Page 168 of Lawless God

But among a hundred reasons to want to escape him, there’s one powerful one not to.

I have fallen in love with my captor.

I squeeze my eyes shut, stopping the tears that threaten to fall. How? How could I have let this happen? But I know that’s it. I know because I have never felt this way before. There’re no words to describe it. It’s a feeling too strong to comprehend, to explain. I wonder if that’s what Nate was trying to portray when he talked about cold hands on a winter day. Is it? But then, why didn’t he just say it? Why didn’t he say he’s in love with me, and then we could have worked from there?

His language is incomprehensible. So much effort to try to communicate that I’m exhausted, confused…completely lost.

In or out?

Did I lose the need for independence? The powerful link I have to the North Shore?

In or out?

Stockholm syndrome is a wonderfully complicated thing.

But he doesn’t understand. He doesn’t know what waits for me outside. Who. They need me. Our love is unconditional. No one can get between us.

In or out? You’re the one who put this plan into action. Remember why.

In or out, Kayla?

You’re in love with him.

I grab the phone, text my response, and delete everything.

Then I look up at the mirror, swallow the tears shining in my eyes, and apply makeup on my face.

We have to go to a charity ball at Stoneview town hall. Well, Nate has to, but he doesn’t want to leave me alone, so I’m forced to come along. He has to be present, mingle with local politicians, company owners. So much he has to do to keep people blackmailed and in his pocket.

The dress he got me from that shop is hanging on the closet door. The black satin, the diamonds…I gulp. Seventy-five thousand dollars.

I startle when the door opens.

“My beautiful wife, there she is.”

The glare I send him through the mirror should have killed him. Why is he still standing?

“Where else would I be, Nate? You’ve chained me to the floor.”

He smiles and kisses my cheek from behind. “We need to leave in thirty minutes. Will you be ready?”

As he places a velvet box on the vanity, I ignore it. I won’t ask what it is. Something to torture me, surely.

His lips press against my neck, and a shiver ripples across my entire body.

“Aren’t you at least a little bit happy that now I keep you because I can’t live without you? This is not about revenge anymore, little sunflower.”

“Wonderful,” I deadpan.

“Now the only reasons you’ll suffer are when you try to leave, or don’t give me what I want. There are no more grudges, I promise.”

Tightening my jaw, I look up and through the mirror. “I hate you.”

He shrugs. “What are you going to do about it? Run away?” His eyes go to the point where the chain is locked to the floor. “Good luck with that,” he chuckles playfully.

I finish my makeup in silence, choosing to ignore him. It’s a little harder to do that when he’s the one helping me into the dress.

No underwear. That’s what he chose for the night.

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