Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
“This time, I had to come looking for you.” Jackson’s voice is dry and unamused. Big surprise. “Fuck, it’s cold out here.”
Did he come out to give me a weather report?
“I’ll be back in a minute.”
“You’d better be.”
“Excuse me?” I pin him with a look that says get fucked.
He rolls his eyes and scoffs. “Your mom sent me after you. I would prefer not to return empty-handed.”
“I said I’d be back in a minute.” I look at him over my shoulder.
No, he wouldn’t think to offer me his jacket, not that I would take it. He’s the kind of man who sees to his own comfort first. Ugh, now I feel Kade’s jacket hanging over my shoulders outside the bar, swallowing me up in his warmth and scent. I can still smell him, and the memory makes my heart hurt.
“No, you’re coming in right now.” There it is. It’s what I tried to tell myself I imagined before. That cold, commanding tone.
“We’re not married yet,” I remind him.
It’s actually good that we’re face-to-face without anyone to overhear. As much as I hate speaking to him, at least I don’t have to keep my mouth shut and pretend to be the obedient little wife he expects anymore.
“We will be,” he murmurs, taking a step toward me. I can smell the whiskey on his breath, mixed with his musky cologne, and that only adds to my disgust. “And once we’re married, you won’t be doing any of this backtalking, because I’ll make it so you can’t.”
“Really?” I even try to laugh it off. That’s how desperate I am to make myself believe he doesn’t scare me. “How might you do that?”
His face is humorless, vacant, and empty. “That depends on you, Allie. How far do you intend to push me?”
Down a flight of steps, if I can.
“I don’t know, Jackson.” I bite out his name, but it’s more my teeth chattering than anger. “I guess it depends on how far I need you to fall to get my point across.”
“I see.” He smiles, and the gesture is even more unsettling than the emptiness in his eyes. “That’s fine. Get it all out of your system now. And I do mean all of it, including your slutty behavior.” I open my mouth to speak, but he continues, “You didn’t think I would find out, did you? About your night of fun at the bar?”
His words hit me so hard, I’m stunned. “What are you talking about?” How the hell did he even find out?
A dark chuckle escapes him. “Come on. Don’t insult my intelligence. You think I don’t hear things? You’re about to be my wife. Everything you do is my business.”
“Cool, but we’re not married now, so I can do whatever I want.”
“Within limits, sweetheart, because you see, if you sleep with another man, or embarrass my family name in any way once we’re married, you will regret it.”
“I’m not scared of you.” It’s stupid to keep pushing him, but what can I say? I’m too stubborn to give a shit. I almost wish he’d hit me like he clearly wants to and get it over with. I bet I’d hit him back harder.
“Not yet.” He flashes me a sharp shark-toothed smile. “But you certainly will be if you continue with the bullshit.”
He’s fucked in the head, and that explains why his dad is so damn motivated to get him married off. They don’t just get our connections. No one else would be desperate enough to marry this psychopath.
“You have two minutes to get your ass in here. If you aren’t inside, I’ll send your mom out after you. Something tells me you don’t want to be on Mommy’s bad side.”
He taps my chin lightly with his knuckle, and I bat at his hand, but he’s already turning and heading inside.
Alone again, I release some of the tension in my shoulders. I’m still shivering, but it’s not from the cold anymore. It’s because I know Jackson meant every word he said. Not even Kade has ever made me feel so helpless, and frankly, terrified.
Like an animal caught in a trap. Kade scares the shit out of me sometimes, but with him, it’s almost a game. I feel scared, but I know he won’t injure me. He’ll hurt me, alright. Over and over... and he has, but he’d never kill me. And I think, a moment ago, Jackson imagined what his hands would look like wrapped around my throat.
My heart slams against my ribs as I watch the busy street. The sound of the traffic escapes me. The only thing I can hear is my racing pulse and the roar of blood in my ears.
I imagine myself running, launching myself off the curb, begging someone, anyone to let me in their car. I’d go anywhere so long as I didn’t have to go home.