"Gross."

Trevor made an upwards motion. "You're going to have to take it off."

"Isn't that what got us in trouble earlier today?"

"We're not making out. I'm doctoring you. I'm pretty sure I can keep my hormones in check."

I wasn't so sure, but I didn't say anything. Instead, I struggled to strip off the shirt. I tossed it to the side and looked at Trevor expectantly.

"Sit."

I sat on the closed lid of the toilet facing sideways so he could get at my arm without having to twist in an impossible position.

"This might sting."

I could smell the rubbing alcohol as he poured it onto a piece of gauze. The odor stung my nostrils and when it touched my wound I thought I'd jump out of my skin for real and run away. Trevor pressed a hand on top of my shoulder, presumably so I didn't do just that.

"Jesus, are you trying to finish the job for Devon?" I bit out between clenched teeth. The pain was insane.

"It needs to be cleaned and disinfected. Trust me. I've seen one of her marks go untreated and it was not pretty." He uncapped the peroxide. "Just take in a deep breath and hold it."

I did just that as he poured the noxious smelling liquid over my arm. I couldn't see the grotesque bubbling but I could definitely hear it. Like an alka seltzer fizzing in a gla.s.s of water. My gut roiled and I nearly yacked into the bathtub.

"Almost done."

I'd always thought people said that to trick you into thinking it was almost over, when in fact they had one last nasty thing to do to you. I was proven right when Trevor smeared polysporin over my wound. Liquid fire rushed over me and sizzled my brains.

"Holy c.r.a.p! That burns."

He ignored the next onslaught of curses that erupted from my mouth as he wrapped my arm in gauze and taped it tight.

"Done." He washed his hands in the sink. "Now we need to talk about who's taking back Thane's stupid laundry."

I stood, testing my arm. "I'm going. The end. He'll get suspicious if I don't. Besides I highly doubt he'll let you paw through his stuff. Me he'll order to fold his d.a.m.n clothes and put them away as part of my ongoing humiliation and punishment. I'll have plenty of opportunity to check out that other bag."

Trevor just stared wide-eyed at me. "Quite a speech. You should probably take my cell phone so you can take pictures of whatever you find."

"Oh, okay." I laughed. "I thought you were going to talk me out of it."

He shook his head. "I figure you're not going to listen anyway."

"Basically." I smiled.

He returned my smile, then reached for my hand. Mine looked so small in his. He had strong secure hands. I liked that, I liked that he wanted to touch me with them. Made me feel safe.

"Just be careful, okay?"

"I will."

"Why don't I believe you?"

"Because you just finished saving my a.s.s from getting pulverized?"

He brought my hand up to his mouth and pressed lips to the back. However chaste it was, the contact still sent a rush of pleasure over me, balling tightly right in the middle of my belly.

"Just so you know though, if you're not back in twenty minutes I'm coming to get you."

I wondered when this was all over if he'd be my boyfriend. It was crazy to be thinking about that in the middle of all this craziness but it made me feel normal to think about it.

After giving me his phone and instructing me on a million worst case scenarios, Trevor finally let me go across the hall to return Thane's clean clothes.

I knocked on the door and Thane opened it immediately. "Jesus, what took you so long? I thought maybe Devon ate you anyway." He opened the door wide for me. "Then I'd have to go get a bunch of new clothes. And I really hate shopping."

"Wow, I'm touched that you were so worried about me." I carried his bag in, looking for the green one to set it next to.

I spotted it in the corner in the same place I'd left it. Thane hadn't gone out of his way to hide it so maybe I'd been wrong and the box wasn't important. Or was too arrogant to care whether I'd seen the box or not.

I glanced at his face and he gave me that smug grin of his. I was voting for too arrogant. He probably thought nothing could touch him, especially not the likes of me. Some groupie he almost killed and dumped in the trash.

I set the black bag beside the green one, giving him my back. "Here's your dumb laundry back."

"Did you use fabric softener?"

"You're lucky I even used detergent."

He came up behind me. A shudder rushed down my spine. I had to dig my nails into my palms to compensate for the urge to run away surging through me. It was almost unbearable to have him so near.

"You know, just because I told Devon not to kill you doesn't mean you can be a smart a.s.s to me."

I risked looking at him. "What, you're going to kill me even though I did such a good job with your shorts?" I unzipped the bag and showed him a neat pile of folded clothes.

"No, I suppose you have your uses."

I dropped my gaze not liking the way he was eyeing me, like I was lunch.

My gut churned. I didn't think I could do this. I couldn't let this monster touch me again. I wouldn't live through it.

I stepped away from him.

"You know something, you're not ugly."

I swallowed. "Ah, nice of you to say."

"You're definitely not the best looking girl I've had but you know beggars can't be choosers."

He moved closer, which made me take another step back, except if I kept retreating, I'd be up against the wall. Just where he'd want me.

"What do you think you're doing?" I tried to put force in my voice so I didn't sound as scared as I was. Not sure that it worked because his grin broadened.

"What does it look like, sugar pop? Getting my dessert."

I put my hand out to stop him from advancing any further. I knew it wouldn't really stop him. He'd take what he wanted. Just like he had in the first place.

I couldn't stop the shudder this time as it racked my entire body. Oh G.o.d, I was going to be sick.

He reached for me. But before he could touch my face, there was a loud knock at the door. At first, I didn't think he was going to answer it, but the knocks became louder and more insistent.

"Hold that look of terror. I'll be right back."

I let out my breath as he walked out of the sleeping area to answer the door. "What the f.u.c.k do you want?"

I heard Trevor's voice answering him. I smiled. He saved me.

The second Thane was out of my view, I unzipped the green duffle and reached in for the box. After taking it out, I used Trevor's cell phone to take several pictures of the designs and symbols etched into the polished wood. I tried to pry it open but it was locked. I took a picture of the lock as well. Once I was done, I put the box back and zipped up the bag, my hands shaking the entire time. I hoped the pictures turned out all right.

Taking in a few cleansing breaths, I crossed the room to the door. I saw Trevor framed in the doorway, his face an angry mask, arguing with Thane. I knew the second he spotted me because his face softened, his eyes lit up.

"Well, I think I'll be leaving now." I brushed past Thane but he grabbed my arm before I could get into the hall.

"I'll say when you can leave," he snarled, his eyes going jet black.

I swallowed hard and glanced at Trevor.

"Look, Thane, we need to get down to the club so we can set up the sound system for your gig," Trevor offered. "You can always torment her later."

Thane didn't look convinced but he let go of my arm. "Whatever the two of you are planning, it's not going to work." He shrugged. "Just thought I'd let you know that."

I stepped out into the hall next to Trevor. As soon as I was clear of the door, Thane slammed it shut.

We didn't say anything until we were safely inside our room. I collapsed onto the sofa, my hands still shaking.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes," I breathed out. "Thanks to you."

"I came early. I couldn't sit here any longer thinking about you in that room with him."

I smiled. "Thank G.o.d, you did."

He sat beside me, and ran a hand over my head. I liked the contact. It was comforting and seemed completely natural and normal. I leaned against him. He dropped his arm to around my shoulder, pulling me tight into his chest.

"Did you find anything?"

I took out his cell phone and scrolled through the images I'd captured. "Recognize any of these?"

"No, but I'm not exactly the scholarly type." He smirked. "They look old though."

I flipped through them again. "Some of these look Celtic to me. Lots of loops and knots."

"Did you get a look inside the box?"

"No. It was locked."

"Then it must be important."

"I guess."

Trevor lifted my chin with a finger. "We'll figure this out. We'll do some research online. Find out what those markings mean."

"And what if they don't mean anything?"

"Then we'll find another way."

I snuggled into him, draping my arm over his chest. Closing my eyes, I drank him in. I could've just stayed like that for an eternity. He was warm and comforting and smelled like chocolate. What more could a girl ask for?

"We could just run away together. They wouldn't bother looking for us. We could disappear in L.A or New York. We could sneak across the border and live in Toronto or Montreal. They would never expect to find us in Canada."

He squeezed my shoulder and pressed his lips to the top of my head. "Could you really leave, knowing Thane will do this again and again to girl after girl? None of them would be as lucky as you and survive."

I didn't want to hear it but he was right. Right that Thane would continue sucking the life out of random girls and right that I couldn't leave knowing it.

"Where's your laptop?" I sat up. "I'll start looking up those symbols."

Chapter 26.