Page 8 of Unveiled

More silence as she takes in what I just told her. I wish she would say something, but I’m also glad she’s not telling me to stay away from her.

Suddenly, an idea must pop into her head because she perks up and grabs the phone.

“It’s Spring break. Even if you’re determined to be with me, I can leave. Take a vacation somewhere and get away from you and your cameras. Maybe even find a guy on a beach somewhere and have drunk sex with him.”

It’s almost insulting how she’s acting like she doesn’t even know me. Does she really think I would let her go that far away and not follow her?

“As intriguing as sex on the beach is, you’ll be having it with me, not some other guy. If you would like me to take you to the beach, all you need to do is ask, little one.”

She jerks around, looking for the camera again with a sneer on her face.

“I want nothing from you,” she growls at me, putting as much venom in her words as she can.

“I’ll see you tonight, Ainsley.”

I hang up the phone and watch as she throws hers face down on the nightstand before disappearing from my view.

Well, I can certainly give her a break from school, if that’s what she wants. She already hates me, and it worked the first time. Why not this time, too?

Chapter 4

Ainsley

Iwish I could follow through on my threat and disappear to a beach somewhere for the week. Would it really be the worst thing to find some guy to hook up with while the monster can’t watch me?

Unfortunately, he knows me too well. The only way I’d be able to take a vacation right now is if someone else took me, and I’m never going to ask him to do that. Especially after the stunt he pulled today.

The small box with his gift to me is still on the floor in the corner of my room where I threw it this morning. My eyes have wandered to it all day, wondering what I’m supposed to do with it.

When I opened it and saw the large diamond ring inside, I threw it like it was on fire. From the glimpse I got of it, it was absolutely gorgeous, something I would actually wear. Unlike the ring Carlos forced on my finger three months ago.

While we were at the party to celebrate the monster becoming the new boss, he was ready to put a ring on my finger. He offered to, but I didn’t realize when he said it he already had one.

There’s a small voice in my head, asking me if things would be different if he had given it to me that night on the dance floor. Would the promise of forever with him keep me there? Would it have been enough to make me stay after he brought me back from my prison?

It doesn’t matter, because even if I had agreed to marry him that night, everything changed when I was taken from him. I needed this time away from him, and I need it to continue. For my own wellbeing, the monster needs to stay away from me.

Even though I can’t go to a beach, I’m still packing to go away for the week. After I hung up with the monster, I called Ethan and asked him if I could stay at his place for the week. That won’t keep the monster away from me, but he won’t be able to climb into bed with me when I’m sleeping in Ethan’s room, either.

I don’t want to see him, but I want a repeat of last night even less. I didn’t even have time to wake up and register all of that before I was opening a diamond ring and getting a call from him.

When I explained everything to Ethan, he was more than willing to hide me away, which surprised me. I’ve come between him and his brother now, and while I haven’t asked him to pick sides, it’s hard for him to be my best friend and not be on my side.

“All packed and ready to go?” a deep voice asks from behind me. As I turn to greet Ethan and tell him I’m ready, the pieces in my brain click together and I realize that it’s not Ethan’s voice behind me. “Don’t worry, I’ve already called him and told him your plans changed. You’ll be staying with me, not him.”

He walks around me and zips up my suitcase, acting like we’re going on a fun vacation together.

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I declare, standing my ground and trying to look tougher than I am.

He huffs out a sigh, annoyed with my defiance. “I was afraid you’d feel that way.” He walks closer to me, invading my personal space. “How do you want to do this? You’re coming with me either way, Ainsley. Are you going to walk nicely to my car, or will I have to drug you like I did in the maze?”

The reminder of what he did to kidnap me the first time sends shivers down my back, and not the good kind. I was terrified when I woke up and realized he drugged me, why would I choose to have that again? Maybe if I walk with him and act like I’m cooperating, I’ll get a chance to escape. I can be smart about this.

I deflate, showing him I surrender, and he backs away from me. He walks over to the corner of my room and grabs the small box, shoving it in his pocket like a souvenir.

“I’ll hold on to this since you’re not ready to wear it yet,” he informs me, like he’s some hero saving the day because he’s holding onto a ring I don’t even want. He pulls my suitcase behind him as he grabs my hand, dragging me through my empty apartment.

“Did you at least keep my room clean?” I ask, going along with his plan to take me away.

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