He lets out an aggravated breath, and I know I’m pushing him too far. “You’ve always been so damn dramatic. I arranged a good marriage for you. You should be grateful. Damien is a powerful man, Eloise. You’ll be well taken care of.”
I shake my head again, on the verge of tears. “No. You can’t do this. I’m not marrying him, Dad.”
If I thought his eyes were cold before, that’s nothing compared to the glare he’s aimed at me now.
“Yes. You are.”
“I won’t?—”
Slap.
He backhands me across the face, making me see stars, and my jaw immediately aches. There’s a coppery taste in my mouth from my tooth cutting the inside of my cheek.
God, he’s strong.
“You’ll shut the fuck up and do as you’re told for once in your fucking life, Eloise. There will be no discussion. Playtime is over.”
“Dad—”
He raises his arm again, and I flinch back. And for once, he doesn’t follow through.
You concerned about the number of bruises this time, Papa?
“Go change your clothes,” he says, dismissing me. “Do something with your hair. If you could lose thirty pounds in the next hour, that would help.”
He’s such a fucking prick.
Standing, I rush from the room and up to my bedroom with an aching jaw as my mind whirls. The men in my father’s world are cruel. Violent. And they treat women like we’re disposable pets. If he thinks that I’ll marry some rich Mafia dude that he’s chosen for me, he’s a fool. I don’t trust my father regarding anything in this life, particularly in his matchmaking skills. I bet this Adam Damien would beat me more than Dad does, and it would probably be way worse. He’d probably?—
I don’t want to think about it.
I have to run away, and I’ve been preparing for this moment for the past two years.
I may not know everything about my father’s business, but I know enough. I had a fake ID made, and I’ve been squirreling away cash. I only have a few thousand, but it’ll be enough to get me to a different city.
Do people still ride buses?
I’ll find a bus.
“Not with this.” I set my old cell phone on the nightstand and instead turn on the burner phone I bought. I actually have three of them, just in case.
I didn’t know whatjust in casewas. I figured I’d know it when I saw it.
And I’m looking at it right now.
I toss the phones, wallet with my new ID and cash, and some essentials like one set of clothes, underwear and deodorant, a toothbrush and my comb into my backpack. I take the back staircase down to the kitchen, planning to go out the back door, but Iris is kneading dough.
“Eloise,” she says, narrowing her eyes as they fall to the bag on my shoulder.
She heard my conversation with my father, and she’s not a stupid woman. She might be the only person in this world who’s ever truly loved me. Who’s ever shown me affection of any kind.Will he hurt her when I’m gone?
“I have to go,” I tell her and rush over to embrace her. “I love you, but I have to go. You don’t have to do anything. Just say you never saw me if anyone asks.”
Her eyes fill with tears. “Oh, baby doll. You call me when you get where you’re going.”
I nod, but we both know I won’t.
If I did, my father’s men might find me.
