Uncaged Obsessions (Uncaged Duet #2)

14. Max

CHAPTER 14

MAX

E verything about planning this wedding has been worse than last time. Not only because it’s so much faster, but because I’m also trying to plan my escape at the same time. Before, I had months to plan, make sure I was hiding my trail and think of all the possibilities to make sure I wasn’t caught.

I don’t have that luxury and I know it’s only a matter of time before I get caught, or worse, my plan fails.

I wish I had help, I wish the guys were here. I wish I was back home. I wish this just wasn’t my fucking life.

I can’t let myself dwell on any of that because the only thing that will do is hold me back, and I have a home to get back to. I can have a breakdown once I’m back home, in my own bed, with the comfort of three large men crowding me and causing me to overheat. I would give anything to have that right now. Soon. I’ll be home soon.

This time, I know these people won’t let me get away easily again. There’s no way anyone will leave me alone like before. No, I’m sure that I’ll have eyes on me at all times.That’s why I’ve decided that I need to make my escape the night before.

And I know it’s not going to be easy.

I’ve maintained my workouts daily with what I can do from my room because I need to keep my strength up. Especially because I know I’m not getting out of here without a fight.

A couple of days ago, as I made my way back to my room, I managed to grab a fire poker when Carson had his back turned, grabbing himself another drink after making me dance for him. It’s been hidden under my mattress and I have a feeling I’m going to need to use it.

It’s been killing me to play nice with him and my parents during all their planning sessions. I’ve been quiet, agreeable, the way they expect the demure Maxine to behave. I nod along to everything they suggest because I’m not going to be around to see any of it, nor do I want to be.

“Yes, that sounds good.”

“Yes, that looks great.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

All I want to do is scream how I really feel and I want nothing more than to scream, “No!” just for the freedom to do so. Once I’m out of here I’m going to stand in the middle of the street and scream just because I can.

Tonight’s the rehearsal dinner and there was quite the argument on whether or not we should have one this time, since there was one before. My mother wanted it and my father went along with it because he got to invite the business people he wants to look good for.

I’m dreading the fact that I’m going to need to be glued to Carson’s side for the entire night. His hands on me and having to pretend like I want them to be there instead of wanting to break every one of his fingers for touching me. I’m sure there will be questions about where I went and I’m going to have to force a smile and avoid answering just like everyone else has been.

Smile. Look pretty. Don’t talk.

Be Maxine Barclay.

Soon to be Maxine Bradford.

That’s what they all want, and it’s what they all expect, but that wasn’t ever going to be me.

I manage to get ready before Carson threatens to break down my door again. I descend the stairs and find that he’s in the kitchen, not even having had the chance to pour his first glass of the evening. Though, I know there will be plenty of alcohol at the rehearsal.

“Wow wifey, look at you,” he greets, his gaze lingering on my chest where the white dress hugs my curves perfectly.

I paste a fake ass smile on my face as I step closer to where he’s standing, but still making sure to maintain a significant distance.

“Are you ready for tonight?” he asks, his tone suggestive and it sends a chill down my spine. I worry that I may have been playing too nice with him.

I nod, not trusting my voice not to say something about how disgusting he is.

He closes the distance between us, and I grit my teeth, my molars aching from the force when his hand lands on my hip and I fight the urge to grab it and break all his fingers. “You’re going to be a good little wifey for me tonight and tomorrow; we’re going to get through our wedding. If you behave, then I’ll make sure to give you a reward.”

I grimace, especially when he leans closer to continue, his lips grazing the skin of my ear. “I’ll fuck you the way you like and treat you like the slut you are.”

He pulls away, smirking, and I bite my tongue, keeping my face as passive as possible instead of telling him exactly what I’m going to do if he attempts to lay even one single finger on me.

“I’m going to get changed, you want to help me?”

I put the fake smile back on. “I’ll get your drink ready instead.”

“That’s right, I keep forgetting you were a bartender back in that shit hole.” He looks pained admitting it. “Good thing you won’t have to worry about doing that again.”

Without acknowledging his insult, I go to the bar and prepare his drink. I’ve done this a handful of times over the last week, especially the past few nights. After I found the redness reducing eye drops in his bathroom while he was at work, I remembered something I’d heard on a true crime podcast.

I know that they lower your blood pressure and decrease your heart rate, so I started slipping them into his drink every opportunity I could. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have me get him a drink often enough that I’ve been able to kill him with them. I don’t know how much it would take, and maybe tonight will be my lucky night.

Emptying the bottle into the drink, I hope that this might be what tips him over the edge.

I hand him the drink once he comes back down, after changing into his suit for the night. Watching his throat bob with a large gulp of the liquid, I eye what’s left, hoping that he drinks it quickly because maybe it’ll work faster and I can avoid the rehearsal dinner altogether.

Then he says something that pulls my attention back up to him, even though I do my best not to react. “Your fan club has been pretty quiet lately. You think they’ve moved onto some other town whore?”

“Probably,” I grit out, the word tasting awful on my tongue. I know it’s not true, deep in my gut I know they aren’t giving up on me. And on the off chance that they are, I’ll turn the tables on them and show how crazy I can be right back. They unlocked something in me that I can’t come back from.

Carson pulls out his phone and then downs the rest of the contents of his glass, setting it down on an end table. “Our car is here. Behave.”

“I will,” I lie through my fucking teeth.

The rehearsal dinner is a lot like our first one. People I hardly know and don’t care about telling me how happy they are for me. Except this time it’s sprinkled in with questions about where I went, what happened, and other things I avoid answering.

Carson’s arm is wrapped around me, gripping my hip in a way that’s almost painful, and every time I try to push him away he just pulls me tighter. I want to rip his hand off, and break each finger one by one, but I can’t make a scene.

While we’re standing talking to some business associate of Carson’s that I don’t know, I get a flash in the corner of my eye, a familiar face catching my attention, but when I turn it’s gone. I’m not even drinking alcohol, but I could have sworn I just saw Drew.

“Isn’t that right, wifey?” Carson squeezes my hip again, and I hide my flinch.

“Right,” I agree blindly, and since he didn’t tighten his hold again, it was clearly the right thing to say.

I try to look around subtly, because there’s an edge of awareness that has me on high alert. I swore I saw Drew, and I can feel eyes on me, but not the eyes of strangers.

Just then, I catch the cold glare of a man I’ll never forget across the room. Caine’s stare is one that has death written all over it as he looks in my direction. But it’s Carson that he’s focused on. I want to scream and run toward him, but I have to stay rooted where I am with another man’s hands on me. They’re not the hands of Drew or Adam that I want on me as Caine watches.

A woman comes up to Caine, trying to get his attention. I almost react until I realize that she’s also a familiar face. Danner . I fight to keep my jaw from dropping right onto the floor at my surprise.

They’re here. Wait, why are they here? How are they here?

I’m looking around to see if I can find Adam, too, because he has to be here. I know I saw Drew and it wasn’t a figment of my imagination. I want to jump for fucking joy right now, but Carson pulls me against his chest, and says something to his colleagues before leaning down to speak only to me. “Keep it up, and you’ll get your reward.”

I flinch. The only reward I’m going to get tonight is getting the fuck out of here.