Joy
After tossing and turning all night, I jump out of bed and decide to give myself a tour of Valerian’s house.
The wedding celebrations went on longer than I thought. Multiple champagne flutes were offered to me, but I turned all of them down. I didn’t want to drink. I wanted to leave.
And that’s still the case now.
I walk out of my bedroom suite and down the banister. I have to strike at the right time. I can’t salvage an escape yet. Maybe in a week when things have settled down, I’ll find a way to escape and find help.
For now, I need to work out my exits. Unfortunately, guards are stationed at each one. Even when I slip outside and walk across the stone cloister, I see four Russian men hidden in the shadows staring back at me.
They’re big. Not as much as Valerian and his burned friend. But still big enough for me to not stand a chance.
The silk nightgown I’m wearing scuffs the ground as I walk through the cloister. I don’t have clothes or any of my skincare products. Everything here has been given to me by Valerian.
The silk nightgown is okay. But it could be made more functional for walking.
The wedding dress Valerian picked out for me took me by surprise. It was vintage Vivian Westwood. I always envisioned myself wearing that designer one day.
Which only made my blood boil more as I walked down the aisle, seeing Valerian waiting at the other end.
Fucking bastard. I will find a way to get out of this. Being married to him doesn’t change anything.
I come to a halt, throwing my arms over the edge of the stone wall to breathe in the night air.
It doesn’t matter how clean the air is up here at the top of Beverly Hills.
I still feel my throat tightening, everything closing in as I sink deeper into reality, and what this sudden turn of events really means.
‘Mom, it’s midday. You need to get out of bed.’
I open the drapes, which only causes her to sink more into the covers.
‘He came back at two a.m. last night smelling of Coco Chanel, baby.’
Finals are only two months away. I need to be studying.
Instead, grief sinks into my chest.
I sit on the edge of Mom’s bed.
‘Once I graduate high school, I’ll find a job. And the money I make will be our own.’
‘Your father will come around, baby. He always does.’
He does. But the cycle always repeats.
And Mom’s trapped in it.
That’s what happens when you marry the wrong man.
He drains the life out of you until you’re curled up in bed everyday questioning yourself.
A tightness pulls on my chest as I stare into space, feeling like there’s no way out.
I stare out at the swimming pool across the garden. The surrounding palm trees almost make the area feel secluded. But it won’t be. Valerian will have eyes everywhere.
My core burns when I remember the way he looked at me earlier. We were standing in this exact spot.
God, I feel so small when he’s around. I can’t pinpoint why I like that so much.
I never felt excited with Igor. We used lube during sex. I could never get myself wet enough.
His father, on the other hand, could slip right in and fuck me blind.
I shake off the feeling before it consumes me. What the fuck is wrong with me? Being attractive to your ex-fiancé’s father is not normal.
I haven’t even had time to process the breakup yet.
But I stand here now and wonder if there’s even anything to process.
I’m too busy wondering about how I’ll be punished by his father.
When I was handcuffed to Valerian’s bed, he said he punishes people for breaking his trust.
Did I break his trust for not showing up?
A part of me likes to think I did… just to be back in those handcuffs again.
I turn back around, retracing my steps through the cloister to head back inside. It’s late. Almost one a.m., according to the time on my watch. I need to rest and gain some strength for the coming days.
I turn the corner and collide with a very hard chest.
“Ouch!” I massage my temple, wincing.
Looking up, I find Valerian standing over me. A shiver runs down my spine, causing all the hairs on my skin to stand on end. He’s meant to be sleeping. He shouldn’t be awake.
But he is. He’s very awake, pinning me a glare with those haunting blue eyes.
“You should be sleeping.”
“So should you.”
“No, sweetheart.”
I narrow my eyes, taking him in. Where’s he been? In the city performing a hit and run? It’s hard to know for sure. His face is unreadable. At least with his son I could break through and read him like a book.
A book that turned out to be all lies.
It’ll be interesting to see if the apple falls far from the tree. It probably doesn’t.
“Can I borrow your phone? Your friend didn’t exactly give me a chance to collect my belongings on the beach before dragging me onto his boat.
” I fold my arms over my chest. He’s still not saying anything.
“I need to let my friends and family know where I am. And I have a deadline in two days, which, all thanks to you, I won’t be able to make. ”
Valerian narrows his eyes. Shadows play all over his face, darkening his features, making them look even more petrifying.
Yeah, he was definitely out killing someone tonight. Great way to celebrate the wedding.
“No.” Valerian’s decision sounds final. “You won’t be telling anyone you’re here.”
“But they’ll be worried.”
Not like I expect Valerian to understand how that feels. He’s only worried when his son tries to steal from him.
It makes me wonder if he even cares.
“You dragged me here against my own will and forced you to marry me. I’ve given up my life for you. And you won’t even let me send one text message?”
“As I said to you earlier, sweetheart, you’re not giving up as much as you think you are.” Valerian steps in. Shadows play on his face as he corners me into the stone cloister. “You won’t be having any contact with the outside world.”
My chest pulls in every direction, panic closing up my throat. I try swallowing the lump in my throat. But that just makes it worse. No. We’re not doing this.
I’m not staying here.
I told Valerian he just married the wrong girl. And I’m gonna make sure of that.
What I’m not gonna do is show Valerian how distraught I feel.
He doesn’t have empathy. A lot of men are like that. It’s best not to waste your time with them.
“You won’t be getting away with this.”
Valerian nods, a cruel smile toying with the ends of his lips.
And god, all I wanna do is kiss them. See how it feels. If he’s a better kisser than Igor.
I bet his father knows how to kiss. He’s more experienced.
I bet he would be the same age as my father now.
I wouldn’t know for sure. Mom and I haven’t seen him since we left.
But the fine lines carved into his face suggest experience.
Unlike him, I don’t have a lot. Particularly in the bedroom.
His son took my virginity. To date, he’s the only boy I’ve ever slept with.
“Don’t you think you’re taking this punishment too far?”
Valerian levels me a look. His face is getting dangerously close to mine. “How so?”
I step back, overwhelmed by how big he is. And how small I am compared to him.
“Take me out of the equation for a second—Igor is your son. Don’t you love him?”
Valerian searches both of my eyes.
I step back, but my lower back meets the stone wall. There’s nowhere to go now. And Valerian makes me feel even more trapped by stepping in, searching each of my eyes.
He leans in. His eyes are cruel. Cold. He really is a soulless man.
But my heart still rattles in my chest as he levels me a look. I feel my own wetness dripping down my thighs. My breath is gone.
Adrenaline surges through my body, filling all of my cells with life.
God, he’s so handsome he’s making me forget why I’m here—against my own will. He kidnapped me. And I’m here forever.
Which is a very fucking long time when you’ve been trapped with the wrong man.
“Don’t question my decisions, Joy. Otherwise, I can make this hell for you.”