Chapter 37

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

ASHLEY

The knock on the door is sharp, short, and efficient. I don't even need to open it to know Zain will be standing at the other side. I just know. The knock has his attitude. One single rap on the wood, expecting to be heard and acknowledged immediately.

So, I do the only thing that makes sense to me.

I ignore it.

I make him wait.

I don't move from where I'm sitting at the kitchen table. And I feel a small sense of victory when he knocks a second time.

When I finally open the door, it's to find him leaning against the wall, arms folded. His eyes are hidden by dark sunglasses, so I can't see his expression clearly, but impatience rolls off him in waves.

He straightens when I step out, arms dropping to his sides, and I'm struck by just how tall he is. I don't know why I haven't noticed it before.

Because you've been too busy trying to figure out a way out of this mess.

He turns away and walks down the steps without a word, clearly expecting me to follow him.

I'm half-tempted to stay where I am and wait for him to notice. This attitude of expecting me to do whatever he wants without argument makes me want to do the opposite, and I have to keep reminding myself that currently he holds all the cards. Every time I push back is risking my mom's freedom.

When he stops beside a red car, and not the Mercedes he's been using, my heart skips a beat.

I recognize it.

It was the car sitting on the drive the night I walked in and found Jason dead. I remember it because when I was led outside, the police had the doors and trunk open and were searching inside.

He doesn't notice the way I'm staring, and throws open the passenger door.

"Get in."

I hesitate, then move forward and climb into the passenger seat.

"Where's your other car?"

"It was a loan. This is my car." He turns the key, and the roar of the engine stalls my response.

"Where are we going?" I sit forward when he drives past the turning that will take us down to the beach.

"Change of plan."

"What kind of change?"

"Just a small one. Nothing you need to worry about." He keeps driving through town, until he reaches a road leading to a set of electric gates.

My hand goes to the door handle, while tension holds my spine ramrod straight. My gaze darts around, checking for the road name, and any recognizable landmarks. I haven't ever been to this part of town before, and I need to know where I am in case I need to run.

"The doors are locked. You can't tuck and roll."

"What?" My head snaps around at his dry words.

"If you're thinking about trying to jump out ..."

"What happened to taking a walk along the beach, and giving people the chance to see us together?"

"Remembered that I don't really give a fuck what people think."

A tap on the keyfob hanging from the ignition opens the gates in front of us.

"Where are we?"

He doesn't bother answering me, steering the car up the drive and into a parking spot outside the house that comes into view.

"Get out."

He doesn't wait for me to speak, just opens the door and climbs out of the car. I don't move.

Maybe I should send my mom a text and let her know where I am. Or maybe I should text my friends. Not that they could get here in time to stop anything from happening, but at least they'll know where I am if I suddenly disappear.

The passenger door opens. "Get out, or I'll drag you out."

"I don't want to do this."

"We've had this conversation already. You've signed the contract. You know what the consequences are if you back out now."

He doesn't need to say anything more than that. I know exactly what he means.

I unclip my seatbelt, and get out .

"What is this place?"

He doesn't answer me, turns his back on me, and walks toward the front door.

I take a minute to look around. The house is large, secluded, and backs onto the forest, which separates most of the town from the highway. I can't even see the other houses we drove past to get here from where I'm standing on the driveway.

"Ashley." Zain's voice is clipped, impatient, and I drag my gaze back to where he's standing in front of the door. "We're on a time limit. Get your ass in here."

Time limit? What? What time limit?

The second I'm beside him, he pushes open the door. Voices reach us. Two male, one female.

"Whose house is this? Friends of yours?"

"No." His fingers curl around the top of my arm, and he strides forward, almost dragging me along with him.

The hall takes a right turn at the end, and there is an archway leading into a large room with high ceilings. Two men, wearing suits, and a blonde woman in a pale pink dress are standing at the head of the long table.

"Ahh, Mr. Ryder, you're here." The older of the two men comes toward us, one hand outstretched. "This is very unusual, but I understand the need for secrecy." He shakes Zain's hand, then turns to me. "Ms. Trumont." I find my hand taken in his and he lifts it to his lips and presses a kiss to my fingers. "A lovely bride, but I didn't expect you to be so casually dressed."

"Bride? What? "

"We didn't want anything extravagant. Something quiet suits us." Zain ignores my questions, and presses a hand to my spine. "Shall we get on with it?"

I tense my entire body, and refuse to move under the pressure of his palm.

"Not until you tell me what's going on!"

He changes direction, his hand grabbing my wrist and pulling me along behind him until we're on the opposite side of the room.

"I didn't think I'd have to spell it out to you."

"Spell what out to me?"

He waves a hand back to where the three strangers are waiting, staring at us.

"This is our wedding, Ashley."