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Because if she doesn’t play along, I’ll ruin her and her whole family.
No matter how much she doesn’t agree with them, her reputation means something to her. It’ll be tainted enough now that she’s marrying an ex-con.
Her gaze fixates on the wall, her lip tucked between her teeth to the point where it has lost almost all its color. Maybe I will get lucky and see some spilled blood today after all.
“How are you feeling? Are you okay?” Every passing second in her company makes it harder to keep my tone in check.
But she doesn’t need to know any of that yet, or she’ll run for sure.
Agreeing to a marriage with a white knight is very different from agreeing to a marriage with the big bad wolf.
So, for now, I have to hide in my sheep’s clothing.
She finally glances my way at my question, and something that resembles guilt a whole lot flashes in her dark eyes. But she averts her gaze almost immediately to stare at her hands in her lap, so I can’t be sure.
Can’t stand to look at me, my fallen angel? Well, too fucking bad. You made your bed, and now you have to lie in it, sharp thorns and all.
She gives a little nod. “Yes, I’m okay. Thank you for asking.”
Always so polite.
“I’m glad you didn’t get hurt. That could have been a hard fall.” At this rate, I might need to visit my dentist soonfor the tooth damage I’ll cause from all the clenching and grinding when I’m in Evangeline’s presence.
Her hand goes to the back of her head like it just now occurred to her she didn’t get injured. “What happened?”
“I caught you and carried you to this room.”
Her breath hisses between her lips at the sharp inhale. “Thank you.”
She pulls the blanket off her body and slowly swings her legs over the side of the bed. “I . . . I need to find my parents.” She clears her throat and straightens her spine. “They can’t make us get married. No way in hell are you and I . . .”
She glances my way and licks her lips.
Finish your sentence, Princess, and tell me how you really feel.
But she doesn’t. Instead, she pushes off the bed and lands on her feet.
She wobbles immediately, and I rush forward and grab her by the arm.
What a fucking white knight you are.
It only takes her a second to steady herself, but I continue to hold her anyway.
“You can let go of me. I’m good.” Her voice shakes the tiniest amount. “Just didn’t think about the heels.”
I nod as if I care.
“Phoenix, I said I’m good. Please let go.” This time, her voice has that signature Caldwell steel back.
“Phoenix, please don’t marry Connie. I don’t know what’s happening, but please don’t ruin her life.”
Three years, and her sharp words still hit home. It’s crystal clear her low opinion of me hasn’t changed a single bit. With my stint in prison, it’s probably only gotten worse.
I draw on every ounce of control I possess and let go of her. One finger at a time.
“I just wanted to make sure you’re stable enough.” I shove my hands into my pockets to keep myself from grabbing her again, but this time to shake her.
She huffs out a breath. “Sorry, I’m not trying to be a bitch, but I didn’t expect this mess to happen today. We both know this would never work between us. I mean, neither of us wants this, and we live in the twenty-first century, for crying out loud. They can’t make us.”