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And he takes it without so much as a single flinch. That’s how I know I’m right. He won’t even bother arguing or defending himself because there is no defense.
“I’ve said this before,” I tell him in a low voice, ignoring my father for the moment. “But this time, I mean it with my whole heart. I hate you.”
His eyes close for a second, and I know that hit him hard. Good. That’s not even anywhere close to what he deserves.
Dad sighs before clapping his hands together like he does when he wants to change the subject. “Mia, we can talk about this. We can smooth this out.”
I don’t want to hear a single word he has to say. I don’t want to hear anything from either of them. I can’t even be in the same room with them.
First, though, I want to get one thing clear. “Your plan is useless,” I inform my father, holding my head high. I don’t care. He won’t see me tremble anymore.
“What does that mean?”
I see Zeke out of the corner of my eye, and the way he tenses all over tells me he knows where this is going. I wait a second, drawing it out, and I hope the tension kills him.
“It means I’m not a virgin anymore. I’ve already had sex. Lots of it, in fact. So this Eric Rinaldi isn’t going to get his little virgin bride, after all.”
His face goes from slightly red to almost plum purple. “That’s not true! That can’t be true!”
“Who says it can’t be? Face it. I’m not who you wanted me to be to make your little deal work.” And it was Zeke who did it. It’s right there, right on my tongue, ready to tumble out into the open. It would be the ultimate revenge, wouldn’t it?
But I can’t. Even now, I can’t do it. Even though I have every right in the world.
I take one more look at my father’s stunned expression before turning around and running for it, sprinting back down the hall and up the stairs. I lock my door, though I know if anybody wanted to get in, nothing would stop them.
I have to go. I need out of here, now. No way am I going to let him use me this way.
And Zeke. Why did he have to do this to me?
I reach my bed, and my legs threaten to go out from under me, but I can’t let that happen. Once I’m away from here, I can cry my eyes out until my body shrivels up and blows away like a dry leaf. I don’t care. But that can’t happen now. I have to hold it together long enough to find a way out.
But how?
My mind races. I don’t have the keys to any cars, and I seriously doubt anybody would give them to me if I asked. Blair? She should be free for break by now, right? Even if she isn’t, maybe I can convince her to come and get me. There has to be a way I can sneak out. While everything is getting fixed up for the dinner party, I could slip out.
The fact is, I need to believe I can. I need to believe I have some measure of control over my life.
Rather than taking everything with me, I pack a few essentials, throwing everything I just placed in my bathroom back into a bag. And he wanted me to dress up tonight. Like he was getting me ready to go up for auction—no, not quite, because the auction is finished. I’m already sold.
Only when I grab my laptop, one additional option comes to mind.
And wouldn’t it piss Zeke off to no end if he knew how I chose to get away? When I think of it like that, it’s almost too perfect.
I sit down, fingers flying over the keys. Please tell me you’re around. Please tell me you’re available.
Dean answers right away, to my relief. Yeah, I’m just hanging out. What’s up? Are you okay?
No, I don’t think I’ve ever been less okay.I listen for any sound out in the hall, but everything’s silent. For once, Zeke has enough sense to stay the fuck away from me. I would claw his eyes out if given the chance.
What happened? Do you need help?
Yes! I do. Can you please come? I can meet you out on the road that runs alongside the compound.I give him the address and cross my fingers, praying he’ll come through. I need him to come through.
Whatever you need. I’m not far away. I can be there in five minutes.
Some of the pressure on my chest loosens, and I’m finally able to take a decent breath. Thank you so much. I owe you my life. Please, hurry. I can tell him all about it once we’re in the car. And I can thank him for opening my eyes.
Because the person who was supposed to care about me—who pretended to anyway—didn’t think he needed to. He figured it would be okay to lie to me, over and over, so many lies I don’t know if anything he ever said was the truth. How could he do that? He knew I would be married off to some stranger all this time, and he never even gave me a clue.
He fucked me. He slept next to me for weeks.
He protected me.
But he couldn’t protect me from this because he didn’t want to.
I finish packing up my things and take one last look around the room before creeping down the stairs.
At least he won’t have to worry about protecting me anymore.
