Page 32 of The Castle (Endgame 3)
What does he think about it?
I’m afraid to tell him.
Girl.
I know, but voices… that’s what my mother heard. And no one believed her. My father thought she was crazy. Even her best friend hadn’t believed her. A whisper of worry works through me. What if Harper calls me a liar?
You need to tell Gabriel, she says. He’s not going to dismiss you.
And then I’m left with nothing but the truth. The real reason I’m afraid to tell him. What if he should dismiss me? What if I’m really going crazy?
No way.
Relief fills my lungs. I appreciate her vote of confidence even if I don’t share it. I still don’t want to tell him without knowing it’s more than a dream.
Have you ever heard the voices when you weren’t asleep?
Always when I’ve drifted off or something. I’m just not sure.
Well, there’s your answer. As long as you don’t hear the voices when you’re fully awake, you’re fine.
There are a hundred other things I want to tell her—how I’m afraid that Penny is stirring up dark shadows in my memories, that I might have more in common with her than I think. How I’m afraid to be trapped in this castle, while at the same time afraid to leave. But that would require telling her about the shooting, about the dangers outside. She would come in a heartbeat if she knew, and I can’t let her miss a semester of work for me. She’s taking a lot more than two correspondence classes. And though her focus is art history, that involved enough actual art class to require her presence.
How are the frat parties? I type. It’s kind of a code for asking about how classes are going. The better the parties, the worse her grades will be.
Horrible, she replies. I have more fun alone in bed than I do in a frat house.
I set down my phone with a small smile.
My amusement fades as I see Penny watching me, blue eyes unblinking.
“Come for a walk with me,” I whisper as if someone can hear us. “I want to find out where the voices are coming from. Will you help me?”
With a furtive glance around the room, I lean close. “You don’t hear them, do you?”
No answer.
And if she does, why doesn’t she freak out like she does for a flesh-and-blood man? I’m honestly not sure which thought is scarier—that there might be an intruder in these walls or that I’m going crazy.Chapter SeventeenWest appears at the door to Penny’s room, his gaze sharp as he takes in the room. For a moment I sit up straight, hoping, praying that he somehow heard the voices. Maybe he’s following them through the house, finally confirming that I’m not crazy.
“Someone’s at the gate.”
Disappointment sinks in my gut, but I force a blank expression. “Who?”
“He says his name’s Justin Walker. He’s advisor to Senator Clark.”
“He’s—” I have to stop and think. What is he? My ex-fiancé. My friend. “He’s an old family acquaintance. You can let him in.”
“We already put a call in to Gabriel Miller. He isn’t responding.”
My eyes narrow, more concerned about that little fact than the presence of Justin at the door. “Isn’t responding? Do you know where he is? Do you have GPS on his phone?”
He gives me a kind smile. “It’s normal for him to be out of contact for periods. We’re more concerned about the unexpected visitor.”
“He’s not dangerous or anything.”
“The senator doesn’t have the best reputation.”
Is he one of the men who works with Jonathan Scott? Is he one of the men Gabriel is looking for? If so I might learn something useful. It would be a relief to participate. And I could warn Justin.
“I’ll meet him downstairs.”
West hesitates, his silent thoughts echoing through the air, You aren’t my boss. I don’t pay his check. I don’t make the rules. “I’m not sure that would be wise,” he says, apparently a diplomat.
I get out of the bed, lifting my chin. I can spend my days cowering in my room, terrified of what’s outside these walls, scared of what’s inside, too.
Or I can make a stand, demanding what I’m due.
A pawn with ambition. Or a queen with chains.
I can’t control West’s answer, but I can control my command.
“I’ve known Justin for years. I trust that he won’t hurt me. Physically at least. But you’re welcome to wait outside the door. I’ll call you if I need you.”
His eyes widen at the tone of authority. Any man with military bearing would recognize it. Most would balk at it, not wanting to take orders from a woman. He looks merely uncertain, more concerned about what Gabriel will say when he gets back.
Which accepts my authority, at least, over himself. He’s the knight on this chessboard.
And Gabriel may be his king, but the queen has power too.
