He mounts his horse, turns him, and stacks his hands on the saddle horn.
“No,” he says. “I hauled your ass back here to help me take down the Caudills and settle my debt.”
“You dying or something?”
“No,” he says, frowning. “Tell me we’re even and go home, Jen.”
My hand finds Godspeed’s side. He throws his head, and I take a second to gather myself, untying him and mounting up. I’m on eye level with Brothers now.
“Get me Della and Landis. Get me to that plane,” I say. “Then, we’re even. But we’re also done. You go your own way with Kayleigh, and I’ll go mine. Don’t contact me again.”
His jaw twitches like he’s wincing.
“It’s a deal,” he says.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
DELLA
The drive to the Caudill mansion is a nightmare. Leland is in the back seat, being patched up. He’s bruised, but he’s not gravely injured. I’m huddled against the door, arms wrapped around my cold body.
Leland won’t look at me, but I’d rather not look at him either. I press my forehead to the window and pray to anybody or anything who will listen that, at the very least, Kayleigh got Landis out.
This is my final stand.
I’m staringit right in the eyes, and this time, there’s no Jensen between me and Leland.
My nails pierce my palms.
He is my own personal hellI have to face tonight.
We pull up to the front doors,and the world goes completely quiet as I seeKayleigh at the end of the hall. Her lashesare wet, her head shaking. Please, no. Hands move me roughly inside, hauling me by the elbow upstairs. To my surprise, they put me in my and Leland’sold bedroom instead of the guestroom.
The lock clicks,and I’m alone. Limply, I sink to my knees between the bed and the fireplace. My head is a mess of everything I justwitnessed. Blood, rage, revenge. If I die and go to hell, I’ll wake up right back by the edge of that pit, just replaying it again and again.
Tears leak down. They fall on the fine hardwood flooring.
I never wanted any of this. Leland forced me open and molded me into the woman he wanted, but that’s not what makes me hate him the most.It’s the way he looks at our son and doesn’t see Landis. He sees himself, just another person he can make in his own image.I lost tonight, and now my sweet little boy will become aman who passes on his violence to the next generation.
My mind goes quiet.
No, I can’t give up.
I have a weapon to use against Leland no one else can wield. He might be the most powerful man in this city, but I’m the woman he wants.
It takes me a secondtopeel myself off the floor. My steps are unsteady as I rip open the closet. All my old clothing still hangs on my side. My beautiful dresses, my shoes, they’re all lined up. I push the door open wide and step inside, turning on the light.
Thereare his weaknesses, all hanging in a row.
Leland is simple. He likes feeling like he won,and he likes submission. Tonight,I’m going to give him his fantasy.
I run my fingertips over the lingerie until I get to the set he likes the best. It’s white lace with delicateappliqué. My cut, my colors. Hands steady, I take it down and go into the bathroom. In the cupboard sit all his favorite things. He likes me to smell sweet, to feel soft. I take down the little gold potsandbottles of vanilla scented sugar scrub and lotion.
Working quickly, I shower, washand dry my hair, and do my makeup. The bra has his initials between the cups, a single diamond in the center. The set was a first anniversary gift from him. I clasp it, slip on the panties, and fasten on the garter belt, drawing the silk tights up to the middle of my thighs.
I lift my head, gazing at my reflection. I’ve never really looked at myself without picking my face and body apart.
But tonight, I look.
