Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 39687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
“You’re either with us or against us.” The pressure on her neck tightened, and she realized he really could kill her. “What is it going to be?”
****
Laura watched as Lucas began to sniff around a tree. She’d gotten up before sunrise and wanted to spend time with her dog. She hadn’t been able to see him much between the fighting and arguing, and of course the wedding. There was no way she could forget her wedding, to the infamous asshole upstairs.
Tucking her hair behind her ear, she folded her arms beneath her breasts and waited as her dog did his business.
She didn’t like Lucas being kept outside, and even though the dog pens were comfortable enough, he was alone and Lucas had always slept in her room, always.
There was no way he was being pushed outside, and she didn’t know where the other dog was Marcus had promised her. She didn’t see him in the pens waiting for her.
“Mrs. Giovanni, you need to return home now,” one of the guards said, approaching her. She noticed his hand was holding the gun at his waistband, ready to draw.
“Why?”
“Mr. Giovanni is expecting you.”
“That’s all?”
“Yes. You must do as he says.”
“No. As you can see, I’m walking my dog.”
“You must come. He is worried about you.”
“No, he’s worried I’ll run. Give yourself a break and stand with me if you’re so worried I’m going to make a break for it.” She had already decided to find a means to escape, and she had to do it before he got her pregnant.
He may have already done the trick.
Pushing those worries to the back of her mind, she waited as Lucas finished his business, and, walking with the guard by her side, they made their way back to the house.
“You must put him in the pens,” the guard said.
“What is your name?”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Giovanni?”
“My name’s Laura. I’m not Mrs. Giovanni.” Hearing the name freaked her out. It made her marriage all the more official, which she didn’t want to do.
“I can’t call you by any other name.”
“I’m giving you permission to do so.”
“It’s not your permission he needs. He has orders, and he must see to them,” Marcus said. “His name or who he is, isn’t important. Leave.”
The guard left quickly without another word.
She turned to see the bane of her existence. His arms were folded.
“You snuck out,” he said.
“What’s the matter? You were worried I left or I managed to get out of bed without waking you.” She wouldn’t admit to him she’d watched him sleep for a good ten minutes, liking the way he looked at peace. She doubted he knew what peace really meant, not in his world.
“How did you do it?”
“I slid out of bed. I wasn’t quiet. You clearly needed the sleep.”
“Were you trying to run?”
“No. If I was going to attempt anything like that, I’d have made it for the front gate. I was walking Lucas.” At his name being called, he lifted up, putting his paws on her thighs, and she reached down, stroking behind his ears, offering him love and comfort. “He’s not staying in the pens.”
“He’s a dog.”
“I don’t care. He’s never been in any pen. I’m not going to start now. If you don’t like it, send me away to a house you don’t keep as a museum.”
“You don’t like my house?”
She stared at him, not really knowing how best to answer him. Did he want the truth or a lie?
“Do you really want the truth?”
“I wouldn’t have asked for it if I didn’t want it.”
“Fine. It’s not a home. It’s a prison. I can’t believe you even bought this place.”
“I didn’t. This is the home given to me by my father. It was a gift for my loyalty to the family. It’ll be a fine home to raise our sons.”
She scrunched up her nose, not wanting to talk about babies or a family.
“I don’t care. Lucas is not like one of your dad’s dogs. He’s my best friend, and he’s staying in the house because he really is a part of this family.” Brushing past him, she had every intention of leaving, but Marcus grabbed her arm, stopping her from going.
“From now on, you don’t get to leave this house.”
She hated how her body reacted to his touch. She wasn’t afraid.
Last night, she had waited for him as he finished the shower, wondering if he would initiate sex again, but he’d taken too long. When she woke this morning, she found herself in his arms, and didn’t know if she’d been the one to initiate it, or Marcus.
She didn’t want to show him any kind of weakness, no matter how big or small. If he thought he had power over her, she knew deep down he’d exploit it, and she couldn’t let it happen.