Page 116 of Silver Linings

That fucker was dead.

Thirty-Seven

“Hello again, Lily.”

Lily’s entire world spun on its axis.

“James?”

“Your ex?” Sloane’s eyes went wide as Lily nodded. Her friend took a step closer to Lily’s side and intertwined their fingers together.

The damp basement odor overwhelmed Lily. She’d been hyper-focused on what happened to Sage and listening to Sloane’s directions, she hadn’t allowed her senses to focus on the stench. But now that her brain was trying to understand what was happening, all she could focus on was the way it smelled. Her stomach rolled violently as he stepped closer to her.

“What did you do with my baby?” she swallowed down the bile as she tried to keep her voice level.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I left her behind on purpose. My mother has her, probably already on a plane back to Connecticut.”

They’d taken Sage. Flown her halfway across the country without her or Gunner. She wanted to rage, knowing how her little baby had to be terrified, but Lily’s resolve to stall James from whatever plan he had put in place until Gunner and the guys found them spurred her forward.

“You won’t get away with this. Gunner won’t stop until he finds us both.”

“It’s sweet that you have so much faith in him Lily, but legally I’m dead, and soon you will be too. You know, it’s funny that the best day of my life was actually the day I died.”

“What does that mean?” Sloane spit out.

“It means, firecracker, that it’s not every day that my father offers me a way to get my daughter and wife back after they were taken from me.”

“Taken from you?”

“Yeah, Lily. He stole you from me and I’m here to get you back. You were supposed to be my wife. I love you. I always have.”

She was going to throw up. Her mouth watered and her stomach cramped painfully.

“You love me? That’s why you stole all of our money from our accounts before I had the baby? That’s why you tried to break into the bathroom where I was hiding, half scared to death of you? Why did you have a gun with you that night, James? Was it because you loved me?”

“I DO LOVE YOU! I-I was messed up then, Lily. But I-I’m better now. I’ve got a plan, and this is how I get you back.”

James was sick. It wasn’t just the amount of weight he’d lost, or the gray color of his skin that made her realize it. No, this was more than something physical. He’d lost his mind.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m going to fuck you, Lily. I’m going to fuck you until you beg to become my wife. And then I’m going to take you back to Connecticut with me, where you belong. You’re mine. He’s made you sick. He’s made you forget what you promised me. But you’ll come back and we’ll make things right. We could have a home like this again. Wouldn’t it be nice?” James held his arms out and gestured around the space.

The reality of the situation slammed into her. “James, I don’t…I don’t love you.”

He covered his ears with his hands.

“Yes. Yes you do, Lily. We’re supposed to be getting married. You fucked it all up, and I was mad. I was mad for a while, but now you’re here and I got you back. I got you back so we can go home and be a family together.”

Lily understood. “James, you need help. You’re not thinking straight. I love Gunner. He is Sage’s dad. Not you. I can’t go anywhere with you because we aren’t a family.”

“I did EVERYTHING for you! Do you know I learned how to build a bomb for you? I fucking tracked that asshole waiting for the perfect moment. You needed to get away from his lies and his brainwashing, so I followed him for you, Lily. I tried to set you free over and over again.”

“You almost KILLED HIM.” She lost control, tears streaming down her face. “James, please. Listen to me. Listen to reason. I love Gunner. I love him with my whole heart and I will never love you.”

“Stop it!” James lashed out, smacking her across the face.

“Fuck you, pencil dick.” Sloane glared at James.

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