12. Reagan

Chapter 12

Reagan

S unlight creeps through my lidded eyes, teasing at the edges of my consciousness. Reluctant to wake, I slowly blink away the haze of sleep and sit up. Taking in my surroundings, confusion tightens its grip. The room is unfamiliar, bathed in a morning light that only serves to highlight its sterility and impersonality. Tasteful decorations and hints of luxury do little to warm the atmosphere.

A low chuckle draws my gaze to the wall where Penn fucking Blackwood leans, a smirk playing on his lips as he observes my bewilderment. “Good morning, hellfire,” he drawls, clearly enjoying my disorientation.

“Where the hell am I?” I snap, trying to hide my unease behind a tough exterior.

“Ah, you’re in one of the Blackwood summer homes. Mine, to be exact. Ours, really, if you want to get technical, I guess.” His casual revelation sends a shiver down my spine as I realize I really missed a lot when he did whatever he did to me. I try to remember the last thing that’s clear in my mind, but all that comes to me is Penn scaring the shit outta me in the alleyway.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” My voice is thick with disbelief, and my chest feels crowded with a growing sense of claustrophobia.

“Would I lie to you, Reagan?” Penn’s grin widens, and I want nothing more than to wipe that smug expression off his face. But I know better than to let him see how much he’s getting to me. Instead, I grit my teeth and focus on maintaining my composure.

“Get out,” I growl, fighting to keep my emotions in check.

“Aw, don’t be like that, Mrs. Blackwood,” he taunts, the title making my stomach churn. “We’re family now.”

“Stop calling me that!” Anger flashes through me, igniting a spark of defiance. I won’t let him control me—not here, not anywhere.

“Sorry, sweetheart, but that’s what you are.” Penn’s eyes gleam with a mix of amusement and something darker. “You’d better get used to it.”

“I’m not playing this little game with you. I’ve got shit to do. I don’t skip around town all day like a demonic leprechaun sprinkling misfortune on everyone I meet,” I spit the words at him, but he just chuckles and the glint in his eyes tells me he thinks all of this is fucking funny.

My gaze falls to my left hand, where a glint of black and smoky gray catches my eye. Panic bubbles up in my chest as I register the wedding ring snugly encircling my finger. My breaths come in short gasps as I try to remove it, but the spokes sticking out from the band dig painfully into my skin every time I push it upward. Frustration and confusion wash over me as I wonder how the hell I ended up married to someone like Penn Blackwood .

“Having trouble there, Rae Rae?” Penn’s voice oozes sarcasm, his smirk widening into a full-fledged grin as he watches me struggle with the ring.

“Cut the shit, Penn,” I snap, my fingers still fumbling with the stubborn piece of metal. “What the fuck is going on? How did this happen?”

“Ah, well, you see,” he drawls, leaning against the wall nonchalantly, “I married you as a…let’s call it a backup plan .”

“Backup plan?” I echo incredulously, my heart hammering in my chest. “For what?”

“Because,” he says, his tone mocking, “you saw us kill someone.” The words send a chill down my spine, making me more determined than ever to escape this situation.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” I retort, my voice laced with disbelief. “You think trapping me in a marriage is going to keep me quiet?”

“Actually, yes,” he replies smugly, clearly enjoying my turmoil. “You see, I have this all figured out. You can’t be forced to testify against your spouse, after all.”

I swallow hard, anger simmering just below the surface. This isn’t happening. It can’t be. But as much as I want to deny it, I can’t ignore the weight of the ring on my finger or the cold, calculating gleam in Penn’s eyes as he walks closer to the bed.

My hands tremble with barely contained fury as I clutch the bedsheets, trying to find the words to express my disbelief. “You’re honestly telling me that you went to these extreme measures over some frat boy who deserved what he got?” My voice rises, laced with righteous indignation. “You think trapping me in a marriage is going to keep me quiet about someone like him? Newsflash genius, they can’t force a spouse to testify, but a spouse can still testify if they fucking want to. Jesus Christ, could you not have done a little research? I don’t know, maybe just talked to me about that night and asked if I planned to snitch. I don’t care about him. Any of them. Burn down the entire fraternity for all I care.” I see Penn’s eyes darken the same way they did when I stripped my clothes off for him. This motherfucker really loves fire.

Penn leans in closer, his eyes glittering with arrogance. He murmurs, his breath hot against my cheek, “the marriage is my insurance policy. This way, I know you can’t hold the information over my head or tell anyone about what you witnessed.”

I glare at him, hoping my eyes convey the depth of my anger and disgust. Did he really not just listen to a word I fucking said? He’s got to have taken way too many hits on the field. The desire to lash out at him, to scream and shout, burns within me, but I know I need to stay somewhat composed if I want to survive this.

“I’m not going to be a pawn in your sick game,” I fume, bristling at the idea of being used by this man.

He smirks, clearly unfazed by my fury. “No, you’re going to be my wife,” he replies nonchalantly, running a finger along the curve of my jaw. “But who knows? Maybe you’ll be my little fuck toy as well. I haven’t decided yet.”

“You’re like a fungus,” I retort, unable to suppress my snark.

His laughter sends shivers down my spine, the sound haunting.

My fingers tremble as I run them over the cold metal of the wedding ring, trying to wrap my head around the reality that it’s there. My gaze snaps back to Penn, defiance blazing in my eyes. “We can pretend this never happened. I’ve got enough bullshit going on in my life that I’d never get involved in whatever little murder club you have going on,” I suggest boldly, hoping to find a way out of this hellish situation.

Penn shakes his head, his refusal swift and firm. “Not an option, Reagan,” he replies, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. “That ring stays exactly where it is—a constant reminder of your entrapment. Your devotion to me.”

“God, you’re insufferable,” I mutter under my breath, feeling my anger rise even more.

But before I can let my fury get the best of me, Penn’s voice takes on a more conciliatory note. “Look, I’ll make you a deal,” he offers, leaning back against the wall. “I know you want nothing more than to relocate with your sister, away from your father. If you play the good wifey, I’ll help you make that happen.”

My heart pounds in my chest at the mention of my sister. He’s done his research. It’s an opportunity I’ve longed for, but the price seems too high. The idea of submitting to Penn’s whims leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. But isn’t the price of letting my father use me or keeping Reese in his orbit higher?

“Are you serious?” I ask, disbelief lacing my voice. “You’d help us escape my father if I…played along?”

Penn nods, a sly grin playing on his lips. “That’s right. You just have to be my dutiful wife until we graduate. If you can do that, I’ll know I can trust you to keep your trap shut and I’ll help you move wherever you want.”

“Playing house with a psychopath,” I murmur, my sarcasm practically dripping off each word. “How could I possibly resist?”

“Watch your tone, wife ,” he warns, his eyes narrowing. “I’m offering you a chance to change your life for the better. “

I grit my teeth, hating that he has the power to dangle my desires in front of me like this. But as much as I want to tell him where he can shove his deal, I know that agreeing might be the only way to secure my sister’s future and escape my father’s grasp.

I glare at Penn, my heart pounding with fury and desperation. “You can’t seriously expect me to play the happy wife while you hold me hostage,” I say, my voice shaking.

“Actually, Reagan,” he replies coolly, “I do.”

“Then you’re out of your fucking mind,” I snap, my fists clenching at my sides. But as I open my mouth to unleash another wave of anger, a chilling thought floods my mind. If I refuse to comply, if I fight him every step of the way, what will that mean for my sister? For our escape from our father? He could help me, but he could also make things way worse than they already are. Just like anyone else in this world, nothing is as black and white as it seems.

“Remember,” Penn says, his voice low and threatening, “you’re bound to me now, whether you like it or not. And trust me, you don’t want to find out what happens if you don’t cooperate. This isn’t the worst thing to happen to you. You might even fucking enjoy it.”

I swallow hard, my throat tight with fear and frustration. He’s right—as much as I hate to admit it, I have no choice but to play along. To bide my time and look for a way out, all while keeping my sister safe from our father’s wrath.

“Fine,” I grit out, my hands trembling with rage. “But don’t think that this means you’ve won, Blackwood.”

“Ah, there’s that bitchy spirit I married,” he interrupts smugly, cutting off my threat. “I look forward to seeing how long it takes to snuff it out.”

“Go to hell,” I hiss, but the words taste like ashes in my mouth. Because for now, at least, I’m forced to play the obedient wife .

Penn’s grin is nothing but smug as I glower at him. He’s so infuriatingly confident, so certain of his control over me. But I refuse to let him have the satisfaction of knowing how much he affects me, even as my heart races in anger and confusion.

“Tell me, psycho,” I snap, unable to keep the edge out of my voice. “If you’re so ruthless, why didn’t you just kill me when you had the chance?”

Penn chuckles, pushing off the wall with an amused expression. “Now, where would be the fun in that?” he counters. “Besides, our fathers are... well-acquainted, shall we say? They’ve got their hands in each other’s pockets, business-wise.”

My eyes narrow as I process this revelation. It makes sense, given the reputations of the men my father runs with, but it only serves to fuel my resentment toward Penn.

“Fine,” I concede, my voice dripping with disdain. “So, I have to play wife until we graduate. Then what? How do I know you’ll keep your end of the deal?”

His smirk widens, the hazel in his eyes darkening with something akin to hunger. “Oh, Reagan. Don’t underestimate me. It will be my pleasure to get you out of my town. You’ve become quite the distraction, but I’m sure we’ll find plenty of ways to entertain ourselves during our little arrangement.”

Heat rises in my cheeks at his suggestive tone, and though I want to lash out at him, I know that doing so will only give him more ammunition. Instead, I take a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm and collected.

“Alright, Blackwood,” I say, gritting my teeth. “I’ll go along with your demented plan. But don’t expect me to make this easy for you.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he replies, his grin never faltering. “ In fact, I’m counting on your rebellious streak to keep things interesting.”

As much as I hate to admit it, Penn holds all the cards right now, and I have no choice but to play by his rules. I’ll endure this nightmare of a marriage—but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

“Enjoy it while you can, psycho,” I warn him, my voice low and dangerous.

“Are you sure you’re not just feeling a little... possessive?” Penn’s voice cuts through my thoughts, his smirk landing like a punch to the gut. “I mean, it’s not every day you find yourself married to someone as fun as me. You honestly hit the husband jackpot. Imagine having someone with more wrinkles than a Shar-Pei hunching up on you.”

“Fun isn’t exactly the word that comes to mind,” I shoot back, disdain dripping from my words.

“Whatever helps you sleep at night, wifey,” he responds smugly. His arrogance is annoying, and I can tell he’s confident in his ability to manipulate me. Penn’s gaze never leaves mine. “In the meantime, though…welcome to married life, Mrs. Blackwood.”