Page 63 of Haunted Nights & Savage Sins
Here I am giving this man my body and my fucking soul when he’s got no intentions of keeping me. He’ll divorce me the minute his part of the contract is done.
I can’t believe I actually thought he was in love with me. I can’t believe I fell in love with him.
I shove the letter back in the drawer and slam it shut before I run out of the room and back down the stairs. I don’t stop running until I get to my room and I collapse on the bed.
It was all a lie. A lie I had somehow convinced myself to be true. My father told me that this was all a business deal. That I was part of a debt to be paid. I thought I was ready for that, ready to be treated as no more than just property.
Cormac didn’t just treat me like I was property, he made me feel wanted and cared for. I guess that was all just to make sure I made it the year. I’m sure if I die or actually find a way to run away the contract will be void.
My heart hurts worse than it ever has. Not even when my father refused to rescue me from this hell did it feel like my heart was disintegrating inside of me.
That’s exactly what is happening right now though. All the love and hope I’ve built up for Cormac is simply disintegrating like grains of sand.
17
CORMAC
I hatethat I have to leave Brenna home alone when she isn’t feeling well. Especially for something as ridiculous as a supply check.
I find myself wishing I had more people I could trust. People that could do these mindless tasks instead of me. Of course, I know I can’t trust anyone, especially with there being some added threats flying around us right now.
Thankfully the check didn’t take very long. All of twenty minutes and I was out of there.
I’m anxious now in the back of the truck, waiting to get home and make sure that Brenna is okay.
I send Maxim a text message to make sure he’s doing what he was told and checking on her. He replies back that he called in to her and she asked for uninterrupted rest.
She wants some quiet time. I guess rushing back home and fussing over her isn’t really giving her what she wants.
My eyes scan the scenery out the window and it settles on a small strip of stores. It’s the middle of a weekday and after the holiday, so there aren’t many people outside.
Before I realize what I’m doing, I press the intercom button to talk to the driver.
“Pull over here. I need to go into that store.”
The car comes almost to a screeching stop before slowly pulling into an open space.
I don’t think I’ve been out of my own property on my own for years. Now I’m going into a store. I need to do this though. I need to show Brenna how much she means to me.
There is one way for me to do that. I need to give some meaning to how we started. Our marriage was forced upon both of us, but if I had the choice, I’d marry Brenna every day. She’s perfect for me. Understanding, feisty, caring, and beautiful both inside and out. And for some reason, she sees good in me. I would be a fool to ever even attempt to look for anyone better. There isn’t anyone better.
Looking out of the car, I wait until there is absolutely no one in my immediate vicinity before I step out of the truck. My palms are sweaty and every step I take away from the safety of the truck feels like I’m getting ready for a fight.
It’s just my anxiety. My need to be invisible. I can’t stay invisible, not if I want to keep Brenna.
I’m not sure if she knows it, but she is only required to stay married to me for a year. That is the length of the contract.After that, she can choose to divorce me. I was set for that when this first started, counting down the days until I could put those papers in, but now I can’t see my life without her. I don’t want just a year. I want all my years to be with her.
Letting out a deep breath, I push on the door to the high-end jewelry shop, but it doesn’t open up. I look inside and see employees. They look through the clear glass at me. One of the women is startled and her eyes open wide when she gets a good look at my face. The shock turns to fear, but the other woman looks me over once and simply presses whatever buzzer she needs to in order for the front door to open.
I frown at the woman who stared at me like I was some type of miscreant before I walk over to the other who was kind enough to buzz me in without much fuss.
“How can I help you?” she asks, her voice polite and soft.
“First, a question. Do you all make commissions here?” I ask loud enough for the other woman to hear.
“Er… why do you ask?” The one helping me furrows her brow. I guess it’s not a normal question.
“Indulge me, please.”
