Page 56 of Love Bites
“You have to understand, Katheryn. We were in debt up to our necks. Your father was about to lose his job, and so was I. You weren’t making enough money at the lab to pay off your student loans and our debts, as well,” her mother said then took a dainty sip of tea. “When we first met Mr. Francis and Hunter, I wanted to set you up on a date with the young bachelor in hopes you’d win him over and get married. When he met you, it was obvious you barely spared him a second glance. But you know how men are. They see some uninterested woman, and they have to conquer her.
“When you paid him no mind, it drove Hunter crazy. He approached your father and me and said he wanted you...that he intended to conquer you. Of course, we had to secure your future, And ourfuture. We couldn’t just let him have you then leave. So, we told him we’d help convince you, help groom you, but for a price. He was to marry you and see to it that we lived comfortably.”
Katheryn frowned. “That’s a lot of money and trouble to go to for one woman. It doesn’t make sense.”
“The amount we owed was less than Hunter makes in a day. He was happy to throw it our way, as long as it helped him get what he wanted. Men like Hunter are used to getting everything they want. Hunter has always had the world in the palm of his hand. When you showed no interest in him, you were a challenge to him, and he had to have you. It’s as simple as that.
“He wanted you. He paid to get you. And he’s not going to let you go, because you’re good for his public image.” Mrs. Meyers shrugged as if this matter were so obvious that Katheryn should just let it go and move on.
But Katheryn couldn’t do that. She’d been betrayed. Her parents had callously sold her to Hunter just to pay off their debts and live like rich folks.
“You lied to me,” Katheryn whispered, swiping at the tears that formed at the corners or her eyes.
“It was for your own good, Kathy.” Her mother’s voice softened as she reached out to grip Katheryn’s hand across the table. “We never would have made it without him and, more importantly, without you.”
Katheryn jerked her hand from her mother’s. The thought of being touched by her sickened Katheryn, making her stomach churn. “You should have at least told me.”
“You would never have gone along with it. You’re stubborn, Kathy. And Hunter needed the satisfaction of winning you over.”
Katheryn’s throat tightened. She’d been nothing to Hunter except a trophy, a prize to be won. He’d probablyneverloved her.
Ignacio’s image flitted through her mind. Where Hunter was fair-skinned and fair-haired with bright eyes, Ignacio had a darker skin tone and light brown hair with honey-colored eyes. There couldn’t be two more different people. She’d been manipulated into loving Hunter but had fallen in love with Ignacio all on her own.
She missed him, longed for him. Without his presence, there was nothing but an empty hole where her heart should be. It wasn’t just a fleeting emotion. It was an emptiness only he could fill. Only when faced with his absence did she realize what being a Soul Mate truly meant. She hadn’t understood it before, hadn’t understood why they gave the term such reverence. But it was all so clear now. Ignacio was gone from her life, and she felt as if her soul had been ripped from her, like a limb or some essential part of her had been torn away.
Tears stung her eyes, but instead of swiping them away, this time, she let them flow as she rose slowly from her seat. She wanted her mother to see the pain she’d caused, the hurt she’d inflicted on her own flesh and blood for money.
“Thank you for finally opening my eyes, Mother, and helping me to see exactly how selfish you and Father are. I’m sure you’ll understand why, after tonight, I never want to see you again.”
Without another word, Katheryn turned from the table and walked away.
26
Ignacio leaned back in his seat, resting his face against the cold glass of the windowpane. He longed to look out and see the sky, to watch the dark clouds roll peacefully with the wind. But the window’s black tint hid any signs of nature, and more importantly, hid him from the sunlight.
The airplane had been designed by a company that catered to supernaturals, vampires in particular. It was a private plane, and he was the only passenger at the moment. He tried to get comfortable, but the idea escaped him when there was a giant, gaping hole in his heart.
So much had happened in the few days since Katheryn had left. The pain of her absence overwhelmed and had nearly killed him. He’d barely slept, barely eaten, and when he did sleep, he was plagued with nightmares instead of sweet dreams of his Soul Mate.
He worried endlessly about Katheryn. A few witnesses said she had been shoved into a dark car by some rich-looking American, leaving no further doubt in his mind that it had been her ex.
He’d raced to the airport, but had been too late. They’d already gone, whisked away on a private jet. He hadn’t wasted any time after that. He’d gone home, packed a bag, and the next night, he’d contacted his boss, Michael von Angel, and asked to borrow his private plane.
He knew it was a huge favor to ask, but his boss was surprisingly accommodating after Ignacio had explained the situation. He figured somewhere deep inside that black heart of his, there lived a hopeless romantic.
Now, Ignacio was on the plane, trying to get comfortable but not able to do so. Thoughts of Katheryn’s well-being plagued him. He tried calling her, but it had gone straight to voicemail. When that didn’t work, he’d attempted to reach her through dreams and mind link, but he assumed the distance was what made it fail.
So, he had no choice but to wait until he reached Washington. Then he’d find her.
Please wait for me, Katheryn,he thought.I’m coming.
27
Katheryn counted herself lucky when Hunter hadn’t returned home that first night. Or the night after, or the night after that.It had been a week, and each night, he’d called to inform her he wouldn’t be home. He was probably with his mistress, but Katheryn didn’t care. She was glad that he hadn’t shown up. If he had, she wasn’t sure what would have happened. He probably would have wanted to sleep in the same bed, maybe even force himself on her. The bodyguard wouldn’t have been much help. The man would probably have watched without lifting a finger.
Each day, she tried to devise a plan to escape her prison. She barely left the house, and when she did, it was with the burly fellow following her. She’d tried to converse with him, but he ignored her efforts. Eventually, Katheryn had given up and kept to herself.
At night, when she lay in bed, she’d hoped she would visit with Ignacio in her dreams, but he never came to her. The time difference might have prevented it. As hard as she’d tried to sleep during the day, she couldn’t seem to shut off her worries.
