HIS STOLEN BRIDE 3

*Chapter 10: The Unlocked Door — Continued* Jenny sat on the edge of the bed for ten full minutes, listening. No footsteps. No heavy breathing. No sound of the lock sliding into place. The hallway outside was silent except for the hum of the air conditioner. She’d heard that sound every night for three weeks, and every night it had been followed by the click of metal sealing her in. Tonight, there was nothing. Her hands shook as she stood up. She didn’t trust it. Theo didn’t make mistakes like this. He didn’t forget. He didn’t get soft. Unless… She pushed the door open another inch. The hallway stretched out, dim and empty. Her room was at the end, farthest from the stairs, farthest from the exit. If she ran now, she’d have to pass two guards’ rooms and the front desk. She wouldn’t make it. Not with Theo’s men awake. Not with Alex still in a hospital bed thirty minutes away, unable to move, unable to help her. Running would get her caught. And if she got caught, Theo would never leave the door unlocked again. So she closed it. She didn’t lock it. She just closed it, like she was going to sleep, like nothing had changed. But her heart was pounding too fast to sleep. She sat back down, pressed her back against the headboard, and stared at the door. If it opened again, she’d know. If it stayed closed until morning, she’d know that too. --- Downstairs, Theo stood in the music room with his hands still on the piano keys. The echo of Olivia’s voice in his memory was fading, replaced by Jenny’s words. _You are just worse than a Demon._ _Why won’t you let me go see Alex even if it’s once to be sure he’s okay?_ _He’s all I’ve got aside my dad and this baby._ He hadn’t felt sick like this since the night of the gunshot. He thought locking her up would make it easier. He thought if he kept her away from Alex, if he kept her under control, the guilt would stop. It didn’t. It got worse. He pulled his hands off the keys and stood up. The chair scraped against the floor, loud in the quiet room. He walked out without looking back. He didn’t go to Jenny’s room. He couldn’t. Not yet. He went to his office instead, poured a glass of water, and drank it all in one go. His hands weren’t shaking anymore. That was new. He stared at the city through the glass wall. Somewhere out there, Alex was alive. Somewhere out there, Jenny was sitting in a room with an unlocked door, deciding whether to trust him or not. For the first time in four years, he wanted her to trust him. He didn’t know what to do with that feeling. --- In the hospital, Alex’s eyes fluttered open at 2:17 AM. The room was dark except for the glow of the heart monitor. His throat felt like sandpaper, and his shoulder burned even through the painkillers. “Jenny?” His voice was hoarse, barely a whisper. Meyer was asleep in the chair beside the bed, his head tilted back, mouth open. He’d been there for three days straight. Alex tried to sit up. Pain shot through his shoulder and he dropped back against the pillows, cursing under his breath. “Don’t move, man.” Meyer was awake instantly, on his feet, pouring water into a cup. “Easy. Doctor said no sudden movement.” Alex ignored him. He took the water, drank half of it, and set it down with a shaking hand. “Where is she?” Meyer hesitated. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t lie, but he also promised himself he wouldn’t break Alex before he was strong enough to handle it. “She’s safe,” he said. That much was true. For now. Alex’s jaw tightened. “Safe where? With Theo?” Meyer nodded. Alex closed his eyes. For a second, Meyer thought he’d passed out again. Then Alex spoke, voice low and steady. “Get me out of here in two days.” Meyer stared. “You can’t even sit up without passing out.” “I don’t care.” “You’ll tear the stitches. You’ll bleed out.” “Then I’ll bleed out trying to get to her.” Meyer ran a hand down his face. He’d known Alex since college. He knew that tone. When Alex said something like that, arguing was useless. “Two days,” Meyer said finally. “If the doctor clears you. Not before.” Alex opened his eyes. “Deal.” He lay back, exhaustion pulling at him again, but his mind was clearer than it had been in days. Jenny was alive. She was pregnant. And Theo had left her door unlocked. That meant something had changed. He had to figure out what it was before Theo changed his mind. --- Back in Theo’s house, 3:42 AM. Jenny still hadn’t slept. She heard footsteps in the hallway at 3:00 AM. Heavy, slow. She’d sat up, her heart in her throat, ready to run or beg or fight. The footsteps passed her door and kept going. Now, it was quiet again. She got up, walked to the door, and opened it a crack. The hallway was empty. She stepped out. The carpet was soft under her bare feet. She moved silently, pressing herself against the wall, heading for the stairs. One floor down, she could see the front door. Two guards were asleep in chairs by it. One snored softly. She could make it. She took one step. Then she stopped. If she ran now, Alex would try to come for her. He’d get himself killed. If she stayed, maybe… maybe Theo wouldn’t lock the door again. Maybe she could talk to him. Maybe she could get him to let her see Alex without starting another war. She didn’t know which choice was right. She only knew that running felt like giving up on Alex, and staying felt like giving up on herself. She went back to her room. She left the door open. --- At 5:00 AM, Theo came down the stairs. He saw the open door immediately. He stopped, his hand on the railing, and stared. Jenny was asleep on the bed, curled on her side, one hand resting on her stomach. He didn’t close the door. He didn’t lock it. He walked past it, down to the kitchen, and made coffee. When he came back up at 6:00 AM with two cups, he set one outside her door and left. He didn’t say anything. She didn’t come out. But the door stayed open.