Page 59 of He Will Come for Me

Phoenix pushes me into his SUV, follows behind me, and closes the door. Before I can respond, we’re taking off. “Did you know that?” I ask him.

He doesn’t respond. Instead, he takes his phone out and begins texting someone. “Phoenix?” He still ignores me. I want to hit him or shake him to make him answer me.

“Phoenix?” I try again, my voice desperate. His head raises, and he looks in my direction with a bored look.

“Did you know?” I ask.

“I did.” Tears burn my eyes at his confession. He knew. Yet he bought me and had sex with me in front of all those people.

“I thought…” My voice cracks. “I thought you were saving me.” I flick at a tear that falls. He leans across the space, getting in my face.

“This is a lesson not to trust anyone. Even me.” I bite my tongue so hard I’m afraid it might start bleeding.

“Noted,” I reply and turn away as I stare out the window. So, what will he do with me now? I was sure he was saving me. I’ll never be that naïve again. From this day forward, I’ll be on guard. Always.

When we pull up to his house, I instantly hate it. It’s as hard and cold as what I grew up in. At least there it was mine. Here I’m a prisoner. The driver pulls into the garage. When he parks, Phoenix opens his door, grabs my elbow, and pulls me out. Iwant to punch him or kick him in the nuts, instead I let him pull me out. I’ll play the long game here. He will regret the day he ever thought of buying me.

“So, why did you buy me?” I ask as he pulls me through a door that leads into a laundry room. The outside of the house looks like an old plantation home. It’s beautiful, but definitely not my style.

“You don’t want to know,” he answers, as he leads me to the kitchen. There’s a man in the kitchen making something that smells really good. He turns toward us, his face falling slightly when he sees me. “Phillip, this is McKenzie. McKenzie, this is Phillip. I asked him to make a late-night snack for you.”

I want to protest, but the thought of Phillip doing that just for me makes me nod in appreciation. “Thank you.” He places a plate with a bowl on the table. It has a grilled cheese sandwich and some tomato soup. A knot forms in my stomach that slowly makes its way up to my throat. My mom used to make that for me when I was a kid. It was my favorite feel good meal.

She’d make it for me when I didn’t feel good or if I had a bad day. I miss her so much. If she were here, this would have never happened. Why did my father do this? If it was set up so someone else bought me at the auction, why? Glancing around the kitchen, I scrunch up my nose at how there’s no character.

Sitting at the table, I pick at the sandwich as Phoenix sits across from me and continues to type on his phone. Sipping at the soup, I stare at him. I wish he’d go away. “I don’t need a babysitter,” I whisper. I wish I had more fight in me.

He arches an eyebrow at me, one side of his mouth twitching. He places his phone down on the table and leans forward on his elbows. “You might as well get used to it. I’m going to annoy the shit out of you.”

I huff and pick up a piece of my sandwich to munch on it. “Why did you buy me?” I ask. Might as well try to get answers ifhe’s going to stay. Maybe if I talk enough, he’ll leave. “And why did you have sex with me in front of all those people?” His face is blank.

“I bought you and I had sex with you because I wanted you.” Heat races up my neck to my face. I try my best not to think about how he made me come an hour ago. How I begged him to make me feel good.

“You could have had me a different way.”

He stares at me for several minutes before he leans forward.“No, I couldn’t.”

Looking away from him, I grab the spoon and stir the tomato soup.“I’m ready to go to sleep,” I murmur.

He pushes away from the table and motions for me to follow him. And I do like a good girl. I follow him through the kitchen to the entryway and up a spiral staircase. When we get to the top of the stairs, there are three hallways. He leads toward the right.

He points at the first door. “That’s my office.” I follow him further and almost run into his back when he stops suddenly. He points to the right. “That’s my bedroom.” Then to the left. “That’s your bedroom.”

He’s right across the hallway from me. What does that mean? Am I supposed to have sex with him whenever he wants? Will he sneak into my room unexpectedly? How long will he keep me? Question after question runs through my head as he opens the door into my room. There are a few suitcases on the bed.

“Those are your belongings that your father brought to the auction.” I scrunch my nose.

“He said I wasn’t leaving with anyone. Why would he bring me things if that were the case?” I ask.

“Either he was lying or he was trying to make it look convincing,” he responds. “This is your bedroom. That doorthere is the bathroom, and this door is the walk-in closet. If you need anything, let Clara know and she’ll get it for you.”

“Clara?” I turn slowly in the room, taking in my surroundings.

“The housekeeper. She handles all the business of the house.” He walks to the doorway before turning back to face me. “You’ll meet her tomorrow. She’s already gone for the night.” He walks out the door and closes it.

I turn again, looking at the room. The bed is a four poster bed with a canopy; with wood so dark it almost looks black. The dresser is large and has brass handles that match the nightstand. There’s a chandelier with lights that look like candles. I feel like I’ve stepped back into the early 1900s and I should be wearing a corset with a Southern Belle dress like Scarlett from Gone with the Wind.

The lump that’s been forming all night is lodged in my throat. I have to focus on taking deep breaths so I don’t hyperventilate. How is it the boy I had the hugest crush on at the academy turned into this? He always said he didn’t want to turn into his father. So, what does he consider this? Tears stream down my cheeks as I grab each suitcase and roll them into the closet. I’m not unpacking because I don’t plan on being here long.

---