Page 125 of An Inconvenient Marriage
“Hey!”
I tried to pull my arm free at the same time as I twisted around to see who the hell was manhandling me. One look at him, and ice-cold tendrils of fear immediately sank their claws into me.
“Let go,” I said to my father’s security guard.
His fingers only dug in deeper.
Tingles shot up my arms and legs, and my knees grew weak. Still, I lifted my chin and kept my voice even. “I’ll scream if you don’t let go.”
A malicious grin formed on his mouth, and his hold tightened even more. “You scream, and your little friend pays the consequences.” Digging his nails into my skin, he yanked my arm. “But if you don’t put up a fight, she’ll be fine.”
He leaned in, and his smoke-filled breath blew over my face. “Your choice, princess.”
30
Natalie
Comeon,comeon.
Wiggling the doorhandle, I sent a silent prayer to any deity that would listen.
“You’ve tried it five times already, what makes you think it will suddenly open now?”
My gaze shot up to find Jack staring at me in the rearview mirror. He bellowed out a demented laugh and shook his head.
“Besides, jumping out of a moving car would only mess up your pretty little face.”
“I don’t care.”
He just kept laughing. “I wonder how your friend would feel if she finds out you’d rather jump out of a moving car than save her life.”
Ice-cold tendrils of fear slithered over my skin and sank their talons into my chest. I covered the spot with my hand and clawed at the fabric of my shirt. I was hot, and getting breath into my lungs seemed impossible.
I was scared for my life and for Everlee’s, but I couldn’t let it show.
So instead of responding, I turned my head toward the window and focused on the passing scenery. I hadn’t been down this road in a while, but I knew we were close to my father’s office building.
I probably had another five minutes before I’d be forced to see him again. My insides, that had been a mess ever since Jack had taken my phone and shoved me in the car, twisted and churned even more.
I always knew I’d have to face my father sooner or later. I was just hoping for later. For a little more time to find the courage and confidence I needed.
Time I wouldn’t get, I grimly realized, when we rolled to a stop, and I set my gaze on the nondescript brick building my father used to conduct his more questionable business transactions.
Tears stung the backs of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Somehow, allowing them to roll down my cheeks felt like surrendering. I wasn’t ready to do that. Not without a fight. Breathing in deeply through my nose, I told my racing pulse and shattered nerves to calm down. My father—and possibly Jack, too—was a shark.
He’d strike the moment he smelled fear.
That’s why I had to do anything in my power to keep them from seeing how terrified I was.
Holding on to that, I took a few more steadying breaths. I’d barely managed a fourth when my door suddenly flew open and Jack yanked me out of the car. At somewhere around six foot five and more muscles than a bodybuilder with a juicing problem, the man stood in front of me like a wall.
And when he moved closer, I couldn’t help but stumble backward. Not that I got very far. I took three steps, and my back hit the car. My gaze flicked left, then right, but since my father’s office building was in a secluded area with little to no foot traffic, there was no one to help me.
Even if there was, I’d never risk Everlee’s safety.
Defeated, I turned my attention back to the lump of muscle in front of me. To my horror, he was much closer than he’d been a few moments ago.
Eyes trained on me, he popped a cigarette between his lips and lit it up. After a long drag, he blew out the smoke in my face. Turning my head to the side, I held my breath for as long as I could.
