Page 39 of The Hermit

A frown darkens my forehead as I reply, “Of course.”

“But you said Ciara could stay in Ireland,” she argues, her face growing paler by the second. “The marriage was only supposed to be in name.”

“I had no interest in Ciara,” I mutter.

Grace stares at me for the longest time, horror bleeding over her face. Slowly, she blinks before she closes her eyes.

Not liking her reaction one bit, I climb the stairs. When I reach her, I lift my hand and take hold of her chin, nudging her head back so she’ll look at me.

“You’re coming with me, Grace,” I say so there’s no misunderstanding between us. “You’ll be safe with me.”

Her eyebrows draw together, then she rips her chin out of my hold. Looking hopeless and heartbroken, she lets out an empty-sounding chuckle. “Until you decide to consummate the marriage.”

I shake my head. “I don’t need to fuck you to prove we’re married.” My eyes drift over her pale skin, which makes the healing bruises even more visible. “I’ll never force myself on you.”

She lets out a burst of skeptical laughter. “We’ll see how long that lasts.”

With my eyes locked on hers, I promise, “Forever if it has to.”

Frowning at me, she shakes her head. “Why marry me then?”

“You don’t annoy me,” I mutter as I turn around and head back down the stairs. “Pack your belongings and be ready at six.”

I suppress the urge to glance over my shoulder at my future bride as I head to the French doors.

Ian comes out of the office and rushes across the foyer while gripping his bleeding arm. “A little help would be nice, Grace,” he calls out.

“I had to clean up my own blood after Braden beat me,” Grace replies. “I’m sure you can manage just like I had to.”

The corner of my mouth lifts as I step out onto the veranda.

Chapter 11

GRACE

I slam my bedroom door shut behind me and only manage a couple of steps before my legs give way beneath me. Sinking to the floor, a sob explodes over my lips.

In a span of mere hours, Ciara has left me and I’m being forced to marry Dominik.

God.

Lifting my hand, I grip the fabric of my shirt as a hopeless cry tears from me.

After everything I’ve done for Ciara, she didn’t trust me enough to tell me she was leaving.

Even though I’ve offered myself as a sacrifice, I never thought it would actually happen. And if it did, at least the marriage would be in name only.

But that’s no longer the case.

Dominik saved my life twice, and he shot Dad for slapping me. There’s no way he’d go through so much trouble for a sexless marriage.

The image of him pinning me down on the bed flashes through my mind.

My breaths come impossibly fast, and my heart thunders in my chest.

I gasp and gasp as my dire situation ravages my mind. My vision grows darker, and when my throat closes up and I’m unable to take another desperate breath, I pass out.

Standing in the backyard, I stare at the house that I have to call home. It’s near impossible for me to go back inside.