Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
I hear my brother’s offer from my spot in the living room, and it makes me tense. Every muscle is locked up tight, and it feels like the whole world is suspended for her response. The only sound is Buddy’s panting and the tick, tick, tick of the clock.
Gage offered her an insane amount of money. A huge portion of our life savings.
She’ll take it, right?
My stomach twists. She refused when I offered her job back.
I want her to take the money. Not because I’m worried about her going to the cops. Fuck those pigs. Everyone knows charges don’t stick to money.
No, not for that reason. But because I want her here, with us.
Under my brother’s roof. Where we can keep an eye on her and weasel our way into her very psyche.
Give me a few weeks, and she won’t remember what her life was like without me.
And if she tries to, I’ll love-bomb her with so many good memories that she’ll begin to wonder if the past was just a dream.
Maybe one day she’ll realize what I did, and she’ll hate me, but I’m okay with that. She’ll be mine.
Finally, I hear her pretty, raspy voice. “Gage?”
“Yeah?”
“Go fuck yourself.”
Then, Raven stomps down the hall. I can’t see much, but I can tell by the motion that she passes me on the couch. I dart to my feet.
Gage comes beside me, grabbing my arm and holding me tight. “Wait,” he mutters.
“She’s leaving–”
I hear the jingle of the keys, and Buddy’s claws scrape as she runs for the door. Then, the front door slams, and Raven is gone.
I rip away from him. “You’re just going to let her walk away?”
“Yes.” Gage grinds out the word like it pains him.
“You can’t just let her get away.” I shake his arm off. Gage doesn’t let me go, and this time, I swing on him. He ducks, and I reach for his glasses. With his hand holding me, he can’t keep me from snatching them off his face.
“You can’t stop her,” Gage hisses. “You want to add another kidnapping charge?”
“If I have one, what’s two?” I put the glasses on my face.
“I won’t fucking help you.”
“I don’t need your help.” I yank my arm away from him. “She’s going to run.” I take a few steps toward the door. Raven’s getting away; I don’t have time for this.
“Leave her alone.” Suddenly, Gage is beside me.
I yank the front door open, and then he’s standing in front of me, shoving me back. “Her car’s out of gas. Fucking control your caveman for two fucking seconds.”
“Get out of my way.”
“No.” There’s a sneer on Gage’s face, and he’s looking down on me in the way he always used to when he got better grades than me.
Ah, finally. He hates me the way he should.
“You don’t get to win this one by cheating your way through.”
“Cheating?” Rage starts pulsing through my blood.
“Yes, cheating.” Gage is snarling now. “If the only reason she’s with you is you’re bigger than her, and you scare her, then you’re no better than any other man out there.”
He squares up like he’s going to hit me. I don’t even brace for it. Let him hit me. I’m watching my obsession walk away, and I’m going to stop her.
But instead, Gage just steps out of my way with an odd look on his face. It’s one of… love.
And somehow, that hurts more.
“She can’t go far. Just give her a minute, and she’ll be back.”