Page 129 of Inside the Wicked

“Do you remember what I said about debt, Anastasia?” My name rolls off his tongue like a sick lover’s caress.

I would never forget what he said when it was followed by the merciless killing of Matthew Forbes.

“With what he owes me for you, I don’t think I’ll be seeing it in bills ...”

So blood it is.

“No,” I breathe, spinning in my chair to look helplessly out the back window, but we’re already far from the venue.

“No!” I yell.

Recklessly I grab the car handle, but it’s futile. I’m locked in here, but my fist pounds on the tinted glass as I cry.

Rhett, Rix, Adam ... I can’t lose them all.

“Take me back,” I sob.

Take me back. Take me back.

I’m utterly hopeless here. Trapped.

“You’ll find a new family in what I have to offer you. I promise.” His gentleness is so jarring. In his delusional mind he believes somehow he’ll convince me to want him. “You’re into blonds after all. Am I really so terrible in comparison?”

I can hardly look at him with the manipulation he’s trying. He’s blond, but it has nothing on the unique silvery lightness of Rhett’s hair. His eyes are green, nothing like the depth of a clear ocean in Rhett’s. He’s not fucking Rhett.

“I’ll never be yours,” I say coldly. “I’ll never want you. Never love you. I’ll fight you every day.”

“You’re already mine. You have been for some time.”

My brow furrows, trying to understand what he’s trying to trick me into. “I belong with Rhett.”

Jacob pulls out a sheet of paper, extending it to me. I don’t think I want to see what’s written on it.

“It was a pleasure getting to know you as Miss Kinsely, but you’ve been Anastasia Forthson since the day you signed this license.”

I can’t take it. I can’t see it.

But I remember the day I signed my name carelessly when all that mattered was getting Rhett, and that was the price.

The car stops. I’m going to be sick. Really. As soon as the door unlocks, I tumble out and wretch.Anastasia Forthsonrepeats in my head, and my skin flushes too hot as if evil is taking over me. The white dress makes sense now, and as I peer up I see a small chapel.

I’m Anastasia Kaiser. I’m Anastasia Kaiser. I’m Anastasia Kaiser.

He can’t take that away from me no matter what a piece of paper says.

A handkerchief floats into my vision, and I take it, wiping my mouth and straightening despite my body feeling like a boulder.

“Nerves are to be expected,” Jacob says casually, knowing damn well I’m not sick withnerves.

“Burn in hell, you twisted son of a bitch.”

“Don’t start your vows yet, darling.”

“Why are we here if it’s already done?” I spit.

“Because I want Kaiser to come for you here only to find out you’ve been my wife the whole time you were with him. He’ll know that he was fucking what’smine,and he’ll likely believe you knew all along and kept it from him. I win, Anastasia. You thought I wouldn’t be aware of your ruse with Silas, that he’d ultimately chosen a deal with Lanshall. I wasn’t letting you get away with giving me nothing, so I set up the marriage, because if I didn’t have him, I was going to haveyou.”

“It means nothing. That can’t possibly be valid, and I will fight you.”

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