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“You’re shaking, Princess,” my dad whispers over my head, his voice full of concern as he squeezes me tightly. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know, Daddy,” I weep. “I just don’t know.” I melt into his embrace. There’s a small gap of silence as he holds me tightly, and I let out a huge sigh of relief, thankful to be in his arms.
Someone clears their throat behind me, and it echoes throughout the room. Maybe it’s one of the bodyguards garnering for my dad’s attention, but my dad doesn’t say anything. Clearing their throat again, the sound is louder this time, and my forehead wrinkles. Maybe it’s Jake, I think with anticipation, and with that thought, I turn around to see.
As I twist around, I feel as if I’ve been hit by a Mack truck. My heart comes to a standstill as I’m confronted with the man who started all my nightmares. He’s casually sitting down in a calm fashion with his arms stretched out along the back of the love seat, and his ankle crossed over his knee. “Nick,” I breathe his name on a whispered breath, taken aback. I shrink back into my father’s chest and visibly shiver. The memory of everything Nick did to me comes rushing back like a tsunami.
“You remember me, Princess?” he purrs, exuding a superior arrogance, which has my heart leaping out of my chest.
“You…” I scowl, pointing at him with a shaky hand. My voice fails me as he gets up from the sofa, approaching me with a haughty grin. If it’s even possible, I sink farther back into the protectiveness of my father’s embrace as my pulse thunders through my veins.
Every instinct I have says to run, get out, but my feet won’t move. I glance at the door, wondering if I could even make it at this point, but I don’t think I can. As he nears, I shake my head, willing him to go away, but no words come out. This can’t be happening. He stops directly in front of me, and I find my voice. “Oh, my God, Dad! He’s…he’s the one who took me!” I croakily whisper.
Nick’s lips twist in a smug smile as he slightly tilts his head, raising a questioning brow. “What are you talking about, Julianna? Your father called me the minute he heard the exciting news that you’d been found and were coming home.”
My father steps back out of the way as Nick steps forward, and immediately, I feel as if I’m a sitting duck. “We’ve been looking day and night for you.” The longing in Nick’s voice as he reaches out to clasp my hand turns my stomach. “Is this how you welcome the one who did everything in his power to get you back safely?”
My father steps to the side of me, and when I turn my head to look at him, he adds, “I believe you two have met, no?” Then he has the audacity to chuckle. He actually fucking chuckles.
My eyes go wide as I shake my head in disbelief. How am I supposed to process this? My fight-or-flight responses can’t decide what to do, because, hello…I’m in the safety of my home now. This isn’t supposed to be happening.
“Dad?” I whisper-cry for help in one word.
Nick grasps both my arms and pulls me into his body. I’m so dumbstruck I’m rendered speechless; even my own limbs betray me. Then Nick leans forward to run his nose along my jawline, breathing softly over my skin as he whispers in my ear, “I’ve missed you so much, sweetheart.” He pulls me in tight until our chests touch like two long-lost lovers, and then he wraps his arms around me.
“I think now would be a good time to tell her the good news, wouldn’t you say, Lance?” Nick’s deep voice floats over my head, and then drizzles down my body, sending chills to my very core.
I turn my head as I nervously peer at my father. “Daddy?” The pitch of my disconcerted voice quavers. “Tell me what news.”
“Nick has informed me you two are getting married next week.” He then narrows his eyes at Nick with an unnerving glare, arching a brow. “That is, unless you think you can’t hold onto her this time.”
Not believing my own ears, an audible gasp escapes me. Nick leans down, guiding my panic stricken gaze to meet his confident one. “Oh, I’m positive.” Shivers wrack my body, and I try to squirm out of his hold, but he’s too strong. “How about we sit down so we can talk, sweetheart?”
Pulling myself out of my shocked stupor, I hiss, “Let me go!” I turn toward my dad with pleading eyes. “Help me. You don’t understand.” Why is he just standing there? “Dad?” I repeat, as I twist around, pulling away from Nick, but his grip tightens to the point of pain and I wince.
