Page 93 of Reckless Dynasty (Knight's Ridge Empire 9)

I’m not quite so keen despite just how loudly my stomach is growling, and it’s not until he finally sits and begins eating that I follow suit, figuring that he’s not about to poison himself after setting all this up.

“This house looks wonderful,” Mum says.

“I’ve been having it remodelled for weeks,” he confesses, lifting his first taco to his mouth. “I missed home so much. I missed you both so much,” he says, reaching for Mum’s hand and holding it tightly. “It’s all I’ve been able to think about. Us being back together.”

“We missed you too, darling,” Mum purrs like a good little wife.

Her act turns my stomach, and I can’t help but wonder if there’s a very good reason why she’s so good at it.

She’s told me time and time again that she’s loved him with all her heart, and I believe her, but I can’t help but wonder if there’s so much more to their relationship, possibly more than she even realises.

He stares at her with hunger in his eyes, and as much as the idea that hits me disgusts me, it gives me the only hope I’ve had in days.

If she could distract him, use that weakness he has for her against him, it could give us the window we need to find help, to gain the upper hand, to escape.

“It’s so nice to see that smile on your face again, Mum,” I add, playing along with the charade.

Jonas’s eyes light up.

“I always knew we’d be back together.” He grins widely at her as I force myself to eat. I’m starving, but I’m also worried that the second this hits my stomach, it’s going to immediately come back up again.

“I’m so sorry about everything you’d been through while I’ve been away,” he says, almost sounding genuine. “But everything is going to be okay. We have everything we could possibly need. And where we’re going… they’ll never find us.”

Ice slowly forms around my heart. We can’t allow him to follow through on this plan. We can’t end up somewhere random. Not only will they never find us, but we’ll never be able to get out.

“Everything is planned,” he says, pushing his chair back and walking out to the hall.

My eyes collide with Mum’s, and immediately, I see that she’s on the same page as me.

‘Let me help us,’ she mouths as Jonas rummages through something just outside the door.

Scanning the room, I look for anything in touching distance that I can make use of.

His need to mimic our house has done me some favours. There’s a heavy vase on the unit that I’m sure would do some damage, although it’s not like I can really hide that up my shirt. But sitting on the kitchen counter is a knife block.

Deciding it’s worth the risk, I jump out of my chair and pull the smallest one free.

Her eyes watch me with concern as my heart jackhammers in my chest and fingers curl around the cool metal of the weapon.

“Ah ha.” Jonas’s deep voice booms through the air as he finds what he’s looking for, and my arse hits the chair just as he steps back inside. “Here we go,” he says, dropping three passports onto the table. “Everything we need for a clean escape.”

Bile burns up my throat as I tuck the knife up my sleeve.

“Are these new?” Mum asks innocently.

“Sure are. New. Fake. No one will know we’ve slipped out of the country until it’s too late.”

“You really have thought of everything,” Mum mutters.

He beams at her praise like a little kid, and I can’t help but shake my head, disgust for this abusive, violent man making it hard to breathe.

“I’m so excited to have you back.” Mum smiles up at him like he hung the moon, and I swear his chest swells with happiness.

How fucking deluded is this sick prick?

“We need a photo,” he declares.

“A photo?” I blurt.