Chapter 38

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

ZAIN

The way the color drains from her face makes me want to smile.

"What did you think was going to happen?" I lift one eyebrow. "Did you think you could leave town before the weekend, and avoid this?"

"No, but?—"

"But what? This is happening, Ashley."

"But now ?"

"Why not now?" I hook a hand around her elbow and guide her across the room. "Look at it this way. The sooner you start, the sooner it'll be over with."

"You said you'd arrange it for the weekend. No one is going to think that after one date, we're so into each other we want to get married!"

"They will." I don't actually care if they do or not. I just think that if I leave her alone for too long, she'll run. This way she can't. Not easily, anyway.

We stop in front of the officiant I hired, and the two witnesses I asked him to bring. A little unconventional, but money buys things other people can't have. Except freedom. It doesn't buy that.

"Is everyone ready?" The officiant straightens and smiles at us both.

"We are." I don't give Ashley a chance to speak. My grip on her arm tightens, warning her not to argue.

If looks could kill, I'd stop breathing. The officiant rubs his hands together.

"Then let's get started."

As per my instructions, he keeps the service short, using only the words required to make sure the marriage was legal, and less than fifteen minutes later, we're signing the documentation.

I'm sure that Ashley is in shock, and that suits me perfectly. It means she speaks when she needs to, follows my instructions when I tell her to sign the papers in front of her, and doesn't cause any fuss.

It's only when the officiant and his two friends are preparing to leave, that she seems to rally her defenses. She shakes off my hand, and moves away from me, following them down the hallway to the main entrance.

I don't stop her. Anything she says or does now will be dealt with under the contract terms she signed.

But she doesn't say anything. She just stands in the doorway and watches them drive away. Once the car is out of sight, she turns slowly.

"Are you happy now?"

"Happy?" I tilt my head slightly. "Not even close." I pick up my keys, and walk toward her. "Let's go."

"Go where ? "

"You go where I say, when I say, as per your contract. Now move."

I didn't think it was possible to go as white as she does. The only drop of color on her face is in her eyes. And they burn with a hatred she can't hide.

I'm surprised by the surge of pleasure it sends through me. She isn't the scared little girl I imagined her to be. She has fire. Which means that it's going to be even more fulfilling when I break her.

"Get in the car." I don't open the door for her, and stride around to the driver's side.

I pause with one hand on the door, and look over the hood of the car, when she doesn't move.

"Do we have to do this every time? Get in the fucking car, Ashley."

"I might have signed a contract, but I still have rights."

"You also still have a mother." I check the time on my watch. "That can easily change in the next sixty seconds."

The threat hangs between us.

"Forty seconds." I take my cell out. "I'd think carefully about whether you really want to call my bluff on this. Thirty-five seconds." I tap the screen and scroll through to the number that will put me through the town sheriff. "Thirty seconds."

"You can't treat me like this!"

"You signed the contract. I can treat you any way I please. Twenty seconds."

She throws open the car door and gets inside.

"See. You can do as you're told. "

She doesn't reply.

"Fasten your seatbelt."

There's anger in every movement as she clips it into place. I start the car, and turn so I can drive to the gates, and through.

"What am I supposed to tell my mom?" She breaks the silence a few minutes later.

"Nothing. It's all in hand."

"What does that mean?"

"It's no longer your concern."

Her lips press together, and the rest of the drive is made in silence. As we get closer to my intended location, I start a countdown from fifty in my head. I'm curious how much attention she's paying to her surroundings, and when she'll recognize where we are.

I've reached seven when her sharp intake of breath warns me she's finally figured it out.

"No. No! Why would you bring me here?" One of her hands goes to the seatbelt and she fumbles as she tries to unclip it and open the door at the same time. "Stop the car. Let me out."

"I'm not slowing down. If you jump out, you're going to break something."

"I'd rather die than go back there."

"Then tonight is going to be very interesting, and I'll have a lot of explaining to do in the morning."

"Zain, please. You can't possibly want to go in there."

I park on the drive, cut the engine, and turn to face her.

"You can walk to the door yourself, or I can carry you there. "

"Please … don't do this."

"Ten."

"What?"

"When I get to zero, you no longer have a choice. Nine."

"You're insane."

"Eight."

"If I scream, someone will investigate."

"Seven. Go for it."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Six. You know why."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry! "

"Five. Your apology is fourteen years too late."

I unclip my seatbelt, and open the door. "Four. I'll be on zero by the time I get to your side. If you're not out of the car …"

I climb out.

She's standing on the drive when I reach her.

"I hate you. I hate you. They should never have released you. You're a monster."

I lift a hand, she lurches back, but all I do is pat her cheek gently.

"Firecracker, I haven't even introduced you to the monster you made me become yet."