A
was cramping from how hard I was clutching my phone. I was waiting for it to buzz, for a text f
it t
iet of the car. I didn't have to ask what he
It's
ice, which somehow made it scarier. "There is no 'mine' anymore. You were just caught tryin
I snapped, finally turning to face hi
that Bureau, Maya. Desperation did. And love isn't coming to get yo
on separating us from the driver. I was trapped. With
e spying on girls is a Blac
the window, the cool night air rushing into the car for a split second befor
red straight ahead, sounding bored. "You wo
side of the window as if I co
ck into my seat
old me he was dead ser
t because I don't marry for love," Sil
back tears. He wasn't going to see me cry. I woul
e SUV pulled into a massive, circular driveway. "You don't speak to anyone fro
wasn't entirely wrong. Liam hadn't even l
he only pe
a single punch," Silas interrupted. "He's a coward, Maya. And the
scream that he was wrong, but the fight was draining
months?" I asked, straini
I hadn't spoken at all. He reached back and offered
e, despite myself. Everything about the mansion was screaming luxury. It was too much: the
ritory. I was currently in the Blackwood
umed they were the staff. I didn't want to move, but Silas's hand landed on the
ward with a slight bow. "G
ave a c
. Blackwood. I'm the h
ckwood?
d my waist. It was a silent warning that made me gasp and shut my mouth. It
ignoring my glare as he steered me t
m was plain and small compared to the rest of the mansion. It was just a desk cluttered
sturing to a black chai
me what's happening in six month
eboard and poured himself
to get me into the car. But looking at the way he looked while swirling his drin
u trying to flee again, I'll make sure the people you love pay for your mistakes. I'll take
monster,
taking a slow sip of his drink.
t. "Sounds like the same thing to me." I looked around the room, trying to find a
a reasonable adult in this ho
lled to meet him." He paused, his gaze driftin
cking my fingers into my palms to h
red. "The apartment. Did you le
get away from him, a lie I'd crafted in desperation. But
d back at me, his gaze completely empty of any warmth. "I let you go
I rolled my eyes, the brief sympathy I felt dying instantly. Just when
ly have t
cut me off, setting his glass down with a heavy thud. The
sh
ather have my
hell of a distraction, and you're going to provide it.
absurdity of it finally hitting me. "Does this
disbelief. He looked at me as if I were a puzzle he couldn't quite solve. "You're being hel
y think I'd
istant, I want a salary. A hi
ou're taking this be
d a fucki
voice low and mocking to match his, just to see if I
rings and a mind of its own. I'd make him wish he'd left
ired than annoyed. "Yes,
to let it show. Part of me expected him to laugh in my face, which only made
rs, pushing the boundary just to see where it would break. I sat ther
irect deposit. I'll even throw in a denta
dental plan? How gen
ss, Maya," he warned. "You're here to do
vacations, a proposal in six months, and a marriage in a y
That's all I was, and my li
," I mumbled. "But sur
u're exhausted. But don't make it a habit. You will no
e. "Don't be a fool. This house doesn't tolerate reckless voices. You aren't safe
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