Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“I won’t be able to do much if you keep this up. Fuck. Fine. Christ.”
She chuckles, lets go of my balls and slips away as I recover myself.
“And when it’s over, we annul the marriage, and I never see you again. That’s the deal.”
When I turn around, I find her seated at the desk writing something on the pad of paper there. “Ophelia—”
“It’s the only way I’ll do this. I’m finished being a pawn.”
“Like I said, you’re not a pawn, not to me.”
She rips the sheet off the pad and brings it over to me along with the pen. “Sign it.”
I take it, read it. It’s a simple contract of sorts confirming that I won’t touch her, and that the marriage will be annulled at a time of her choosing.
“Are you serious?”
“I’ve never been more serious in my life.”
“I’m not sure this would even hold up—”
“Just sign it, Silas.”
“You’re not thinking clearly. You hit your head pretty hard—”
“When you crashed your SUV into the limousine! Sign it or I won’t do it. I’ll take my chances with Ethan.”
I open my mouth to respond, but my phone rings yet again. It’s Nigella’s ring tone and I know she wouldn’t call again unless it’s an emergency.
“Fuck!” I dig my cell out of my pocket. “What is it that cannot fucking wait?” I bark into the phone.
“There was an attack, Silas. An attack in the prison,” Nigella says.
That takes me a minute. “What?” I glance at Ophelia, move a few steps away so she won’t overhear.
“Horatio Hart. He’s in the hospital. He’ll be okay, but I thought you’d want to know.”
“Yeah. Yeah. I’ll call you back in a minute.” I disconnect, then look at Ophelia. She looks angry and confused, but I don’t think she heard what Nigella just said.
“Fine.” I take the pen from her, lay the sheet against the wall, and sign my name. “It’s fine. I need to go.” I walk to the door.
“That’s it? Just like that, you agree?”
“That’s it.” I open the door, already dialing Nigella. “Just like that, I agree.”
“Good. And to be clear, Silas Cruz,” she starts, something in her tone making me stop. “Just so you don’t get the wrong idea, you’re wrong about me only marrying for love because I don’t love you. I never will.”
5
OPHELIA
Istare at the closed door after Silas leaves. The room feels suddenly chillier, and I hug my arms to myself. The log in the wood-burning stove glows red and I go to it, taking another from the basket and setting it onto the fire. I close the door and stand back to watch as it catches, and I can’t help but think about my house, consumed like this log.
Closing my eyes, I shake my head and force myself to draw a deep breath in. It’s time to face the future and stop trying to make sense of a past that doesn’t make sense.
I walk into the small bathroom and close the door behind me. It’s cooler in here. There doesn’t seem to be central heating. I shudder, sit on the edge of the tub, and turn the tap, not sure how much hot water I’ll get but letting it fill up the tub as I glance at my reflection. I look a wreck. Hell, I am a wreck.
The glasses, though, are kind of nice. Big, like I like them. I know how much the lenses cost with my particular prescription, but as soon as the annoying voice of gratitude to Silas rears its traitorous head, I tell it to shut up. He has enough money to buy them. Still, I am grateful he thought of it.
But if he hadn’t, I probably wouldn’t be able to see my way down the aisle, so his motivation is at least a little selfish.
Rummaging through the medicine cabinet, I find a toothbrush still in its packaging as well as toothpaste. I brush my teeth, and by the time I’m finished, the tub is half full and the water pouring from the tap is no longer hot. I switch it off, take off the nightgown and my panties, and slip into the bath. There’s a half-full bottle of shampoo and conditioner. I realize it might be Lourdes’s room, and she’s given it to me as I’ve been recovering.
I wonder why Silas brought me here and didn’t take me elsewhere. Although I guess if there’s a warrant out for his arrest, it makes sense to come somewhere that’s pretty much off grid with impassable roads. But where does he think we’re getting married?
I wash my hair quickly before the water cools, and as the conditioner detangles my curls, I gently lather soap over my body. I’m sore all over, the bottoms of my feet still the worst of it, but it’s not as bad as it was the night I woke up in the hotel room with Ethan.