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Aaron leaned back against the wall, his arm still locked tight around her, his face so red she had a hard time telling what was blood and what was fury. He looked at her, a question in his eyes and the sob caught in her throat took effort to swallow past. When she was able to speak, she said, “He took him.” The tears fell regardless of her trying to hold them back. “He took Samuel from me. I’ve only seen him once since we got off the train.”
For once,Harrison let her cry and didn’t tell her to shut up. She took advantage of it, too. She cried until her heart was wrung dry. Until every hurt she’d endured since seeing Aaron shot felt washed away and the entire time, Aaron sat there bruised, bloody and in pain and just held her.
Her elation at seeing him was slowly dying, though, fear replacing it as Harrison did nothing but sit in the chair by the door and watch them. She knew by the determined look on his face he wouldn’t let them go and that fear of being trapped there forever was minimal to what she knew he’d do with Aaron. They’d tried to kill him once. The next time, they’d succeed. The thought of Aaron being dead had nearly destroyed her. Seeing them do it, knowing without a doubt he was gone would be her undoing. The thought of being held prisoner by Harrison hurt less.
Betsey sniffled and looked over at Harrison. He was still watching them. What would it take to get them free?
Harrison smiled at her. That small tilt in his lips was familiarand she knew in that moment he’d never let her walk away from this. She was making him rich, just like he said she would and there was only one way for this to end.
She pulled away from Aaron and sat up straight. “If you won’t let me go, then let him go.” Aaron immediately said no and Betsey grabbed his hand, squeezing tight but never took her eyes off of Harrison. “Give Samuel to Aaron and let them go.” She blinked back more useless tears and licked her lips. “I’ll stay.” Her voice cracked. She cleared her throat and said it again. “I’ll stay with you, Harrison. Let Samuel and Aaron go and I’ll stay. I’ll do anything you ask, just—please, let them go.”
“Betsey, don’t make any bargains with him.”
She squeezed Aaron’s hand again, silently telling him it would be all right. “Please, Harrison. I’m not above begging. Is that what you want? Do you want me to beg? I will. Just let them go. I’ll do whatever you want. We can go to Paris, just like you wanted.”
He finally moved, shifting in his seat enough to let her know she’d caught his interest. She searched his handsome face, cursing herself for being such a fool for getting them into this mess. She’d let Harrison and his good looks and charm sweet talk her into signing that contract and she’d dragged those she loved the most into a nightmare that might cost them their lives. If she had to go to Paris and sing until she was old and gray to get them out of it, then that’s what she’d do.
She let go of Aaron and stood, brushing off his hands as he tried to grab her and crossed the room to where Harrison sat, stopping a few steps away from him. “I’ll go with you anywhere, Harrison. Just please let Aaron have Samuel. He can take him home where he belongs.”
“No, Betsey. I’m not leaving without you!”
She ignored Aaron and sucked in a breath when Harrison stood. He studied her, his eyes darting across her face before he said, “Anything?”
“Yes. Anything you want. I’ll sing for you here or in Paris or all over the world if you want.”
That smile he used to flatter her all those weeks ago lit his face. The one she’d been so fooled by back in Willow Creek. The handsome, charming gentleman she’d eagerly signed that contract for to get back at Aaron.
He glanced at Aaron before meeting her gaze and said, “Kiss me.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “What?”
“Kiss me.” He stuck his hands into his pockets. “Prove to me you’re being truthful. If you’re willing to do as I ask, then—kiss me. Kiss me like you mean it.” He glanced over at Aaron again. “Kiss me like you kiss him.”
Betsey swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “Will you let him have Samuel and let them go?”
“You have my word, Elisabeth. Prove to me you’ll do as you say and I’ll let them go.”
She could feel Aaron behind her, knew he was watching and as much as it killed her to give Harrison anything, she took the three steps separating her from Harrison, leaned up on her toes, and kissed him.
Harrison was holdingher so tight, had Betsey wanted to get away, she wouldn’t have been able to. If Aaron had able been to stand and remain on his feet without falling on his face, he would kill the man with his bare hands. Having to sit there and watch him kiss Betsey was the closest to torture he’d ever felt.
She wasn’t moving, her hands hanging loosely by her side so she may have initiated the kiss, but Aaron knew she wasn’t as willing as she’d seemed. It was little comfort, though. That was still his girl—his fiancé—kissing a man that wasn’t him. He knewnow how Betsey had felt seeing him with Morning Dove. It was a raw ache that made his heart hurt in ways he’d never felt before.
It felt like an eternity before Harrison finally broke that kiss and lifted his head to look at him. There was no other way to describe the look on his face other than, victory. He’d gotten what he wanted after all.
“Calvin, you and Harvey see Mr. Hilam out—“ A smile curved his lips. “And arrange a time for him to pick up Samuel.”
He was dragged to his feet, every bone on his body protesting as Calvin and Harvey started practically carrying him to the door. “Wait! Betsey don’t—“
“Enough,” Harrison said. “The deal is done. You’ll get your son, just as Betsey wanted.” The bastard slung his arm around her shoulder as if he had a right to do so. “The alternative … well, that won’t work out so well in your favor, I’m afraid.”
Betsey wouldn’t look at him but said, “Please, just go, Aaron. Get Samuel home where he belongs.”
He was dragged out into the hallway before he could say another word. “Betsey!” He tried pulling his arms free from the hold they had on him but failed miserably. “Betsey, I’ll—“ A fist to the gut cut him off mid-sentence. He gasped, his knees going so weak, had they not been holding him up, he would have crumpled to the floor.
The stage door they opened and tossed him through was the back door to the theater. Calvin and Harvey followed him out, the later picking up a brick and wedging it between the door and door frame so the door was propped open. There wasn’t a door handle, which would explain why he’d never seen Ben, who was supposed to sneak in the back and look for Betsey and Samuel in case he didn’t have any luck out front.
He crawled to his knees. “Where is Samuel?”
