Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 136731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Look at me.
He continues to avoid my gaze, speaking in clinical directness. “You’ll still be my wife, in name. Granted all the protection that comes with that. But I’m done. You need to bounce.”
Look at me.
“Why are you doing this?” My rational tone abates, only to be replaced with sheer confusion. “Was it something I did?” My panic rises to new extremes as I huff out a shaky breath and try to reason with him. “You said I didn’t have to be afraid of you.” My panic turns to anger, as I cry, “That you’d stab me in the fucking front, Julius!”
My body begins to tremble in the leather seat.
He can’t do this!
But something tells me his mind is already made up on this matter.
Look at me, you fucking coward!
His eyes remain on the road ahead as he shakes his head lightly, his eyes closing for a moment. And I’ve had it.
“Look at me, goddamn it!” My shriek almost rattles the windows of the big, black SUV.
He takes in a deep breath and finally turns to face me. His eyes glacial, he mutters, “Get out of the car.”
“No,” I tell him, my manner one of disbelief.
There is no way he’s getting me out of this car. He’ll have to drag me out.
“Get out of the car, Ana.” His tone is deceptively calm.
“No!” I yell, my panic turning to fear.
Why is this happening?
Slamming his fist down on the steering wheel so hard that the horn blares into the open night, the veins in his neck bulge, as he roars, “Get out of the fucking car!”
I shake my head fervently, watching him pant in frustration, his lip curling. My quiet voice trembles. “No. No, I’m not going. I want to stay with you.” I begin to cry. “Please,” I beg on a shaky whisper. “Please, Julius. Don’t make me go. I want to be with you. Just you.”
My fear turns to cold, hard dread when he exits the car, moving around to the passenger side, my side. I frantically look for the locking mechanism, but can’t see a damn thing in the dark.
The door at my side opens an inch, and I let out a gasp when Julius reaches for me. I fight to save myself, gripping the door handle and pulling hard, attempting to close the door, but his hands get in the way. Panicked, I shout a broken, “You said you’d never leave me. You said it was you and me. You and me!” The tears come hard and fast. This is really happening. My throat thick with emotion, I choke out, “Oh, God, please don’t leave me, Julius. I need you.”
He grips my arm and yanks hard, but I hold onto the seat, and all that manages to leave the vehicle is one of my shoes. He pulls at me, and growls, “Let go.”
“You’re all I’ve got.” My heart continues to race, and my vision blurs as big fat tears trail my cheeks. I clutch at the grab handle that sits above my head, one foot in the car, the other out.
His arm comes around my waist, and we scuffle momentarily, the sounds of our struggle echoing into the darkness. But my foot slips out of my shoe, launching me backward and out of the car. I fall into a heap onto the gravel at the side of the road with an unladylike screech, my thigh aching as the small jagged stones cut through my black yoga pants. I hiss out in pain and try to regain my composure, but it’s too late. Julius turns and walks away as if he doesn’t even care. And that’s where I’ve fucked up.
At one point, he did.
Without looking back, he moves around to the driver side and gets back into the car, locking the doors behind him.
My mind is a mess. Reaching up, I grab a fistful of my hair in bewilderment and close my eyes, muttering, “This isn’t happening. I’m dreaming. This is not happening.” Tears stream down my face and my chest heaves as I fight to take in a full breath through my body-wracking sobs.
When the low hum of the passenger window being opened sounds, my eyes shoot open and a small sliver of hope shines.
A black duffle is thrown out the window, along with my other shoe.
Julius stares unblinking, before stating, “You’re free, Ana. Fly away.” His gaze darkens, eyes hooding. “Fly far away from here.”
My arms come around me, and I hold myself tight in the cool air. Instead of pleading, I open my mouth and out comes heartbreak. My voice small and broken, I confess a hoarse, “I love you.”
But the window is already closing, cutting off my declaration.
The car switches into gear, and when I move to rush toward it, my foot catches a stone, and I let out a pained gasp, falling to my knees in the dirt. The SUV moves away with such speed that gravel sprays beside me, and I have to raise my hand to protect my face from the stray pebbles being launched like missiles as the wheels spin for a second before the SUV takes off, screeching down the road as Julius regains control of the vehicle.