"Dad!" I yelled at him. I couldn't believe my father just shoved him.

"I called him," Ada explained, and joined Dex by his side. "I thought he could help."

"You called him of all people?" my dad jabbed his thumb in his direction. Dex straightened up and raised his chin defiantly but my father held his gaze. "After what you did to my daughter, you should be glad I'm merely going to kick you out of my house."

Dex c.o.c.ked his head to the side. "How about what you did. Your little daughter there is tied to her own bed. She's sick and getting sicker by the minute."

"She's going to the hospital first thing in the morning."

Dex was about an inch taller than my father but seemed so much more when he took a step closer, looking straight at my father with steely eyes.

"If you take her there," he said, br.i.m.m.i.n.g with conviction, "you will kill her. You have no idea what you are dealing with here."

My father didn't move. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you had a plan."

Dex glanced at me quickly, then looked back at him, Ada and my mother. "I do have a plan."

"Well it's too bad you can't stay to tell us about it," my dad said snidely. He placed his hands on Dex's shoulders and brusquely directed Dex toward the door.

My breath caught in my throat. Despite the anger, the pain he caused me, he couldn't leave me. He couldn't just leave me like this.

Dex stopped by the door, causing my dad to halt abruptly. He eyed Maximus, who was holding his jaw in pain and shooting daggers at him. Then he turned around and smiled sweetly at dad and mom.

"It's funny that you both don't remember me," he said with false disbelief.

My parents shot each other quick, confused looks.

"We've met before," he continued, nodding at them appraisingly. "Back in New York. I was just a young f.u.c.k at the time. I had a deadbeat, alcoholic crazy b.i.t.c.h of a mother and a wonderful nanny. She was a bit loopy too..."

"We don't know what you're talking about," my dad said. I had no clue what Dex was talking about either. New York? Since when did my parents live in New York?

But my mom, her face flinched with horrible recognition. It didn't last long but I picked up on it and Dex did too. He squinted his eyes at her and smiled, leaning in closer.

"When I turned eighteen, I changed my last name to mother's name. To honor her death. Guess I was sentimental back then. Before that, my name was Declan O'Shea."

My dad's eyes widened. Then he gave Dex another light push against the shoulders and said, "You need to get out of here. Now."

"Such a rush?" Dex asked, and was willingly turned around.

"I have no problems calling the cops on you," my father responded. We all knew he was dying to do it. Maybe get them to take me with them.

He ushered Dex out the door before he could look back at me. My mother and Maximus, with his rapidly swelling jaw, went after them.

Ada stood in the middle of the room watching the blank spot where they all had just been. Finally, she looked at me with her big eyes. d.a.m.n. What the f.u.c.k just happened?

"I'm so sorry, Perry," she said. "I didn't want to tell you. I didn't tell anyone. I just couldn't let this happen to you. I just thought, of all people, even if you hated him, that Dex could be the one to help."

"He said he had a plan," I said slowly. It hurt to talk now, and I was growing more exhausted by the second now that the commotion was over.

"I don't know what it is. But when I called him and explained, he said he'd take care of everything. He drove straight here. But -"

"He's Declan O'Shea," I said softly. My head rolled to the right as she came closer. "Why do mom and dad know him?"

"They said they didn't," she said. She peered out the window. "But I think they're lying."

"Is he out there?" I asked, unable to look.

"Yeah. Dad's making crazy gestures. I think he's yelling at him."

She looked down at me. "Liars or not, you can't expect dad to, like, be happy to see him. After what he did to you."

"Ada. I don't want him to go," I slurred the last part. I was losing consciousness. I didn't know if it was the after-effects of the pills or if there was a takeover at hand.

"I don't either. But he's going."

I heard his Highlander start outside and then the sound faded. All my hope went with it. I had Dex for a few minutes and even through all the rage I felt, the hurt and humiliation, seeing him had filled me with a resilience I hadn't felt in a long time. Like I had a fighting chance.

Now, he was gone. I had nothing left but questions.

"When did mom and dad live in New York?" I asked with the last strength I had.

Ada came at sat on the bed. "I don't know. Maybe when mom was modeling? You need to sleep, Perry. I'll be right here."

I nodded, then slept.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

I awoke to the sound of my window being jimmied. My eyes flew open. It was dark in my room except for my bedside lamp and I was still in bed, still tied to the posts. My muscles ached and cried from being pulled in the same position for so long. I was alone.

Well, not quite.

The window finally slid open, clattering in the frame. I froze, unsure of who it was, what it was. Did the winged demon babies finally come for me? Was it something worse, like the giant spider?

"Hey, kiddo," Dex whispered. "It's just me."

I heard him hoist himself through the window and land softly on the carpet. He appeared beside me. Like before, he crouched down so he was at my level. I moved my head on the pillow to look at him.

With blood crusting at the corners of his eye, he gave me a quick, almost shy smile. I hated how it made me feel. His smile still had the ability to make me feel good.

"Sweet climbing tree you've got there," he said, nodding his head at the outside. He looked me up and down, frowning, then asked, "How are you?"

"How do you think?" I replied, my tongue feeling sluggish.

"Yeah," he said slowly. "I know. I'm going to get you out of here, OK?"

"Where?"

"I said I had a plan. Your parents never gave me a chance to tell it to them. You just have to trust me."

My eyes narrowed at him. "How the f.u.c.k do you think I can trust you?"

He winced and rubbed at his thin beard. "I deserve that, I know. And I don't blame you. But none of that's important right now. Later, yes. Not now, kiddo. Ada was right. You can't stay here. Whatever's inside you, it's going to kill you. Sooner rather than later. And a hospital, alone...Perry you don't want to die in there."

My eyes flickered in alarm.

He reached over and stroked my hand gently. His touch made gooseflesh appear on my arm. "It's true. I'm not trying to scare you. In fact, you're the one who's scaring me. As usual. But we have to go. Will you come with me?"

"You'll have to untie me," I said in a hush.

He leaned in closer. "I'll risk it."

"Promise you'll tie me up again after?"

I expected him to have some s.e.xy remark to that. But his face was stern, washed with determination. "I don't want to."

"But you have to. Or I won't go. I don't want to hurt you again."

"Even though I deserve it."

"You deserve something. But not that."

He nodded and took a deep breath. "OK, deal."

He leaned over me and untied my left arm. He smelled the same as ever. Old Spice, Nicorette gum. I tried not to breathe it in, just in case it messed with my heart a bit. But it was hard.

My hand came free and I wiggled it as he untied the other one. He paused before heading down to my legs and shot me a wry look out of the corner of his eye. He was waiting for me to attack him.

I smiled quickly. "I'm OK."

He nodded, and chewing on his lip, he undid the other two legs. As he worked, I stretched my arms and back and reflected on how odd everything suddenly was. Here was Dex, someone I had known in the most personal level possible and it felt like we were almost strangers. Like we were starting all over again. It made me a little bit sad. But I pushed the sadness away because I couldn't afford to vulnerable. Not only because it made me more susceptible to that thing, but because I didn't want to backslide, as foolish as that was. Dex had just warned me that I might die because of this but I wanted to hold onto my precious pride. But what use was pride if you were dead?

When he was finished, he came back to me and gently slid his arm underneath my back, easing me into a sitting position.

"Here, up you go. Easy...take it easy."

My heart pounded in my head and I pressed down on both temples. His warm hand cupped the back of my head, supporting me. I pointed at the rope, keeping my eyes shut.

"Tie me up," I said, grinding my teeth against the pain.

"Right now?"

"Please, Dex."

He sighed and reluctantly tied the rope around my wrists and ankles.

"Do it tighter," I whispered harshly.

He stopped and tilted my chin up so I was looking at him. I opened my eyes. His eyes were large and searching mine. I could see my reflection in them.

"What?" I asked. "You saw what I did. Your throat is practically blue."

It was now. Blue and purple and ugly. All because of me.

"I don't like this."

"And I do?"

But he tied my wrists and ankles tighter, stopping just before the circulation was cut off.

"I'm obviously going to have to carry you," he said warily.

"Obviously," I whispered back.

He put his arms behind my back and knees and lifted me up with little effort. I was right. He had bulked up a bit. Not that it matters, I thought quickly, then tried to concentrate on the task at hand. Mainly, getting the h.e.l.l out of Dodge without my parents, or Maximus, or Ada, catching us. Still, as I rested my head in the crook of his sweet-scented neck, I couldn't help but wonder how I smelled; my last bath having been days ago. And that was with spiders.

"You OK, kiddo?" he asked after taking a step.

I nodded and breathed into his neck.

"Here goes nothing," he said quietly. He adjusted my weight on him and quickly opened the door with his hand. It creaked open slowly. The lights in the hallway were on but the ones on the stairs weren't. I hoped he wouldn't fall down them; we'd both be hurt and we'd be letting everyone know what we were up to.

He tiptoed (if it's even possible to tiptoe when you're carrying someone) to the edge of the stairs and then carefully made his way down them. I wanted to warn him to be extra quiet since Maximus was asleep in the living room but I didn't want to open my mouth.

We made it to the hardwood floors and he turned toward the front door.

Then stopped.

There was someone standing there.

We waited until the figure came forward and the light from upstairs illuminated them enough.

It was Ada. She was still in her clothes, having not gone to sleep yet.

"What are you doing with her?" she hissed.

"I'm taking her. This is part of the plan."

"Taking her where? You never told me the plan."

"You guys, shut up." I hushed them. "You'll wake Maximus."

I jerked my head in the direction of the living room.