Chapter 21

—Ellie—

The next morning I took a quick shower, holding my arm out of the stall so it wouldn’t get wet. The painkillers had helped with the sting. I hadn’t expected that kind of consideration from Remo, and I suspected he had ulterior motives for the gesture.

The sound of the lock startled me, and I quickly put another one of Kate’s long summer dresses on before I stepped out of the bathroom, my hair still damp and barefoot.

Tristan stood with his arms crossed in front of the window, tall and dark and brooding like the love interest in romance movies. He turned and scanned my body. It was unsettling how physical his gaze felt on my skin.

“I’m taking you outside for a walk in the gardens.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Why?”

“Would you prefer to spend your captivity holed up in here?”

“No, but I’m wary of your motives.”

He smiled darkly. “I want to keep you sound of mind and body. It would be a shame if these four walls bro