Page 27 of An Inconvenient Marriage
Ice-cold tendrils of panic wrapped around my throat and squeezed. I wanted so desperately to hang up and turn my phone off and never switch it on again but I was paralyzed to do anything but let out a shaky, “Dad?”
“Were you expecting someone else?” His words were angry and clipped.
I swallowed the emotion clogging my throat. “N-no.”
“You’re supposed to keep me updated. Why didn’t you tell me you were out of the country?”
I squeezed my eyes shut and cursed internally when two thick tears spilled down my cheeks.
As if my father could sense my turmoil, he chuckled darkly. “What? You didn’t think I’d know? How many times have I told you there’s nowhere in this world where you can hide. Iwillfind you.”
More tears fell. My butt hit the edge of the mattress. “I’m sorry.”
“You’ll be sorry if you screw this up, girl.”
He didn’t need to come up with elaborate threats, I already knew what would happen if I disobeyed him.
“I won’t.”
“You better not, don’t think—”
I didn’t hear the rest of his words. Someone yanked my phone out of my hand.
“If you don’t mind, we’re on our honeymoon, and you’ve taken up quite enough of my wife’s time.”
Zach hung up the phone and held it out to me. I stared him, my eyes wide, my jaw at my feet.
He probably had questions. I didn’t have answers. Not yet anyway.
“Zach, I—”
“Breakfast is getting cold.” Then he turned and walked out of the door as if nothing had happened.
10
Zach
Whatthefuck?
I sat at the dining table and tried my best not to snap the fork in my hand. Natalie had done a damn good job at hiding all the evidence of her tears, but it was futile. No matter how hard I tried, I could never get the image of her crying on the edge of the bed out of my mind.
I’d moved without a moment’s hesitation and had done the only thing I could think of. Only now I wished I’d stayed and asked her why her father would say those things to her. Not that I’d heard a lot. Hell, I hadn’t even known it was Trent who’d made her cry when I’d walked in.
It was only when I’d heard his voice after I’d taken the phone that I’d realized.
Shoving a forkful of frittata into my mouth, I flicked my gaze to Natalie. Instead of eating, she was idly moving the food around on her plate. Again.
Something twisted and pulled inside me. I was helpless to stop Trent from ruining one woman’s life. I wouldn’t sit by and allow him to do it again.
“Eat.” The one word came out louder and harsher than I’d intended. Then I remembered the fiery Natalie from earlier. The one who’d told me she wouldn’t do something just because I demanded it.
I wanted to seeheragain.
“I said, eat.”
This time, her blue gaze shot up to meet mine. Sharp and furious.There you are.
“Don’t think I won’t come over there and feed you.”
