Page 6 of We're Not Strangers Anymore

“I’ll catch up with you later after I fill our girl in on her new life.” I call out to Luciano, tossing him the keys to my car.

I settle into the driver's side and take a look at Rowan. Yeah, her faith in the male population may be shattered after this. For a fleeting second, I ask myself if it’s worth it.It is. I won’t let any innocent woman be subjected to the evil these men want to toss her into. Not to say my intentions with her are totally pure but that’s a different story.

Grayson

Rowan stirs beside me, her movements sluggish as the chloroform wears off. The dark, empty road stretches ahead and I glance over at her, watching as her confusion gives way to her panic. She tugs at the restraints, eyes wide and frantic. She’s thinking she’s in a much worse situation than it actually is. Probably imagining the worst. My goal is to make her comfortable, but not too comfortable.

“Good morning, Rowan,” I say calmly, keeping my eyes on the road. “I see you’re awake.”

“Grayson?” Her voice is a mix of disbelief and fear. “What’s going on? Why am I tied up?”

I sigh, knowing this moment was inevitable. “I need you to stay calm, I’m going to explain everything.”

“Explain?” She spits, anger flashing in her eyes.

“You drugged me and tied me up! How do you expect me to stay calm?”

“Your father,” I start, ignoring her outburst, “owes me a significant amount of money. More than he could ever hope to repay. When he couldn’t come up with the cash, he made a different offer.”

She freezes, her breath catching in her throat.

“What are you talking about?”

“He offered you, Rowan,” I say, my voice steady, but dark. “As payment for his debt.”

Tears well up in her eyes and she shakes her head.

“No, you’re lying. He wouldn’t–”

“He did,” I interrupt, my tone firm. “And now you’re coming back to Chicago, with me.”

She looks at me with a mix of horror and disbelief.

“Why would you do this? What do you want from me?”

My grip tightens on the steering wheel as I feel a wave of dark desires rising in me. I try to push it down, but her fear, her vulnerability, it’s intoxicating. “Well, this isn’t just about the money, Rowan. There’s more to it.”

Her eyes search mine, looking for any hint of compassion, but I give her none.

“More to it?”

I let out a breath, choosing my words carefully. “You’re a beautiful woman, Rowan. Strong, intelligent, wholesome. I knew I wanted you. This arrangement is about satisfying me just as much as it is about the debt.”

She recoils, her body trembling. “You’re sick.”

“Maybe,” I admit, my voice low. “But I’ve been drawn to you from the start. I couldn’t let you slip away.” A dark smile curls my lips.

Her breathing is ragged, and she turns away, tears streaming down her pretty cheeks.

“You’re a fucking monster.”

I reach over, brushing a tear from her cheek. “True. But you’ll learn to see things differently in time.”

She flinches at my touch and I pull my hand back, focusing on the road.

“For now, just know that you’re mine. Completely and utterly mine.”

She sits silent, I’m sure the reality is sinking into her. I feel a mix of triumph and desire knowing there’s not a thing she can do. The power I have over her fuels the darkness I’ve felt inside me since I saw her. There’s something about Rowan. I feel aneedthat I’ve never felt before. It could be the fact that she’s a challenge and I typically don’t have to work hard to get what I want. Sure I’m saving her, but I don’t plan to let her go even after we remove the threat.

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