35
Pete watched me from the door, in a trained bodyguard pose, while Eric and his mother whispered in the hallway. I couldn’t make out the words, but they sounded harsh.
After quite some time, Chloe approached me with a tight smile. She bowed close to me and patted my hand. “I’ll see you soon,” she said.
My eyes widened. “What? Where are you going?”
Eric strolled into the room like a king. “Home. She’s going to start dinner for us.”
Like a true mother, Chloe kissed her son’s cheek, waved at me, and left.
At once, the air around me became dense and my breathing sped up. Without her here, how would I escape?
Eric gestured to the door. “You can wait outside, Pete.”
With a curt nod, Pete turned and walked out.
That left him and me alone.
Fear built up inside me, and my hand shook har
