Snared by Stefan Petrucha Page B

wrong. I’m not supposed to be a prisoner. I mean, they never made it sound that way before, but I can’t get out of this house. The doors are locked, and they’ve got alarms. They’ve got this stuff they put on the windows and doors, and if I touch them it leaves a mark. That’s why you have to open the window for me. The worst part is, I couldn’t leave if I wanted to. Because even though these guys are bad, there are a lot worse things out there looking for me. So I can’t go to the cops or call my friends, because if anyone finds me, I’m toast.”
    â€œI don’t believe this,” Lindsay said.
    It was just an expression. She totally believed it. If Mark were a liar with strict parents, he could climb through the window and run away. He had to seriously believe he was in danger, or he wouldn’t just stay inside taking their abuse.
    â€œWhat happened?” she asked.
    â€œIt has to do with my father,” Mark said. “You might say he’s involved with the underworld. Anyway, he got me involved in some things that are totally out of my control.”
    On the trip out to her uncle’s house, Lindsay had felt like a prisoner, kidnapped by her parents and dragged away from her life. Now she saw how silly that was. Mark was a prisoner, a real one.
    â€œIs there anything I can do?”
    â€œNo,” he said. “I mean, I like seeing you. I really do. It’s been a long time since I met anyone even remotely normal. So if you want to visit and talk and stuff, that’s cool, but you really can’t get involved. If the muscle thugs found out, you could get into real trouble.”
    â€œThey can’t do anything to me,” Lindsay said.
    â€œThey can,” Mark said sadly. “They can, and they will if they find out. You don’t know them. They’re capable of things you can’t even imagine.”
    â€œWell maybe…,” Lindsay began.
    â€œOh, crap! I’m so sorry!”
    The voice startled them both. Mark leaped back toward his bed, and Lindsay spun in the desk chair, her heart racing in her throat.
    Ev stood at the window, her hands over hermouth like she’d just witnessed something shocking. Again she wore a bikini top, this time white to show off her tan, and her hair was smooth and sleek like sheets of snowy satin.
    â€œI swear I wasn’t spying,” Ev said quickly. “I just came by to walk you down to the beach, and no one was home at your place.”
    â€œIt’s cool,” Lindsay said, though it wasn’t.
    â€œHey,” Mark said, not stepping closer to the window.
    Lindsay checked his expression to see if he was all about Ev’s look. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but she knew well enough what her own thoughts were. She didn’t want the model-actress here, competing with her for Mark.
    I wouldn’t stand a chance.
    â€œWell, I’m so sorry,” Ev said, exaggerating every syllable.
    Turn off the drama , Lindsay thought. Jeez, it’s not like we were naked or something.
    â€œNo problem,” Mark said. “I was just telling Lindsay I had to get some things done.” He looked quickly toward the door. “I really can’t hang. Doug and Jack will be back soon.”
    Mark was being subtle, but Lindsay totally knewwhat he was saying. He wanted her to get Ev away from the house before his guardians returned. It would be hard enough for Lindsay to slip out without being noticed; trying to drag Ev away without making a scene would be far harder. She nodded slightly, telling him she understood.
    â€œWell, my tan isn’t getting any darker in here,” she said, quickly rising from the chair. Lindsay walked across the room to Mark and put her arms around him. She hugged him tightly. “See ya.”
    â€œPlease don’t bring Barbie back,” Mark whispered in her ear.
    Lindsay giggled and held him tighter, feeling his muscles