Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83994 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83994 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
My chest heaves up and down. I try to steady myself, but I’m shaking. “That’s all it took? Some lingerie? Some stupid sex toys?”
“You have no idea how badly I’ve wanted you. That night was everything. Even if Senesi hadn’t come back, I would’ve found a way to keep you, Casey. You’re mine, fully and completely, and I’m yours so deeply it’s like a sickness in me.”
“Stop it.” I kick the sheets off and scramble across the bed. I put it between us. His eyes move to my body, to the tight crop top I’m wearing and my stiff nipples poking out, down to the small shorts barely covering my ass. And now I wish I wore flannel pajamas to sleep. “I don’t want to hear anymore. I always thought I earned what I have. I thought I got everything on my own merit.”
“That’s not how life works. You’re talented. You’re smart and beautiful. But that isn’t ever enough. You need luck. I’ve been your talisman.”
“You’re insane.”
“I gave you everything. I even kept Natalie close. I wanted you to be happy.”
“Don’t talk about her,” I hiss, clutching at my chest. “She’s dead because of you.”
He goes still. His head tilts to the side, and I know what he’s thinking.
She’s not dead because of him… she’s dead because of me.
But he doesn’t say it out loud.
“I wanted to tell you everything, but you weren’t ready. I planned on making you understand slowly.”
“So you lied to me?”
“I only kept silent.”
“Sheila tried to make me understand, but you threatened her, didn’t you?”
He shakes his head. “No, I only made it clear that I wanted to tell you on my own. Sheila doesn’t hate me the way you probably think she does. She understands what I’ve done for you.”
“You manipulated me. You isolated me.”
“I gave you everything.”
“You turned me into some freakish toy.”
“I made you my wife. I built my life around you.”
“You didn’t know me. You saw a picture. That’s just crazy.”
“It was enough.” He takes a step closer and I flinch back.
“Don’t. Just don’t. I need… I need to process. I need time to think. You’ve been stalking me, Declan.”
“I don’t see it that way.” He remains where he is on the other side of the room. Shadows make him seem sinister and beautiful. I just notice his clothes are stained red, probably with blood, and I don’t want to know. I don’t want any of this anymore.
But I keep thinking about him circling around me, thinking about me, imagining me.
Wanting me more than any man in my life ever has.
All those other boys were scared away, but he never left me.
Am I really trying to rationalize this?
I’m terrified. I hate him so much right now.
But he’s also beautiful and he clearly cares about me in a way I doubt I’ll ever understand.
“Get out,” I whisper, shaking as I hug myself. “Just please, get out. I need space.”
“I’ll leave, but you aren’t going anywhere. Senesi killed my driver tonight.”
I let out an ugly, bitter laugh. “Of course he did. That’s really convenient.”
“I sat in his blood to drive to you. He was a good man. I’d do it all over again, just to make sure you’re safe.”
“Fine, okay? Our deal still stands. I’m still your wife. But that doesn’t mean I have to like you. I don’t have to care about you. From where I stand, you’re just a monster.”
“Good.” His lips twist. He’s masculine and gorgeous. It’s scary, the sharpness and the fire in his eyes. “So long as you’re mine.”
He turns and walks out. I watch him go, and once the door clicks shut, I run to the handle to turn the lock.
Only when I’m alone do I finally let myself break down as the sheer weight of what I just learned threatens to crush me.
All this time, he’s been there. Nudging my life from afar. Then taking me as his own little by little.
Until now I’m trapped with his ring on my finger.
And no way out.
Chapter 24
Casey
Here’s the thing about life: it keeps going.
Even if you want it to stop. Even if you want it to slow down.
Life keeps on marching along.
Offices are like that too. Days blend into each other. They become one big blob of corporate hallways and bland carpeting.
For some reason, I feel safer at work, sitting at my desk, right outside the office of Boss Bastard, my husband, and my stalker.
Mostly because I know he’s not going to show up here for a little while.
But little gifts start to show up. There’s a necklace one morning. A new travel coffee mug the next. Flowers on the third day. Those go straight into the garbage. But more get delivered an hour later and I decide to keep them since they’re nice and it isn’t their fault they got sent by a total asshole.