Chapter 20
Drayton
She wasn’t going to last. Marian wouldn’t be strong enough to withstand what I planned to put her through.
Even now, she was distant and withdrawn, and what I’d done so far was nothing compared to what was to come.
She wasn’t going to make it, and if I was smart, I’d bypass this marriage and put her out of her misery before I got anymore attached.
And fuck… I could feel her pull. It was just like when we’d first met.
My eyes found hers like gravity. Every move.
Every sigh. She was all I’d ever known from the first moment she walked into my life, and even now with as much hate as I held for her, I couldn’t find a way to scrub her from my mind.
I couldn’t accept what I knew I should do, just like I had never been able to force myself to see the truth.
How was hate and love like siblings? They were twins.
One good, one bad. Their personalities were black and white.
She was just as much of a curse as she was a revival, and I was fucked no matter what I decided.
“Remember what I said. You don’t take no for an answer. You figure out a way to get him to meet us. Alone.”
Marian nodded, still quiet. Still staring off into the distance in a daze. The pale green shirt she wore deepened the color of her eyes, and the white jeans did nothing but help enhance the paleness of her worried face.
“What if I can’t get him to agree?”
“Your track record with your father’s company tells me you’ll figure it out.”
For the first time, Marian’s eyes locked on mine. Panic. Yes. So much terror within those depths, but she didn’t speak. She didn’t say a word. All she did was keep nodding and nervously tapping her damn finger over the ring box she held to.
“I think I’m ready.”
“Alright.”
Her stare lifted to mine again. “I think I can get him to meet, but he won’t be alone. He may look alone, but—”
“We’ll take care of it. Just get him to leave that fucking hotel. That’s all you need to do.”
Another damn nod.
Marian punched in the number, and I reached over, hitting the button for the speaker. It only rang once before Bastian’s voice came through.
“Hello?”
Her lip quivered.
“It’s me.”
“God, Marian, it’s been days! I was afraid I wouldn’t get to talk to you again. I’m sorry about the money. I—”
“No, I understand. I shouldn’t have put you in the position of choosing between me and your family. I’m scared. That was no excuse to attack you. You’re doing the right thing.”
“You know I hate this.”
“Don’t hate it. Accept it. I have.” She paused as tears raced down her cheeks. “Bastian, my family is dead. I’m in big trouble.”
“Wait. Is that why they’re unreachable? How do you know your family is dead? Did the kidnapper do it?”
“I don’t think so,” she breathed out. “He doesn’t seem to know shit.
He’s taking his orders from someone like a puppet.
Truthfully, I shouldn’t be surprised.” Her mouth twisted, and my lids lowered at the thought that she could be referring to me and Elec.
“All I know is some man on the phone told me that they were dead. Since you didn’t pay, someone else did.
I’m owned, Bastian. Some elite bought me like cattle.
They’re marrying me off to him in the next few days.
I have no choice but to go through with it. ”
“Bullshit. They can’t do that. We were already engaged. I gave you my family’s ring. We signed a contract.”
“They don’t care. Whatever my parents did somehow voided it. The LaRoe name is ending, and they want my blood for his line. If I fight or expose this, I’m dead. I have no choice. I’ve accepted. You must too.”
“This doesn’t seem real. This can’t be happening. We’re meant to marry. Us. You know how high profile we are. What will people say with you marrying someone else?”
Marian’s lips parted while she blinked through the words.
“I’m sure they’re going to say plenty. You write the script.
Make me into the bad guy if you have to.
Tell the public I left you or… you left me.
My reputation doesn’t matter. With how cold this deal is, I’m not sure I’ll make it past producing this monster an heir.
That’s all he wants. He doesn’t want me. Just my blood.”
“God. Marian. What can we do? There has to be a way for me to get you back and fix this. I should have paid the money. I see that now. … I went to your room, and it was empty. You were really gone. That’s when it hit me that I made a big mistake.
That… I couldn’t fix this. There was nothing left.
No clothes. No bags. No Penny. They took her too.
I tried calling everyone I know, but I’ve had no luck. There has to be something I can do.”
“I don’t think there is. I’ve tried everything.
I’ve even offered an insane amount of money for my freedom.
He didn’t want it. It’s fine. It’s done.
I’ve agreed to go with the terms, but I didn’t lose completely.
I agreed to hand myself over without a fight under one condition.
One I didn’t think the man would grant, but he did. ”
“What condition?”
A light sob left her, and more tears raced down her cheeks.
“I told them the only way I’d do this without a fight was if I could see you one last time to tell you goodbye.
” Her voice lowered so much that I could barely hear her.
“Bastian, I have your ring. I can’t let them take it.
They’ll surely sell or keep it if they find it on me.
I managed to hide it for now, but I’m not sure how much longer I can get away with that. Can you come see me? To say goodbye?”
“Oh my God, you have it?” He let out a ragged breath. “I thought for sure they took it.”
Marian sniffled as the room grew silent. My heart was racing, and I almost couldn’t believe how plausible her story was. It was so credible that I felt suspicion blossom through her soft, sudden pleas.
“Bastian, say you’ll come. If I can’t see you before I leave—” A sob. “I’m scared. I don’t think I’m ever going to see you again. Please.”
“Where do you want to meet?”
My eyes grew wide, and I thrust the paper in Marian’s direction.
“The man mentioned an abandoned convenient store not far from here. He said it’s the only place I’m allowed to go.
It’s on the way to the airport. I… I h-have the address.
” The words were barely understandable as she broke down.
“I’m afraid you’re going to have to hurry.
He said I’m to go there the moment I finish talking to you, and I only have an hour before we leave. If you don’t make it in time—”
“What’s the address?”
Marian’s breath was ragged as she read it out to him.
“You’ll be fast? You’ll come say goodbye? Please say you’ll come, Bastian. You have to come. I’m begging you. Promise me you’ll show up.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Hurry up.” My yell was deep causing Marian’s breath to catch.
“If I don’t see you—”
“The ring,” Bastian rushed out. “Leave it as hidden as you can by the gas pumps. I’ll try to hurry. Don’t forget the ring, Marian. You can’t.”
I grabbed the phone, hanging it up on him. Marian’s eyes didn’t lift to mine. She was more dazed than she’d been before she got on the phone. It had me reassessing their last words which had anger morphing with disbelief. Marian was hurt. Maybe in shock.
“He really wants that ring.”
Another sniffle. “Let’s get this over with.”
She went to stand, but I grabbed to her wrist before she could storm off like she wanted.
“He was never the one for you.” Her eyes met mine. “… Bastian is not a good man. I had Quinton look to the claims you told me concerning him and the mistresses.”
“They’re rumors. They mean nothing; the women wanted his money.”
My head shook as more tears pooled in her eyes.
“They’re not rumors, and just so you know, he paid the money.
Almost always on the same day the claims were made.
I have pictures of the damage he caused.
I have statements. He hurt women, Marian.
He’s broken bones. Raped and nearly killed a few of them.
Young women. Barely legal. It wasn’t just one.
Think about the way he held you. The way he talked to you when you said things he didn’t agree with. It’s always been there.”
“No. You’re lying.”
“You know me better than that.”
“But… I—My mother would never allow—My mother—” Marian stopped, her breaths coming out broken up while she stayed on the verge of crying.
She reached up with her free hand to hold her closed fist over her mouth.
“Would. She would have. He was.” She stopped, closing her lids, but the tears still fell.
“Perhaps… maybe.” She stopped, giving her head a hard shake. “Maybe somewhere I suspected.”
“Marian—"
Her eyes snapped opened, and she tried twisting her wrist free.
“Just stop.”
Tighter, I gripped.
“It’s okay to be upset about this.”
“Oh, it’s okay to show weakness now? Fuck Bastian and fuck my mother for encouraging a marriage to that monster. She sold me out for a fucking title. I’m not weak; I’m pissed. It’s one thing after another. You and everyone else are going to see that I am not who you all think I am.”
“And who are you?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Someone who is done getting fucked over.”
“What is that supposed to mean?’