Page 128 of Marks of Rebellion

"In ten days, you will attend a dinner party with Carlos. You will not disappoint him, nor me. Do you understand?"

I turn to her. "No. I... I'm not ready to go out."

"Not today. But in ten days you will. If you do not act appropriately, you will be back in the straitjacket and be sent immediately to the asylum. Do you understand?"

My knuckles turn white from how hard I'm clenching my fists.

I should end it now.

I could jump.

I would come rescue you... I would save you, and he would be dead. Hunter's deep voice once again both soothes me and pains me.

I look up. "How do I have to act?"

She tilts her head, and her eyes become slits. "I don't need to waste my time on that. You know what is expected. You've done it before."

I've done it before.

She rises. "Take a shower. Fix yourself up. Get used to being the lady Carlos deserves. Lunch and dinner will be served here on the balcony or inside. Tomorrow we will discuss leaving the bedroom."

"You're leaving?" I don't know why I ask her. I don't like her, but she freed me, so she's better than Esther.

Don't fall for that. She's on Carlos's payroll.

"Do you know what my job is, Vanessa?"

I shake my head. "No."

She puts a lock of my hair between her fingers, rubs them together, then drops it. "I'm the top therapist in Belize. Do you know how I got to the top?"

"No."

"I figured out what people want. Then I helped them realize it's more important than hanging on to past demons."

My gut flips.

Carlos is a demon. That's not something I'll ever forget.

She steps closer and pets the side of my head.

I shake as she does it, but I'm too scared to step aside.

"Whatever happened in the past is over. Your future is all that matters." She leans into my ear. "That man you were with, the one you cheated on Carlos with, he's dust. Forget about him, because Carlos isn't going to allow you to pine over him."

I freeze, and my blood pounds in my ears.

How does she know about Hunter?

Carlos knows? Oh God, he'll make me pay for it.

Hunter is dust? No, he can't be dead. Please don't be dead.

"Oh, and Santiago won't be at the dinner party. Whatever you told him when he captured you, you don't have to worry about it unless, of course, he told anyone who's still alive."

A new fear washes over me. I had forgotten about Santiago.

She steps back and smiles. "Move forward, Vanessa. The ghosts of the past aren't just whatever Carlos did to you. You betrayed him. I suggest you work on getting back on his good side, instead of continuing to live in pain."