Page 4 of A Steadfast Heart
He sauntered across the room to the sideboard and poured a drink. “I’m having some guests for supper tonight. We’ll want your company.”
She had no intention of joining him. But maybe…“The pantry is much depleted. Is there anything left of our allowance for the month? I can go shopping.”
Herallowance. It was her allowance, but Father’s will had made Michael the legal custodian until her twenty-fifth birthday or until she married.
“Don’t worry about that. You’ll want to spend some time making yourself presentable for our company.”
Her stomach lurched. “Why?”
She saw the way his eyes glittered as he faced her again. “Brian will be here. He wants to see you.”
Her skin crawled, tiny pinpricks of disgust marching up and down her arms and neck like ants. “I don’t want to see Brian.”
Her brother’s so-called friend was known to run several of the gaming halls in town and was believed to run many less-reputable businesses. He was powerful and vicious. She hated the way he watched her whenever they were in the same room together. His eyes followed her with an intensity that made her deeply uncomfortable, especially after what had happened years ago.
“You’ll be the consummate hostess tonight.” Michael moved toward her.
Kaitlyn pressed her lips together. She would do anything in her power not to attend her brother’s gathering tonight. There was something he wasn’t telling her.
“Don’t test me, Kaitlyn. I’m your protector.”
She wanted to laugh. Michael was not a protector. He was a predator and she was the prey. She eyed the door. The room was small, and Michael had positioned himself to block her retreat.
“Brian Matthews wants to marry you,” Michael said.
Her stomach churned.
“He’ll come courting first, of course.”
She shook her head, backed another step, then held her ground. Any farther and she would be against the wall.
Michael adjusted the sleeves of his suit coat so that his shirt cuffs peeked out by the perfect half of an inch. “You will dote on him tonight.”
“No. I won’t.”
She spun and ran for the door, but Michael grabbed her arm before she could pass him.
“Let me go.”
“You will attend my gathering tonight.” Michael gave the order through gritted teeth. “You will hang on Brian’s every word.”
A part of her was terrified. She knew exactly what Michael was capable of. But she still shook her head. No.
He gave a wordless growl and pulled her bodily down the hall. She struggled against him, but he was bigger and stronger. His grip bruised her forearm.
He thrust her into a storage closet. “You’ll hostess, or you’ll stay here all night.” He slammed the door and banged the bolt into its holder, trapping her inside.
“Michael, don’t! Michael!”
He didn’t answer her. His footsteps faded away even as she pounded on the door.
The walls closed in. It felt as if the air grew warmer and warmer.
She pounded louder. Screamed.
No one came.
Breathe, Kaitlyn. There’s plenty of air. It only feels like you’re suffocating.
