37

37

STACEY

Rain falls around the little shack in the middle of the woodland, and as much as I’d like to bash Chris over the head with something hard and heavy, grab a phone and run for it, I’d probably just end up lost in the woods. But since he stole my shoes and has CCTV everywhere, I wouldn’t get very far.

The consequences aren’t worth it.

He swaggers in and messes around in the kitchen, speaking then answering himself, then he comes in and asks why I look so grumpy.

He won’t leave me in peace.

I huff and get up from the sofa, wrapping myself with a blanket as I go outside and sit on the back porch, in front of the fire pit.

“Stacey?”

“No,” I snap. “Do not speak to me.”

He mutters something under his breath about me being moody, and I prepare for the grab of my hair or smash of his clenched fist I’ve become accustomed to, but strangely, I walk freely into the autumn chill. Unscathed. Unharmed.

Chris hasn’t fully kicked the shit out of me since we got here, but I can tell he’s slowly losing his patience with me. I’m not sure what else he expects after kidnapping me.

I’m hardly going to roast marshmallows over the fire, share a bed with him and kiss him good-fucking-night, am I?

He has tried to come in beside me, but for once in his pathetic life, he left when I screamed like a banshee at him.

I tried to steal his phone from him this morning, but it resulted in him snatching my wrist and pulling me on top of him, onto his horrific, unwanted morning wood, before I slapped him and ran into the bathroom.

My belly grumbles, and I tighten the blanket around me as the wind whips up, lashing rain in at me. I welcome the cold, the shake in my bones, the redness of my nose as my body temperature slowly drops.

The only indicator that I’m not in hell – though being stuck with my rapist of a stepbrother is worse.

Waiting. For what, I don’t know. He has everything he needs to make a deal with Bernadette Sawyer; her files for my safety, but he seems to be stalling on actually presenting the deal to her.

Maybe because he knows as soon as I’m no longer being targeted by them, I’ll run to the opposite side of the world and make sure no one will ever find me.

Or maybe it’s because Tobias Mitchell is loose. As much as I’ve tried to convince Chris he won’t come for me, I know he will, given the bond we’ve formed over the past year.

Tobias will probably snap his neck without letting him speak a word. And I’d encourage it. I just hope he helps Kade first. Going by what I witnessed, he and Base need out of that mess more than I need out of mine.

Despite how vile Chris is, I can handle him. He’s already did his worst.

So, yeah, Kade first. Then, if they have time, they can get this deranged dickhead out of my life.

Since Tobias escaped, Lu, Kade and Aria have been all over the news. The manor has been surrounded by protestors, and everyone in the family has been followed constantly by cars and reporters. Tobias’s photo is being repeatedly shared on social media, though a large number of the posts are from people hoping he’s okay and managing to stay hidden from the authorities. They’re also the same people who want him to fuck their brains out.

I wish I could call Luciella and ask if she’s okay. Hopefully Tylar is with her, keeping her sane during all of this. First Base – the realisation that she no longer gives a shit about their differences and wants to give them a chance – and now her father escaping prison.

Chris appears next to the fire pit, offering me a hot drink. He gives me a death stare when I knock the cup of coffee from his hand. “Fuck off.”

“You need to drink something,” he sneers, huffing and wiping the front of his clothes. Knowing him, it was probably spiked with a date-rape drug.

I pull my knees up, wrap my arms around them and keep my eyes forward. “Leave me alone.”

“Fine. I was going to ease you into this subject, but I guess if you want to be difficult, then I’ll be difficult too.”

I glance at him. “Meaning?”

He lifts his phone, the screen bright. “The deal is in motion. It seems Bernadette is more than eager to discuss her options. I let her know I had you by sending a picture of you sleeping, and that I wanted her to leave you alone in exchange for the USB drive containing all the evidence I have on her.”

I gulp. “What did she say?”

He hums as his phone dings again. “Ah, this will be fun.”

“What?”

“She’s having a party this weekend, and she wants me to attend. That’s where the deal will be made.”

I hope she shoots you then shoots herself.

“I’ll give it another day to respond. I want her to sweat.” He taps his leg with his phone repeatedly, looking up at the moon. “Maybe we should just stay here. It’s quite nice, isn’t it? I think I’d be able to worm my way into your heart.”

“It’s scary that you actually believe that.”

He grins. “And you should too. Think about it.” He throws his arm over my shoulders, and I bristle. “You’re hot and so am I. We have cracking genes to pass down to our kids. I think Mum will be mad about it, considering she sees us as siblings, and Kyle will probably fold me into a suitcase, but they’d eventually be okay with it.”

I frown. “You truly think after everything you’ve done to me, I’d ever go there with you?”

He truly is deranged.

“My dick has already been inside you. We’ve had sex, so why not?”

My frown deepens, and I glare at him. “That wasn’t sex; that was rape.”

“Tomayto, tomahto.” He stares at me, dropping his gaze to my mouth. “I was giving you a break from the others. I went gentle on you.”

I shake my head with a disbelieving laugh. “You’re so incredibly sick.”

“The only sickness I have is wanting you. Everything else has just been a mistake. I wasn’t supposed to join in that night. I was just supposed to teach you a lesson. Letting them near you will forever be my biggest regret.”

“You already said that, but that doesn’t take away the fact that you raped me. Why?”

“Why what?” His brows furrow in confusion.

Gah! I hate him and his fucking obliviousness to how horrible he is to me.

“Why did you rape me?”

He sighs and attempts to tuck strands of hair behind my ear. I bat his hand away, and he says, “Have you ever let intrusive thoughts win?”

I shove him and stand. “Stay away from me, you monster.”

“Ask me how many times I’ve fucked you.”

My silence fills the air, but my heart rate is accelerating.

“Nine times,” he says, and my face drops. “You were so easy to drug. You always had a bottle of water next to your bed.” He stands, towering over me. “I saw opportunities to take what I wanted, so I did. I tasted you – kissed between your legs, licked, fingered.” He gets even closer, and I’m shaking. “Did you know a person can still have an orgasm while drugged? Feeling your pussy gripping my cock only made me want more.”

Tears slide down my cheeks, and I somehow manage to breathe. My bones are rattling, and I look away from him. If he was doing that when I was with Kade… was my daughter his?

“When I was with Kade,” I manage to push out. “Did you drug me while I was with him?”

He shakes his head. “No. It wasn’t until later. I waited for so long – you were so young and small and innocent; I didn’t want to hurt you. But when I found out you’d already been broken in, there was no more reason to wait. You will learn to love me, Stacey. And as soon as you do, I’ll be good. I promise.”

I flinch as he strokes hair away from my wet eyes.

“Say you already love me.”

Delusional. Absolutely delusional.

I don’t respond.

He sighs and drops his hand. “I need to buy you a dress.”

Of all the things I thought he might say, that was way down the list. “A dress?”

“A fancy one. I’ll go into town and find one. I know your size. Can I trust you to shave your legs with my razor, or will I do it?”

I grimace. “Are you serious?”

“I want you to look your best,” he replies, trying to stroke his knuckles down my arm. When I raise a brow, he pulls his phone out and shows me Bernadette’s message. It’s an invitation. “You’re going to Bernadette’s birthday party, sweetheart.”

I nearly choke. “Why me?”

“It was one of her conditions. She wanted you personally to hand over the USB, and she wanted you as an audience. I’m not allowed to go, but she gave me her word you’d be safe and her permission to drop you off and pick you back up.”

He can’t be serious. “And you actually believe she won’t do anything to me? Are you insane? No, I’m not doing it.”

A smirk, then he sits up. “It was either that or she said she’d run a trace on my email, shows up here and take you anyway. I agreed to her conditions, Stacey. You’re going. Plus” – he clicks his tongue – “Kade will be there.”