AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Wouldn’t they?” he wheezes.
Moving my face forward, I whisper against his ear before I speak. “They wouldn’t fucking blink. Nobody would. You’re worthless if I say you’re worthless. Don’t fuck with me and don’t fuck your sister over.”
Releasing him, I take a step backward, smoothing my shirt and pants down with my hands. “We good?” I ask.
“We’re good,” he whimpers.
I pat the middle of his chest, then walk past him and out of the apartment. I don’t give a fuck what he thinks, what he does, or anything about him. I’ll kill him if he tries any shit at all. If he ever says anything about Claire again, I couldn’t give a fuck.
ChapterThree
CLAIRE
Staring at my reflection,I try not to cry. My bedroom is empty behind me. Everything has been packed and sent off to Texas. I’ve never even been to Texas before, and now I’m going to live there. I haven’t finished college, and I probably never will. Becoming an accountant is a dream so far out of reach now that it’s pointless to even think about it any longer.
Not like I can do anything with the degree once I’m shackled to this stranger. There are still a few weeks before the wedding, but my parents think it will be a good show of faith to send my entire life before me. So now I have a single suitcase full of clothes and nothing else.
I definitely don’t have any pride. What’s the point of that?
I’ve got a whole fucking disaster of a life staring right back at me. Reflecting in the mirror, watching me, laughing at me. Making a mockery and a fool of me. Sucking in a breath, I turn my back to the mirror, unable to look for even a second longer and walk over to the window.
I can’t look at myself for another minute. I hate myself. I hate this life. I hate the world that I’m forced to be chained to. If I thought I could run, I would. Far away.
There is a noise somewhere in the condo, but I ignore it. Living in a casino means that my parents are in and out all day, every day, especially my mother. She doesn’t work much. She shops, she goes to the club, she goes out for a lot of drinks.
There was a time when I wanted to move out and live in the dorms. I was close, too, but then my parents talked me out of it. I didn’t realize it was because they were broke off their asses and wouldn’t have been able to afford any of it.
Sucking in a breath, I let it out slowly as I watch the world below. The city moves beneath me, the people having no idea that I’ve essentially been sold into a life of servitude. They don’t know, don’t care, and are partying and living their best lives.
“What happens now?” a voice whispers behind me.
Instead of turning around, I sink my teeth into the skin of my cheek as I try to think of what to say to Shelby. I’m not sure what I can even tell her at this point. She knows about the money. She knows about the marriage. She knows enough. She knows more than I would have ever wanted her to.
“Nothing,” I finally answer on an exhale.
Slowly, I turn around and find her gaze with my own. “Shelby,” I whisper. “There’s nothing I can do. This is my life, my future.”
“I hate it,” she says as tears fill her eyes. Slowly, they roll down her cheeks. I can’t look away from her. She looks so sad, as sad as I feel. “I want it to be me. It’s not fair that you’re getting all the attention and a man like him. A sexy stranger. I want you to stay here. It’s me who should be moving to a whole other state.”
Her words should surprise me, but they don’t. All I can hear is my mother’s words coming out of her mouth with her voice. She snorts, shaking her head from side to side.
“It’s just not fair,” she mutters.
Nodding my head once, deciding not to let her words bother me, I turn away from her and look down at the people walking up and down the Strip again. I want to throw ice cubes on them, maybe even spit on them. I want them to be as miserable as I am right now.
“It doesn’t matter,” I whisper. “I’ve agreed to the terms. Mom and Dad have agreed. I have signed the paperwork and picked out the dress. I am as good as his wife. I belong to him, and hopefully, that doesn’t mean I’ve just signed my death sentence.”
“I hate this,” Shelby exhales. “All of it.”
She hates it because she’s not getting the attention herself, the same way my mother hates it. But I know they will be as happy as can be once they are free from debt and living their best lives again.
My mother appears in the doorway before I can respond to Shelby, though at this point, I’m not even sure what I would say.
“Are you in here feeling sorry for yourself?” she quips.
“No,” I say. “Shelby was just asking some questions.”
“Shelby doesn’t need to worry about anything. You’re saving us,” my mom says. Her lips curve up into a smile, and she takes a step forward. “You’re saving us,” she whispers.
