A

e same image over and over. My spineless father remained glued

ned me

. It was too big to be real. How could one man even spend that much money? How could he owe it?

in th

ting my face. We were at the curb. Three massive, black SUVs were waiting, their

le car, then back at Silas. I shook m

ere. This isn't real. You

re wasting my time, Maya. I have

hough my legs felt like t

ing, not a business acquisition. You don't get to just take me because my father d

He was so close I had t

es it?" He watched me for a moment. "I wonder if it

ysical blow. This wasn't just a

vival instincts. I panicked. I spun around

around me. He scooped me up effortlessly, hoisting me against

nce before I remembered I was supposed to be fighting him. My heart was beating fast, but

! Let me go!" I screamed,

g a brick wall. He didn't even flinch. His grip only tightene

d into the crook of his neck. "You don't just kidnap a

e just carried me toward the SUV calmly while I sw

mbed in after me. His large frame made the spacious SUV feel s

iver, not even glancing at me

lling the handle until my fingers hu

Please. I have things. I can't just l

r a long second, those ocean-blue eyes searched mine. He was looking for a lie, for manipulat

e said calmly. "Your new life started t

, a scarf... some clothes that still smell like her perfume. If I'm never coming b

ching him and waiting for an answer. For a

staring out the tinted wi

partment. Five minutes. And if she isn't back in the car by the sixth minute,

s didn't let me out of his sight. He

ed the bedroom door handle. My heart was racing so hard I thought it might burst throu

room for other exits or windows. Finally, he s

you aren't out by then,

en look for my mother's jewelry. I grabbed my passport from the nightstan

door, making me jump

ust grabbing the b

winging my leg

wn and swallowed hard, already feeling sick. The

t the alley floor, I took off. I didn't look back

ckseat and gave the d

s really thought he could just o

ke down, falling into his arms, sobbing as I told him the whole story. Th

ve what he was hearing. "He really thinks he can take you

ys. "We're getting ou

I wiped my face wit

ole, Maya. If we're already married, that contract is

rt skipping a beat. "Yo

is room. "I don't have a ring, and this isn't how it

d down and hugged him, nodding again

hand. "Then let's go. We

the road. I was about to marry one man to escape a