrow

an standing nearby, the witness