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“You can still wear my ring,” he says, peering at me through the gap in the door. “We can still get married despite everything you’ve done. I can forgive you, Avery. God knows you’ve made mistakes, but we can put it all behind us.”
I try to fling the door shut, but his foot doesn’t budge, keeping it wedged open. “You’re crazy!” I snap, fear gripping my chest like ice. “Get out of here or I’ll call the cops.”
“Avery, darling, just listen to yourself. You’re hysterical. Open the door and let’s talk about this like adults.”
“Go away! My boyfriend will be back here any second. So just leave me alone!”
At the sound of the word “boyfriend”, I hear Edmund make a noise in the back of his throat, low and dangerous. He slams his body against the door, shoving it so hard that I fly backward. I tumble to the ground, and Edmund’s hand clamps around my arm, pulling me up and dragging me out of the front door, away from the farmhouse.
“Let go of me!” I shout, pulling against him with all my might. But he’s too strong. He yanks me toward his black Jeep—he must have known it would be easier to bundle me into a Jeep than a sports car—and it chills me to think that he put so much forethought into this.
“Help! Somebody help!”
But there’s nobody around for miles, and Hunter is in Winterdale buying pastries for breakfast, totally oblivious to the fact that I’m being kidnapped by my ex-fiancé.
Edmund opens the passenger-side door and forces me into the car while he gets into the front seat, glaring at me.
“I get what I want, Avery,” he snaps. “Nobody says no to me. Got that? Nobody. I’m Edmund Fontaine, and I get what I fuckingwant.”
I shudder with disgust, desperately trying to open my door as he starts the car. But I’m locked in.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice.
“Fontaine House.” His jaw is set with determination as he looks at the road ahead. “The wedding will go ahead as planned, and then we will be together at Fontaine House for the rest of our lives. As husband and wife. Do you understand me?”
My God, he’s lost his mind.
I want to hit him. Claw at him. But the Jeep is moving too fast, and I don’t want to get in an accident. So instead, I swallow down the bile in my throat and say, “Yes, Edmund. I understand.”
If I go along with his delusions, maybe I can raise the alarm once we arrive at Fontaine House.
But only if that’s where he’s really taking me.
“I’m glad you’re starting to see things clearly,” Edmund says with a satisfied nod. “You treated me very badly, Avery. After everything I’ve done for you…” He sighs, shaking his head like I’m a child who has disappointed him. “I expect better of my future wife.”
I should keep up the act. Say sorry. Grovel. But I can’t bring myself to form the words. Instead, I force out a reluctant “Okay.”
“There’s still time for you to learn how to be a good wife,” Edmund says as we reach the end of the dirt track and approach the highway. “The wedding is still a couple of months away. We’ll figure it out, okay? I’ll teach you.”
“That sounds good,” I grit out, my fists clenched in my lap.
I hate you, Edmund Fontaine. I hate you. I hate you.
The Jeep slows as Edmund approaches a junction, getting ready to turn onto the highway, and my heart leaps as I spot Hunter’s pick-up truck approaching. He turns toward us, heading for the dirt track, and as he passes the Jeep, our eyes meet. Before Edmund can realize what’s happening, I start to wave my arms wildly, screaming at the top of my lungs.
“HELP! HELP!”
“Fuck,” Edmund mutters, hanging a right onto the highway, putting his foot down.
I peer back over my shoulder, my heart slamming against my ribcage as I see Hunter’s pick-up truck do a violent U-turn before he starts to chase us, loudly honking his horn.
“FUCK!” Edmund says again, glaring into his rear-view mirror before turning his head to look at me. “You stupid bitch! What the hell is wrong with you?!”
But I barely hear his insults. All I care about is the cowboy in the pick-up truck, which is gaining on us with every second.
10
Hunter
