Page 30 of Stolen Vows

"Okay," I whisper back, my voice hitching once more.

Is this a bad idea? It doesn’t matter. Whatever doubts I might have had, they are behind me now. I have acted. I’ve done it. I’ve connected with my father’s men, and they are going to find me, and then...

And then, whatever comes next, I will be entirely responsible for.

I realize with a start that the shower has stopped running. Panic stabs my chest as I put the phone down as quietly as I can, trying to remember what angle it was sitting when I came in.

I chew my lip,but I don’t have time to question it any further. I dart back towards my room, diving past the door and pulling it shut so that the lock clicks into place behind me. I shove the key under the door, trying to make it look as though it fell out of his pocket in the corridor. I don’t know if he’s noticed that it’s missing yet.

Throwing myself down on the bed, I turn my gaze to the ceiling, painting my face with a nonchalant expression, even as my heart slams against my ribs. I’m sure that he will sense there’s something up, and come to check on me. He hasn’t let me get away with anything since the escape attempt.

Sure enough, after a few moments, I hear footsteps outside the door. I lift my head to make it look like I’ve just noticed he is present as he unlocks the door and looks inside.

"Were you out of this room?"

His voice is cold, taut. I shake my head. He still doesn’t trust me, of course. Why would he? Sometimes, I’m not even sure he likes me, especially given how he started being sexual with me that one night only to pull back right when he had me at the point of utter need for a release, the type I’ve never experienced.

I feel his gaze assessing me, taking in every detail from my pale cheeks and tense body language. At least I’m not blushing. I shake my head.

"No. I haven’t gone anywhere. How could I? You keep me locked in here like I’m some sort of prisoner."

He pauses for a moment, eyeing me as he tries to work out in his mind whether he believes me or not. I look back at him as steadily as I can, though I am sure a man like him can see straight through me. There is something piercing about his gaze, something suspicious that I can’t help but squirm under.

"Good."

He pulls the door shut once more, and I exhale slowly, reminding myself that everything is fine. Whatever panic I might be feeling right now, he knows nothing. He could notice the call I made on his phone, of course, but he has hardly looked at that thing in the time he’d been standing there.

The lock clicks shut, and I glance up to the window. Out there, someone is looking for me. Someone might even be close to finding me. A few days ago, that thought would have been a hugerelief, but now, I feel conflicted. I thought for a brief moment that he cared for me in some way. That part of me is reluctant to leave, battling the part that made the phone call for help.

It’s ridiculous since he kidnapped me, and all I should want is to go home. I can’t live in this cabin, in this room, alone in the woods with him forever. So, why does the thought of returning to my father also fill me with dread? Is there nowhere in this world I can feel safe?

My father wants me home, pulling me back into his world, making me part of everything again, whether I like it or not. I have no idea what it will mean when I’m back home, no idea where that leaves me after all these days alone with a man.

Will my father have me tested to ensure I’m still worthy of marriage to a man of his choosing… still a virgin? Will he blame me in some way for the kidnapping?

Then there are the claims Max made about my father. I have no idea if Max is telling the truth, or if he is the one who has been convinced of something that sure could never be true.

Or if it is true… then I am the deluded one with her head in the sand.

15

Max

Something about the feeling in the air doesn’t sit right with me.

I can’t put my finger on what it is that’s wrong, but I sure as hell know it is something.

I have a well-honed nose for this shit, an ability to sense when there is something out of place, even when people are trying to cover it up or deny it.

Cara is in her room. She seemed fine when I checked on her. Less angry at me, somehow.

Veronica is arriving later today. Matthew is dropping her off in the woods, and she is finding her way here based on a map I sent to her.

I had some concern about her being able to find the place, but she insisted that she could. It’s best that she approach alone. Any extra activity out here could easily draw attention and suspicion.

"I’ve done a lot of running in my life," Veronica had reminded me grimly. "I’m not going to get lost out there. Trust me."

I had backed off, then. Sometimes, I forget how much she’s been through, how much she’s survived with no complaint.

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