Chapter 6

Phoenix

Present Day

All the canvases I had removed from our wedding day are now in their rightful place. Pinching my lips, I stare at the one above the mantle in our living room.

Did she remember I forced her to marry me? Did she remember the second time we had to have sex in front of the council? Does she know the plan was to rescue other girls that were being sold against their will? And the only way to get out of having sex with them was to be married.

I don't know if she got all her memories back or just a few.

It had to be the night she woke up and said she wasn't feeling well. I knew something was off with her. I clench the glass in my hand, causing it to groan. Squeezing harder, I don't react when it shatters in my hand. Blood slowly drips from the gash. I swallow as I watch it drip onto the carpet.

Kenz isn't going to be happy I'm getting blood on her carpet. I'll call her McFeisty. She'll be pissed. We'll have amazing sex. Squeezing my eyes shut, I replay every moment over the past six months. It's everything I've ever wanted with her. We were in our own little bubble until I had to take her to that last auction.

If she got her memories back, that's probably what did it. I wanted to forget about The Society, my mom, and her father. But I made a promise when I found her in that godforsaken place, chained up, freezing, and starving. I would make her father pay and whoever else was involved.

Selling his daughter, then kidnapping her and chaining her without nourishment or any other common courtesies. How could he do that? That's why McKenzie got an IUD when we realized no matter how hard we tried to stay away from each other, we couldn't. I sure as hell am not selling my first daughter and she was more than willing to agree. She'll never have a child with me anyway.

"Sir!" Rex's voice brings me back to the present. Opening my eyes, I watch as he runs to the kitchen and comes back with a towel. He wraps it around my hand, the coppery scent surrounding us. "I'll call Dr. Chamberland. You might need stitches." I don't reply. She left me. She wasn't taken.

"She wouldn't have left her bag on the dock," Anna says from the doorway. She rarely leaves her room, but if Rex is home, she tries. I frown as I wait for her to expand further. She steps further into the living room. "I think she was planning it. She was being unnaturally quiet when we had our girls' day. I could tell something was bothering her, but I didn't ask her about it."

She sighs and sits on the chair closest to me. "We've been through a lot and with her having amnesia, I know she was trying so hard to remember things. I thought maybe it had something to do with that." She rubs the fabric of her T-shirt between her fingers. "I wish I had asked her."

Rex takes a step toward her. "You've been through a lot too, Banana."

She lifts one shoulder. "It doesn't matter. She's my best friend. Instead, I fell asleep." She clears her throat and lifts her eyes to look at me. "I think you should go look again. Is there someone who lives close by? Maybe they saw her?"

I stand abruptly and share a look with Rex. "Old man Larry," we both say at the same time.

"Who?" Anna asks.

"He lives down the lake," Rex explains.

"He wouldn't hurt her, would he?" Anna asks, rubbing her palms down her thighs.

"No. He's just a grumpy old man." Rex tells her. I walk to my downstairs office, grab the gun and extra magazine I keep in my drawer. Right next to it is a picture of McKenzie. I run my finger down it.

"I'll always find you, love. Always."

Larry opens the door, but I look over his shoulder looking for McKenzie. I know she's here. I can smell the pineapple and coconut. "Where is she?"

"Listen here, son. I know you're used to getting your way, but that won't work with me," Larry responds. I arch an eyebrow at him, but he only stares back at me. I sigh.

"Larry, where is my wife?"

He grunts. "You know I'm offended I wasn't invited to the wedding."

I roll my eyes. "We got married before I met you," I tell him. "Not too long after we got married is when we moved across the lake."

"On a property I sold to you. Don't you forget it." I share a look with Rex.

"Yes, that made you rich. Now, where's my wife?"

Larry looks over his shoulder. Instead of inviting me in, he pushes his way out and closes the door. I narrow my eyes at him, three seconds from moving him and going in without an invitation. He holds his hands up in a placating way, knowing what I'm thinking.

"She's taking a nap."

I tilt my head at him and place my hands in my pocket. "Is she ill?" I school my features, but the rapid beating of my heart is proof of my anxiousness. After the scares we've had, having her out of my sight for any length of time is not something I care to repeat.

"No, but we were watching Jeopardy, and she fell asleep on the couch." He explains before sighing. "Look, whatever happened, she's hurting." I ball my hands into fists inside my pockets. I'm the reason she's hurting. I know it.

I finally take a step back and run a hand through my hair. "I don't know what happened. She seemed fine, then she left."

Larry scoffs, obviously not believing my lie. "She didn't mean to leave." That catches my attention and I motion to him to continue. "She said she was thinking about it, but she came to the conclusion that she was going to stay. She got in the rowboat to think, got lost in her thoughts, then when she decided to get out of the boat, she realized she had floated downstream and ended up at my house."

I share another look with Rex. Anna was right. "Okay. And?" He has a point he's getting to and I need him to get there quicker than he is.

"I think you need to give her some space. Let her have a bit of freedom. I'll check in with you every day to let you know she's safe, but let her come to you when she's ready. And she will be, eventually."

I walk off his porch, pondering what he said. She's never had any freedom. The most freedom she's ever had was at Brighton; even then I watched her every move or I had her every move watched. That won't change if I allow her to stay here. I'll send security here to watch her every move. But every part of our relationship has been forced on her.

The only time I ever asked her anything was the day I gave her wedding rings back to her. I asked her to be my wife, and she said yes. I think back to our wedding day. She told me then if I had asked her she would have said yes and I'd never know. But I do know now. She was telling the truth.

I have lied to her so much. I inhale deeply and turn to Larry. "I'll let her stay." His eyes widen in obvious surprise. "But you will text me three times a day letting me know she's okay." He gives me a really look. "That is not up for discussion. I have to know and see she's okay. I'm also going to have one of my security guys watch her."

Larry shakes his head. "It doesn't seem like your security does a very good job. How did she wind up getting away without being noticed?"

I look at Rex, but don't respond to Larry's question. It's a good question. Every one of the guys that was on the premises was fired. Rex has hired two new guys that he's been talking about for a while now. I should have listened to him sooner. He's been saying for a while that we missed something with McKenzie's last kidnapping.

"We took care of that," I finally say. "Will you text me?"

He nods. "Yes, I'll text you. Do you have specific times?"

"Yes, nine in the morning, one in the afternoon, and six at night. You still have my number?" I want him to give me his phone so I can check myself, but when he nods, I take him at his word. Larry is grumpy, but he's harmless. I wouldn't have bought his property or moved so close to him if he wasn't.

"Alright, one of Rex's guys will be here at night keeping watch. If you miss one check in, I'll be back to get her."

He waves his hand at me and starts back toward his front door. "Yeah. Yeah. The only reason I'm allowing this is because I understand what it feels like to be in love." I don't respond as he walks back into his house and closes the door.

There's a part of me that wants to barge through the door, throw McKenzie over my shoulder, and make her go home. But I need her to choose me this time. And I know she will. She loves me. Almost as much as I love her.