I don’t even remember work today. My hands moved on their own, the task at hand blurring with what was consuming my mind.

The thought of her in the house. Left with Jay.

I finished one order. The only one I had that would bring anyone to my shop at all.

For now, and for the time being, the shop is closed. And every waking moment will be spent in that house with Robin.

I’m not leaving her again.

The doorknob clicks as I sneak into 401 Cadence Square, slipping the pin I used to unlock it into my back jeans pocket. My blood rushes through my veins. I know this is illegal, technically breaking and entering and I look over my shoulder before closing the door behind me. I swallow hard and let out an uneasy breath as I look around the living room.

Residence to Miss Robin Everly. Or former residence, unbeknownst to the rest of the world.

I walk easily into the cozy space. It’s a small ranch house that’s fairly dated, but her furniture and décor are modern and mostly simple. It’s the pop of colors and textures that give it life. They seem odd knowing the bit of her she’s shown me.

There’s a professionalism about the room. Organization that seems more fit for a home design magazine, but the colors are cheery. Bright teal in the designs of the throw pillows and pale yellow stripes on the curtains and rugs. There are a scattering of teal flowers and motivational sayings like ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ on the pictures throughout the place.

As if she needs to be surrounded by something to keep out the stark and cold emptiness that would be left if those pieces were removed.

I ignore them for a moment, feeling my stomach churn at the thought of her being here instead of in the cabin. My phone is heavy in my hand as I watch the screen for a moment.

I have six cameras – not like the one Jay has set up in the basement. This way I can watch everything, at all times. He doesn’t know a thing about them, and he doesn’t need to. This is my insurance. I stare at the screen, watching how she sits across from the dog. She’s cross-legged and the dog’s laying down, but eyeing her curiously.

I wonder if Jay told her Toby is for emotional support. My fingers itched to touch her hand, to hold it while I let Toby approach her. Jay was right when he said she was damaged. He was right when he said she needed help.

I could help her. And I will. With or without Jay. If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do this right.

The only reason I’m not there now is that I need to know more about her. And see if I can find the evidence Jay left behind. The anger rises slowly. It’s always like that when I think of Jay. A slow rise that turns to a simmer. Usually the thought that he can’t help it is enough to calm me, but he fucking set me up. He forced my hand, and that’s something that’s unforgivable.

I slip the phone into my back pocket, turning my head to the window on the left side of the room as the gentle city traffic is disrupted with a honking horn.

I’m quiet as I walk through the house, greeted only by silence. My instinct is to go to her bedroom, but when the door creaks open and I peek in, I see her bed first. The sheets and comforter are in disarray and there’s broken glass on the floor.

Fuck! Jay told me he left evidence, but I didn’t expect it to be something so fucking obvious.

I grit my teeth and go back to the tiny galley kitchen, reaching into my other back pocket for the thin black leather gloves. I’m careful with every step.

The cabinets are old and worn. I have to go through three of them before I find the dust pan. I take my time, cleaning up the room and wiping down every surface I can think of. All the while I take in every inch of her place.

What’s most odd is that it feels like I’ve already been here. Especially the bedroom. It feels like I know her, like we aren’t strangers in the least. I can’t shake the feeling; I haven’t been able to since I first laid eyes on that photograph.

I toss the rag I’ve been using to wipe down surfaces into the trash bag in her kitchen as the unsettling thought passes through me.

I make a mental note to take the trash with me on the way out. No piece of evidence left behind. I don’t know when she’ll be back…

I was going to let her go this morning. I was ready to take her with me. I’d do what I have to do with Jay and plead with her to stay with me until I figured a way out, but she was so willing to remain when I left. So unlike what I anticipated.

It feels like a trap.

I let the unfinished thought slip away as I think I hear someone in the living room.

My eyes whip up to the small doorway and I wait, listening to the blood rushing in my ears. Thump, thump, thump, thump. My heart races in my chest.

I’m quick to remove the gloves, shoving them in my back pocket and waiting for whoever it is to say or do something. I anticipate them calling out her name to see if she’s home. But there’s nothing but silence until Jay appears in the doorway.

A smirk slowly lifts his lips up with a knowing glint that sparkles in his eyes.

“Fucking bastard,” I mutter under my breath. The smile widens and he walks closer to me.

“Cleaning up?” he asks me and then glances at the trash bag.

“Yeah,” I answer him and bend down to tie it off. “Just on my way out,” I tell him.

“You should go,” Jay says, his voice full of something I’ve never heard from him before. Possessiveness, jealousy even. He leans his back against the doorway, blocking part of the exit and adds, “She’s waiting for you.”

There’s an undertone to his voice that accompanies his narrowed eyes as he cracks his knuckles one by one. “You’ll have to tell me what you think of your session.”

I crack my own knuckles, mirroring him. “What I think about her, you mean?” I ask him, pushing him just slightly to see what his intentions are, to pick at the real meaning behind his question.

A rough laugh escapes his lips as he tilts his head and looks me in the eyes, crossing his arms as he shrugs. “I already know what you think of her,” he says in a low voice, almost a murmur. Like it wasn’t meant for me, which pisses me off.

“Is that right?” I ask him, feeling my blood heat and adrenaline coursing through me. It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten into it. But I can feel it coming. Maybe not today while she’s trapped at the cabin. But when she’s safe, I know it’s going to happen.

He relaxes his posture, as if coming to the same conclusion at the very same time. It does an odd thing to me and I want to bite the question back, but I can’t anymore.

“Do you love her?” I ask him.

The smile stays on his face as he answers immediately, “Of course I do. If I didn’t, I never would have let her go.”

Jay admits to what I already knew. The love between them is obvious. The thing that shocks me is how hearing the words on his lips makes me feel. Jealous.

“Then let her go again. Let her make that choice,” I tell him words I know are rational, even if what I’m feeling is anything but.

“We’re only just getting started,” Jay says as he turns to leave.

“You told me it was about her,” I yell at him as he’s leaving, letting my emotions get the best of me. My words halt his footsteps. He turns to look over his shoulders, his eyes smoldering with an intensity I’ve never seen.

“It’s all about her. It’s always been about her.”

“I find that really fucking hard to believe right now,” I spit as I take a step forward, meeting him halfway.

“Don’t forget who will take the fall for this if something happens, John,” Jay sneers my name, his eyes darkening with anger.

His threat means nothing to me; I don’t care what the consequences are anymore. He smiles at me, a wicked grin at the thought. “She’s just as much for you as she is me,” he says and I flinch. “She has something she hasn’t told you, John. Something you need to hear.”

My body freezes as I watch him step back into the small kitchen. He carelessly touches every cabinet.

“What is it?” I ask him, not sure if I believe him or if this is a mind game to get me to do what he wants. But something feels off with her. A familiarity I can’t grasp. A pull so strong that it makes me reckless.

He stops and looks back at me, a flash of fear in his expression, but only for a moment. “I want her to tell you,” he says quietly.

I shake my head; there’s nothing she could tell me that would change anything. But as I look up to tell Jay just that, he stares back at me with an expression I can’t place. He drops his eyes and stares at the linoleum kitchen floor as a moment passes, letting the anger dim.

“I just need a little more time. Just a little longer before it all changes.” He says the words so quietly, like they aren’t for me. Only for himself.

“Before what changes?” I ask him as he turns to leave. He looks up at me like he forgot I was even here.

He stares at me for a moment, debating on answering me before saying, “Everything.”