Page 31

“For fuck’s sake. Did I offer an alternative? Get up.”
I tucked in on myself even farther, praying he’d lose interest and just go away.
I was never that lucky.
Sharp fingers wrapped around my upper arm, and I yelped in pain when he roughly yanked me to my feet.
“Please don’t,” I begged.
He shoved me toward the open door, the basement stairs looming beyond. “If you don’t want me to kick the shit out of that bastard baby growing in your belly, you’ll do as I say.”
I stared at him. I couldn’t help it. The pure malice in his tone, the evil threat, it was beyond comprehension. I was sure he couldn’t mean it. No human could.
But there was something distinctly cold in his eyes. Something unhinged. “Keep your eyes on the floor, slut. You don’t deserve to see anybody after the way you’ve acted.”
I dropped my gaze, realizing in that moment he would carry out his threat if I didn’t obey. He wasn’t bluffing.
I shuffled to the stairs and took them one at a time, his chest brushing my back the entire time as he hurried me up them, no care given to the fact I was so heavily pregnant and climbing stairs wasn’t exactly easy for me anymore.
“Fat bitch. Move your ass.” He shoved me forward.
I barely caught the railing to stop myself from hitting the floor.
The house was dark and quiet, but beyond the glass doors was the evidence of a huge party. Empty beer bottles and red Solo cups littered the yard. Halloween decorations were tipped over, and uneaten food sat spoiling on platters, barely picked at.
My stomach grumbled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since I’d been taken. “Can I have some water, please?”
It seemed a simple enough request, but it earned a sharp yank on my ponytail. Pain spliced through my scalp, and I let out a whimper.
“Why would I give you anything after the way you turned up here, acting like you had some sort of claim on me? I’m owned by no woman. I owe you nothing. Not even water. Sluts like you don’t deserve it.”
I licked my dry lips, refusing to beg or cry. He’d just get off on it. I wouldn’t give him that.
He dragged me to the front of the house and peered out the window. “Fuck!” He took his phone out of his pocket and tapped the screen before holding it to his ear. While he waited for whoever he’d called to pick up, he twisted my hair tighter and tighter until tears rolled down my cheeks.
He leaned in and licked one. “Exactly what I wanted. I love when you cry for me.”
I wanted to vomit.
“Hugh. Where the fuck are you?”
The sun was barely starting to flicker over the horizon, so it had to be early morning. I stood there at the window, hoping I’d at least get to see the sunrise. I’d always loved them. Back home, I was expected to be up and helping out on the farm before dawn, and I’d grown to love the vibrant displays.
I wasn’t guaranteed to see another sunset. But if I could just stand here long enough to see it rise…
Of course, he wouldn’t even let me have that. He dragged me away to a panel by the front door and stabbed at the buttons, changing the image, until he swore again.
But the image filled me with hope.
Three men dressed all in black, exiting a vehicle. I squinted at the screen, trying to work out where they were. It didn’t seem to be the front of the house. Maybe from a camera pointed down the street.
I went to scream, but Caleb clapped a hand over my mouth and tsked in my ear. “Now, now, remember our deal.”
His hand dropped to my swollen belly, and I froze.
He rubbed his hand all over it, finishing with a vicious pinch of the already stretched skin.
I stifled a sob but didn’t fight when he pulled me away from the window and to the back of the house. Another check of a security camera panel attached near the back door, and he was pushing me out into the early morning air and into the thick bushes that lined his property.