Page 28 of Dangerous Refuge

“Ugh!” I growl. I cover my face with my hands and throw myself back into the chair. She’s right and she knows it. “I hate this.”

“You need him. Just ride it out until Paul is gone. Then decide if you still feel this way. You’ve been there like a week.” I heard her slurp her teacup soda and then set the cup down again, and I lower my hands.

“He literally controls every move I make. I had to ask permission to come here.” I know I’m whining but Sarah is my best friend. If she can’t handle a bit of whining, I don’t know where else to turn.

“But you’re safe. Just think of it like having a body guard who knows things you don’t.” Then she wags her eyebrows at me. “And really fucking amazing sex to boot.”

I snicker. She’s got me there too. Sex with Sven is incredible. He makes me feel alive again, probably more alive than I’ve ever felt. And I don’t think we’ve even tapped the surface of what he wants to do to me physically. Each time it’s like a new adventure.

Her dryer buzzes and she pops to her feet. “Gott age the laundry out. Be right back.” Sarah dashes off down the hall and I am alone with my thoughts. The only way I can fathom this working is if I have some semblance of my independent life. I need to go back to work, even if it’s a risk. Maybe Sven will just send bodyguards or something, the way Sarah said.

I pull my phone out and call the diner, praying my manager is reasonable. I’ve missed four shifts without calling in at all. Dana has to miss me the way I miss her. I hold my breath as the line clicks and a voice comes across to my ear.

“Amelio’s…”

“Hey, boss, it’s Allie.”

“Allie? Boss? You think you still have a job after not showing up all week?” he scoffs and I fully deserve that. I expect him to hang up, but he says, “What do you want? Your last paycheck?”

“Actually, I want to come back to work. I just had a lot of stuff going on. My ex came into town; my kid was kidnapped. It was this whole thing in the park. You probably saw it on the news.” I bite my lip and wait for his response.

“I didn’t watch the news. I’m sorry to hear that.” His tone changes. He sounds more compassionate, and he’s not known for being a compassionate man at all. He’s a hard ass and pushes his employees to work harder for less pay than most places in town, but the likelihood of me finding a different job now is slim, especially with Sven micromanaging my existence.

“I swear, I didn’t mean for this to happen. I will never let it happen again. I love this job. I can come back right away.” I have no clue how to make that happen given the situation at home, but I know I have to. It is the only thing that will keep me sane.

“You know it’s hard to find good help.” The insinuated insult hurts but I let it roll off my back.

“I know. I swear I’m good help. You need me.” I really try to sell it by pleading a little. “Please, I promise it won’t happen again.”

“Fine,” he says, and I breathe a sigh of relief. “Show up at your normal shift tomorrow. Don’t be late.” He hangs up on me and I’m positively giddy as I shove my phone back into my pocket. Sarah returns, carrying a basket of laundry. She sets it on the settee and starts pulling things out one by one, folding it.

“Who was that?”

“My boss at the diner. He isn’t going to fire me. I can go back to work.” I stand and walk across the room to help her fold her towels. They are warm, and in this heat it’s just added torture, but I’m antsy now, already trying to figure out how I will convince Sven to let me work.

“You think Sven’s going to go for that?” She shakes a towel out, and a few strings fly off into the air, dropping to the basket beneath. Her hands deftly fold the blue cotton towel and I shrug.

“He has no choice. I’m going to be his wife, not his prisoner. It’s just what is going to happen. I am going to put my foot down and make a way.” And I will. Sven can’t control me, at least, I don’t think he can.

After finishing laundry with Sarah, I head back to the car, parked downstairs waiting on me, and I ask Gerard to take me home. He is polite and quiet. He treats me as if I have the same authority over him that Sven does, and it makes me wonder if I would have any luck ordering him to drive me to work or if Sven gave him orders not to do that. As we drive, I run through all the possible scenarios for how I could get to work and what excuses I can use with Sven to either persuade him to allow it or cover up what I’m really doing. If I lie, he’ll probably find out, but it may be my only option. At least until he sees it’s safe enough for me to do.

And every single cent I make now I can put into my bank and save up. Sven is paying for everything I need, and I have no other bills to speak of. It will be my rainy-day fund for when I inevitably leave Sven, because I just don’t believe an arranged marriage is going to work for me. Not if I know nothing about the man I’m marrying and he refuses to tell me. In my mind it’s settled. I save up by sneaking out to work until I have enough saved to get me and Rico away from this place for good.

When I walk through the door, Rico is there in the foyer, romping with Odin. The massive shepherd growls viciously like he wants to kill the boy, but he is only playing. Gerard snaps his fingers and the dog heels quickly, sitting back on his haunches and wagging his tail. Rico pops off the floor, covered in dog hair and a bit of drool, and grins like an idiot.

“Looks like someone is having too much fun. I have to take him out now. Excuse me, please.” Gerard walks away and Odin follows obediently. The ball of fluff and fur is a lot more dog than I ever thought we’d have, but Rico loves him. He rushes up and wraps his arms around my waist.

“Hey, Mom. You have fun with Sarah?” He looks up at me and I see his face is pink from exertion. He looks hot, and I know I’m hot. I could go for a nice ice cold beverage or dish of ice cream.

“It was nice.” I push his hair out of his eyes and then pinch his chin. “You have dog drool on your face.”

“Odin likes to lick me,” he says, grinning. “I’m hungry. Can we get a snack?”

“You read my mind.” Nodding in the direction of the kitchen, I say, “How about ice cream or something?”

“Yes!” Rico cheers and races off toward the kitchen. He has really soaked in all the comforts of living in a very lavish home. When we leave, he’s not going to be satisfied with the meager things I can supply for him. It breaks my heart that I can’t give him the best things in life, but part of me is glad he has been so sheltered. Part of his adjusting to Sven’s house so quickly has simply been the luxury of it all. He’s never lived like this before.

I follow him into the kitchen where Marta is already reaching into the freezer to get a tub of ice cream, probably at the behest of my son. She winks at me and places the tub on the counter, then pulls out two bowls and spoons. I sit next to Rico at the table and take his hand. I know my news will be upsetting to him, but I hope it doesn’t crush him.

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