Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 52178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
“I recall you saying something similar, and yet you came back, over and over again ...”
Acacia snorts. “You know I had no choice.”
“Didn’t stop you from spreading your legs for me every time.”
A flare of jealousy washes through me again.
God dammit.
What the hell is wrong with me?
“Well, I didn’t have control back then. I do now.”
“Hmmm,” he murmurs, and I can’t tell if he’s agreeing or disagreeing with her.
“Well, we had better go,” Alexis says, standing and shooting Marek an ugly glare.
“Nice to see you, Alexis,” he practically purrs.
She rolls her eyes, turning to me. “You know where we are, if you need.”
“Ellie Mae is fine,” Marek answers for me, his voice cool.
“Maybe she is,” Bonnie interrupts, “but if you want us to release this article, you had better take care of her. I can turn things around as quickly as I fix them.”
Marek straightens, his eyes flashing. “Is that a threat?”
“Nope,” Bonnie says, picking up her things. “It’s a promise.”
Before he can answer, the girls hug me goodbye and then, just like that, they’re gone.
Exhaling, I watch them leave and then turn, walking toward the RV, calling out as I do. “I want my own caravan. I’m done staying with you.”
Marek follows me, but he doesn’t answer my request.
I go into the RV, gather up my things, and then turn.
He’s standing at the door, arms crossed over his chest, watching me with a blank expression.
“Why the tantrum, Ellie Mae?”
Tantrum?
Fuck him.
“Stop calling me that,” I spit. “And it’s not a tantrum. I don’t want to sleep in here with you because I can’t fucking stand you. If you won’t give me a caravan, I’ll sleep in the tent.”
Not taking my threats, as I should have known he wouldn’t, he steps aside and waves an arm. “Away you go.”
God damn him.
It feels like no matter what I do, he’s never going to show a single hint of emotion. I know it’s because he doesn’t care, he only wants me for this show, but it doesn’t stop the stinging pain that brings. I should have never allowed myself to sleep with Marek, not for a single second.
Maybe I shouldn’t have agreed to do this show.
I’m close to home now, how easy it would be to leave.
Do I dare?
I LEAVE.
It’s a decision based on jealousy, irrational feelings and rage.
When Marek shuts the RV door on me, locking it, seemingly unbothered by the fact that I’m about to sleep on the ground, I snap.
It’s childish, I know that, but I can’t seem to keep it in any longer.
These feelings, these all-consuming feelings, are crushing me.
So, I run.
It doesn’t take much to get out of the fenced area we are in. The guards change stations every few hours and when they do, the gate is unguarded for a few minutes. The moment it is, I get the hell out of here. I have no idea where I’m going to go. Nobody will take me back, and Carter sure as hell isn’t going to talk to me. I have no money. No phone. Nothing.
That doesn’t slow me down, though.
I rotate between jogging and walking until I reach the main road, then I flag down a car. That takes longer than I’d hope, and the fact that I could get murdered doesn’t slip my mind. Still, anything is better than staying right now. Luckily for me, the car that stops has an older lady in the front seat.
“What are you doing out here at this time of the night, dear?”
“My car broke down; I need to get into town so I can have my fiancé fix it. My phone is dead.”
A terrible lie, but I know I’m small and cute and the lady seems satisfied with my explanation. “Oh, that’s not good at all. Hop in, I’m heading that way.”
I get in and offer her my thanks before introducing myself.
She tells me her name is Gerdie and she works as a nurse a few towns over. We talk the entire way back into town and she drops me off at Carter’s house. Thanking her, I climb out and stare up at the large double story apartment. He’s highly unlikely to hear what I have to say, but I also know he’s soft inside and might just break if I beg him.
I’m hoping so, anyway.
I don’t want to go to the club in fear that it will cause an all-out war with Marek.
I know they don’t need that.
This is my only option.
Walking up to the front door, I knock, praying he’s awake.
The front light flicks on, and my heart skips a beat as the door opens and Carter stands in the entrance, wearing only a pair of pajama shorts, his hair messy from a recent shower. His eyes widen when he notices me, and, for a minute, he looks stunned. It’s a minute long enough for me to start rambling before he can say anything.