"If you keep getting head injuries like this, I'm going to have to prescribe a helmet." Clara's soothing voice was unmistakable even over the ringing in her ears. Bella tried to sit up as she regained consciousness, but she was strapped down to a cot. A glance around the room told her that she was in the infirmary. She recognized the calming blue wallpaper and the elegant rose trim above it. There were plants everywhere, and a few neatly made cots beside hers. The infirmary had the same bright, feminine air as Clara's garden, and it was a stark contrast to the rest of the Lodge.It took a moment for Bella to recall why she was there, but once she remembered, she started pulling at the restraints."Easy there. I don't want to have to give you another sedative," Clara said, reaching for a clear syringe on a tray beside the cot."Victor—”"Is fine," she interrupted. "Well, maybe fine isn't the right word, but he will be. We heal quickly. I'm afraid Darian did a number on his ja

Bella learned that night that Victor and Darian had very different approaches to dungeon life. While Victor was all about mind games and slowly building tension, Darian's torture took a much more straightforward approach.After he assured her that she was more than up for the experience after her ordeal in the basement, Darian took her into his room on the second floor. There was no contract to sign, and his spiel was a much shorter one. "If you need me to stop, just yell 'red.' If you want me to slow down, say 'yellow.' Got it?""Got it." After that, it was into a barely-there harness and briefs that weren't destined to stay on for long. He instructed her to stand in one place, so she did. First, he put a blindfold around her eyes that made it impossible to see anything. Then, he tied her arms behind her back with impressive ease.The thrill of the experience was marred somewhat when he placed an affectionate kiss on her cheek, pulling her out of the scenario.

Bella laughed nervously. "Just act like a bumbling moron, and you're halfway there. Look, I need to ask an enormous favor.""Name it.""Well, wait until you know what it is first. I haven't gotten the chance to replace my phone yet, and--""Take mine, I have like three. Here," she said, digging around in her desk drawer. "This is the one I use when I'm at family events, just in case Mom decides to snoop. Here's the car charger and all that jazz."She hugged her again, but it must have been harder than she intended because she wheezed. She released her immediately."Whoa, have you been using the dungeon up there or the gym?" "Sorry," she said sheepishly. "Thank you so much, Sandra. I'll get it back to you as soon as possible." "Don't worry about it." She eyed the crumpled wad of cash in her hand. "Where is Victor, anyway?" "My old town," she admitted warily. "It's a long story." She sighed. "No way is that cash gonna get you to Austin. Take my card and ju

Bella checked the phone again only to find not a single message. Maybe Darian really had given up. She thought of texting him again but decided against it. If he did reply, it would only be to talk her out of her plan, and she would only be teasing him with the idea that he could have done something more to stop her.The flight seemed to stretch out forever. The closer they got to Austin, the more anxious she became. It wasn't fear on her own behalf, but rather that she wouldn't make it in time to save Victor. Victor was physically strong enough, and from the way Clara described his powers, he was formidable in that regard as well. It was the fact that even Victor himself had expressed dismay at Jeff's psychic handiwork that scared her. Then there was Mr. Alderdice.She shuddered at the thought of the ruthless mogul. He wasn't the most physically imposing man, but what he lacked in stature he made up for in pure maliciousness. If she could only remember what he was c

The front lobby of the Alderdice Hotel had changed a lot since the last mixer Jeff had brought Bella to as arm candy. Jeff's father had been there, and she'd somehow gotten blindingly drunk despite only having a couple of glasses of wine. She made her way over to the main desk, and the clerk recognized her immediately."It's been a long time, Mr. Cole. I have a package for you," she said brightly, pulling a wide box out from underneath her desk. The box was obviously meant for clothing, but going off of what little Bella knew about Sarah, anything could be inside."Thank you," Bella said, taking the box, wary of revealing its contents out in the open with so many people wandering around the lobby."You can use our supply room," the clerk offered, gesturing to a door behind the desk. "The party begins in eleven minutes.""Thank you," Bella said, afraid to ask how she knew where she was going. She took the box and glumly headed into the supply closet to change. To her relief, it really