I GAZED DOWN at the small form lying on the bed in front of me, her breaths soft and short as she remained asleep.
I smiled gently, brushing some of her hair away from her face.
She moaned sleepily and turned further into the mattress.
We gave her some anxiety meds not too long ago because I noticed she was shaking, and after her traumatic experience, I wanted to keep possible anxiety attacks at bay.
She fell asleep shortly after the meds were given and hadn't woken since (drowsiness was a side effect of it).
She moaned again, shifting into the bed.
"Shhh..." I soothed, "it's alright. Stay asleep."
A sudden knock fell upon the bedroom door.
I brushed some more hair behind her ear. "News to report?"
"Yes," Nash said.
"Speak," I replied.
"Her name is Cameron Envy," he said then, flipping through some paperwork, "she's eighteen and an oncoming freshman at this university. She's on her summer break between high school and college."
"Mm—hmm."
"It looks as if she has no siblings... although she has a mother and father who live about two hours away. No abuse mentioned in any of her case files." He then looked up. "She is betrothed to a FireNight, though."
I paused my strokes and gazed back at him. "Who?"
He looked down at the paper. "Mason James."
My teeth gritted, and I just brushed it off, closing my eyes tightly.
"He has... a case file, sir."
"I know." My response was short, curt.
I was well aware of what he did to women.
I then looked back down at Cameron then, brushing some more hair away from her face. "It was him who hurt you, wasn't it?"
She just moaned sleepily and turned further into the mattress.
"It's alright, baby girl," I whispered. "I'll keep you safe from him."
Nash just remained silent from the doorway.
"Where does she live?" I asked him then, voice dark.
Another rummaging of paper. "It looks as if she just occupied a small estate her grandmother left her in the will."
"Address?"
"12234 West Nieeve Street," he answered.
My lips curled into a smirk then, and I just looked down at her. "What unfortunate circumstances."
For her.
"Sir?"
I just chuckled. "I happen to be the caretaker of that building. It's very historical." I then brushed some hair out of her face. "What's her grandmother's name?"
I was wondering who took over the home.
"Fabbie Anderson," he stated.
"Fabbie Anderson...?" I echoed. "I haven't heard that name in a while. She died recently?"
"Yes. A couple months ago."
She handed the house over to me to take care of before she signed it to someone in the will... I guess she loved her granddaughter very much after giving her such a large part of her money.
Although... looking at her now, I can see why she's so lovable.
"Does Cameron's mother have a violence record?"
"No," he said, "well... it looks like there was a file for verbal abuse but it was dropped."
It didn't mean she didn't do worse.
Cameron shifted then, moaning in annoyance.
I looked down at her, finding her lashes parting, and she regarded the room lazily.
"Good morning," I said then, chuckling.
Her eyes locked on me, and her lips pulled back somberly. "Where am I...?"
"You're in the guest bedroom," I said then. "You were sleepy so I carried you up here."
She just hovered her hand over her face, whimpering. "Where's my mom...?"
She sounds so somber.
"She's alright," I soothed. "She left you with me because she had to go take care of your house, before you could live in it. She'll be back soon."
It was a lie. I was good at lying.
I just needed to give her a reason to trust me rather than my actual intentions of just wanting to keep her for myself.
Her gaze was glassy, uneasy.
I just lightly brushed my fingers along her forehead. "You can go back to sleep."
"I don't..." she closed her eyes tightly before opening them, "I don't like it here."
My eyes softened. "There's no need to be afraid. No one's going to hurt you."
Small tears slipped down her cheeks, and she just let out a soft sigh, shifting onto her back. "I want to go home...."
Her voice is so tiny.
"Go back to sleep," I whispered, pulling the covers back over her.
She was clearly still drowsy and rolled back to face me. "I can't think...."
"Go back to sleep," I encouraged gently. "Close your eyes."
She then let her lashes flutter shut, and almost seconds later, her brows relaxed.
Yes, still drowsy.
I just made sure the covers were back over her and brushed her hair out of her face.
"Alright," I said then, keeping my voice low in hopes to not disturb her, "I heard enough." I paused for a moment. "We will keep her here, and just inform the mother and the... betrothed... that she's currently enjoying her summer break peacefully."
"What if she escapes?" Nash asked me. "What will she do?"
When I basically own her house?
"Why would she escape?" I just chuckled. "She has nowhere to run."
Word Count: 904
a/n
Sorry, I know this one's short, but it was supposed to be an add-on to the prologue but I already published the prologue. Anyways, I hope you are ready for more! I'm excited!
- Aspen
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdFX1iC4ik
