Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
"I'm going back to school in the next day or two. If I can get away from him I'll get the money and meet you somewhere. The only stipulation is that I need some type of guarantee you won’t hurt him once the deal is done.”
He makes a soft humming noise. "Let's put it this way. As long as you do what you are told, I won't feel the need to take my frustration out on your husband. You be a good girl, and I'll leave him alone."
It's a shit deal all around, but if it lets me fix even a portion of the mess I've made then it's worth it, at least for Sebastian.
A hot tear slides down my cheek, and I angrily swipe it away. "Fine. Like I said, give me a day or two, and I'll be there."
"Well, I have to admit I'm pleased. You know I've missed having you around terribly."
I grit my teeth against his comment. He means he's missed using me as slave labor, to cook, clean, and serve his every need.
"Before we move forward I want to confirm how much you have.”
I stand and tiptoe to the door, peeking around the frame. Sebastian lies in the same spot I left him. Holding my breath, I slowly inch out of the bathroom and into the closet, closing the door behind me.
It only takes a minute for me to find the duffle bag filled with cash. I turn the flashlight on my phone on, and use it so I can find the zipper. Opening the bag, I nearly gasp, realizing there is way more than one hundred thousand dollars in here.
I lift the phone and whisper. "I’ve got one hundred thousand, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to carry it out of the house, let alone up the driveway.”
"Guess you better figure it out before then."
I scan the stacks of cash and a great aching hole opens up in the middle of my chest. I can't steal from Sebastian. Even if it's to save him…. But what other options do I have? My father will kill him. I’m not naive enough to think otherwise.
My fingers and toes tingle, and my stomach coils as anxiety bubbles into that hole, filling to overflow. I have to do this. He'd do anything, be anything, kill anyone to save me if the situations were reversed. He has way more money than this and if it can save him, if I can end this war before it begins then I will.
I lift the phone to my ear again. "We have a deal, then?" This time I don't bother recording. He's not going to say exactly what I need him to in order to incriminate himself. Everything he's said so far can be spun and twisted, especially by someone acting as the Sheriff.
"Yes, we have a deal. But I want one more thing."
Of course he does. He always wants more.
"What?" I don't bother to hide my irritation.
"Watch it, little girl. Don't push me, or I'll make this homecoming even more miserable for you than I already plan to make it. I want one more thing…”
“Okay?”
“Your ring.”
I jerk my gaze down to the gleaming ring on my left hand finger. "My ring, why?"
"It's probably worth another good ten thousand or so, plus, let's call it another layer of commitment on your end. It tells me if you’re really serious about this or not.”
I twist the ring a little with my thumb watching as the stone catches the tiniest bit of light from my phone screen. "Whatever. Two days from now then. I'll text when I have a specific time I can get away."
"I'll be sure to sit by the phone," he says, deadpan.
God, he's such a dick. Can I really turn myself over to him? Why doesn't he kill me and get it over with? The idea I could do so myself had occurred to me after the fourth "this is your fault" text, but I figured he would still go after Sebastian even if I was out of the picture, simply because he can.
"Is that it?" I ask. "No more threatening texts. No more poking at me. Leave me alone, and Sebastian, until I text that I'm ready to come to you."
There's a soft sound through the phone, and then he laughs. "Sure, although I do have to say I feel this is all quite poetic.”
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Nothing really, it's just you’re trading one leash for another, and I find it interesting, especially since you spent most of your life fighting against me and what I wanted for you."
The anger surges up full force and I can't hold it back. "I fought against being beaten and raped by you and Yanov. That is what I fought against. I don't give a shit about making drinks and cleaning toilets. I can handle a lot of things, but it’s the abuse I can't abide."