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“You’re telling me that this whole thing was a ploy to get me to marry you?”
“Don’t misunderstand. I do need a wife and children to win this company. But wives and kids are cheap. You’re priceless.”
I didn’t know what to say. The idea that he was willing to throw away so much for me both excited and repulsed me.
That was Calvin. He was terrible and beautiful, and I was never sure which I’d feel more.
“I should go.” I grabbed my bra and searched for my panties, and was about to give up when he dangled them on one finger. I tried to snatch them away, but he pulled them back. “Please, Calvin.”
He shook his head. “A memento.”
“Don’t be gross.”
“I’m not.” He balled my panties up and held them tight. “Now I want to watch you get dressed and run out of here like I didn’t just give you the best sex of your life.”
I glared, but he was right. I hated when he was right.
When I was decent, sans underwear, I stood near the door, studying him. He was still naked, my panties dangling from a finger. He twirled them around and around, a smile on his lips, his cock half-hard already.
I could stay. He’d fuck me again—he’d wreck me over and over and over.
But I had to get away if I wanted to retain some of my sanity.
“Be careful,” I said. “And think seriously about school. It’s only one more year.”
“I’ll think about it. You be careful too.”
I looked out his window and toward my car. “Do you still have men watching me?”
“I do.”
“Did you know your mother visited already?”
“I did. Although I didn’t know what she said.”
I snorted and sighed. “Can’t get anything past you.”
“My eyes and ears are everywhere.” He stretched and sighed. “If you change your mind, I’d love to have you sleep over.”
“Good night, Calvin.”
Dear Robyn
My life has been one long sacrifice.
Does that sound dramatic? Maybe it is.
When I was ten, my father took the door from my room. He caned me across the back until the welts broke and bled. He took away my blankets and pillows. I shivered all night.
He did that to punish me for speaking out of turn during dinner.
I could list a thousand more stories. Heartbreak and rage. But none of it matters.
My life has been sacrifice. I’ve given everything to my family and to the company. I’ve broken myself, again and again, against the wall that is my father. I’ve become a different person, all for them.
You are the first thing I will not give up.
I can hear their words already. I can taste their scorn. It’s bitter poison on my tongue.
Do not listen to them, Robyn.
You’re the only good thing in my life.
I don’t care that you hate me right now. You think I’m a stalker. You think I’m insane.
The crazy boy that won’t leave you alone.
But hear me: I don’t care. I won’t give you up, not for anything.
I’ll let them try to kill me. They can take away my dignity, my money, my rightful place as heir.
They will not take you.
That’s a promise on my life. Do you see that mark at the bottom of the page?
My thumb, dipped in my blood.
Who else would bleed for you?
I’ll do so much more.
I hope you’ve been reading carefully.
This is the last letter I’ll write.
Tomorrow, I’m coming to take you away.
Don’t be afraid.
I promise, it’ll only hurt if you want it to.
Love,
C
23
Robyn
“Oh my god, it’s blinding me.”
Des threw his hands up and staggered back. Addler laughed and even Jarrod grinned. My cousin stood with Cora, his arm draped casually across her shoulders. I still had trouble seeing them together.
“Cut it out,” I said, covering the ring. “You’re being a dick.”
“It really is enormous,” Addler said. “Even by Calvin’s standards.”
“That thing’s enormous by any standards, dude,” Des said, stroking his chin. “I think our boy really does have the hots for you.”
“No shit, idiot,” Addler said. “They’re married.”
“Say, Robyn. When do you plan on having his babies? I assume you’ll drop out and take care of the household.”
“Fuck off, Des.”
Des barked a laugh.
“Guys, leave her alone,” Cora said. I shot her a grateful look. “It’s not her fault she got wifed-up by a billionaire.”
I sighed as the others laughed at my bright red cheeks.
I hated the teasing, but it felt kind of good. For a long time, I was the target of my cousin’s seething rage. In public, he tortured me, pushed me around, and mocked me relentlessly. It was savage, and sometimes I broke down in tears. If he weren’t taking care of me back home and preventing my father from beating me senseless most nights, I’d hate his filthy, black heart.
Now though, their barbs were friendly. It was the banter of friends, and I’d never experienced it from Des and Addler before. They’d looked at me with pity in their eyes at best, and ignored me the rest of the time while Jarrod treated me like his personal punching bag, but now they were welcoming me into the group.
