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“Your hair.” He added.

A drop of water ran down my back. I shrugged. I really couldn’t care. If it made him feel better.

Something out of the corner of my eye caused me to flinch. I felt immediately stupid when I realized it was just the towel in his hand. Of course, he didn’t miss my reaction.

I hated being so fucked up.

Very slowly, he started to dry my hair. A warm feeling flooded me. I wasn’t sure when it happened. But I found peopletouching me just made the anxiety worse. I managed to sit still for a few more moments before I couldn’t handle it any longer.

“Actually, um. I’ll do it.” I took the towel off him and stood up, walking to the fire. “So, do we have to stay here for five days?”

The Crows weddings were usually always arranged. I assumed the mandatory lock in was to force the couples to get to know each other. But we already knew each other.

“Two weeks.”

I turned to look at him, not even able to hide my shock. “No. It is five days I read it.”

He tapped his lighter on the cigarette packet before walking around the couch and sitting down. That intense look always made me nervous.

“And the line after that says it is up to me.”

He was right. It said a minimum of five days or as long as the groom decides.

“And why would you keep us locked up longer than necessary?” I stopped drying my hair. “I have a life. Commitments outside of your fucked up family.”

I had always only spoken of his family with respect. I had only ever been understanding. But if he thought keeping me locked up on their fucked-up estate on their island would bring out the best in me, he was wrong.

“You meanourfamily, my love?”

“I don’t have time for this.” I repeated, “I have an overseas trip planned for nine days.”

He lit his cigarette and just stared at me. “Maybe now is a good time to have that conversation you promised me.”

The feeling of ice rushed through me. I had blocked that night out. I had managed to suppress most of that week. But now, it was all flooding back to me. Every sound, every scream, every tear. It all rushed back to me. My ear ringing after Vinceshot Nate. Dad's warm blood on my face. Melody screaming when she saw Nate's body being cut from the car.

Zeke's deep sobs when he found Aunty Diana had overdosed after Nate's funeral.

I stared at him for a few moments longer. I had made a mistake.

“I can’t do this.”

My vision went blurry. I took a step back. I had to get out of this house.

“Madeline, what are you doing?”

I pulled hard on the door handles. Nothing. Fuck it. I walked out of the room.

“Madeline,”

I ignored him walking down the hallway to the large glass doors.

“What are you doing?”

“I can’t be here. I can’t do this. I can’t.” I shook my head. My vision blurred. I pulled harder on the door handles

His arm wrapped around my waist, and I hit him. “I can’t do this!” I screamed. “Let go of me.”

I held my chest. Why was it suddenly hard to breathe? I pushed out of his arms, walking to the bedroom.