Page 38 of Desperate Vows

I was stupid and naïve and useless. And used.

Chapter Fourteen

CLAIRE

When I woke up, Lucas was sitting next to me, watching me. I remembered being pushed against the wall and hitting the floor. I even remembered seeing Thea and telling her that I had gotten lightheaded. I didn’t want her to know I was stupid, and Franklin had caught me off guard. I was done calling him my father because he had never been one to me.

“Anna found you in the bathroom, passed out, and told Thea. She called me, and I brought you here.” His voice was soft, almost pensive.

This man lied to me. He used me and my emotions against me. He probably orchestrated the attack on my home so he could make himself look better. What angered me was how he looked at me, like I was the one who betrayed him. I’d told him the truth this entire time. I hadn’t given him half-truths. I told him I couldn’t talk about it, and I couldn’t.

I sat up as I swallowed and nearly gasped. The muscles in my throat hurt.

“What happened?”

“I got lightheaded,” I rasped. “I’m sorry.” I swallowed and winced.

“What’s wrong with your throat?”

Like he didn’t know. He probably knew when my father would get home and knew he planned to ambush me in that restaurant. It was likely Lucas was right outside waiting for an update. They probably had a good chuckle at my expense.

Even as all this chaos was going on in my mind, my horrid, traitorous heart fought against me. I knew what my father said, and I knew he’d manipulated me in the past. My brain hurt from all the twists and turns and guesses. I didn’t know which way was up.

I did meet with Lucas. I did see my father enter his restaurant. He didn’t tell me that he would marry me that night. He told my father. He followed me. How could I be sure Lucas wasn’t manipulating me, too?

My entire body was achy, but I couldn’t stay in this room for one more second. I had to leave and get away from him. I needed a moment to sort through everything.

“I called my doctor. He should be here shortly to check you out.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary. I feel fine now.” I moved to stand, and he stilled me with his hand. I pushed it away. “Really, I’m fine now.”

When my eyes met his, daggers were being thrown at me. “He needs to check you out.”

“Lucas, tonight was a lot. I’ve gone from being me to being me with you to being me with you and your family. I haven’t been alone for years. I’m getting married in a few days. I’m just…overwhelmed.”

His posture softened. “I guess that is a lot.”

Brick by brick, the wall was built.

“Exactly.” I hugged myself. “I’m going to sleep in the guest bedroom tonight. I just need a little space.”

“All right.”

One more layer of bricks. I could barely see the tips of Lucas’s hair. There was zero insulation. A winter storm arrived, blowing arctic air over my soul, and I was so tired of trying to stay warm. Maybe frostbite wouldn’t be too bad. I would lose a few things, but by then, I would be so numb I wouldn’t care anymore.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Lucas.” I turned, walked down the hall, and into the guestroom. I shut and locked the door before stumbling to the bed and falling on it.

Curling on my side, I pulled a pillow to my chest, and the tears ran. For tonight, I was going to let myself hurt. I’d figure out my next move tomorrow.

The moment Lucas was gone, I was up, ready, and out of the condo as well. I was done being a coward. I’d spent my life cowering from Franklin, and those days were over.

As I opened the door to my home, I smiled at Ms. Ether. She’d been our housekeeper for years now, and like Remy, she’d been nice to me. I didn’t socialize with her, though. Not because I thought I was better than her but because I worried it could get her fired, or hurt. That was the reason I didn’t have friends. I couldn’t trust that they were safe from Franklin.

I refocused on the reason for my visit and put purpose in my steps. The closer I got to my father’s study slash office, the higher my pulse raced. I knew he wouldn’t catch me. He was at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for land that Benoit Financial had donated to the children’s hospital. I wasn’t stupid enough to think he didn’t have security cameras, which was why I found someone willing to part with a jammer. It had been on since the moment I walked through the door.

He would probably guess it was me, but he wouldn’t have proof, and he wouldn’t know why I was there. I planned on leaving his study exactly the way I found it. The same person who sold me the jammer had given me a quick lesson on picking locks, too. As long as it wasn’t too complicated, it shouldn’t be very hard. I was a lot smarter than he thought I was.

I had a limited amount of time, too, since I had an appointment for the final dress fitting today, and I was meeting Thea at the shop.

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