Page 49 of Breathtaking

“We do.” I wrap my fingers around his wrist, momentarily forgetting any anger I’ve been clinging to when I think about this man. “But I’m not sure I’ve got the energy to do it now.”

“You know you’re going to have to tell me what happened at some point.”

“I know, and I will.” I squeeze his wrist and drop my hand. “But for now, I just want to get out of here.”

I can tell he wants to say more. He’s never been a man of inaction. This is killing him. But as usual, he’s doing it because I’ve asked. Maddox’s eyes search mine, trying to reconcile my answer with his need to control the situation. “Come home with me.”

“What?” I sputter. “Why would I do that?”

“Because I can keep you safe.” The certainty in his words is so strong, it almost makes me believe him. I want to, but I can’t.

He can’t keep me safe. No one can.

“You can’t save me from my future, Maddox. Even if I wish you could.” The words break what little joy I’d managed as the reality sets in. This is my future. This is what my life will look like. This is what my family forced on me.

“Monty did this?” he growls and drops his hold as I realize my mistake. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”

His words leave no room for argument, but I can’t not argue them.

“You can’t,” I force the words from my lips, even though I wish I didn’t have to.

“You can’t seriously still plan on marrying him.” Maddox is looking at me like he doesn’t know me. Like he can’t believe what I’m saying. And I can’t blame him. If you didn’t grow up in my world, this seems insane. Contract marriages are unheard of in most circles. Lucky me, I didn’t grow up in most circles.

“I don’t have another option.” My words are a plea for him to understand. “There’s no way out of a contract like ours. Trust me. If there were, I’d have used it to end this ridiculous sham already.”

My God, how I wish it were that simple. I tried. I searched for a loophole that doesn’t exist. I begged my parents... my grandfather. I tried, to no avail.

This is it. This is my lot in life. My future.

Maddox runs his finger through his thick, dark hair.

Hair I remember touching. Pulling.

Then I remember I’m not the only one who did those things, and my heart wars with my head. Inconvenient as that may be.

He lifts his head to the ceiling, then looks down at me. “What if I came up with a way?”

“My brother’s lawyer couldn’t even find a way. I don’t think you’re going to find what you’re looking for, Maddox.” No matter how much I wish he could. “I promise I won’t keep the baby from you. No matter what Monty says, I’ll find a way.”

“You wouldn’t be able to legally marry him if you were already married, Lennon.”

I freeze at his words.

Unable to breathe.

Unsure I heard him right over the ringing now playing a symphony in my ears.

“I don’t understand...” I slowly sit up and swing my legs over the side of the bed, grabbing onto Maddox as his hands move to my sides to help me down. “What are you saying?”

He steadies me on my feet, and I watch his Adam’s apple work as he swallows. “Marry me. Stay here with me. You can’t marry Monty if you’re already married to me. So marry me,principessa.”

I work his words over in my mind.

Marry one man I don’t love or another I absolutely loathe.

Is this what my life has been reduced to?

“Why would I do that?” I ask him, even though the answer is staring me in the face.

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