Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“Go to hell.”
He releases me and turns away. “Already a step ahead of you,” he says, quietly enough that I’m not sure he means for me to hear, as he walks off.
I spin and throw myself onto the bed. I feel helpless and weak and I hate myself for it.
I’ve always been the responsible one. My mother’s the flake and the stoner. I grew up fast, learned how to pay a credit card bill, learned how to make sure the rent went through every month, cooked meals and cleaned toilets and washed clothes. Now all the control I built into my life is ripped away… and it feels horrible.
I look down at the phone. It’s not mine, but it’s a phone. With shaking hands, I dial Mom’s number, and I’m afraid as it rings and rings, about to hit voicemail, before she finally picks up.
“Hello? If you’re trying to sell me a car warranty—“
“Mom, it’s me.”
“Angie? Are you okay?” She sounds clear, thank God. “I’ve been worried sick.”
“I’m fine. I’m with Connor at his house.”
“You mean your husband? That psychopath? Hon, tell me what to do, because I’m panicking here. He said if I called the police, he’d burn this place down with me in it—“
I let out a nasty grunt of frustration. “He lied. Look, Mom…” I’m about to tell her to call the cops. Beg her to get some help.
But what will that do?
I graze my hand over my belly and my heart flutters.
Connor’s right. He’s been thinking about this child more than I have, and if I really am in as much danger as he says, I have to ride this out.
At least for now.
“I’m fine,” I say, breathless and curling around myself, hating every word. “Don’t worry, okay?”
“I’m pretty freaked out. He married you at gunpoint. That can’t have been legal!”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m safe and he says he’s going to bring you here too. When he does, don’t fight it. There’s room service.”
A brief pause. “Seriously? Where are you?” she asks incredulously.
“Still in the city. Just do what he says, alright? We’ll be okay if we keep our heads down for now.”
“Alright, hon, if that’s what you think, but this is very, very strange. And screw that man for pointing a gun at me.”
“I’ll talk to him. He won’t do it again.”
She bursts out laughing. I grin too at the absurdity of it all. When we hang up, I don’t feel better.
But I think I’m seeing my situation clearly for once.
For whatever reason, Connor cares about this baby. That makes me important. He’s not going to hurt me, so long as I’m still pregnant. I don’t know how he feels about me, and that doesn’t matter.
We’re both aligned on this one thing: protecting our child at any cost.
Which kills me. I want to text Nadia and beg her for help more than anything in the world.
But right now that’ll only make things worse.
I’ll keep my head down. Shut my mouth. Play the game.
Until the opportunity to escape presents itself.
13
CONNOR
“Isimply cannot and will not live like this!” Danielle storms down the hallway, shaking her head violently, Dad on her heels. “There are mouse droppings in our room!”
“They’re in the bedroom next to ours, darling, and we have an entire wing of the house,” Dad says, but Danielle ignores him. She marches straight to me and gets in my face.
“This is unacceptable. It’s bad enough you ditched the wedding and started a war, but now you’re forcing me to live in this dump?”
“It’s a multi-million-dollar mansion,” Dad says, exasperated.
“It’s falling apart! I hate it!” Danielle flails, glaring at me. “You could have at least made it presentable before dragging us to our new prison.”
“You’re free to leave whenever you like.” I gesture at the door behind me, back the way I came. Colm is visible in front of Angie’s wing, keeping it guarded and my wife quarantined. I don’t know how long I can keep everyone separate, but I’ll figure it out eventually.
“Oh, real funny, and let the Gallaghers shoot me in the face.” Danielle’s eyes cut to me. “You could’ve at least warned us you were going to ruin all our lives.”
“Honey, please stop.” Dad holds her arm and tugs her away. His smile is apologetic. “It’s been a long day, that’s all. She’ll come around.”
“I’ll send the staff to clean thoroughly.” I move past them.
“This isn’t over, Connor!” Danielle calls after me. Her voice softens as I walk further away. “And what’s with you, asshole, not sticking up for me? He’s your son, Cathal, you don’t have to be afraid of him all the damn time…”
I’m smiling to myself as I knock on Rowan’s door. She calls me in and I leave my father to deal with his unruly wife in peace.
“Mom’s livid,” Rowan says. She’s standing on the far side of her new bedroom looking out the window. The space is enormous but there’s not much furniture except for an old armoire, a big four-poster bed, and beautiful built-in bookshelves crammed with as many books as I could find. My little sister turns, beaming happily. “But this place is awesome.”