Chapter 24
“LIKE YXU WXULD KNXW (AUTUMN TREES)” KORDHELL, SCARLXRD, CORPSE
M y nerves are unattended live wires jumping too close to a puddle.
Any second now, the water will touch the wires and set off a chain reaction.
I’m moments from screaming and making a fool of myself as I sit beside Justin at the dinner table.
The entire family is here, and even Ryder has joined.
He hasn’t spared me a glance since yesterday when we arrived home.
Justin’s hand lies heavily on my thigh, his fingers spread out and gripping me with the strength of a python coiled around its next meal. He’s played nice since he first arrived this evening. It’s all for show, of course, so he doesn’t alarm my family by revealing how he behaves when we’re alone.
Dad and Justin chat about confusing topics. It all sounds like mumbo-jumbo bullshit to me, but they seem to understand each other just fine.
It’s hard to pay attention when Justin keeps squeezing my thigh and sliding his hand closer to my core. Bile rises in my throat, and my skin crawls beneath Justin’s touch. I’m right back in the bathroom at the restaurant, on my knees, with Justin shoving his dick in my face for me to suck.
I shift in my seat, hoping it’s enough to move his hand.
Justin barks out a laugh at whatever Dad said, giving my leg a warning squeeze at the same time.
I side-eye him, then glare at my half-empty plate of food.
Minnie cooked tonight, and I hate that I’m unable to finish the meal.
What little I’ve eaten already sits heavily on my stomach.
“We’ll have to go there sometime. Maybe after your honeymoon?” Dad says.
My head snaps up, and I catch Ryder staring at me before he slides his attention away. His expression is blank, lacking any emotion, but I still catch the fire burning in his cold eyes as he stares at Justin. Any second now and my fiancé will combust into flames.
“We’ll see how the missus fares when we get back. Then we’ll talk,” Justin says with a smirk.
Dad’s grin is more wolfish than amused. “Ah, yes. Good point. I know all this waiting is riling you up. I’m sure you’ll take great care of Madison while she’s meeting your needs.”
My face slackens and my jaw drops. They’re going to sit here and bluntly talk about the wedding night? And Justin will see how I fare ? What the fuck does he plan to do, beat me?
I wouldn’t put it past him, actually.
“I’m right here,” I snap. My heart hammers and I tremble with rage as the two men chuckle at me like I’m some dainty woman who can’t think for herself.
Minnie drops her silverware onto her plate and glares at my father. “That’s your daughter you’re talking about, Jerry.”
Dad’s amusement melts away, and his face pinches as he turns to his sister. “It’s not like the girl doesn’t know what will happen on her wedding night.”
“She’s still your child,” Minnie growls. “You have no business discussing something like that.”
My stomach knots while I watch Dad and Aunt Mary argue. It’s nice knowing she’ll call my father out on his bullshit, but I’m worried he’ll hit her again when they’re alone. She says she can handle her own, but he’s far bigger than she is and can easily overpower her if he chooses to.
Ryder relaxes into his seat, his fingers toying with his steak knife on the table. The skeleton fingers tattooed on his hand and fingers ripple with the movement, bringing the art to life with a promise of violence.
Minnie is the only good thing about being here with Justin and Dad. Carolyn is useless. She’ll take my father’s side about everything, no matter how messed up things get.
Speaking of Carolyn, she sits quietly beside my dad, but when she looks at my aunt, irritation flashes across her sharp features.
“It’s fine, Mr. Richmond,” Justin says. “We can have our more private discussions in your office. Wouldn’t want the delicate ears listening in on men’s businesses.”
I bite the inside of my cheek and swallow the insult hanging on my tongue.
Ryder’s fingers tighten around the knife, then loosen. He shoves his seat back and stands, then leaves the living room without a word. I keep my gaze trained forward, just in case the others are watching for my reaction.
I snatch up my champagne glass, glad there’s still a good amount left for me to drink.
If I have to put up with this, I’d rather be drunk than sober.
The carbonated bubbles fizz all the way down my throat until they settle in my stomach.
Warmth blooms within my body as I tip back the glass until I’m left wanting more.
That wasn’t enough to drown everything out.
The rest of the meal is uneventful. My lower back is killing me from sitting with a straight spine and tensed shoulders. Madam Joan would be proud if she saw me now, though her approval means nothing to me. It’s hard to relax when Justin keeps touching my leg.
My stomach churns, and I glance toward the kitchen.
I can’t take this anymore.
I excuse myself from the table and bring my empty champagne glass with me for a refill. A happy hum spills out of me as I grab the bottle from the refrigerator. I pop the cork and pour the fizzling alcohol into my glass.
Justin’s voice carries from the other room, killing my short-lived buzz. “If it’s all right, Mr. Richmond, I’d like to stay the night. I had a little too much to drink, and I don’t think I can drive.”
“Of course. I’m sure you’d like some alone time with your fiancée, too,” Dad says, loud enough for me to hear. “I’m positive Madison has something important to tell you concerning what happened yesterday.”
I scowl at my glass and squeeze my eyes shut as I tip my head back. I finish the champagne in three gulps. It burns all the way down and settles in my churning stomach.
The memory of Justin’s touch raises goosebumps on my arms, bringing helpless rage with it as it lingers.
I pour another glass so I can numb the sensations.
Justin asking to stay the night is his way of slithering into my bed. How can my dad be okay with Justin staying the night here, when he’s made it clear we aren’t allowed to do anything until we’re married?
And there is no way in hell I’ll apologize to Justin, if that’s what he’s implying.
Footsteps approach from behind, and a hand slides over my shoulders, then settles on my lower back.
“You’ve had enough to drink,” Justin murmurs into my ear.
Ignoring him, I tilt my head back and chug the rest of the champagne in my glass.
“Madison,” he warns, and squeezes my waist.
I shrug him off. “I don’t need your permission.”
Justin plucks the glass from my hand and sets it on the marble countertop in front of me. He grabs me by the elbow and guides me out of the kitchen.
My heart sinks to my stomach, and I dig the heels of my flats into the floor. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
He ignores me, sending my panic into overdrive.
I dig my elbow into his side, but Justin doesn’t even grunt.
The only reaction I get is his tightening grip—another warning.
I hold back a wince, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing me hurt.
He drags me out of the kitchen, then out the back door before anyone can spot us and save me from whatever punishment Justin has in store.
“Let go of me.” I shove out of his grasp, and this time he releases me as he slides the door shut behind him.
Justin adjusts his tie, then stalks toward me. Gone is the perfect gentleman, replaced by the monster he keeps hidden from everyone but me.
“Who am I?” he says as he advances.
I scramble backward, putting as much space between us as possible. This is a game I can’t win. For every step I take, he takes two. My chest squeezes as my heart fights for its life, pounding against its cage so it can escape Justin as well.
“I didn’t know your brain was between your legs. Did I bite you so hard that you got a concussion and forgot your name?” I stammer. My tongue is thick from the alcohol, which thankfully gives me a little extra courage to tell him off.
His lips flatten into a harsh line. Shadows blanket his face, with only the moonlight highlighting the sharp edges of his nose and cheekbones.
“You think you’re cute, don’t you?” He shakes his head. “You forget who I am.”
It was a lame jab toward him, but I call it a win because it got under his skin.
But at what cost?
I gasp and stumble over my own feet as he lunges the last foot between us.
His hand snaps out and fists my hair on the side of my head.
I yelp as he yanks me into a standing position, then walks me backward until my ass meets the banister overlooking the woods in the backyard.
I clutch Justin’s shoulders as he bends me backward until I’m dangling over the edge.
The toes of my shoes barely touch the ground as he hovers above me with a deep-set scowl.
It’s a twenty-foot drop if he lets go of me, and I wouldn’t put it past him to do exactly that.
“You’re my fiancée,” he says through bared teeth, “which means you answer to me . You’ll do everything I tell you to do without questioning me or talking back.”
“Justin,” I whimper. “Please. You’re hurting me.”
He scoffs. “You’re being dramatic, Madison. Isn’t this what you wanted? To see me angry after I’ve shown you nothing but kindness? I’ve spent thousands of dollars on you, and you’re still acting like a bitch.”
I shove his chest. “Stop it!”
Justin smirks and drops me, only firming his hold at the last second. A choked scream slips out of me as I grapple with his dress shirt, clutching him so I don’t fall. He grins and holds me in place with his fist in my hair, his hips pinning mine to keep me balanced.
“I didn’t ask for this,” I say.
He’s going to kill me. I can see it in his bottomless-pit eyes.
Justin snorts. “You didn’t ask for this? You bit me, you bitch! Then you ran off with one of your biker friends. Tell me, sweet wife. Did you let him touch you?”