Page 45 of The Villain's Captive (The Villain's Duet 1)

No matter how gentle his voice sounded, how compassionate he pretended to be, it still grated at my bones.

I stopped rocking, glancing halfway over my shoulder. All I saw was this tiny figure and the striking light, honey-blonde hair. My heart, stomach, and lungs all coiled together, and I fell over my own two feet as I stumbled to get up, my legs weak and arms numb.

“Ellie?” God, it had been so long. Days, weeks, an infinity of time spent thinking of her, imagining her sweet face and gentle voice. There were times Roland was so convincing I found myself doubting my own sanity more than once.

“Ellie!” I exclaimed, putting one foot in front of the other, wanting to run to her, wanting to hug her and thank God she was okay.

“Elijah, stop!” Roland stepped in front of me, blocking Ellie off. “Calm down, son.”

“I am not your son,” I hissed, glaring up at his giant frame.

“Listen.” He placed his hands on my shoulders, but I shrugged out of his hold, growling at him like I would tear him apart at any moment. I wanted to. I wanted to pop his eyes from his skull and cut his damn tongue out. I dreamed about peeling the skin off his bones with the blunt potato peeler down in the kitchen drawer.

“Listen, boy.” He held out his hands and urged Ellie to step in next to him while wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “This isn’t Ellie.”

“What? No.” I looked at her, those familiar green-brown irises staring at me. “That’s Ellie. I told you I wasn’t crazy. Ellie, come here.” I held out my arms, wanting to get away from the monster, but she wrapped her hands around his leg and leaned into him.

My skin turned cold and clammy. “Ellie. It’s me. Elijah.”

She placed her little, round cheek against his knee. “My name isn’t, Ellie,” she said softly. “I’m Harley.”

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