Page 63 of Ever After
I can’t believe I’m hearing this shit. I thought she was smarter than this. “So, he kidnaps you, and you see it as love? You know that’s some serious Stockholm Syndrome shit, right?”
She squints her eyes at me, trying to rein in her temper. I know the look well. It’s the same look she used to give me when we were kids and I annoyed her. It’s her way of saying, “shut up unless you want me to hit you.”
“No. It’s not. I hated what he did to me, and I hate how I ended up in this situation, but he wants to take Chris down just as bad as I do. We’ve been waiting for this opportunity for so long. You getting involved is what made it possible.”
“How did Marco get into this, anyway? How did he end up working with Chris?”
“Blackmail.” Her tone turns serious. “If I tell you this, Grayson, you have to promise me he won’t do any jail time. He’s a good man, but he got caught up with some bad people. He just wants to get out of this as bad as I do. I’m trusting you on this one.”
“I don’t know if I can promise that.”
“Then, I don’t know if I can answer any more of your questions.”
She feeds me in silence for another couple of minutes, both of us keeping our eyes trained on Finley in the other room, blissfully unaware of us. Chris is cuddled around her again, and she seems to drift off to sleep.How can she be so calm right now?
“How does she do it?” My voice is flat as I ask.
“Do what?” Marco asks, walking into the room, kissing Sarah on the top of her head. She smiles up at him and pats his hand on her shoulder.
“How can she lay there and sleep? She’s about to have her life ripped from her, and she’s so relaxed.”
“Not without the help of Xanax. The water bottles he gives her are laced with the drug. It keeps her calm, and then he’s staying with her, providing comfort. It’s what we do with all the trainees.”
“So, is that what you did with Sarah? Drug her and pretend?” I deadpan. My anger ripples through my body again. Every nerve ending is electrified, and I’m itching to break someone’s neck.
“No, like she said, I could keep her calm on my own.”
Sarah looks up at him, and the twinkle in her eye shows me just how much she’s in love with him. He looks down at her with such admiration, and at this moment, I believe every word she’s been telling me.
You can’t fake a look like that.
Chapter Thirty-One
Finley
I stir from my sleep, and my stomach gurgles. Reaching for the bottle of water, Chris pulls it from my grasp.
“No, sweetheart. I need you to eat something first.” He motions toward the sandwich on the tray, and I pick it up greedily. I take large bites and barely swallow before I shove more in. “Whoa, slow down. You’ve got some time; they won’t be arriving for another hour or so.”
I swallow the food in my mouth and look up at him. “What about Grayson?”
“He’s been taken care of, don’t worry.”
Taken care of?What does that mean? My heart beats a frantic tune, and my breathing hitches. “Is he still alive?”
He leans back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest. He watches me, appraises me for a few seconds before answering. “He’s going to bring me a lot of money.” His smile turns cruel. “Now, finish up.” He hands a new water bottle to me. I wish this one had the stuff that makes me drowsy, but this water tastes pure, which means I’m going to be completely coherent for tonight.
I struggle to finish swallowing the sandwich. It sits like a lead weight in the bottom of my stomach. I push the plate aside and take his hand as he helps me stand. He walks me into the bathroom and turns the water on, waiting for it to get warm. I’m already naked, but he strips out of his clothing, and the two of us step into the tub. The water spray is warm and soothing on my tight muscles. I close my eyes and tilt my head toward the stream, lavishing in the feel of it.
I feel his hands on me and choose to ignore him. He lathers the soap up around my breasts and slides his hand down my stomach, resting his fingers on my sensitive clit. I buck back against him, and he chuckles in the crook of my neck as he plants a gentle kiss on my pulse point. He’s so gentle with me when he wants to be. Times like this, he’s not so bad.
His voice softens. “I hate the fact that I’ll be losing you in another few hours.”
My throat burns as I blink back the tears trying to escape. It’s hard to get the words out, but I force them. “Then, don’t sell me. You can stop this, all of this. You can leave this life behind, stop trafficking.”
“You would never stay with me. You’d try to run, and then where would I be?” His fingers dig into my tense shoulder muscles, and I roll my head forward, giving into his touch—giving into his kisses that feel so kind and loving.
Turning to face him, I press my hand against his chest and lock eyes with him. “If you stop this, I won’t run. If you keep me and don’t sell Grayson, we can be together. Anything you want, I’ll give it to you. Whatever you want.”