Page 56 of Illicit Heir

Minutes pass as I try not to shrink under his scowl. Then his expression turns eerily calm as he states, "I'm not anonymous, Lauren. My money is not anonymous. The things I do for this community and you are not anonymous."

My insides quiver harder.

He adds, "Now, I'm going to release you. Kiss me and show me how grateful ya are for my generosity and support."

Bile crawls up my throat. "I'm not kissing ya, Caleb."

"So ya don't appreciate my gifts and support?" he challenges, stepping toward me.

I step back, and he continues to move forward until I'm against the wall. The smell of his cologne reminds me of the time he choked me so hard and scared the crap out of me.

Sickness fills me. I try to push him away, but he grabs my hands.

He seethes, "Are ya trying to play hard to get, Lauren?"

"Leave me alone, Caleb."

He takes his finger and drags it down the side of my cheek, over my jawbone, then down the front of my neck. His fingers lace around my throat.

My knees buckle from fear, but he pushes against me, holding me between the wall and him. He threatens, "I don't like ungrateful lasses."

I stay quiet.

He continues, "I'm going to go now, but ya better think about how you're acting. When I get back, ya better return to the woman who shows me how much ya want me."

"I don't want ya. I'm never going to want ya," I manage to get out.

Arrogance washes over him. He flicks his tongue on my lobe, making my skin crawl.

I try to get away from him, but I can't.

He declares, "You're mine, Lauren. You've always been mine. You're always going to be mine."

"I'm not!"

A sinister smile forms on his lips. He insists, "Oh, but ya are, lass. And the next time I step foot in this pub, ya better be packed and ready to leave with me."

"Never! I will never leave with ya!" I spout.

The calm look washes over him again. I'm not used to it, and it freaks me out further. Caleb usually doesn't know how to manage his emotions. This new sense of control is throwing me for another loop. My gut tells me it's more dangerous than him making his thoughts known.

More time passes, and all I can hear is my heart thumping against my chest and his breath coming out of his nostrils.

He finally releases me, stepping back. He goes to the door, turns back, then declares, "Pack up, my dear Lauren. I'm coming back for ya soon."

10

Devin

My phone buzzes. I yank it out of my pocket and glance down.

Samuel: He's at the pub.

My pulse skyrockets. It's the first time Caleb's entered The Confessional since I told Samuel to monitor Lauren, except when he came in to claim that he'd paid for the pub destruction.

It didn't surprise me that he took credit. Samuel reported Lauren and the others were claiming an anonymous donor left it. I'm sure it's eating Caleb up, not knowing who left the money. And that thought satisfies me.

Me: What's he doing?

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