A burst of emotion rips through me, and I scream out pent up bitterness and frustration, loud enough birds scatter in fright from a tree nearby.
I want to be free more than anything, but this feels all wrong.
It’s not fair. Not right. It’s not so simple as finding the nearest police station and begging for help. How many times have I heard of girls being turned away and unbelieved. Returned to their abusers for an extra bit of cash in their pockets? Back to the criminals, they should be locking up instead of feeding. And I know Blake has “friends” on the inside that will do just that.
I take a step back, knowing it can’t be like this. My escape needs planning. Leaving fate to chance isn’t going to work. I know that.
Just as I’m about to turn around, the roar of a motorcycle rumbles behind me. Whirling around, I spot a lone headlight darting toward me, blinding me as it skids and stops before me.
As the light turns away and I see who it is, my stomach somersaults at a very pissed off Milton. “Are you on a death wish?”
“I…I needed the toilet.” His jaw clenches at my lie.
“Get on the fucking bike, Heidi,” he orders, never having said my name out loud before. “Now.”
Making my way over to him like the obedient bitch I’ve been trained to be, I grab the sleeve of his leather jacket and pull myself up behind him. After securing my arms around his waist, he stiffens, and I wonder why. “You’re lucky I found you and not anybody else. If anyone knew Blake’s girl—”
“I’m not his girl,” I spit icily. “Are you going to tell him?”
“I should.” Panic threatens to tip me off the bike. If Milton tells on me, I’ll be dead. There’s no doubt about it. A bullet will be put straight between my eyes, and Blake will kill Nicole and my parents out of rage. Wipeout my entire bloodline because he’s that sick.
I grab Milton’s sleeve again, and he glances over his shoulder at me. Being this close to him, with moonlight spilling down on us both, I never truly appreciated how…beautiful he is. Almost as if he’s not meant to belong in this world. “Please, Milton, I know you don’t like me, but don’t tell him.”
“Why do you think I don’t like you?” he asks, which I’m not expecting. He’s never really engaged in a conversation with me. I guess we’re both breaking the rules tonight.
“I just know,” I reply, unable to put it into words. The way he looks at me sometimes—like I’m a problem.
“Maybe in a another life…things might’ve been different,” he mumbles. Turning away from me, he revs the engine and takes off. Taking me back to Blake.
Chapter Fourteen
Gabriella visits me early the next morning. It’s unusual and something I expect to be the cherry on top of this disaster of a week.
I tried to refuse to see her when learning of her arrival. After what happened last time, I’d rather avoid her as much as possible. Not that my refusal sat well with Vera, who told me she insisted on seeing me over an important matter.
I should have told her important typically means dramatic in Gabriella’s language.
As I stroll into the cafeteria and spot her sitting at the table wearing the finest ensemble and sparkling like the Eiffel Tower, I want to turn and walk back out. She spots me before I can retreat, waving me over.
Knowing I have no choice but to suffer her annoying presence today, I go over to her, cringing when she assesses me. “You look dreadful. And what happened to your wrists?”
Sitting down, I tug my sleeves down to cover the bandages. “Tried to slit them with a plastic knife at dinnertime.”
Reaching out, I grab the coffee I know she won’t drink and down it. It’s lukewarm and disgustingly bitter, but I need it if I’m going to survive not strangling her to death during this conversation.
“Oh, Heidi,” she says, her eyebrows pulled together irritably. “Don’t be disturbing.”
Her being here bright and early is disturbing me. “I fell off a chair, don’t be dramatic.”
“Ashley is back tomorrow. I will see to it she sees you immediately. You’re getting worse.” Great. Just what I need. “Don’t look so bored. There is a reason for my visit. A serious matter, in fact, as you are invited to the wedding after all.”
My eyes narrow suspiciously. “I thought I was disinvited?”
“Well…” Her face is tight. “Elise wants you there. She’s insisted… And what princess wants, princess gets.” There’s sourness to her tone, and I know it’s because Elise has her daddy wrapped around her finger. Much to Gabriella’s chagrin, as this is one competition she will never win.
As for being invited to the wedding, I can honestly think of nothing worse than attending the event with her ratbag fiancé, Scott.
“Lawrence wants me to make it clear to you that if you ruin the day in any shape or form, that will be the end of it, and you will be on your own.” She pauses before revealing the next bit. “Elise wants you to be her bridesmaid.”
I lean back in my seat. “What?”
“Believe me, I’m just as shocked as you are. But since it’s her big day, it’s imperative that she’s happy. You will be her bridesmaid and tell her you’re delighted that she’s asked you to be part of the wedding.” Funny how she doesn’t want me in her world, yet her stepdaughter does. What a predicament for us both. “It was Scott’s idea. Another reason for you to agree. His family is worth millions.” My back stiffens, but she doesn’t notice my reaction.
Fucking Scott.
Elise’s
