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Julia
“What time is it?” I murmured, rousing myself from sleep, exhaustion consuming me.
I couldn’t be sure how long I’d dozed off. Hopefully not too long. But I needed sleep. I’d never been so worn out in my life.
“‘Come what come may. Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.’”
At the sound of that smooth, refined accent quoting what I recognized as a line from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, I snapped my eyes open. A chill rushed down my spine when I was met with Nick’s cold stare.
But that wasn’t all.
Imogene was bound and gagged in a chair in front of him.
“Imogene!” I shrieked and attempted to stand, but I couldn’t, duct tape securing me to a chair that was similar to the ones I purchased for my dining room. I struggled against my bindings, to no avail. I vaguely remembered Londyn’s former neighbor, Diego, a self-defense teacher, showing me what to do if ever in this scenario.
But for the life of me, I couldn’t remember what it was, my panic overshadowing all rational thought.
Imogene called out for me, her cries muted by the gag in her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
“It’s going to be okay, baby,” I assured her through my own tears.
For the past forty-eight hours, I wanted nothing more than to see my daughter again.
I didn’t expect it to be like this, though.
I lifted my gaze to Nick, glowering at him as he made his way around the dining room table.
Mydining room table.
The bastard was keeping us hostage in my own fucking house.
The house I bought so I could have a place free from memories of him.
Now he was tainting what had become my sanctuary. My respite. My second chance.
Which was precisely why he brought us here when anyone else would consider it too risky.
Further proof Nick didn’t care about being caught. Not anymore. Not now that he had me.
“What have you done?” I seethed.
He dropped down to his knees in front of me, gripping my face in his hands. At the feel of his flesh on mine for the first time in over seven years, I cringed, bile rising in my throat. But that didn’t deter him. If anything, he only gripped me tighter.
More possessively.
“What I had to in order to protect our family.”
“Ethan…” My voice quivered. “Is he… Did you kill him?”
“Now why would I do that?”
“Because you murdered that poor man whose house you broke into last week. Shot him in the head and made it look like he killed himself. Did you see me with Ethan and kill him, too? It’s the—”
“Ethan,” Nick called out, standing. “Can you please come here for a moment?”
I furrowed my brow, my pulse steadily increasing as heat washed over me. Something about this scenario didn’t sit right with me. Both Imogene and I were tied up. Why wasn’t Ethan?
“Julia’s worried I killed you.”
