“You seem to forget who calls the shots here,” he snarled, moving so quickly I couldn’t even think. He whipped his hand behind me and grabbed the top of my neck, fingers digging in, making me gasp from the shock of the pain shooting down my neck and spine. I should have seen it coming—it was where he’d always grabbed me, because it was easiest to hide bruises with my hair when I was showing so much skin in the pageant. Pulling my face closer to his, he whispered, “You’re going to get in my fucking car.”
All I could think about were the babies. I didn’t give a damn about myself, but if anything happened, if he hurt me, he could hurt them. I couldn’t allow that. Tears rolled down my cheeks despite how brave I thought I would be if this situation ever occurred. It was occurring, and I couldn’t fight him. I could barely lift my legs off the freaking ground. I just nodded, because I had no words. I had nothing inside me. The man I loved hated me for lying to him, the babies in my belly were all I had left, and this man who was nothing more than a spoiled bully had hunted me down.
He kept his hand on my neck as he led me to the passenger side of his car, only letting go to open the door before shoving me inside. The second I was in his car that smelled of Giorgio Armani, I had a contraction that had me gasping in even more pain. I was still breathing heavily by the time he got in.
He raised his eyebrows at me, saying, “Your water isn’t going to break in my car or anything, is it?”
“You… are such… a dick,” I ground out between breaths.
“Tell me something I don’t know, babe.” He laughed, starting his car. I snarled at him, making him chortle even more. “You always acted a lot tougher than you actually are. I was wearing you down, breaking you in. It would have only taken me a few more months to have you exactly as I wanted you.”
“Where are you taking me?” I demanded when the contraction subsided, ignoring his commentary even though it was true. If Delia hadn’t seen those bruises, if she hadn’t talked me into running, I would have broken. I had been so close to that point.
“We’re going home, of course.”
My heart stopped. Home. I couldn’t go home. Not ever.
“I’m not going home. You are not taking me home, Jared,” I screeched at the top of my lungs.
He cringed away from me.
“Shut the hell up, Chloe,” he yelled back. “You’re going home to your mama.” He glared at the road, hands squeezing the steering wheel. “You made a real mess of things, running off like you did. It’s been pure hell putting on a fucking act, pretending I’m looking for my lost love. Had to make sure no one knew about any of the women I’ve been screwing. Worst three years of my life.”
He shook his head, grimacing at me. It couldn’t have been that bad. He’d been screwing every freaking girl under the sun while we were engaged anyway, so he was plenty used to the lifestyle. It probably even made it more exciting for him.
“Then Rita was nice enough to send me and your parents that picture of you with that asshole. Fucking knocked up,” he spat. I flinched away from him. “We had to pay her a pretty penny to delete the photo. Can’t have anyone knowing you were off fucking other guys while you were missing.”
“And yet you’re taking me home?” I deadpanned. “It’s pretty obvious I’m pregnant, Jared. You aren’t going to be able to hide my belly.”
“You always were fucking stupid.” He glanced in my direction, mouth set in a hard line. “But don’t you worry your pretty little head about it. We’ve got it all figured out.”
My stomach sank even further at that, dread filling me. “They sent you?” I asked, already knowing the answer. Of course they’d sent him. They wouldn’t come for me themselves—they wouldn’t waste their time coming all the way to Tennessee to fetch their daughter.
“My dad didn’t want anything to do with your family once he saw the picture. Refused to let me come get you. But, as you know, everyone can be swayed for a price.”
The truth in that statement made my blood run cold. They’d paid back what had been given to ensure our engagement in the first place. Probably even more.
The thought of going back to them, to that world, made me want to die. Whatever they had “planned” for me, for my babies, I couldn’t allow it. I had to find a way to prevent it. But I was certain if he got me within the confines of that plantation, there would be no escaping a second time.
No matter what, I had to stay in Tennessee. I had finals the next week, I had a job, I had all my stuff for the twins at my house, including my Zofran pump stuff.
I only had a seven-hour drive to figure out what the hell I was going to do.
17
Kai
The airport was crowded as hell. It was probably a stupid idea to fly there without her even knowing I was coming. But this would be my last chance to figure something out with her. Once I was on duty, I wouldn’t be able to travel much.
I had to try. Of course I cared about her, even if I was still pissed. Even if I didn’t really know her past. She was still Kate in my mind, still the person carrying our twins. She was a spitfire, a control freak, a passionate lover, and I loved her. I might have never said it to her face, since I
