Page 81 of Between Now and Forever

It’s death by a thousand heartbreaks and there’s not a single part of me that’s not bleeding.

I am stuffed to the gills with guilt and fear and loathing. But, if James died because he was trying to help me, then it’s no less than I deserve. My ears are ringing.

“Sit up.” He snaps and drags me to the chair. I don’t resist. I’m numb with the aftershocks of the bomb he just detonated.

“I’ve made a decision.” The calm, cool tone of his voice sends a shiver up my spine. I know that there will be no mercy from him. Not today. Maybe not ever again.

“Wh--what decision?” I ask.

“You are not fit to step into your brother’s shoes. I will find you a suitable husband, andhewill become my heir.”

My jaw drops.

“A husband?” I gasp. It was the very last thing I expected to hear.

“I was hoping to convince Duke Tremaine, but he won’t have you.” His voice is full of scorn.

“What do you mean?” I ask, truly confused by what he’s saying.

“You can come home once I’ve found someone I approve of.”

I stare dumbly at him. “Come home? From where?”

“Your grandmother. She’s coming to take you tomorrow.”

My eyes fly to his and look at him in confusion.

“Take mewhere?” I ask even though I already know.

“To live her with her,” he says gravely.

I recoil. My father’s mother scares me more than anyone else I know.

“You can’t send me there. You can’t. I’m an adult.”

He straightens, squares his shoulders and looks down his nose at me. His expression is full of contempt and disgust.

“I’m Andrew Wolfe, Elisabeth. I can do whatever I want. Even if you managed to find a lawyer suicidal enough to help you, there’s not a judge in this state who’ll hear you. But you’re not going to do any of that. If you do, I will find out who this boy is, and I will ruin whatever happiness his life holds.” His spittle lands in tiny beads on my lips and cheeks, but it only barely registers because his eyes are full of so much venom, it shakes me to my core.

He hates me.

“You will not speak to him again. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” I’m numb to everything but my worry about Carter.

“I made a mistake. I thought because you’re so hard to look at, I wouldn’t have to worry about this sort of thing. Now, you’ve cost me my son. I wish I’d let your mother keep you.”

I’m sick at the mention of James. He was out driving that night because of me. He was hurt because of me. He is dead because of me.

“I’ll do whatever you say.”

“Start packing. Fiona will stay while you do. And she’ll be taking your phone with her when she leaves. When you’ve proven yourself trustworthy again, you can have it back.”

I jump up and start after. “What? Now?”

“You’re leaving tonight,” he says without turning around.

My head starts to spin again. So soon? After everything else I’ve lost?

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