A
e same image over and over. My spineless father remained glued
ned me
. It was too big to be real. How could one man even spend that much money? How could he owe it?
in th
ting my face. We were at the curb. Three massive, black SUVs were waiting, their
le car, then back at Silas. I shook m
ere. This isn't real. You
re wasting my time, Maya. I have
hough my legs felt like t
ing, not a business acquisition. You don't get to just take me because my father d
He was so close I had t
es it?" He watched me for a moment. "I wonder if it
ysical blow. This wasn't just a
vival instincts. I panicked. I spun around
around me. He scooped me up effortlessly, hoisting me against
nce before I remembered I was supposed to be fighting him. My heart was beating fast, but
! Let me go!" I screamed,
g a brick wall. He didn't even flinch. His grip only tightene
d into the crook of his neck. "You don't just kidnap a
e just carried me toward the SUV calmly while I sw
mbed in after me. His large frame made the spacious SUV feel s
iver, not even glancing at me
lling the handle until my fingers hu
Please. I have things. I can't just l
r a long second, those ocean-blue eyes searched mine. He was looking for a lie, for manipulat
e said calmly. "Your new life started t
, a scarf... some clothes that still smell like her perfume. If I'm never coming b
ching him and waiting for an answer. For a
staring out the tinted wi
partment. Five minutes. And if she isn't back in the car by the sixth minute,
s didn't let me out of his sight. He
ed the bedroom door handle. My heart was racing so hard I thought it might burst throu
room for other exits or windows. Finally, he s
you aren't out by then,
en look for my mother's jewelry. I grabbed my passport from the nightstan
door, making me jump
ust grabbing the b
winging my leg
wn and swallowed hard, already feeling sick. Thet the alley floor, I took off. I didn't look back
ckseat and gave the d
s really thought he could just o
ke down, falling into his arms, sobbing as I told him the whole story. Th
ve what he was hearing. "He really thinks he can take you
ys. "We're getting ou
I wiped my face wit
ole, Maya. If we're already married, that contract is
rt skipping a beat. "Yo
is room. "I don't have a ring, and this isn't how it
d down and hugged him, nodding again
hand. "Then let's go. We
the road. I was about to marry one man to escape a
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