And there was all the whispering he and Izzie did the night before…

Izzie’s rush to leave alone, to keep the house as dark as possible, makes a lot more sense now.

She knew that they weren’t coming back…

“Time’s up.” Gabriel says, and my plan of cracking a bottle over his head instantly dissolves as ten more henchmen file through the open door.

“Check the basement and check every loose floorboard in the bedrooms,” Gabriel bellows. “Now.”

They follow his command, knocking portraits off the walls and toppling every piece of furniture. They storm the basement steps and sounds of destruction follow.

“There’s no one down here, Boss!” a henchman calls. “Nothing under the floorboards except photographs and writings!”

The veins in Gabriel’s neck swell, and he clenches his jaw.

“Okay, look, Belle. I’ll ask you one more time,” he says, speaking slowly. “Where the fuck is your father?”

“I don’t know.”

“Fair enough.” He hisses. “I don’t have any more patience, so I’ll take you.”

“Take me where?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.” He snaps his fingers, and one of his men places a leather satchel on the table. “Fill that with whatever you need and be ready.”

“For what?”

“Our trip to Hell.” He looks me up and down. “I’ll retrieve you at dawn. You can make yourself useful by leaving a letter for your father and Izzie, in case they do return while you’re away.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Did you hear me asking?” His eyes blaze with rage. “Does it sound like you have a choice?”

I can only stare at him, feeling helpless.

“I thought so.” He turns away from me, walking out of the house, and his men follow.

The door slams shut behind them, and I hear his deep commands from the other side.

“Stay here and guard the door,” he says. “Make sure she doesn’t take a single breath outside until I return.”

“Yes, sir.”

I peer out the peephole and watch a lone henchman pace on our steps for hours.

When the moon rises, he slumps against the door, resting a rifle in his lap.

I wait until I’m sure he’s sleeping and stuff everything I value into my own satchel…even the rose bloom.

Heading to Izzie’s bedroom, I climb through her window and let go of the pane once my feet hit the grass. I wander toward the back of our house, plucking as many apples as I can from the orchard, and then I run toward the fields and into the woods.

If they want to make me disappear, I’ll disappear on my own…

Worth the Risk

Belle

I have to tell my book friend goodbye…

My heart is reeling at the thought of it, but I can’t dare leave him hanging like I did the last time.

He means too much to me.

The sky’s clouds are looming low and threatening rain—an omen that I should avoid returning to the bookstore at all costs—but my mind is already made up.