Chapter 23
Casey
He goes all quiet. The second the words spill out it’s like he shuts down. Declan’s staring at me and clearly trying to come up with an answer, but I don’t want another polished lie.
I want the truth.
“Don’t make something up,” I say before he can spew more bullshit.
“Don’t try to pretend. I know you’ve been watching me.
I know about your deal with my aunt.” Cold fury boils in me, and that’s the only thing keeping me going.
Otherwise, I think I might just start screaming.
“You’ve been paying for everything, haven’t you?
You helped me get into college. You pulled strings to get me internships. It’s been you.”
He nods very slowly, staring into my eyes. “I’ve been taking care of you for a long time.”
I shiver and tighten my grip on the sheets like it’s a shield keeping him away. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I never planned for this to happen. I felt like I owed you something at first, but slowly, everything changed.”
“How did it change?”
“Sheila sent me a picture of you on your first day at college. Eighteen years old and already even more beautiful than your mother ever was. Right then, I knew. The deal with your parents was gone. But you would always be mine.”
My heart rockets into my chest. His face is hard and hungry. Passion burns in his eyes. I didn’t know Declan had a fire in him like this. But it clearly blazes for me, and that’s terrifying.
Because a sick part of me likes it.
“You’re the reason I haven’t had a boyfriend since high school,” I whisper as the realization dawns on me. “You’re the reason they’ve been running away.”
“None of them were good enough for you. I couldn’t stomach the idea of anyone else touching what’s mine.”
“You don’t own me. You never did.”
“Not yet, but I knew one day I would, and now here you are. Living in my house. Wearing my ring. Taking my name.”
“Fuck you, Declan. This is too much.”
“I gave you a good life. I paid Sheila more than she ever dreamed possible to make sure you were taken care of. I did everything I could to ensure you had a good upbringing. I always planned on leaving you alone, but I never imagined how I’d feel seeing that one picture of you.
It started everything, Casey. It ignited something inside of me. ”
“I don’t care. I don’t want to hear it.”
“I’ve wanted you for a long time. Seven years feels like forever. I pulled you to me like a rock around a star. I dragged you closer and closer, hired you as my assistant, kept you as near as I could without burning you up. Until that fucking box landed on my desk and I finally broke.”
My chest heaves up and down. I try to steady myself, but I’m shaking. “That’s all it took? Some lingerie? Some stupid sex toys?”
“You have no idea how badly I’ve wanted you. That night was everything. Even if Senesi hadn’t come back, I would’ve found a way to keep you, Casey. You’re mine, fully and completely, and I’m yours so deeply it’s like a sickness in me.”
“Stop it.” I kick the sheets off and scramble across the bed.
I put it between us. His eyes move to my body, to the tight crop top I’m wearing and my stiff nipples poking out, down to the small shorts barely covering my ass.
And now I wish I wore flannel pajamas to sleep.
“I don’t want to hear anymore. I always thought I earned what I have.
I thought I got everything on my own merit. ”
“That’s not how life works. You’re talented. You’re smart and beautiful. But that isn’t ever enough. You need luck. I’ve been your talisman.”
“You’re insane.”
“I gave you everything. I even kept Natalie close. I wanted you to be happy.”
“Don’t talk about her,” I hiss, clutching at my chest. “She’s dead because of you.”
He goes still. His head tilts to the side, and I know what he’s thinking.
She’s not dead because of him… she’s dead because of me.
But he doesn’t say it out loud.
“I wanted to tell you everything, but you weren’t ready. I planned on making you understand slowly.”
“So you lied to me?”
“I only kept silent.”
“Sheila tried to make me understand, but you threatened her, didn’t you?”
He shakes his head. “No, I only made it clear that I wanted to tell you on my own. Sheila doesn’t hate me the way you probably think she does. She understands what I’ve done for you.”
“You manipulated me. You isolated me.”
“I gave you everything.”
“You turned me into some freakish toy.”
“I made you my wife. I built my life around you.”
“You didn’t know me. You saw a picture. That’s just crazy.”
“It was enough.” He takes a step closer and I flinch back.
“Don’t. Just don’t. I need… I need to process. I need time to think. You’ve been stalking me, Declan.”
“I don’t see it that way.” He remains where he is on the other side of the room. Shadows make him seem sinister and beautiful. I just notice his clothes are stained red, probably with blood, and I don’t want to know. I don’t want any of this anymore.
But I keep thinking about him circling around me, thinking about me, imagining me.
Wanting me more than any man in my life ever has.
All those other boys were scared away, but he never left me.
Am I really trying to rationalize this?
I’m terrified. I hate him so much right now.
But he’s also beautiful and he clearly cares about me in a way I doubt I’ll ever understand.
“Get out,” I whisper, shaking as I hug myself. “Just please, get out. I need space.”
“I’ll leave, but you aren’t going anywhere. Senesi killed my driver tonight.”
I let out an ugly, bitter laugh. “Of course he did. That’s really convenient.”
“I sat in his blood to drive to you. He was a good man. I’d do it all over again, just to make sure you’re safe.”
“Fine, okay? Our deal still stands. I’m still your wife. But that doesn’t mean I have to like you. I don’t have to care about you. From where I stand, you’re just a monster.”
“Good.” His lips twist. He’s masculine and gorgeous. It’s scary, the sharpness and the fire in his eyes. “So long as you’re mine.”
He turns and walks out. I watch him go, and once the door clicks shut, I run to the handle to turn the lock.
Only when I’m alone do I finally let myself break down as the sheer weight of what I just learned threatens to crush me.
All this time, he’s been there. Nudging my life from afar. Then taking me as his own little by little.
Until now I’m trapped with his ring on my finger.
And no way out.