Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 91560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Get it together. I need to—quickly, or else my heart is going to burst out of my chest and splatter blood all over these expensive sheets.
Once the sink shuts off, Tucker pokes his head back into the room. “I’m gonna take a shower now. Care to join?” His eyes darken as they crawl over me. I’m not even sure how he can think that way after last night. My body is still recovering.
Thinking of the phone, I shake my head. “I should call home,” I tell him with an unhappy sigh. “I know he’s wondering what happened.”
This time, his entire face darkens and his skin flushes. “You sure you don’t want me around for this?”
Do not. Do not be too grateful. It would be so easy to fall into the trap of reading into his actions. I can’t do that to myself. “No, it’s better if I’m alone.”
He doesn’t look convinced, but he backs up and closes the bathroom door. I wait until he’s got the shower running before picking up the phone and placing the last call I want to make.
“Finally,” Dad snarls. “Why can’t you pick up a phone? What the hell took you so long to call me back? And where are you?” The questions fly so fast, I barely have time to process one before he almost shouts another. So he’s in the mood I would’ve expected.
“I stayed with a friend last night,” I tell him. “After I did what you wanted. But I’m sure you’ve heard all about that by now.”
“Yes, as a matter of fact. I did hear all about it.”
Then why does he sound so upset? Like he just spat something bitter out of his mouth. “Okay. So what’s the problem?”
“For one thing, the money you brought in isn’t enough. Not even close.”
Dread dances down my spine, finally coming to rest low in my gut so it can spread a gross, sick feeling. When is it ever going to be enough? “I was there when you and Lucian talked about it. You knew how much money you were supposed to get out of this. How are you surprised now?”
“Don’t you talk to me that way,” he warns, and maybe I would feel even slightly intimidated if we were face-to-face. He kind of loses some of his fearfulness when we’re on the phone.
“It’s an honest question,” I tell him, glad he can’t see me chewing my lip and shifting my weight from one foot to the other once I stand and pace in front of the bed. “I heard you guys talk about amounts. What, did you not think Lucian would hold up his end of the bargain? Did you think he would give you all the money?”
“Don’t you worry about what I thought,” he barks. “The fact is, the cut I received is not enough.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” And extremely grateful to Lucian. I mean, he’s not a prince, and he’s certainly not a hero, but he upheld his end of the bargain. He could’ve gone behind my back, fucked me over, and made last night pointless for me.
“You can keep your sarcasm,” he snarls. “And be glad you’re not here in front of me at this moment, or else I might have to shut that smart mouth of yours.”
I sort of want to tell him to stop wasting his time with the empty threats, but I also don’t want to encourage him to make good on them at some point. I do still have to go home eventually—I have nothing here. “I don’t know what to tell you, Dad. I signed an agreement, and Lucian made good on it. I guess if you have any problems, you need to take it up with him.”
“I have a better idea that won’t involve him at all.”
The sudden positive note in his voice makes me more sure than ever I’m in deep trouble. If he’s suddenly happy and feeling positive, that only means bad news for me.
“What is it?” I ask before holding my breath, bracing myself for the answer.
“You’ll marry Clark.”
I am going to throw up. I might never stop. That’s probably a better plan than going through with what Dad has in mind. “You can’t think I’m going to do that. I already told you—”
“And you can’t honestly think I give a shit what you think about it!” he barks. “Goddamnit, Maya! For some reason, you’ve got the idea in your head that this is optional. That you have a say. It is not. You do not.”
He means it, too. How can he mean it? How does he think he’s going to get away with this? “You can’t just make somebody marry somebody else, you know.”
“That’s what you think. I can do whatever I want to, because you belong to me. Do you understand? I don’t care what age you are. You’re my daughter, and you are going to marry who I say you’re going to marry, and you’re going to help me make this right. Otherwise,” he adds with a nasty chilling laugh, “you can pay me back every cent I’ve ever spent on you. School, clothes, that car you drive, everything. And if you’re so dead set on being independent, you can start paying rent, too. One way or another, I’m getting this money.”