Page 47 of Deviant

“I am.”

“What about Zach?”

“What about him?”

Jax carried his breakfast to the other side of the bar and perched on a stool. “I think you’re taking a risk, man.”

“What am I supposed to do? Hide out here forever?”

“That’s not what I meant. I just think a wedding is a distraction you don’t need right now.”

“I’m not stupid, Jax. I’ll hire security if I have to.”

“Maybe you should hire someone to find his ass.”

“Already thought about it, especially once we go back to the island.” Which wouldn’t be much longer. I’d hired an out-of-area contractor to add my more questionable touches to the cabin. He’d informed me yesterday he was close to finishing the job. “I’m done running. If Zach wants to come after us, I’ll be ready this time.”

“You’re not worried her old man will be an issue?”

“I’m worried about all kinds of shit, but marrying her will add a layer of protection. Once I’m her husband, legally, he’ll have no say over her life.”

“Okay,” he said with a nod.

“Okay?” I asked, my tone dubious.

“Let’s get you hitched.”

It felt good to have him onboard, but first I needed a ring, and I had the perfect one in mind. A unique piece I’d found online at an exclusive jewelry shop, the stone a deep jade to match her eyes.

22. Unworthy of White - Alex

I needed out of this hell.

It wasn’t a want at this point. Ineededfucking freedom like I needed air. I was sick of these four walls—so tired of staring at them that I would have doodled to my heart’s content if I had art supplies. But they remained a boring, crazy-inducing white, and they seemed to close in more with each new sunrise.

Rafe was relentless in making sure I knew my place. My stint in solitary confinement went on for days.

Days upon days of waiting for him to let me go.

He hadn’t fucked me since the day he caught me touching myself. It was his way of reminding me that his cock was a privilege, same as cuddling in the warm circle of his arms at night. I hated this new punishing sentence, but it did open an opportunity, because that’s when I got the idea to fake a period by flushing tampons and the accompanying cardboard applicators down the toilet. But I left the outer packaging in the trashcan where he could see it. He made the deception easy, and that only made me feel worse.

I didn’t like lying to him, but I feared what he might do if he found out now.

God, I needed the fuck out of here.

A bird landed on a branch outside the window, and I would have given anything to trade places with that little creature.

Even for an hour. Just let me fly away.

Back facing the bedroom door, I heard him enter, but I didn’t turn around. Keeping my gaze on my friend the bird—my only connection to the outer world right now—I crossed my arms and ignored Rafe’s presence.

“You’re gonna have to talk to me eventually, babe.”

As far as I was concerned, I didn’t have to do shit. Not until he made me, anyway.

Something clunked on the nightstand, and ceramic slid across smooth wood. A plate, no doubt my lunch.

“Enough is enough, Alex. I’ve allowed your silence for the last 24 hours. If you don’t start talking, I’m bringing in the ginger.”

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