“I can’t. He owns me.”
“No he doesn’t. You can’t own a person. Whatever he has hanging over you, we can help.”
“I’m sorry, Miss. I can't help you." She cleaned the wounds and applied the salve, then left.
Frankie collapsed on the bed with a huff. She was so close to getting through to the other woman, but it was clear she was scared. What did he have over her that she'd willingly help him commit a crime?
She fell asleep planning ways to get through to the woman, to get her to help her get away.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Frankie
Morning arrived and she awoke to her back mostly healed. That was the beauty of being a shifter. They healed quickly. She rolled over and stifled a scream. "Creepy much," she grumbled. Her kidnapper was there watching her sleep.
"You look like an angel sleeping, my precious gem," he said in response.
"You're still creepy. What are you doing in here?"
"I've come to check on you," he replied.
"Right. Like you care. You fuckingkidnappedme, you asshole. You don't get to pretend like you give a shit about me."
"I see twenty lashes wasn't enough to cleanse you of that foul mouth."
"If you think you're going to break me by beating me, you've got another think coming," she hissed. "All that's going to do is make me more stubborn."
"We shall see. There are other, less savory, means," he threatened. "For now, breakfast is prepared. You must be hungry since you missed supper last night. Get dressed and I will escort you."
"I'd rather you didn't."
"It wasn't a suggestion."
She sighed, found another dress that wasn't too bad, and went into the ensuite to change.
"You look lovely," he said when she came out. He offered his arm, but she refused to take it. "You might as well get used to it, my dear. You're mine now, as you should have been from the start." He led her to the dining room and held the chair out for her. "Let's not have a repeat of last night, shall we?"
She sat down and ignored his commentary. Less chance of pissing him off if she stayed silent.
"Now, I knew you were meant to be mine the first time you smiled at me. But you had to go and give yourself to that damn lion. Why? Why did you do that?"
"He's my mate," she replied frankly.
"No! I'm your mate! Me! Not some filthy lion who can't give you everything you could ever want."
"The only thing I want is Yeager," she replied.
"You will not say his name in this house," he seethed.
"Yaeger Yaeger Yaeger Yaeger Yaeger," she countered.
"ENOUGH," he roared. "Maybe a day without food will get through to you." He grabbed her arm hard enough to bruise and yanked her out of the chair. Then he dragged her back through the mansion to her room and shoved her in. "You'll stay in here until you learn some manners!"
"Then I guess I'll be staying in here for-fucking-ever!" she countered.
"Stubborn woman!" he growled as he slammed the door and locked it.
She picked up a vase and threw it at the door, shattering it. Then she collapsed onto the bed and let herself cry.Hurry, Yaeger. Please find me soon.
