Page 584 of Filthy Elites

"But she'll be so happy for us. Not to mention, glad we tie the knot before we leave for Massachusetts together."

I grunt. "Stop with the crazy, all right?" I abandon the attempt to remove the stupid ring before I damage my finger. "Maybe I can get it off with some oil."

He kills the engine."Picture it, though. You, me, college away from Thorn Falls. Away from your mother, my father, all the bullshit between the westside and the riverside. That ring on your hand, and a piece of paper guaranteeing that I'm not taking you for a fool, that I'm not letting go. That this is real and you belong to me."

I hate how those words make me feel. I hate the way he looks at me, and the fluttering in my stomach.

"I don't even want a prenup."

I laugh.Right."Even if I'd bought the rest, you would have lost me there."

"It's unnecessary. I'm never letting you go, Erica. I don't need this," he says, gesturing to my finger. "With or without it, I'm keeping you."

"You don't get to decide what I do with my life," I counter.

"It's sweet you believe that, baby doll." Chase takes my left hand, bringing his ring to his lips. "But let's play this out. You apply to colleges. I say the word, and no one accepts you. You're still here, so you want a job. I get in the way again. You don't have an out. You're stuck. You're mine, only this time, you don't get your dreams handed to you on a silver platter. You get a cage in a high tower, and stay bound to my bed night and day." He lets go of my hand. "You have choices, but don't kid yourself. They all lead back to me."

ChapterThirty

Erica slamsthe door shut and rushes out of the gates, grumbling to herself. I laugh and let her run away. She needs to process everything. She's seen me without the mask I’ve carefully constructed for the first time. Poor baby doll. It's not her fault, really. After today, I'm just done with pretenses.

My mother fucks half the town, and it's just fine because the rest of them fuck each other, too. I was conceived during an orgy, and everyone I know is aware, but didn't see fit to inform me. They want to bring me into their sordid secret society, for my name, my money, my influence, and though he didn't spell it out in so many words, Camden also implied that they want me for my woman.

Mine.

Erica needs to be claimed, right here, right now. I can't afford to let her have freedom, not in Thorn Falls, where she could be taken from me by any of the predators circling us.

Mine, mine, mine.

I wasn't kidding when I told her I'd ruin her life so she has no choice but to turn to me. I'd gladly do it, though I'd much prefer we retain a semblance of normalcy. She can go to college, study, get a job, have the life she's always wanted. The only thing she doesn't have a choice about is me.

Erica decided her own fate. She could have cowered when I cornered and harassed her. She could have begged to return to her old school, or made herself invisible to escape me. She didn't. She stood her ground and challenged me beat for beat. Instead of bowing, she made me face the very thing I didn't want to acknowledge: my burning desire for her.

She wanted my attention. She has it. I'm uneasy when I don't know where she is, I can only relax next to her, and I spend all my time thinking about ways to either make her smile or drive her crazy. I want to take care of her. I want to infuriate her. I want, I want, I want.

"Chase," my father greets me when I walk in. He's coming down the stairs, his statuesque blonde girlfriend a step behind him.

I watch them together and smirk, wondering if Audrey's by his side because she wants to be, or because she's in a cage of her own. If I know one thing, it's that I'm my father's son.

"Dad." It's been a while since I've called him that, and he notices.

"You seem chipper tonight. You had a good day?"

"I just proposed." I smile at Audrey. "To your daughter, actually. I suppose I should have asked for your permission, first."

Her hand flies to her mouth. "You did? Seriously? Oh my god! She didn't tell me anything. Oh, my. Woah."

"Don't get too excited. She said no." I laugh at the absurdity of it all.

I could ask any other woman in our school, in our town, and the answer would be yes.

Nothing is ever going to be easy with Erica.

I can't wait for the rest of our lives together. It all starts after she says yes. And she will. I’ll make her do it if I have to.

"You don't seem to have taken it to heart," my father says.

"She'll change her mind. She doesn't think I mean it, that's all." Well, that's not exactly all, but that's all I'm telling our parents. "You raised a wonderful daughter, Audrey. With your permission, I'll take very good care of her."

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