Good fucking lord. Felix looked at me like he had absolutely no idea what was going on. I held up my hands, addressing Felix first. “She doesn’t have a boyfriend, and she hates the cops more than anyone. It’s a family thing.” Then I turned to Brynn, flattening my hand against the glass. On the other side, she pressed her hand–a reflection of mine. “This is Felix. He hasn’t kidnapped me. The house really is cursed, and he’s been trapped in here since 1907.”

Brynn closed her eyes, counting under her breath. I knew what she was doing. She was trying to calm herself down before she said something she regretted, or flew off the handle. She had been counting like that since we were younger, and there was a 50/50 chance of it working. Sometimes it just made her louder and angrier. “So you’re telling me, you’re stuck inside a house you’re claiming is cursed with a man older than my Great-Grandpapi?”

I smirked. “Yeah. But he’s a hell of a lot hotter.”

“Why should I believe you?” She crossed her arms, still glaring at Felix.

“You don’t have to believe him,” I interrupted. “But you can believe me. I’ve never lied to you, have I?”

“No.” All at once the fight left her body. “You know you sound absolutely mental, right? I have half a mind to come in there anyways, and drag you out by your toes.”

“I know how crazy it sounds, believe me. But why would a kidnapper let me talk to you at all? Why would my truck still be out front, loaded with moving boxes? And if I could get out, why would I be talking to you from behind a fucking window?” I ran my hands through my hair. “It’s ludicrous, I know. But it’s real. And I need your help. We need your help.”

She nodded. “I’m not sure what to believe yet. But I’ll do what I can to help you and Grandpa Felix get out.”

“It’s not just us.” I jerked my thumb over my shoulder. “Two other guys are trapped in here with us. Luther and Theo.”

“Wait.” She held up a finger. I waited for everything to click into place for her. “You’re trapped in a house with three guys who haven’t seen a woman in God knows how long?”

“Yes.” I waved my hands in the air, trying to get her to focus on the task at hand. “Look, I need you to help us get out.”

Brynn turned her attention back to me, but I knew she was still thinking about the living arrangements, and how exactly it all worked. “What can I do? Name it.”