Page 106 of Cruel Dominion

ANNA

We were quiet on the short drive back to my parents’ house. So many unsaid things lingered in the air between us.

When Carter pulled up outside my parents’ house, he turned to me with an eerily placid expression.

“I want you to promise me you’ll keep your phone on you at all times and you won’t set one foot out that door without telling me where you’re going first.”

“Okay.”

“Anna.”

“I promise. And you promise me that if you find Josh, you’ll tell me. I have…evidence. I can put him in prison.”

“I can think of a few better places for him.”

“Carter.”

He ground his jaw. “I’ll tell you if we find him.”

I didn’t miss how he didn’t agree to let me try to put Josh behind bars. The fucked up truth was, I wasn’t sure if I would feel safe even if he did go to jail. One day, he’d be let out, and then what?

I shuddered at the thought.

Before I could get out of the car, Carter caught my wrist and pulled me back to him. He gave me one last, bruising kiss. I buried my hands in his hair. My heart pounded in my chest, but my blood felt icy cold. This kiss felt like a goodbye.

Tears stung my eyes when I tore away from him, but I didn’t let him see them.

I strode up the walk to the Vaughn estate and I didn’t look back. If I saw him waiting for me, I might change my mind, turn around and go running back to him. I owed it to myself to at least think about everything he said without him being so close he clouded all my judgment.

I opened the front door and was greeted with the familiar smell of soap and lavender. Obediently, I slipped my shoes off at the door, intending to walk straight up to my room, but I stopped when an orange light caught my eye.

Since when did anyone light the living room fireplace in the middle of the day? I loved when we lit fires. It made the oversized, empty house feel more homey. Usually, we only lit them for holiday parties.

I dropped my bag by the stairs and padded into the living room to see Dad sitting in front of the fire, staring into the coals beneath the flames.

He looked tense, hunching over with his elbows on his spread knees. Sensing me, he turned, resting his temple against his clenched fists.

“Look at you…” he said in a dangerous whisper, mouth tight with malice. “Right back where you started. Do you enjoy being Carter Cole’s little whore?”

I reeled back a step. He might as well have slapped me across the face.

“How did you know I was with him?” My voice sounded feeble, even to me.

Dad scoffed.

Of course he knew. When it came to prying into other people’s business, Hudson Vaughn was even worse than Carter, and that was fucking saying something.

At least Carter did what he did to find me. To keep me safe. Mostly.

What was my father’s excuse?

Straightening my shoulders, I shook it off, refusing to be that sad little girl anymore. I was a grown woman now and he couldn’t—wouldn’t—dictate my life.

“I’ll see whoever I want. I’m an adult. You don’t get to dictate who my friends are.”

“Friends? That boy is not your friend. He’s trash. He doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as my daughter.”

“Then how come he’s invited to every society gala in town? Hell, they practically make him the guest of honor. Because all anyone in this town really cares about is money. You’re the only one who cares about the fact that he used to be poor. Get over yourself, Governor.”

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