Page 66 of Endgame
The late-night breeze whips at my hair. My heels click on the driveway the faster I run.
I lift the skirt of my dress with my free hand. The damn thing still swishes against the floor.
The woman from his staff steps aside as I rush up the stairs. Her face is blank, unreadable. “Mrs. Alder.”
My new name. I yelp at the sound of it.
Then sprint as if my life depends on it.
Everett’s on my heels. I hear the loud thump of his footfalls. The fire he breathes.
Other than that, he’s silent.
Somehow, that’s worse than hearing him threaten me.
Faster. Faster.
The stairwell, I’m there, rushing up to the second floor. Taking the stairs two at a time.
The room he locked me in yesterday is as good as any to hide from Everett. The heavy armchairs, I’ll drag them to the door. I’ll barricade myself inside the room.
Yes. Yes, yes, yes.
“Aurora, stop where you are,” he commands. The authority in his voice raises the hair along the back of my neck. “Now.”
As much as I’m attracted to him, I won’t stop for anything.
Newfound determination surges through me. The burning in my lungs pushes me forward instead of slowing me down.
“You’re going to regret this.” As I reach the landing, Everett’s fingers brush against a lock of my hair.
A scream fills my ears. It’s mine, loud and terrified, as I dash forward at breakneck speed.
Heart, stay with me. We’ll rest once we’re safe.
There, there. I’m inside the room, spinning to shove the door closed.
After closing the door, I reach for the closest armchair. Drag it like I planned, so it’s pressed against the door.
I angle it, and—perfect. The door handle is secure.
“Go.” I adjust the armchair when Everett starts shaking the handle. “Away.”
“Wife.” His deceptively alluring tone rattles me to my core.
“Forced!” I scream, pushing the entire weight of my body against the door. “You forced me to marry you.”
“You’re my wife, nonetheless.” His fist slams on the heavy wood, and I shriek. “Open the fuck up.”
“Tomorrow.” I gulp in air, begging my heart to settle. “Go to bed, Everett.”
“You’re forgetting your place.” The second pound on the door is awful. It’s not a threat anymore. It’s a vow. “If you don’t open up within the next ten seconds, I’ll set this room on fire. Hell, I’ll set this whole place on fire with you in it.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“You’d make a beautiful corpse.” This part, it sounds like he’s lying.
Like he’s saying it to scare me. Like he’s doing it to turn me on.
