Page 62 of Sparrow

I’M NEARLY BACKto Tybee before the tears stop flowing. I hated lying to him. My body was rejecting the words even as they left my mouth. I wasn’t sick, not in the way I told him I was.

I just needed to make sure he stayed away until I could see Jaxon.

The scariest thought of all is that I don’t know what to expect tonight. I don’t know what Jaxon wants. I don’t know what his endgame is. I don’t know what he truly wants from me.

I repeat a mantra in my head; just as I did the day I finally left California. I can do this. I’m strong. I’m not scared. I can handle this.

Choose happy, Mills. Fight for happy.

I pull into my driveway, half expecting to see Jaxon already waiting for me, but there’s no one here.

I exit my car and make my way into my house, noting the alarm system doesn’t beep when I walk in, meaning it’s been completely disarmed.

“Hello?” I speak aloud into my own home, closing the door behind me. I walk through the main entryway slowly. I can feel his presence; he’s fucking with me. “Jaxon, stop this shit. It’s not a game.”

I feel him behind me and before I can react, he slips his hand over my mouth and pulls me back against him. I don’t know where he came from. He appeared out of thin air.

“It’s all a game, baby. One I’m very good at.”

He releases me with a shove. I stumble forward then find my footing. “I’m here, just like you wanted. How did you get into my house?”

“That’s the least of your concerns, and you being here is only step one. I seem to remember talk of lingerie and begging.”

“That’s not happening.” I stand tall, summoning any and all strength I have inside of me.

“On the contrary, Amelia. You will do as I say. You will take that pretty ass upstairs; take a shower to wash off the trash that’s inevitably all over your cunt right now, after your night with him. You’ll put on red lingerie and black heels then you’ll come down here. And you’ll crawl to me, begging for my forgiveness.”

I shake my head, nausea forming deep in the pit of my stomach. “I can’t.”

“You will.” He reaches into the back of his pants and pulls a small handgun into view.

Everything just changed.

“Jaxon—”

“Don’t speak. Just go.” He waves the gun toward the stairs. “If you don’t, I’ll clean you myself.”

I don’t even want to know what he means by that, so I back toward the stairs without taking my eyes off of him.

“Wait.”

I freeze. “I’m doing as you ask.”

“Give me your cell phone.” Shit.

I pull it from the back pocket of my jeans and toss it to him. He catches it with one hand then smashes it on the ground.

“No tricks, Amelia,” he warns.

“No. No tricks,” I confirm.

When he waves the gun again, I bolt up the stairs and lock myself in the bathroom, leaning against the door with my face in my hands. I can’t catch my breath; a panic attack is brewing in my chest. I’m trapped.

What am I going to do?

***

(Grayson)

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