Page 102 of Hero Unbound

This was a Gareth she didn’t even recognize. And definitely not one she wanted to be around.

Although no version of Gareth was one she wanted to be around.

“You know what really sealed the deal in making them understand that you’re unstable?” he continued. “Our last phone conversation.”

He pulled out his phone and played back what he’d recorded.

“I’m not going to press because I really do just want what’s best for you.” Gareth’s voice sounded so reasonable in the conversation they’d had last week. “I’m not around to help you, but I hope you’ll find someone who can. Someone who understands you like I do.Someone who knows how clumsy you are and how you sometimes get in trouble.”

“I’m not clumsy.” Her own voice sounded much shakier.

“We both know that’s not true.”

“Leave me alone. Don’t call me. Don’t message me. Don’t try to contact me at all.” Her voice was getting more hysterical with each word.

“Baby, don’t be this way. I’m just trying to help. You need help.”

“Shut up, Gareth, and stop calling mefuckingbaby!”

The last words were screamed. Eva sank back into the couch in defeat. If Gareth had really played this for them, then he was right; it did make her sound unstable. That, combined with having just accused him of trying to hurt her, made her completely unreliable.

“You should’ve seen your boyfriend’s face when he heard this. And, of course, I showed him the various medical reports where you’d hurt yourself to get attention.”

She shook her head. “I never did that.”

“The medical reports say otherwise, baby. The point is, nobody is going to think anything of it when you decide to slink out of town without a word. No one will try to find you. The opposite, in fact. They’ll be glad you’re gone. You have yourself to thank for that.”

She was afraid every bit of that was true.

“We’ll take some time together alone,” he continued. “I’ve got a cabin in the middle of nowhere I’ve rented where we can work on your behavior. I’ve even taken off work so I can spend the time to train you correctly this time. Not leave anything to chance.”

She felt like she was going to vomit.Train her correctly?

“We’ll work together until you’ve seen the error of your ways and know what you need to do to course correct. And once we’re certain you’re not going to get confused and run away again, we’ll see about reintroducing you to society. But not until then. Until then, it will be just you and me.”

His blue eyes were clear, earnest even. He couldn’t see how sick this really was.

The only thing sane about any of this was the fact that Gareth was correct—if he took her right now, nobody would be looking for her. Not even Theo.

She needed to get away from Gareth right damn now. If she didn’t, she might lose her chance completely. When he stood back up to continue his justification for kidnapping and assault, she ran for the door.

Her fingers were on the handle—she could almost taste freedom—when he caught her. He slammed her against the wall before throwing her to the floor. Her head, already tender from the earlier fall that day, spun.

“It’s time for us to go, baby. We’re going to go by and get those stupid dogs of yours since no one would believe you’d leave them behind. But unfortunately, they’re going to be collateral damage. They won’t make the trip back with us—I’ll be getting rid of them.”

She blinked away the dizziness to find Gareth’s smug smile filling her vision. He knew what the threat of hurting her dogs would do to her.

She didn’t want to give him the pleasure of showing her fear, but she couldn’t stop it. “Gareth, no. Don’t do that. They’re both gentle creatures. I’ll keep them away from you.”

He shook his head. “You have to learn your lesson. Maybe now you’ll understand that when you leave and break up our home, there are consequences.”

She couldn’t let this happen. “Please. I’ll go with you. Let me send a text saying I need to leave and ask if the dogs can stay on the Linear Tactical property. If you do that, I’ll stay with you.”

She wouldn’t. As soon as she had a chance to leave, she would escape, but right now, she needed to make sure Sugar and Spice were safe.

“Please, Gareth.” She rubbed more blood from the corner of her mouth that had reopened when he’d slammed her against the wall. “I-I want to get better, like you’re saying.”

He studied her. She wanted to beg—was willing to beg when it came to her precious pups—but kept quiet. It was a delicate balance with Gareth. Showing too much desperation would swing him in the opposite direction than she wanted.

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