Chapter 46. Jade
Jade
“Explain yourself.”
Conrad is hovering over me, so close I can feel his wet breath on my skin.
We’re standing in his spacious office on the first floor after he basically dragged me down the stairs from the tower.
Dragged might be overly dramatic—but that’s how it felt when he took my arm and marched me here like a child being sent to her room.
The low light of dusk seeps through a crack in the heavy drapes, illuminating his plum-colored face. His eyes are fierce and cutting.
“What were my explicit rules, Jade? They were simple: Stay away from the tower and only be here during designated hours. Is that too much to ask? After all I’ve done for you—all the help I’ve given—is this how you repay me? Maybe it’s my fault for hiring a thief.”
He spits out the word with disgust. Under any other circumstance, that might have stung. But not anymore. I stand firm, squaring off with him.
“Maybe get off your high horse, Conrad … Mr. I Keep My Wife Drugged and Locked in a Tower.” Okay, not as punchy as I’d hoped—but I’ve stated my case.
And I’m fired up. Seeing Elizabeth so frail, barely able to speak, a prisoner in her own home—I won’t let this guy bully me. I just wish I had my knife.
Conrad looks ready for a fight, too. He rolls up his shirtsleeves, like he’s about to jump into the ring. I catch a glint of light bouncing off the reflective surface of his fancy-ass black dial watch with the gold band. This guy is as full of himself as he is his status symbols.
“You are an ignorant child. You’re speaking of things you don’t understand. You think I’m hurting Elizabeth? I love Elizabeth. I’ve been taking care of her for years.”
“Yeah?” I scoff. “If I’m lost at sea and you’re my savior, I think I’ll wait for the next boat.”
Conrad slams his hand against the desk. “Do not mock me.”
I’d seen his anger before, but this is different—raw and primal, like it could consume him.
Maeve’s words of warning come back to me, and my bravado flickers.
Fear rushes in—but I can’t afford to show it.
“If you’re such a loving, caring husband, why don’t we get the police over here?
Maybe some medical help. Let them see the sorry state of your wife.
Explain to them why you keep her under lock and key. ”
Conrad steps forward, the muscles visibly bulging beneath his button-down shirt. I don’t stand a chance against him.
But the phone is mightier than the sword. I pull mine out, holding it like a grenade.
“Go ahead. Call whoever you want,” Conrad says, meeting my gaze. “Dr. Hill is here regularly. Her medications are all prescribed to treat her mental and physical ailments. I don’t care who checks on her—but it won’t be you.”
I’m pretty sure he’s winding up for the punch line: You’re fired.
But then his phone alarm goes off. He silences it, turns back to me.
“Elizabeth needs her medication,” he says. “Stay put. I’ll be back in five minutes. If you’re so set on calling the police, we’ll do it together. I have nothing to hide.”
He rushes out the door—and I’m going to do the same. I’m not sticking around this loony bin. First order of business: Call the cops. ASAP.
I open my phone and see that Holly has texted back. Shit. She’s pissed, too. For a second, I’m torn—call her or call the police?
That one second is all it takes.
I don’t hear footsteps. I don’t see the shadow sneaking up behind me. A hand clamps over my mouth.
My scream is muffled. I’m yanked backward, feet lifted off the ground. My phone slips from my grasp as I’m thrown over a shoulder.
He spins me fast—like I’m on a tilt-a-whirl. One second I’m airborne, the next, my head hits the doorframe. Hard. My vision blurs.
It’s like getting slammed with a two-by-four—which I guess is pretty close to what happened.
I’m upside down. Twisted images pass by.
I’m woozy, fading, but aware enough to know I’m being carried down a flight of stairs.
I try to ask where he’s taking me, but my voice is a ghost, miles away. The ringing in my ears is deafening.
I feel sick. Disoriented. I can’t hold on. The last thing I see before everything goes black is the glinting metal of Conrad’s expensive watch as he carries me into oblivion.