Page 113 of Sinful Palace

I looked down at the black and white floor tiles, breath hitching in my throat. Jamie was right. Logan knew the truth about me and Chloe now, so he would never punish or torture me again, but that didn’t mean he had any intention of letting me go.

I looked back up to meet Jamie’s gaze. “I understand what you’re saying, but I can’t leave,” I muttered.

“Why? I can get you out safely. I can put you somewhere he’ll never be able to find you.”

“I can’t leave my brother behind,” I said. Tears were brimming in the corners of my eyes now. “That was how Logan made me stay quiet about everything and play along with the engagement in the first place. He threatened Jared.”

Jamie’s face darkened. “Really?”

“Yes. A few weeks ago, he changed his mind and told me he’d never actually hurt him, but if I leave… I don’t know. Maybe he would out of anger.”

“Fuck. I wish I’d known about this sooner,” Jamie said. He scrubbed a hand over his face and blew out a harsh breath. “Look, I can get Jared out too. We’ll do it tonight.”

“No. There’s no point trying. It’ll just cause trouble,” I said softly. “If Logan wants me back, he’ll get me back.”

“He won’t. Like I said, I have connections.”

“He has connections, too. He’s got all the money in the world, and he also works for a private intelligence organization.”

“So?”

“So if you put me and Jared on a plane, he’ll find out. He can track that sort of stuff, and he will as soon as he notices I’m gone,” I said. “Even if you put us in a car and try to drive us all the way to the hiding place, he’ll be able to track that too. He’s always one step ahead of everyone else.”

“Not in this case. I’ll find a way to transport you safely.”

I shook my head. “I’m sorry, Jamie. I know you’re trying to help, but I can’t leave him like this.”

It wasn’t just fear that was stopping me from leaving Logan. Despite everything that had happened and all the possibilities of what might happen if I escaped, the biggest thing stopping me was my feelings for him, crazy and treacherous as they might be.

He’d helped me so much in recent weeks, and he’d been my rock when my father died, quietly sharing his strength with me whenever I needed it. Every time he looked at me, spoke softly to me, or held me in his arms, I felt a rush of warmth and a flutter in my stomach. When he wasn’t around, I felt cold and empty.

I was sure he felt the same way about me, too. Ever since he realized he’d been mistaken about that night five years ago, he’d been sweet, kind, and loving, and that didn’t show any sign of changing.

Loving.I mulled that word over in my mind for a few seconds.

Did Logan actually love me? I couldn’t be sure. He’d definitely started acting like it recently, but he’d never said the words out loud.

And what about me? Did I love him?

I didn’t know the answer to that either. I cared about him, physically craved him, and felt like I needed him with me all the time, but I wasn’t sure if that was love. Not true love, anyway. I’d been forced into his life against my will, so for all I knew, what I felt for him was nothing but the rush of desire and frantic need to bond that came with Stockholm syndrome.

How would I know the difference between that and real love? I’d never been with another man before, let alone fallen in love with one, so I had no frame of reference.

I blew out a short, quiet breath and rubbed the back of my neck as a small piece of clarity descended upon me. If I really did want to be with Logan after all, I wanted to do it in a way I deserved. I wanted him to let me go so I could choose him myself instead of being forced into it, and I wanted to know I could leave without any life-shattering repercussions if everything fell apart.

That was the difference between real love and what I felt right now.

Freedom.

I wasn’t sure if Logan would ever give it to me, but there was one way to find out.

Jamie put a hand on my shoulder again. “I understand how you feel,” he said soothingly. “I know how hard it can be to leave a situation like yours. But I still want to help.”

“I know.”

“I’m going to start figuring out a plan to get you and Jared out, but I won’t go through with it unless you say yes.” Jamie checked his watch. “It’s eight o’clock now. I’ll give you until midnight to think about it properly and make your final decision.”

“Okay,” I said in a small voice.

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