I stared at the bathroom door, uniform already on. Skirt brushing my knees, red ribbon tight at my throat like a fancy noose. On the other side waited Sienna’s father. Time to start pretending.
I took a breath and stepped out.
The first thing I saw hit harder than any mirror.
Dad was kneeling beside the bed, carefully folding a few scattered clothes of Sienna’s and placing them into his patched backpack. Those massive hands that looked built for smashing things moved with almost reverent care. Even his smile was pure vintage: wide, peaceful, glowing.
I froze in the doorway.
“…Dad?” My voice came out tiny. “Why are you doing that?”
He looked up, smile widening like I’d just made his whole day. He set the last shirt aside and stood.
“Well, honey, this room looked like it hadn’t been touched in ages. Felt bad leaving it like this for the cleaning staff.”
I forced a laugh, but my brain was spiraling. (How long had Sienna been locked away in here?)
“Dad… didn’t you say we were going home?”
His eyes lit up. “Of course! Sasha’s gonna be over the moon.”
Sasha. Another name I was supposed to know.
“Yeah…” I swallowed. “Can’t wait.”
(Who the hell is Sasha? Sister? Cousin? The neighbor?)
“Let’s go then.” He held out his big hand. His grip was impossibly gentle.
“Oh—drop the key at reception first. I’ll grab the car.”
I walked the empty hallway alone. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead. Near reception, voices drifted out.
“Did you see the hunk who checked in? Those arms… I’d die.”
“Please. I like the fragile ones. The kind you wanna protect.”
“You can’t deny those pecs are peak!”
I paused, pretending to check the black phone that wasn’t really mine.
“Carla, seriously,” came Emma’s exasperated voice. “That’s why you’ve been single for months.”
“What?!”
“Because you treat guys like trophies.”
Awkward pause.
“I’ve got a lot of love to give…”
Emma sighed, almost to herself. “I should know.”
I straightened and walked in. Carla blushed faintly. Emma—the one with electric-blue streaks in her dark hair—locked eyes with me like she could see straight through the act.
“Hi,” I said, setting the key down. “Checking out.”
Emma took it without breaking eye contact. “You sure? You paid for a full year. No refunds.”
“Yeah,” I smiled, hoping it didn’t shake. “Don’t worry about the deposit.”
“I don’t know what you’re dealing with, Sienna,” she said softly but firmly, “but like I told you when you arrived…” She slid a handwritten note across the counter. “Call if you need to talk. Okay?”
I blinked. (Only once? Sienna really only reached out once?)
Something twisted in my chest.
“Sorry for worrying you,” I said honestly. “I’ll… take you up on that someday.”
Emma gave a small, tired smile. “I’ll be here.”
I nodded and left, but lingered just out of sight for a second.
“Was it me, or did she act like she didn’t know us?” Carla whispered.
“Carla, you cleaned her room once.”
“That’s why! Couldn’t let the others near it—they’re clumsy.”
Emma gave a quiet laugh. “Hope she’s alright.”
I smirked inwardly and walked faster toward the parking lot.
Dad was leaning against the car, arms crossed, wearing that same warm smile.
But the car itself stopped me cold.
The goddamn BMW M3 GTR.
“…Dad?” I squeaked. “What the hell is that?!”
He tilted his head. “Honey, it’s the one Grandma left me. Don’t remember?”
“Remember?!” I approached like it was sacred, fingers grazing the body. “This is a BMW M3 GTR! A fucking legend! Majestic, imposing, perfect!”
He laughed deep and warm. “You definitely got that from Grandma. She loved this thing… maybe more than the E30 she gave your aunt.”
“An E30 too?!” My eyes sparkled. “Another unicorn?”
“Sienna…” He shook his head, chuckling. “You’re her spitting image.”
I dove into the passenger seat like it was holy ground. Leather, fuel, history—overwhelming.
“Come on, Dad! Let’s roll in this beauty!”
He slid in. The engine roared to life with a pure, glorious symphony.
“Sienna,” he said as we pulled out, “heads-up—home’s been a bit… tense lately.”
My excitement cooled instantly.
“Tense?”
“Grandma and your mom have been clashing hard since you left.”
(Shit. I know nothing about these people.)
I forced a casual tone. “What was my great-grandfather like, anyway?”
Dad frowned slightly at the rearview mirror. “You know the story, Sienna. He stood by Grandma even after the Incident.”
I blanked. (Shit. The Incident. I’m supposed to know this.)
“Right, right,” I said quickly. “I just meant… was he happy? With the whole… monogamy law thing?”
Dad sighed. “Happy? Who knows. But he stayed. Most cities barely have 70 to 200 men now. It’s mandatory. Our family somehow kept the old setup.”
(70 to 200 men per city… Forced monogamy… What kind of dystopia is this?)
The scenery shifted from buildings to open fields. I stared out the window, heart hammering. Grandma’s a tycoon. Mom’s a jealous psycho. A world where men are locked down by law. And me—Dani, runaway with Michael, casino dreams crushed by a cosmic sucker punch—about to fake being a rich girl who rage-quit life.
Michael… you in this world? Who are you here?
The engine’s purr lulled me. My eyelids grew heavy.
I woke to stillness. Golden prairie stretched endlessly under the late afternoon light.
“Fuck…” I rubbed my eyes. “Did I pass out?”
Dad chuckled. “Yeah, sweetheart. Though that mouth… too many novels?”
I blushed hard. “Yeah! Got lost in character. Sorry.”
“No sweat.” He smiled. “Did the same in my theater days.”
(Theater? File that away.)
“And… we’re here!”
Grand iron gates, stone pillars, a long gravel drive disappearing into ancient trees. Beyond them: not a mansion—a full estate with towers, flawless gardens, and an artificial lake mirroring the sunset.
I gripped the door handle.
Whatever waited inside… game on.