Into the Dark (Red 1)

I kiss her forehead and she sighs with contentment.

We both know the peace can’t last forever, but we’re going to take advantage of it while we can.

14.

Red

“We need to train you.”

“Um, what?” I must be hearing things because I could have sworn Nash just said he wanted to train me. Somehow, I get the feeling he’s not talking about the sweet-yet-sassy-submissive kind of training, either. You know, the kind of training he could spend hours doing with vibrators and handcuffs and butt plugs and rope.

No, he doesn’t have that kind of training in mind, and it sort of makes me want to pout.

“Red, you know he’ll be back.” It’s not a question. There’s no doubt in my mind. Jeffrey might not know I’m at the cabin, but he knows I’m in the woods. I need to make a move, and I need to make it soon. I can’t just be a sitting duck.

Whether he comes to me or I go to him, there’s going to be a fight.

And I need to be ready.

I take a deep breath and nod, expecting that to be the end of it for now, but then Nash throws a curveball at me.

“What’s your real name?” He asks with a twinkle in his eye.

&n

bsp; “What?”

“It’s not really ‘Red’ is it? I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s a lovely name, but I get the feeling it’s a nickname.”

“It is. My grandma started calling me Red when I was just a little girl. I suppose it just stuck. I never go by anything else.”

“But what’s your real name?”

I hesitate for a moment, smiling shyly. I probably look like a huge dork, but this is kind of special. I’m about to tell a boy my real name for the first time in –oh – forever.

What if he doesn’t like it?

“Scarlett.”

He laughs.

“You’re joking.”

“Nope,” I shake my head. “My parents must have had a sense of humor or something. They named me Scarlett, this beautiful, elaborate name, yet their only daughter goes by Red. Go figure. Can’t get much more ordinary than that.”

“I don’t think you’re ordinary.”

“Well, you are the only one.”

I shake my head. I have failed in so many ways. My whole life could be written and laid out as a “what not to do” manual.

Yet Nash isn’t looking at me like he’s disappointed in me.

No, Nash is looking at me like he wants to fucking devour me.

Suddenly, I’m a bit frightened.

“What?”