"Yes."
Jay waited patiently. Of course they both knew what she was going to ask next.
"Does she approve… of us?”
Jay's eyes hardened to liquid steel. He watched Allie for a moment without saying anything then turned away and closed the door softly. She sank back onto the bed and dropped her head into her hands. She felt emotionally drained. She understood his response to her question. It didn't matter if Veronica approved or not. Jay may love and respect Allie's mother, but her opinion wouldn't sway his decision. Allie was here to stay. And until she settled down and accepted her captivity with some level of serenity, Jay wasn't going to allow mother and daughter to reunite.
Allie lay back on the bed moodily and smashed her fist into one of the pillows with a thump. She rolled angrily onto her side and curled into a ball, glaring at the far wall of the bedroom, which opened into an ensuite. So it was going to be blackmail. If she didn't settle down and accept the life Jay was forcing on her she wouldn't get to see her mom. Jay never said things unless he meant them. Which meant he was willing to wait Allie out, to wear her down, no matter how long it took. Even if it meant hurting Veronica and Allie in the process. Because he was a ruthless bastard. He knew, without a doubt, that eventually she would give in.
Just not yet. She wasn't ready to give up on everything she had worked so hard on. Walking away from her marriage was easy. But turning her back on the people that trusted her to get them through their addictions was impossible. She would find a way back to them. Somehow.
Allie glared down at the bracelet that ensured that, even if she managed to run from Jay, he would find her. The beautiful intertwined gold and silver loops glinted in the light of the sun shining through the window. With a sigh Allie shoved her wrist up under a pillow, hiding the offensive object of her captivity from view. Questions whirled relentlessly around her head as she slowly drifted off to sleep, wrapped in the warm embrace of the sun.