Page 13 of Threads That Bind Us

I nod, afraid to trust my own voice, finally lifting my eyes to meet his. His gaze is searching, and whatever he sees on my face causes him to knit his eyebrows together. Concern flits across his face, and this time I do flinch when he reaches to touch my face. His expression is so open, so clear, that I can almost feel the sting from the rejection.

What the fuck does he have to feel concerned about? He’s the one in control of this situation—of my life—right now. My chest tightens as the anger I’m so terrible at controlling crawlsup my throat, burning me from the inside out like it’s always done.

“Gwen, what’s—” Charlie starts, but I cut him off by yanking my hand from under his.

“Just tell me what you want me to do,” I whisper stiffly, trying to tamp my fury down and not make this worse for myself. Charlie balks, seemingly stunned by my reaction. I want to ask him if the other people he blackmails acquiesce more easily.

His eyes search my face, and I have no idea what he could be looking for. Even if he doesn’t know me at all, I’ve given him enough information about my dedication to Ana that he must know I’d never risk leaving her helpless.

“Why don’t we find somewhere more private to discuss,” he says, his voice tilting at the end of the statement, almost framing it like a question. “I would prefer to handle this privately.”

Of course he would. I know I shouldn’t leave this bar, that I shouldn’t be alone with him, that nothing good happens at secondary locations. But, predictably, my rage is eclipsing all logic. He’s already got all of the leverage; what’s a bit more?

“Fine,” I agree, grabbing my bag and reaching for my wallet. He reaches out to stop me, but I yank my arm away before he can touch me.

“I covered your tab,” he says quietly, cocking his head at me slightly.

I suppress a roll of my eyes. He can’t possibly think he’s being chivalrous right now.

“I can pay for my own drinks,” I quip, not sure why I’m fighting this. His gaze softens as he observes my reactions, probably trying to calm me.

“I offered you marriage, Gwen, and I intend to show you what it would be like to be my wife. I cover your tab, I hold your door, I support you in any and every way.” His eyes are sodark, so serious, and the conflict of emotions in my chest is disorienting. If he’s just going to coerce me into marrying him, why would he act like this?

“Archaic,” I mumble, though I want to say much more. A small smile pulls at the corner of his lips, and I wish it wasn’t so pretty.

“Maybe, but to be fair, there would be expectations of you as well.”

My heart stutters unpleasantly, nausea turning my stomach at his words. Of course, I just told him all about Ben’s offer, and now he’s got ideas of his own.

He offers me his arm as we stand, but I start toward the exit on my own. If I’m about to walk into a nightmare, I’ll do it on my own.

Chapter 6

Charlie

Something’s wrong. She’s sitting in the back seat next to me, but she’s shrunk herself so much it feels like there’s a chasm between us. I can see little white half moons where she’s dug her nails into her own arms, clutching herself tightly.

I replay the way she almost looked hopeful when I gave my offer. Shocked, yes, but there was a little spark in her eyes, like she could see the potential the same as I could.

But she completely shut down as soon as I laid her watch on the bar. All the anger and hope and wit I’d seen completely vanished.

“I disposed of his body properly,” I say, jarring us out of the tense silence. Her anxiety is so thick in the air that it nearly kicks in my ingrained instincts to push, to harm, to get her to break.

But I don’t want that. Even more than being desperate to have her hear out my plan, something about her turns off that need in me. The last thing on the planet I want is for her to yield to me, and it’s a strange sensation.

She says nothing, her lips pressed together sotightly I’m afraid she’s going to split the skin with her teeth. I try to soften my expression.

“My team erased the security footage in the strip club as well. No one even filed a missing person’s report on him.” Her brows are furrowed together, and she’s breathing deeply through her nose.

“Why didn’t you come find me right away?” Her voice is soft and tight, like she’s terrified of my reaction. I don’t really understand her question, but maybe talking will calm her down.

“I never looked for you. I found some basic information about Bryan to ensure no one would come looking for him or his body, but I never tried to find you. Seeing you tonight was—” I stop myself just short of sayingfate. “It was a coincidence.”

She scoffs, the sound too shaky to be unphased.

“So what? You hold on to all of this information just in case you stumble upon the girl you want to blackmail?” she demands, anger leaching through her fear.

Blackmail? Is that what she thinks this is? That I’m going to use what I know about her to what? Force her to marry me?