Page 22 of Don't Make Me Beg
“What the fuck is he talking about? Are they threatening you?”
“Nothing. It’s just my parents freaking out about me leaving on your motorcycle. They’ll get over it,” I lie.
He reaches for my phone, but I jerk it away and shove it in my pocket before he can grab it.
“Scout, give me the phone,” he warns, his voice low and threatening.
“No. It’s none of your business.”
“I don’t give a fuck if you think it’s my business or not. If that message is anything close to what it looks like, then I need to know. Now give me the phone.”
I try to push him away, but he overpowers me with ease, grabbing both of my wrists in one hand and holding them over my head before reaching into my pocket and pulling it out.
He points the screen toward my face to unlock the phone, and his jaw hardens as he reads the string of texts.
“He’s threatening to forge the paperwork on the marriage certificate himself if you don’t come home by tomorrow. And your piece of shit ex is fine with it…” He flips the phone and shows me the newest text message, this time it’s from Jimmy.
Jimmy
Scout, I just got off the phone with your dad…
I hope you’ll do the right thing. I’d hate for our marriage to start off on the rocks, just because you let your emotions get the best of you.
You know this was always how it was supposed to be. I don’t really need you to like me, but it certainly will help make better pictures…
I just wanted you to know, I’m signing either way.
Luka’s eyes search mine, and for a moment, I can’t breathe,
“So am I supposed to congratulate you now or what?” He drops my hands and takes a step back, breaking the tension between us.
There’s a simmering in his eyes. “What are you going to do?”
I shake my head, my throat tight as a fresh wave of tears rises to the surface. “I’m not sure there’s anything I can do…”
“So that’s it? You’re just going to let him bulldoze you into a fucking marriage? You’re not even going to try to fight back?”
“What’s the point? I know he’s capable… He’s clearly proven that already. Why do you care, anyway? At least it’d get me out of your hair…”
Luka shakes his head, looking disappointed as he backs away. “So fucking pathetic. You know, there was a time when Iactually thought you’d grow a fucking backbone and stand up for yourself. But I guess I didn’t know you at all, did I?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I call after him as he rushes to the door.
He shrugs on his leather coat. “Whatever. I don’t have time for this shit.” And then he’s gone.
CHAPTER SIX
Luka
Coffee in hand, I drag my ass into the conference room and fall into my seat with a sigh.
Normally, I’d tell my brother to go fuck himself if he even thought about putting a seven-a.m. meeting on my calendar, but since it’s for Ivy, his firecracker girlfriend who will someday be my future sister-in-law, I let it slide.
She’s chasing her dreams in Romania and hates that she’s not here for this year’s Phantom Festival, so filling her in on the details of what’s going on is the least I can do. Even if it means dragging my exhausted ass out of bed on only a couple of hours of sleep.
Sleep isn’t something I usually struggle with, so this exhausted shit is new for me. But ever since I brought Scout home, I haven’t been able to sleep for shit. It’s like I can feel her presence in the house, even though our bedrooms are on different floors.
I find myself alternating between frustrationwithher and wanting to fight on her behalf. I still can’t get over those textmessages I saw yesterday. What the fuck is her dad thinking? He can’t be serious with that shit, can he?
