Page 18 of Under Control

“We’ve?” she replied slowly. “Things to do?”

Carrick stood over her, looking down. Danica recalled the reality she was in. Nothing was going according to her plan. Now Carrick, on the other hand? He clearly had a plan and expected her to be the passenger along for the ride.

“What did Petrov say to you after I left?” he asked.

Her gaze fell, counting the threads on the carpet again. She was sure Carrick already knew, so what was the point in trying to hide it?

“He wants me in LA for my cousin’s wedding this afternoon,” she replied, finally, in a shaky tone. “Is that why he hired you?”

Carrick paused, rubbing his scruffy chin.

“I don’t know Petrov’s intentions. I only know what he told me,” he explained, his body stiffening.

Danica couldn’t help but tilt her head, trying to understand what he was saying.

Carrick continued, “Why don’tyoutell me what’s going on here? Who the fuck is Petrov to you if he’s not your father?”

Letting out some air, Danica searched for the most minimal amount of information she could cough up to placate Carrick. She needed him on her side.

“Petrov has tried to position himself as a father figure to me,” she told him slowly, checking her tone, trying so hard to hold the deep, burning hatred out of it. “My parents died five years ago.”

“How did your parents die?” he asked.

“Car accident,” she replied, and opened her mouth to say more—but she stopped herself.

Carrick just watched, waiting for her to continue.

She confessed, “I ran as soon as I could. I ran away from his circle of influence, from his agenda.”

“Let me guess. He never treated you like a real daughter?”

The question nearly made her laugh because of how truly disgusting the answer was. Not only had he not treated her like a daughter, but in that short time after her parents had died, he’d treated her like another member of his enterprise—to be controlled and punished accordingly. But she bit her tongue. Those were not stories for this man.

“This wedding—” Carrick started.

Danica anxiously cut him off. “Are you going to force me to go?”

“Hell no,” Carrick scoffed. “Not a chance. Not without knowing what the fuck is going on here.”

Her whole body froze, trying to let his words sink in.

“Tell me, Danica.” He lowered his head, growling. “Is Petrov trying to hurt you? What do I need to know?”

“He’s controlling, abusive.” She formed words, curling her lips in anger as hatred rose from her core. “The man is a monster. You have no idea what he’s done.”

“Then tell me.”

“I can’t.” She dropped her gaze as a choking feeling rose in her throat. The pain of her past shot through her nervous system.

She shook her head slightly.Confide in him? Absolutely not.Her trust didn’t extend that far, and itneverwould. She knew she couldn’t buckle—especially under the intensity of someone like Carrick.

He’s just as dangerous.

“I’m going to take a shower,” she announced, desperate to get away.

She popped off the bed, keeping her gaze away from his, and moved toward the bathroom with purpose. As distance grew between her and his looming form, Danica felt increasingly alone—and not in the way she usually wanted to be. It was a strange, strange feeling.

Shutting the bathroom door behind her, an emptiness grew like a hard lump in her chest, and even the beauty of the early morning sun beaming through the window couldn’t refill her. Shaking her head, she wondered what had gotten into her.

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