Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 23897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
“It’s not just about the money. I need Chel to bring me back into the fold. I’ve been outcast from our friends and allies. I need to restore my good name, and Chel is willing to do that for me. As long as she’s compensated.”
“You will hear from us,” Miller says, taking my upper arm and pulling me from the room.
* * *
It’s a long drive back to my house and I’m silent the whole time. I know that I would do anything to save Cookie, and that includes sacrificing myself. I must keep her safe at all costs. I just hope she can forgive me.
Chapter 11
Cookie
I sit on the bed, waiting, but every little noise I hear has my heart jumping. I’m scared that Nathan might come back. I was so sure Frost would have burst in here by now. What if he doesn't know yet?
I have no idea when his mom was going to tell him she kidnapped me. I don’t see how this crazy idea of hers is going to work. For all I know, Frost thinks I ran again. It’s really not that big of a stretch.
I wipe at my cheeks, trying to stop the tears.
Let's say he does agree to marry Chel. Then what? If Frost still wants me, there will be no stopping him, unless they threaten him. I bite my bottom lip as it starts to tremble. The idea of him marrying someone else takes the air out of my lungs, and my heart feels heavy.
I was so stupid. If I hadn't pushed him away in the beginning, I don’t think any of this would have happened. I’m sure Frost would have had a ring on my finger the second I let it happen, and now when I look down at my bare finger, all I feel is regret. If this plan works, I’ll have to see my Frost married to another woman.
Who have I been kidding? All the time I spent running from Frost was pointless. I thought I was trying to protect my heart, but that first day I saw him, I wanted him. I want to be the woman who could get close to him in ways no one else ever could. He’d had me back then already and it wouldn't have mattered if he pressed to be with me or not. He owned my heart from that first moment he lifted his head, and his eyes locked with mine.
I jump when the door to the bedroom flies open and I see Frost’s mother. She’s alone this time, but from the smile on her face I think she’s getting what she wants. I wipe away the rest of my tears because I don’t want to give her the satisfaction of making me cry. The woman is a sociopath, and I think she would enjoy it.
“I think you’re going to make it home in time for Christmas. This year it’s going to be magical.” She’s standing there with a sinister smile, waiting on me to what? Thank her? Yeah, she’s a sociopath.
“You got him to agree?” I ask, wanting to know what’s going on.
“It was easy really.” She waves her hand as if it was no big deal. “They will marry tomorrow. Then you’ll be free. Well, you’ll be free of me. I have no idea what Nathan wants with you, but you’ll be his problem then.” My skin crawls thinking of Nathan touching me.
“I don’t believe you.” I stand up.
“Once I showed him the pictures of you and Nathan, his mind was made up.”
How is that possible? I was pushing Nathan away, but I wouldn't put it past her to do some Photoshop work on them. “I told him I brought you here to have a chat with you and to show you that Nathan wants you back. When I mentioned that Chel misses him, he left to go talk to her.”
Jealousy hits me hard even though I know he wants me. If he wanted Chel, he would have been with her, but I still don’t enjoy the idea of them being around each other at all.
“Lies.” I shake my head.
“I might have thrown in there if he tries to leave Chel and go back to you, the next time I come to see you no one will ever see you again.” The smile on her face grows even bigger.
The truth of what she's saying hits me in the stomach. That would get Frost to stay away from me. “Why are you doing this? I love him. Don’t you want your son to be with someone who loves him?” I plead with her. I know it's not going to work, but I have to try.
“This is how things are done. You're not cut out to be Frost's wife.”
I don’t point out the fact that Miller didn't do what she wanted. I don’t need to draw attention to my sister. She scrunches her nose like she smells something bad.