My sensual criminals
Plans for an escape

"I still can't believe you're here. I can't believe you saw me," I whisper. "I can't believe it worked."

His blue eyes sparkle mischievously.

"You've taken long enough," James growls. "We've been waiting for a while."

I look this way and that, uncomprehending.

"We've been coming back every night for the past few weeks, waiting for you to give us that sign," Jack explains quietly.

"You're kidding," I say incredulously. "Why haven't you come back? You know how to get in."

The twins shrug.

"We couldn't be sure," growls James, who is now touching my nipples gently. The rough fabric brushes my flesh and I shudder involuntarily. But now is not the time.

"But what aren't you sure about?". I ask this time insistently.

The brothers share another look.

"That you wanted to see us again. That it was safe for us to come back after we told our secrets. A lot of things," James says in a soft tone.

"But we couldn't stay away," James continues. "After the first month or so, it became unbearable. We had to be close to you somehow, so we went back to peeking in your window," he growls, before grabbing my face and giving me an affectionate kiss on the lips.

"We had to make sure you wanted us to come back," James continues. "Exposing yourself like that, letting us know you were ready for more. It was like a sexy bat signal," he adds, smiling. I push him playfully, but he pulls me into himself effortlessly and gives me another kiss on the lips.

But then I pull away and take a deep breath.

"James, Jack, I wanted to signal you because I've changed my mind," I say.

His eyebrows furrow in confusion.

"I made a mistake last time," I continue quickly. "I want to help you steal my father because you were right. People don't change, and my father is definitely not going to change."

The men scowl at me, their faces grim, and my tongue rolls over itself.

"I want that revenge you were talking about. I want to help you blind him," I hasten to say.

There is an awkward pause.

"Are you sure about that, little girl?" growls Jack. "Because it's a big step and there's no turning back after this." But I can feel the certainty in every fiber of my body. I want to get out of here, and thanks to my father's decision about my college fund, this is the only future I have left. I want to be with James and Jack because, frankly, it will be a better life. There will be happiness, light and laughter, not to mention the fact that I'm pregnant with them.

"I'm sure," I say confidently, lifting my face to meet theirs. "I'm determined." Two pairs of piercing blue eyes stare back at me.

"Good choice, princess," James growls. "But we have to come up with a plan."

"Are your parents asleep yet?" asks James. I glance at the clock. It's almost one in the morning.

"Yes, most likely. Now is as good a time as any," I say.

The twins share a look.

"Good," James says. "Because here's what we'll do. Tell us where your father's most valuable paintings are and we'll go in and do our thing. In the meantime, pack up and get out of the attic like you normally do, but quietly. We'll meet you outside with the goods."

"That's it? Shouldn't I help with the raid itself?" I ask helplessly. But they both shake their heads.

"No," says Jack. "We're professionals. We'll be in and out of every room before anyone realizes we're there. You'll only slow us down, honey," he adds, inciting the start of a protest from me. But James gently strokes my lips with his thumb, stopping the onslaught. "It's not just that. It's safer for you this way, because if anything goes wrong, God forbid, you won't be complicit. You'll be out of the building and no prosecutor will be able to prove their case." They both nod, and I know they're right. They have my best interests at heart, and that comforts me.

So I take off my evening gown, which is now sticky and full of semen. I hurry to pack a few things and draw a quick sketch of the attic, pointing out where the most valuable paintings are located. But then I go one step further: I tell James and James where my mother keeps her expensive jewelry, which makes me feel terrible. But it's necessary because I have to do what's best for me and the baby. Raising a child is expensive, and my mother's jewelry is worth at least seven figures. "Okay," says Jack, straightening up. "Ready? His question is directed at both of us, but only James responds with a curt shake of his head. I don't move. "Ariana?" he asks. "You can still back out if you're not sure." I shake my head. "It's not that," I whisper, the words floating in the air.

"Then what's it about, little girl?" asks James in his deep, soft voice, one hand on the doorknob. Embarrassed, I feel tears well up in my eyes.

"All my life I've dreamed of this," I whisper. "All my life I've hated my family. I've been so lonely despite being surrounded by people who supposedly loved me," I say in a commiserating tone. "Now, I'm leaving and it's the happiest day of my life," I confess, my voice cracking. "And it's all thanks to you."

The men lean forward and kiss me softly.

"It'll all be over soon," James growls. "And no one will ever hurt you again."

"We'll take care of you," Jack adds, breathing into my hair. My body floods with happiness. Then I remember what we're about to do and adrenaline rushes through me. They both feel it too and look at me with intense eyes.

"Go now. Meet us downstairs in a few minutes. Wait for us by the first gate of the park," Jack orders. I nod my head. I pick up my bags, give them one last kiss and open the door to my room. It's been years since I've been out on the landing while the house sleeps. For as long as I can remember, I've locked myself in my room every night after dinner, trying to avoid my father at all costs. Now I replace it strange to walk down the hallways as I did when I was a child, not worrying about anything.

As I walk past Harrison's door, I take a moment, knowing it's unlikely I'll ever see him again. But no, I feel nothing. My heart rate doesn't race and my mind remains numb. That's what Harrison has done to me.

I keep walking. As I walk past my mother's door, I have a moment of doubt. Shouldn't I say goodbye? No, because it would ruin the whole plan. And yet, I feel terrible for sneaking out like this in the middle of the night. After all, my mother is also a victim of Harrison's bullying. But then I tell myself that Melissa will be fine. She's survived a long time and can survive a little longer. In the meantime, I have to do what's best for me and the baby.

Without a sound, I call the elevator and begin the long, smooth descent to the first floor. It's not until I cross the plush lobby and see the security staff at the front desk that I realize I haven't thought this part through. The staff will see me leave in the middle of the night and report me to my father.

"Hello, Miss Ariana !" our doorman calls, as he leans against the front desk, chatting with our night concierge. "It's too late for you to be up, isn't it?" he says from the lobby.

"Um, yeah," I say, thinking about the moment. "We're in the middle of finals, and a friend of mine is having a nervous breakdown about our test tomorrow," I lie. "A good sleepover and some more studying should do the trick." I'm surprised at how believable that sounds.

"Sure, although I've never been good at studying. Shall I call you a cab? Or Henry can do it," he says good-naturedly, indicating the janitor.

"No, thank you, Mr. Jefferson, I've ordered an Uber. In fact, it's waiting for me now. Good night."

I rush out of the lobby before he can say anything else. phew! By the skin of my teeth. As I cross the street and step into the darkness of Central Park, I hope Mr. Jefferson doesn't suspect anything. Or if he does, I hope my father doesn't come downstairs demanding answers until tomorrow morning.

Once in the park, I turn around and stare at the building where I grew up. It's the same as always, with imposing gray walls and giant windows reflecting the moonlight. I squint and look for my room on the top floor. It's funny, I really was a princess locked in a tower, but now that's all changing.

With my heart hammering in my chest, I wait. Where are James and Jack? Minutes pass and nothing happens. The silence is too much and I start to worry. When a siren sounds in the distance, I almost have a heart attack. Oh, shit. They've been caught. My parents have called the police. Blue lights swirl as the siren grows louder, and I start to hyperventilate. Shit, shit, shit.

Just as I'm about to run across the street and back upstairs, a huge hand closes around my wrist and pulls me back, leaving me breathless as I'm crushed between two rock-hard bodies. Immediately, I know they are my lovers. They are safe, thank God.