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“My personal life is none of your business.”
“Every part of your life is my business now. If you did something and someone is after you for it, I need to know.”
I grit my teeth, but don’t allow myself to explode at the insinuation thatI did something. There must be a reason for the hell I’ve been through right? It couldn’t possibly be that there are just sick assholes out there who hurt people for fun. Or for money. Or for any other selfish and disgusting reason. My guess is, Colter falls into that category.
But he did save me.
I only let the realization stun me for a moment before hardening my expression. He might be a power-hungry asshole, but he isn’t a murderer. Evenhisconscience couldn’t take him being the reason someone’s dead.
“There isn’t anyone after me,” I lie, staring out the window so he can’t study my face. My voice sounds sad and weak.
Colter doesn’t prod anymore, and for that I’m thankful.
“I need to get home to my son,” I say, exhaustion coming out in my words. I didn’t realize I was tired until now, but suddenly it feels like I’ve been hit by a bus after running a marathon. My body aches and my eyes are heavy. If I had a mirror, I’m certain I’d cringe at the bags underneath my eyes.
“I’ve already taken care of it.”
“What?” I ask, jolting so I’m sitting up straight and alert.
“Someone is picking him up now. They’ll bring him to my estate… After we’re done you’ll both be driven home.”
“You had my son kidnapped?” My lips part in a mixture of rage and amazement at the audacity of this man. Ms. Gordon would never hand him over to a stranger. She doesn’t know our past exactly, but she knows enough not to do that.
Colter rolls his eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic.”
“Dramatic?!”
“I assumed you wouldn’t shut up about it until you saw him… This is serious, Abi. You can’t go running off, and you shouldn’t take this lightly. If you leave, it’ll look suspicious, and you’ll no longer be my fiancée, you’ll be a witness. Witnesses don’t get to run off and be forgotten about. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
My anger fades, but I don’t let my expression relax.
I hate this man. What he’s done to my life, and now what he’s done to my son’s life.
Zeke would be better off with Devin.
Now I can’t help it when my face falls. “Yes.”
“Good. Then don’t make your son an orphan.”
I nod in understanding and am quiet the rest of the drive to the estate. I try not to think about what would happen to Zeke if I wasn’t around to protect him, but of course it doesn’t work. How long would it take for them to match Zeke with the missing person’s report? A day, a week? And who would watch him during the long days while Devin was at work?
What if he turns out like his father?
I shake away the image of that and turn my eyes toward the estate as we pull through the iron gate. It’s even more magnificent than I remember it. There are modern elements to it. The roof is clearly newish as well as the windows. But the pillars that hold the second floor and the bricks give it an older feel. More classic.
When we make it inside, Zeke is there waiting for us along with a stone-faced man who looks like secret service with the suit he sports and his rigid posture.
I run to Zeke and wrap my arms around him, squeezing him tight and smelling his hair.
“Mom!” he shouts enthusiastically as he hugs me back. He pulls away from me and holds up a toy race car. “Look what Ethan gave me!”
Ethan? My eyes flick to the guard and then back to Zeke, whose face has fallen.
“Why are you sad?”
The moisture on my face registers, and I swipe the tears that have fallen on my cheeks. I work up a smile and squeeze his shoulders. “I’m not sad, bud. I’m happy! I missed you so much, and I’m just so glad to see you.”
“Ms. Gordon said you had to work late.”