Page 69 of Alpha Bait

"I'm willing to take my chances!" I howled.

I got to my feet and prepared myself to run, scanning the forest for a suitable path that hinted at civilization.

"I won't hurt you if you stay."

I snorted, "you expect me to believe that?"

"Come inside. You think I would be so foolish as to harm Gail Holloway's daughter?"

Will stepped inside, as if uninterested about which path I would take. As far as he figured, I would either leave and get killed, no longer becoming his problem, or I would practice common sense and enter his house.

My heart raced. If I went in there, he could hurt me in any way imaginable without anyone knowing. Yet, the same could happen in the woods. And in the woods, no one would know where I was. Not even my brother. I weighed the options and figured that I would rather take my chances with a wolf of Wall Street than an actual wolf.

I nodded, attempting to disguise the fact that I was shaking and trembling with fear.

"Why am I here?"

"Did your brother not tell you?"

I shook my head, still trembling.

"We're getting married."

Then, the decision to go inside was no longer my own. The world seemed to have flipped upside down. I stumbled for a couple steps and then I fell to the ground in a dead faint.

When I woke up, I knew where I was. The smell of Will Harkness' overly alcoholic aftershave filled my nostrils. My eyes fluttered open and I heard his lilting voice say my name.

"Indie? Are you awake, my love."

I groaned. I didn't want to let him know that I was awake but hearing him refer to me as my love had the unfortunate effect of turning my stomach. I felt nauseous.

"Good. You're fine."

I avoided grunting again and instead made my best attempt to regain control of my senses. There had to be something in this huge old house that I could use to pummel him over the head and make my escape in his car. I might not get far, but at least I have my dignity intact.

I sat up and realized that I was in a bed, and there were no available weapons nearby. Clearly, Will and Jamal had thought their little plan through.

"Your brother informed me that you were aware of the news."

"I'm not going to marry you," I hissed.

"Yes you will," he chuckled.

"I would rather die," I grunted.

"Unfortunately, it's not that simple. If you don't marry me, your family will be for forfeiting 75% of their wealth over to me. Jamal and I signed the contract today. It's up to you, of course. You can go through with it, or your family will be left destitute."

I wanted to feel sad, scared, or worried about the future but all I could feel his anger. My brother made me believe that we were going to put the past behind us. All he wanted was to get me to let my guard down enough so that I would make a mistake.

And I made a big one -- trusting him.

"Jamal can't sign a contract like that on my behalf."

I had my doubts he would be so foolish as to try to manipulate me that way in the first place.

Will Harkness replied with an impish smirk, "signatures are not that hard to obtain my dear."

"Whatever you two are planning, it won't work."

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