I don’t see Monster after I leave the warehouse, and I don’t hear from him for a few days. Since I’m not exactly chatty with Tony, I’m alone with my thoughts and my books. That’s just fine by me.

When I hear from Monster, it’s in the form of one of his notes.

F — I bought this for you. If you will wear it willingly -- wear it forever -- I would consider it a favor. In return, I will give you something proportionate. Think it over while I’m gone.

It’s not signed, which I’ve come to expect. With the note is a slim ivory box. My heart racing, I open the box with a snap, revealing the gold velvet lining.

Nestled there was a necklace. It is solid white gold, wider in the middle and narrower where the ends come together. It’s just large enough to fit around my throat without causing me distress. No design, no fancy gemstones.

Lifting it out of the box, I examine it. It’s a collar, more than a necklace. Simple, but elegant. Not decorated, but still fancy.

For some reason, the idea of wearing this, a physical sign of ownership… it makes my heart flutter in my chest.

From the open doorway of my bedroom, I hear Tony grunt. “What is that, a dog collar? You gonna wear that, let your boyfriend know that you’re his good little bitch?”

I shoot him a nasty glare. “Stay out of it, Tony.”

He sneers. “God, you are so predictable. The first man to ever show you any kindness, and you’re all weak in the knees for him. It’s disgusting, you know that?”

Putting the necklace back in its box, I tuck my blonde hair behind my ear. “You would know about him being the first man who has ever paid attention to me, wouldn’t you? After all, it was you that sold me to him.”

He sighs and rolls his eyes. “Jesus Christ. Get the fuck over it already, would you? You are such a fucking drama queen, Kit Kat.”

“I don’t think there is such a thing as being overdramatic in this conversation,” I say with a glare.

“All right, all right.” He flaps his hand at me. “Don’t get all emotional about it. I ain’t got that kind of time.”

“I’m not being emotional!” I can’t help my hackles raising. “God, why did I even work to bring you here?”

Except I didn’t, I realize. I agreed to do something kinky for Monster, and Tony was his gift.

Ignoring me, Tony looks behind him for a second, his eyes sweeping right and left. Then he slides into my room and closes the door.

“What are you doing?” I snap, irritated.

“Shhh, keep your voice down.” He strolls over to where I sit on the bed. I draw away slightly, not trusting him even one bit. “We gotta get out of here. And soon.”

I narrow my gaze. “We already talked about this, Tony.”

“Nah, we just had a little spat.” He waves me down. “But now, I’m feeling bad about this house. This whole place makes me itch, in a bad way.”

“Are you sure that’s not just you coming down off of heroin?” I ask sarcastically, folding my arms across my chest. “I hear that makes you itchy, too.”

Tony glowers at me. “You have an awfully smart mouth, you know that? We’ll see what tune you’re singing when I rescue you from this shithole.”

Screwing up my face, I give him a look. “What are you talking about?”

“We’re gonna break out of here,” Tony says, dropping his voice to a theater whisper. “You and me, we’re gonna leave together. Tonight maybe, or tomorrow.”

My arms tighten around my chest. “We talked about this, Tony! Where are we going to go that’s better and safer than here? Huh? And why should I ever trust you again?”

“Man,” Tony says, sucking his teeth. “We got tons of options, baby girl. After we steal your boyfriend’s drugs—”

“What??” I gasp. I drop my voice. “You have got to be joking. Please say you’re kidding.”

“Nah, listen. Your boyfriend left some information in his office—”

“You went in his office??!” I say, panic rising in my chest.

“Yeah, while you two were banging it out.” He grins deliriously. “I found some papers with package delivery dates on them. And we both know what a package is, right? According to those, your boyfriend will have a package delivered here tonight.”

“Wait, here? To this house?” I say, startled.

“Yeah, Kit Kat. Your boyfriend doesn’t care if you don’t like having drugs in the house. When are you gonna figure out that he doesn’t give two shits about you?”

My face burns. “Stop calling him my boyfriend!”

“I’m sorry, what am I supposed to call him?” he says mockingly. “I haven’t ever heard you say his name.”

“His name is Arsen,” I say, even though the name sounds funny coming out of my mouth.

“Well, Arsen doesn’t give a flying fuck about you. He doesn’t care about me, either. He’d probably be glad if we were both gone.”

I give a little huff of laughter. “He would hunt us to the ends of the earth.”

“Nahhhh. If we left the city, he wouldn’t chase us.” He gives me a cocksure smile.

“You don’t know the first thing about what Arsen would or would not do. A man will do crazy things if he feels he’s been wronged.”

“But you do, huh? You know him so well?”

“I think I know him more than you do,” I grit out.

“You’re full of shit. Anyway, my plan involves killing him. So, no worries on that part.”

I flinch. “What?”

He just shakes his head at my reaction. “Your boyfriend is dead, little girl. You and me, we’re gonna take his drugs and get the hell out of here. We’re running west somewhere. Vegas, maybe.”

“But I—”

Then Tony surprises me by reaching in his back waistband and pulling out a gleaming silver gun. My eyes widen, my hands clutch at the bedspread.

He points it at me, getting up in my face. “Shut up. You hear me? Shut the fuck up. I am so tired of your whining and nagging. ‘Tony do this, Tony don’t do that.’ I’m in charge now, Kit Kat. I’m the man with the plan. Me.”

My gaze is riveted on the gun, my breaths short, my heart going a million miles an hour just like my brain. I can’t seem to draw a complete breath into my lungs. “Tony—” I try, keeping my voice soft.

“Tony,” he mocks, beginning to pace. “We’re going to do what I want to do now, Katherine. Not what Dad wants, not what you think we should do. We’re gonna steal that heroin, take one of the neighbors’ fancy-ass cars, and get the fuck out of Dodge. We’re gonna head for the mountains, head out west. I always wanted to see the Rockies, and now is my chance. But I don’t wanna do it alone. So, I’ll break you out too.”

I’m not sure how to respond. Not sure that he wants a response, anyway. He looks up at me, earnestness gleaming on his face. Tony comes close, gesturing to me with the gun.

“You’re going to be glad that I saved you, Kit Kat. When we’re in a new city, when nobody knows us, you’ll grateful for me. Won’t you?”

He grabs my face with his free hand, squeezing my chin hard. For a heart-racing second, he leans close, and I’m genuinely afraid that he’s going to kiss me. But he gets a hair’s breadth away and just grins instead.

“Gotta leave something to the imagination, eh?”

He pushes my face away, which throws me off balance. I slump back on the bed, and he takes advantage of that. For a moment, he presses his body between my legs. I freeze, my disgust locking up my muscles. I’m all too aware of the fact that Tony still holds his gun, though just now it’s pointed to the side, away from me.

He just grins and paws my thigh. “Yeah, I imagine it will be just like this.”

Then he guffaws and moves away from me. Apparently, he doesn’t see anything wrong with what he just did. Not that he just forced himself on me. Not that I’m his sister.

Not even that his entire plan is nothing but lunacy.

“I’m gonna go back to my room and get a little sleep,” he continues as if nothing ever happened. “I promise to come and get you as soon as I’m ready to go. Ooooh, or maybe I’ll let you be the one to blow away Prince Charming, huh? Would you like that?”

He’s crazy. Even aside from the drugs, he’s gone completely mental.

I school my expression into the semblance of a smile. “Maybe.”

“Maybe, then.” He backs out of the room, leaving the door open behind him. When he’s gone, I jump up and close the door, then sag onto my bed.

Holy shit.

Holy shit!

This is a lot of information, all dumped in my lap at once.

What the hell am I supposed to do with it all?