Page 130 of Inside the Wicked

“You’ll want to reconsider. The explosive strapped around young Jeremy has two triggers, should you keep resisting.”

My blood runs cold.

I back away until my back is pressed to the cold metal of the car. “You’re a monster.”

Jacob takes that as a compliment, and I’ve never had more violent thoughts toward someone than right now. My hatred for him might trump what I harbor for Alistair.

“Come, wife,” he says, hooking my arm, and when I try to pull free his fingers dig into my forearm. “Keep resisting and I’ll give my guy the signal to blow little Jeremy to pieces. I have no doubt Kaiser and his dogs have discovered it too right now and won’t leave his side.”

I whimper and follow him.

I will never break for him. Never love anyone but Rhett.

I turn hollow when we enter the small hall with three rows of benches on each side. There’s a priest waiting at the end, shaking and terrified. I can’t blame him when there are four men surrounding us. One has his gun out casually in his clasped hands.

Jacob takes my purse from me, setting it on the bench.

“What are we doing?” I ask, trembling with dread.

“We never got the chance to have our ceremony.” He addresses the old, scared man beside us. “Skip the intros, priest. We have a wedding night to enjoy.”

Jacob takes my hands. I’m beginning to feel lightheaded, uncertain I’ll make it through the quick ceremony now he’s planted the news of worse horrors that could be forced upon me tonight.

“Eventually, I’ll take you back to your father,” Jacob says softly. Maybe he feels my stability wavering, and I can’t fight when he pulls me to him with an arm around my waist. “Kaiser gave us the perfect setup. I’ll be a hero to the country, returning America’s daughter from her crazed ex-boyfriend. Then how we fell for each other. Our love will be legendary.”

I swallow back my nausea as the priest begins. Blood roars in my ears so loud I hardly hear it. I speak when I’m told to, but I’m not registering what I’m saying anymore. I think I’mdisassociating. I’m trying not to, because that would mean losing my fight.

“You may kiss your bride.” I hear that, and it returns everything I’ve pushed down.

I struggle against Jacob’s hold, but it turns painful.

“Warner,” Jacob snarls.

My sight flashes to the guy who moves, and he’s holding a button. I’ve watched enough movies to know what it is.

I stop moving.

Jacob’s hand slides across my cheek.

“You’d better convince me that you mean this, because if not, I’ll be very, very angry, Anastasia. I never wanted to buy you, and that remains true. I can give you everything you’ve ever dreamed of and more. All you have to do is open yourself to the idea I could make you happy. I notice the way you look at me too—there’s a magnetic attraction you can’t deny. Just let yourself feel it.”

His lips have inched closer to mine, and my entire body is so stiff. Guilt wrecks me completely. I have no choice, but it’s a betrayal to Rhett all the same. Jacob kisses me, and I can’t feel it. His hands squeeze my waist in warning, and I lean into him, trying to pretend I’m anywhere else just to get past this.

Of course it wouldn’t end in a chaste kiss to seal the vows. He turns hungry, and I whimper against his mouth. His tongue sweeps against mine and he clutches me tighter. Tighter. Tighter.

He pulls away abruptly with a wild look in his eyes. He’s breathless, and I’m weighted with shame.

“That was far better than I ever imagined,” he says. “How I can’t wait to have all of you, wife.”

Every piece of me breaks at that.

Jacob takes my hand, leading us over to where his guy has left a copy of the license I signed many weeks ago.

Oh god, when Rhett sees it ...

I stare and stare at the names. How wrong they look together. I try to imagine Rhett Kaiser and Anastasia Kinsley. And like a tiny reprieve from my misery, it tugs a fraction at my mouth.

Then we leave, and I don’t think I’ll know who I am anymore if I’m not Rhett’s.

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