Chapter 158 Snake In Hiding
Dakota's P.O.V.
Listening to Jamie on the phone makes me feel like a fool. I thought she was a sweet teenager, but the way she's talking now makes me realize she's not as young as she pretended to be. I pick up my sandwich and water from the floor and knock on her door.
"Who is it?" she asks from the other side.
"Dakota." It's taking everything inside of me not to kick the door down and drag her outside by her hair.
"Hang on, she's at the door." Does she think this house is soundproof? She smiles sweetly when she opens the door, but now I see what I had missed in her eyes earlier: evil.
"I just wanted to see if you needed anything," I ask while trying to control my anger. I will have Xavier assign someone to watch her until tomorrow. Then I will find out who sent her here.
"I'm good, but thanks. I'm on the phone, so if you don't mind." She begins to shut the door, but I stop her.
"Where did you get a phone? I didn't think they would let you have one at the bar." Jamie bites her lip and looks down. That's not going to work on me anymore.
"I asked one of the men here for one. I don't know his name." I can't wait to get my hands on her tomorrow. I smile before speaking.
"Okay, goodnight." She shuts the door without saying anything. As soon as I get to my room, I call Xavier.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Xavier, I need you to have someone watch Jamie. She's not who she's pretending to be. I heard her on the phone telling someone she was in the house, and I fell for her act. Tomorrow, we will have a little talk with her. Tonight, I want to see if she does anything." Ari watches me as I pace around the room.
"I'll watch her now and have someone take over in a few hours," he replies.
"Thanks. Let me know if she comes out of her room." I sit on the edge of the bed.
"I will." After he disconnects, I turn to Ari.
"I can't believe I fell for it. She seemed so innocent. I need to talk to Gabe and Rain. I want to see what they know about her. I'll be right back." I kiss his forehead, and he stops me before I walk out.
"You're not letting your guard down because I'm a distraction, are you? I don't want to be the reason you get hurt." I walk over and squat down so we're eye to eye.
"You are not a distraction. I hadn't slept in over twenty-four hours when I went to the bar this morning. I was upset about Yegor and angry about what he was doing under the family name. I'm better and clear-headed now. After I talk to Rain and Gabe, I will make another sandwich because I dropped the first one. Then I'll come back and lie down with you. Tomorrow, I will talk with Jamie." I kiss him and stroke his head.
"I love you." I smile and kiss him again before standing.
"I love you too." I pass Xavier on my way to Gabe's room. He's sitting down the hall from Jamie's room in one of the chairs in a small alcove. I knock on Gabe's door, and he opens it a minute later. I see a laptop, books open, and notebooks on the bed.
"I just wanted to check and see if you needed anything." I look into his eyes and feel better. I didn't mess up with him.
"No, thank you. This has been great. It's so much better than trying to study in my car. Sarah brought me something to eat earlier." He smiles shyly.
"Can I come in for a minute? I need to ask you a few questions." He opens the door, and I shut it behind us.
"Did I do something wrong?" He asks nervously.
"No. I want to ask you about Jamie. How long was she in the basement with you?" He relaxes slightly and sits on the bed.
"She was brought the day after I was taken there, but it was strange. She wasn't restrained, and she was smiling when they put her in a cell. The other two women and I were scared. Jamie didn't start acting scared until Shea and Tyler showed up," Gabe replies.
"Did she ever say anything about her abduction other than what she told me?" He tilts his head as though he's thinking.
"She didn't say much yesterday, but early this morning, she was mumbling to herself as though she was trying to remember something. Honestly, I didn't pay much attention to her because I was scared." He looks down at his hands.
"I don't blame you. I'd be scared, too. I'll let you get back to studying. If you see Jamie, don't let her know you've talked to me." He looks up and nods.
"I won't. Thanks again for bringing me here and giving me a chance." I smile as I open the door.
"You're welcome. Goodnight." I walk out and head to Luka's room. When I knock, he says to come in. Rain looks up and practically jumps out of the bed.