Page 36 of Sweet Surrender
What else could I do though? Nash was right. If I went to the policeand told them everything, I’d be laughed out of the station.
I’d never be believed over someone like Nash, and then not only would I still have to figure out a way of paying off the debt, but if he was true to his word, and sued me for defamation, then I’d be in more hot water than I already was.
Blowing out a breath in frustration, my eyes fluttered open beforescanning around the enormous bathroom.
Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad. If this was the sort of place Nashstayed in when he was traveling, I imagined his home was just as impressive, if not more so. It would have been better than the dump I’d been living in for the last few months, that was for sure.
Walking over to the sink, I grabbed the mouthwash sitting on theside, before taking a mouthful and swilling it around, replacing the taste of Nash with mint. After spitting, I stared at myself in the mirror, and the second I met my own eyes, Nash’s words from earlier rang in my ears.
All you have to do is surrender to me.
I’ll own you.
I’ll possess you.
You will belong to me.
Urgh. What did he think I was? A dog who could be owned by him?
No. Not happening. No amount of money or luxury hotels or houseswas enough to make me let him do whatever he wanted to me. Panic started to build deep within me at the thought of what it could mean to be owned by him.
Did he want to put a leash on me and parade me around? What if hewas in to kinky shit, and he wanted to tie me up and whip me every night?
Or worse, what if he liked to share women with his buddies?
The panic bubbled over, and before I knew it, I was at the door,tugging it open with the desperate need to get as far from Nash as possible. Only when I was out of this damn hotel, would I be able to think straight and figure a way out of this mess.
And therehadto be a way.
As I was about to step out of the bathroom, Nash’s voice trailed downthe hallway, only now, he’d been joined by someone, a voice I recognized.
Agent Peterson, or whatever his real name was, was talking to Nash,and as I wondered if the other douchebag was with them, a third voice spoke. Agent Lawes, I presumed.
My head snapped in the direction of the elevator, and a rush of reliefswamped me when I found the doors were open. Checking the coast was clear, I saw my opportunity.
It was now or never.
Tiptoeing as quickly, but as quietly as I could, I practically ran to theelevator as if the hounds of hell were snapping at my ass. Flinging myself inside, I jabbed at the button for the ground floor, relieved when the doors started sliding down without the need for a code.
My heart raced and my legs shook like a bowl of jelly. What wouldNash do if he caught me sneaking away? I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer to that. Yet as the ride to the ground floor seemed to take forever, my brain ran wild with all sorts of punishment he might subject me to if he found I’d tried to run.
When the elevator came to a stop on the ground floor, my shouldersslumped in relief. Doing my best to compose myself so I didn’t draw any unwanted attention, I took a breath as the doors opened.
Before they’d opened all the way, I took my first step, more thanready to get the fuck out of this place.
Only, I didn’t get far.
My escape was blocked by yet another person I recognized. Brianwas waiting, a solemn look on his face. I froze, and for a few seconds, we stared at each other.
Hope bloomed in my chest that he’d step aside and let me pass, butmy hope died a quick death when Brian took a step forward, blocking my escape.
“Miss Miller,” Brian said, taking another step forward, this time into theelevator, and backing me against the wall. “Mr. Carson suspected you’d run at the first opportunity, he wanted me to let you know he is very disappointed in you.”
Before I had a chance to tell Brian that Nash could take hisdisappointment and shove it up his ass, Brian’s arm darted outtoward me.
Stunned by his sudden movement, it took a second or two for thesharp pain in my neck to register.
“What did you do?” I whispered, my hand flying to the side of my neckwhere he’d just jabbed me.
