Page 37 of Mad Love

My heart squeezed so sharply, so violently, that my vision went blurry. “No. You can’t—”

“I think we’re past you telling me what I can’t do,” he interrupted, arching a brow. “So, let me tell you what you’re going to do unless you want me to commission one of Jasper Woods’s old sniper buddies to test their skills with the back of Cain’s head.”

Air rushed out of my lungs and wouldn’t come back in.

“I’ve arranged a new marriage for you. One that will happen before the end of the month.” Gary smiled benignly, shrugging. “I get my money, minus a fee I have to pay your new fiancé for taking you off my hands, and he gets a pretty, compliant wife.”

I stared down at the floor, wondering if I could let him think for even a second that I was considering it.

The obvious answer was yes. I should tell Gary what he wanted to hear and bide my time until I could break free. But something in me wouldn't yield, wouldn’t even joke about giving to someone else what I’d already vowed to Ryan.

Ryan wouldn’t want me to give in to this. He’d tell me he could take care of himself, and he could. Especially with the guys behind him. No, Gary wouldn’t get a chance at Ryan again, and I just needed to hang on until Ryan got me out of this mess or I figured it out for myself.

Either way? Fuck Gary Cabot and his demands.

“No.”

Gary’s eyes narrowed. “What did you say?”

I took in a deep breath and met his eyes. “I said no. I won’t do it. I love Ryan, and I won’t marry someone else.”

His head tilted to the side. “Did you not see what I just did to your mother?”

“I saw it, and I also saw her accept it. If this is the life my mother chooses, then fine. I’m done trying to help her if she doesn’t want it.” I leaned forward, fire in my belly and hate in my eyes for this asshole. “But I’m done playing your games.”

“Care to make a wager on that?” The teasing lilt in Gary’s tone sent alarms blaring through my brain, but I ignored them.

I was so sick of being his puppet. Of him thinking he could control and manipulate me.

I was done.

“Lock me up.” I shrugged like it didn’t bother me. “Do whatever you want, but I’m not playing along, and I won’t betray Ryan.”

Gary chuckled and glanced over my shoulder at Evan. “She still thinks she has a say. It’s almost adorable if it wasn’t so troublesome.” He turned his attention to me. “I’m amazed at how selfish you can be, Madison.”

I snorted. “Seriously? You’re going to lecture me on—”

He held up a hand. “Let me show you what happens when selfish little girls don’t learn their lessons. Someone pays the price.” His smile went glacial as he reached for the laptop on the corner of his desk. Looking away from me, he opened it and tapped a few buttons before spinning it around so I could see the screen.

It was a website. Frowning, I narrowed my eyes and focused more. It was a Detroit news site talking about yet another murder. Not surprising, but apparently this one was getting extra attention because the murdered person was a little old woman who had been mugged and stabbed to death outside the library where she…

My entire world tilted on its axis as the blood rushed to my toes.

“No. No, no, no.” I covered my mouth in horror as Gary angled the laptop so he could scroll down to the attached photo. Flowers were placed at the entrance to the library where I’d worked with Marge.

Marge, the only adult in my life who’d given a shit about me. Who had let me spend hours at a small table in the library when I was a kid and needed a safe place when Mom was on a bender. Marge, the woman who had driven me home and looked out for me as best she could.

She was dead.

Murdered.

And Gary had killed her…

… because of me.

I lifted my eyes to him, unable to see him through the blurry mess of tears.

He snapped the laptop shut and smiled at me. “I think I’ve made my point, haven’t I? Evan, take her back to her room. She needs to get ready. Her new fiancé will be here soon.”

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