Page 45 of Cruel Betrayal

Just a little while longer.

I keep the words playing on repeat in my mind as I collect the papers from the counter and sit down at the table. Shuffling through the papers, I take a look at the course list and thesyllabus for each one, going through them until I think I have a good idea of what I’m going to be doing.

As I make notes on what I’ll need to buy, there’s a tightness in my chest that starts to ease.

Maybe I don’t have to go to business school and lose myself to a job I hate.

A little bit of excitement starts to build as I search through the course information, trying to take it all in.

I’m going to be starting from the beginning all over again. I’m going to walk into some of those classes, and I might be the oldest in the room.

I might not have anyone I know there. Which means, I don’t have to deal with the people connected to my family if I don’t know anyone in the class. And that’s a good thing, I think.

This could be the chance I need to do something for myself, even if there is someone else holding me hostage in my own life.

I go through the papers, starting on some of the textbook learning. The sun shining through the bars on the windows starts to fade, shifting into night.

The front door opens just as I’m closing the textbook to get up and start making something to eat for dinner.

Ezra steps into the kitchen, wearing a dark shirt and jeans that hug his body in all the right ways. He looks good, and I’m sure he knows it.

Hell, I bet he’s the kind of man who has women falling at his feet.

And for some reason, that thought doesn’t sit quite right with me.

Ezra glances at the spread of papers and textbooks in front of me, nodding to the laptop. “Already starting to make some notes?”

“Yes,” I admit begrudgingly.

He smirks and leans against the counter. “Good. We’ve got tomorrow and Sunday, before you’re back in school, to move into our new apartment, then.”

“Excuse me?” My hands curl into fists, nails biting into my palms. "I'm not going to be moving anywhere with you. If you don’t want to keep me in this damn cabin, then let me go back to my own apartment.”

He shakes his head. “We need somewhere fresh where the two of us can start over. I want you to see the possibilities of what we could be together, and I think you’re having a hard time coming to terms with that right now. A new place is what we need.”

“I don’t think so.” I keep some distance between us, noting the dangerous glimmer in his eyes.

I don’t know what happened in the hours he was gone, but something seems to be bothering him. It’s clearly made him more unstable than normal.

“You don’t get a choice in the matter.” His tone is low and dangerous. “You wouldn’t believe how long I went back and forth for. I’ve thought about every angle of giving you freedom, and this is the best that I can come up with for now. School. But you’re going to live with me.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then you’re going to stay locked up in this cabin.” He stalks closer to me, fingers brushing over my racing pulse.

My mouth goes dry as I stare up at him.

He’s serious. If I don’t agree to this, he’s going to keep me locked away in this cabin. He doesn’t have any intention of ever handing me back over to my family.

Biting the inside of my cheek, I nod.

I just have to be able to get to Haven at school. Once I get to her, everything should get better.

Even though I’m going to be leaving this cage to lock myself right back into the original one.

But I don’t have any other choice. Do I?

It is not fun being locked up with Ezra, but at least he listens to me, and is forcing me to follow my dreams.