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I’d made a promise to Michelle I would find a way to protect her little sister. But Richard wasn’t some measly little power player; he had connections.
Leaving Willow to bask in her own misery wasn’t my proudest moment, but I couldn’t give her comfort.
Not when I knew what our future held.
When I got back home, it was a little past four in the morning. The house was completely dark, silent. I went upstairs to my room, pausing in the doorway.
She was sleeping.
Her face was slightly puffy from crying, and her hair was in a little bit of disarray, but she was still gorgeous to me. I lifted her up and tucked her beneath the comforter, placing a kiss on her forehead, momentarily letting my emotions get involved.
I wished I could bring her the world, instead of wreaking havoc on it. I needed her to serve a purpose, and she had no idea that this was just the beginning.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Stretching my arms above my head, I groaned and rolled onto my stomach. After lounging for I’m not sure how long, I knew it was time to face the music.
I took my time in the shower, letting the hot water ease away some of the fog. Around my head. Once my teeth and hair were brushed, I pulled on a pair of sweatpants that Pierce had bought me, and went downstairs.
He was standing with his hands in his pockets, looking out the window. There was a wall topped with electrical barbed wire between us, brick and impossible to climb.
“Drink the water, take the Aspirin. You’ll feel better.” He didn’t turn to look at me.
My eyes landed on a glass of ice water on his table. Inching forward, I saw two little white pills beside it. He must’ve known I was coming down. I took them and drank the water.
“I’m going to give you two simple options, and the choice is entirely up to you.” He turned from the window and faced me. His cobalt eyes masking any of his underlying emotions.
I let my silence speak for itself, urging him to go on.
“On the table is a marital agreement. Sign it, and for one year I own you, in every sense of the word.”
“We will immediately begin getting you ready and molding you into what I need.” He paused and looked at me. I gawked at him.
“Marital? Why?” I didn’t want to begin thinking about what he needed and what molding me would involve. We both knew this had nothing to do with love, so that meant he was planning something.
“I can’t tell you that just yet. But I heavily advise against returning home to your father. If you do want to leave, there’s a car waiting outside that will take you. I won’t bother you again.”
He sounded like a bored car salesman, not caring what I chose either way. I couldn’t return home to Seth. If Pierce was telling the truth…God, if Pierce was telling the truth, my whole life was going to be in shambles
“What’s the catch?” Him just letting me walk out the door was right up there with, Jesus, personally escorting me home.
“No catch, Rebel.” I didn’t see the little smirk on his face. I’d already turned and started heading for the door. My hands grasped the knob, and it actually began to open.
“There is one thing, however.”
I froze, letting my eyes shut for a minute. I took a breath and turned around.
“You said there was no catch.” I clenched my teeth and glared at him.
“It’s not a catch. It’s me getting rid of an insurance policy I no longer need.” He reached into his pocket and retrieved a pen. “It’s just a phone call, really. If you leave, your sister won’t be granted the same…leniency. That bridge will have to burn. Technicalities and all that. You understand?”
“How do I know she’s ok right now?” Curling my shaking hands into fist, I looked at him with nothing but hatred.
“Look.” He hit a few buttons on his cell phone and held it up. From where I stood, I could see it was a video.
Moving away from his door, I crept closer and saw it was a live feed. Abbi sat on a bed with her head down and knees tucked to her chest. She looked fine on the outside, but who knew what she was going through on the inside. This was all my fault.
Pierce hit a button, and my sister’s image faded away, the screen going black. He looked at me with no emotion whatsoever displayed on his face, other than an arrogant half smile.
“What do I need to do?” Swallowing my pride and forsaking my freedom for my sister was a no brainer. I wasn’t like the men that thrived in our clandestine world. Letting someone suffer would torture me day and night. Abbi didn’t deserve to be dragged into this. I hated that bad people could destroy innocent things.
