Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“We can’t stay here,” I blurt out. “We have to run. Get as far away from him as possible.”
“Sienna,” Micah says, reaching for me. “Running isn’t the answer.”
“Why? Because it would mean leaving you?” I hiss, averting his touch. “I told you I didn’t have room in my life for anyone but Ellie, but you didn’t listen, and now,” I choke out. “We have to go. We can’t stay here. I can’t risk him taking her.”
Micah grabs me and pulls me into his arms, refusing to let me go. “I promise we’ll do whatever it takes to keep him away from Ellie, but he already knows about her, and even with my money and resources, she’s on his radar. He won’t stop looking until he finds her.”
His words have my blood turning cold. This can’t be happening. I thought with our mom dead, we would finally have a chance at a safe, normal life, but I should’ve known it wouldn’t be that easy. Everywhere we turn, there’s always someone trying to bring us down.
“Sienna,” Ellie says softly. “Please don’t push Micah away. He loves you, and no matter what happens, you deserve to be loved.”
“Hey,” Micah says to Ellie. “Your sister isn’t the only one who deserves love. You do, too. And as much of a pain in the ass as you are at times, this place wouldn’t be the same without you.” He pulls Ellie into a side hug and kisses her temple. “I love you, kiddo.”
“I love you, too,” Ellie chokes out. “And I love my school and my life and my friends. For the first time, I’m safe and happy and we have a home. I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to run.” She glances at Micah. “Set up a meeting with Eleazar. I want to speak to him.”
“What? No way,” I snap. “No, the man is dangerous!”
“And he’s my bio dad,” she says. “He’s not going to hurt me. If he wanted to do that, he could’ve come after me, but instead, he filed for custody. Please,” she says to Micah, “I want to speak to him.”
Micah nods. “I’ll make it happen.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
MICAH
“We had a deal.” I drop the papers onto Eleazar’s desk, and he leans back, casually lacing his fingers behind his head.
“And I honored it,” he says. “Is your wife’s heart still beating?”
“What will it take for you to leave Ellie alone?”
“Did you know that Arielle and I have been trying to have a baby for the past six years?” he says, ignoring my question. “Rounds of IVF, four miscarriages...The doctors aren’t sure if we’ll ever have a baby of our own.”
“That sucks,” I deadpan. “But in case you aren’t aware, Ellie isn’t a fucking baby.”
“No, but she’s my blood.” He leans in toward me. “I need an heir. Would’ve preferred a boy, but she’ll do. I can always marry her off...”
“She’s not fucking cattle!” I bark. “You can’t barter with her life.”
He shrugs. “Everyone serves a purpose. You’d do better to go along with this. I won’t keep her sister from her. She’ll have to move to Mexico with me, but she can visit.”
As I stare at him for several seconds, knowing he’s dead fucking serious and nothing I say or do is going to sway him any other way, it hits me like a freight train at max speed—there’s only one way to protect Sienna and Ellie.
“You’re leaving.”
“What?” Sienna gasps.
“No!” Ellie cries.
“You don’t have a choice. Eleazar is not going to stop until he has you. And he doesn’t just want custody. He wants to own you.”
“Let me talk to him,” Ellie begs, while Sienna stands frozen in her place, tears welling in her eyes because she understands the implications of what I’m saying: This is the end for us.
“It’s not happening, El. There is no talking to him. You guys have to run now. I have the money and resources to make you disappear, but it has to be before Eleazar realizes what’s happening.”
“Micah,” Sienna sobs, but she doesn’t argue because I promised to protect them, and she knows that’s exactly what I’m doing.
“Go pack a bag. Make sure you have all the essentials since you won’t be able to stop for anything.”
“No!” Ellie barks. “I’m not running.”
I step up to her and put a hand on her shoulder. “Yes, you will run. Your sister has fought tooth and nail to keep you safe, and I’ll be damned if all of that’s for nothing. You are her entire world, and the only way to protect you from Eleazar’s clutches is by running.”
“What about you?” Ellie asks softly. “Will you come with us?”
I glance toward Sienna, whose tears track down her cheeks even harder. “No, I have to stay here. I have my parents and brother. I need to keep an eye on things, keep my ear to the ground for what Eleazar is planning.”