Page 46 of Coercion

We sit in silence on the journey back. Preston flicks through his phone, replying to messages and takes a few calls. I don’t speak. I stare out the window taking in the unfamiliar sights of this new city as it whizzes by.

It’s so bright. Every street seems to have flashing advertisements and the entire place is buzzing like it’s built from gold.

For a second, my hand wraps around my neck, remembering that diamond necklace my parents gifted me. Levi stole that too. I don’t even know if he still has it or if he had it taken from the setting and sold along with the others he got from our mines.

Maybe if I ask nicely Preston will buy me one. I glance at him, seeing the concentration on his face as he responds to something.

He’s so serious.

I like that about him. In fact, I think now that I’m understanding him a little better, I think I’m starting to actually like him as a person. Sure, under that beautiful exterior I know he’s just as deadly as Levi but he’s more controlled too, he doesn’t fly off the handle for no reason, he doesn’t hurt me just for the sheer amusement of it. With Preston, I don’t feel like I’m constantly waiting for him to go on the attack.

When we pull up to the house, he gets out before walking around, opening my door, and holding his hand for me to take. He’s acting like a perfect gentleman. The perfect husband. Yeah, I think my father would have liked him too, though perhaps he’d not be too amused at the whole tracker in the arm situation.

Inside, Sidney is stood waiting for us. He gives a small courteous incline of his head as we approach.

“Your things have arrived.” He says.

Preston looks at me and I frown.

“What…?” I begin.

“Mr Holtz had one of his men deliver them an hour ago.” Sidney states.

My things? What the fuck? I follow Preston though to where it’s all been placed and there’s a lot of it. Bags that is. I take a step forward, opening one up and a sleeve of some fine fabric slides out. It’s not mine - but I knew that before I even opened the bag.

“Do you want to unpack and go through it?” Preston asks.

I think I’m too dumbfounded to reply and he takes my silence as a yes, leaving me to it.

Slowly I start pulling things out, shaking my head. It’s all fine clothing, all way too old a style for me, and some isn’t even in my size. Did Levi do this? Did he order this all to be bought? For what cause, to pretend that he took care of me, to pretend that I wasn’t as a good as a slave in that house?

I shudder, wondering if my new husband will believe this, if he’ll think Levi was in fact a good guardian all these years.

In one of the bags something vibrates. I rifle through, pulling out a phone and see the message that flashes up.

‘Little whore’

My stomach twists. There’s no sender’s name but I know who it is. Who sent it.

Another message appears. I scan the contents realising that this is part of Gunnar’s plan isn’t it? It’s how he gets to me, how he ensures I do exactly what he wants.

Except, he can’t make me do this. He can’t physically force me to do anything anymore.

I let out a little laugh as I realise how powerless that bastard now is. He thought planting me here would set them up, thatthey’d make their moves and I’d be the snake in the Morelli camp.

But I’m not a snake.

I’m not their creature. Their little puppet.

All this time he thought he’d beaten me into submission, that he made me the perfect spy and yet he didn’t even stop to consider that the moment I got free of his clutches, he would lose all his power over me.

I turn the phone off, creep out of the room, I don’t want Preston to find this and think I’m helping them. I don’t want to run the risk of him thinking I’m a traitor.

In the library, I grab the first book I can, the copy of Huckleberry Finn. In a way it feels poetic to hide this phone behind it, like my father is somehow protecting me from all the shit I’m now turning my back on.

I place the phone flat against the wall then put the book back. No one would ever know it’s there. Hopefully it can stay there until I figure out a better way to dispose of it. I don’t want to risk putting it in the trash. I don’t want to risk anyone finding it.

I leave my supposed belongings where I found them. For all I know Levi has bugged them and I’d rather see them burnt than still in this house. Upstairs, Preston has already ordered the walk in wardrobe to be reorganised so half the space is now mine.