“You won’t let Sheriff Donnelly take me away, will you?”
Pausing at the top of the stairs, he pins me with a glare so fierce it knocks the breath from my lungs. “Nobody will ever take you from me, Melanie. I don’t care if the sheriff brings the whole United States Army to our front door. You aremine. Understood?”
His words settle the jumping of my stomach and I nod. “Yes, Daddy.”
Seemingly satisfied he’s done all he can to ease my worries, Daddy heads down the steps. We’re just a few feet from the living room when Sheriff Donnelly’s voice reaches us.
“You can’t keep someone against their will, Grayson. Her parents are on their way to Forbidden Pines as we speak. And if I have to put every single one of you in jail to keep you out of their way, I will.”
“What makes you think she’s here against her will?”
“Don’t insult me. I saw the tears on her face and the marks on her ass. Clearly she’s being beaten and threatened if she doesn’t do as you say. She could walk in here right now and swear on the Bible that she wants to be here and I wouldn’t believe her.”
“Fucking hell,” Daddy mutters under his breath. “Change of plans, baby. You’re going to sit in Uncle Colt’s office for a bit, okay? Daddy will come get you after I talk to the sheriff.”
Panic beats at my chest, making it hard to breathe, but I force myself to nod. “Yes, Daddy.”
Changing directions, he heads for Uncle Colt’s office and settles me at the desk, and my heart twists as he takes time to find a coloring book and crayons for me. “Daddy will come get you when it’s safe. Until then, you keep that bottom in this chair. Am I understood?”
I have to blink back tears as I nod. Seeing me cry will only make this harder for him, so I’m determined to be brave. “I understand, Daddy.”
“Good girl.” Bending down, he presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Daddy will get this sorted out. I promise.”
With that, he turns on his heel and leaves the room, shutting the office door behind him. I try to focus on the picture in front of me, of a happy-looking dog rolling on his back in a field of flowers. But every few seconds, my attention is drawn to the office door.
Maybe I should just go to the sheriff and let her take me to my family. I could make her promise not to arrest any of the Thornes.
But then my parents will want to take me home, where I’ll be expected to go through with the wedding I ran out on. I think it might actually kill me to have to spend the rest of my life pretending to love someone after knowing what it really means to be loved by a man like Axel Thorne.
I can’t be here, though. Not with the sheriff having already made up her mind that they’re holding me hostage. She’s made it clear that no matter what I say, she won’t believe me.
Restless, I climb down from Uncle Colt’s chair and pace to the window, staring out over the winter wonderland that is my mountain home. I love it here, almost as much as I love the people who live here with me. And because I love them, I need to figure out a plan that will keep them safe without condemning me to a loveless, lifeless marriage.
My gaze lands on the barn and my heart skips a beat. It would be risky. Very risky, especially if I get caught. Daddy already made it clear what would happen if I tried to steal one of the snowmobiles again.
But I have totry. I can’t just let Sheriff Donnelly take my family to jail because I’m too scared to do what’s best for everyone.
Turning away from the window, I hurry to the office door and ease it open, checking to see if anyone is hovering nearby.
The hallway is empty, so I slip out toward the front door, doing my best to ignore the way my heart shatters with every step.
Axel
Two setsof eyes swing toward me when I step into the living room. One dark and as familiar as my own, the other a bright, almost ethereal green. As different as they are, somehow they’re nearly identical in their burning hatred.
Maybe after today I should change my bet. I’ve had my money on Grayson losing her temper and taking a shot at the sheriff one day. But seeing them now, I’m becoming more and more convinced we’ll wake up one day and find the sheriff naked and tied to Gray’s bed, still glaring at all of us with that righteous fury in her eyes.
And I’m not entirely sure she wouldn’t arrest us all afterward, just out of spite.
“Ladies,” I say as I settle into the armchair directly across from the sheriff, deliberately keeping my tone light and breezy. “Lanie had to use the bathroom, so she’ll be joining us when she’s finished.”
Gray’s eyes narrow slightly, but the sheriff is too focused on me to notice. “I really need to speak with Melanie,” Reese says in that firmI’m in charge of this townvoice she employs so often.
“And you will. But first, I need your word that you’re actually going to listen to what she has to say.”
The sheriff’s mouth dips down into a frown. “Of course I’ll listen. That’s my job.”
“Really?” I raise a brow, pinning her with all the “Daddy” energy I can muster. It amuses me to see a bit of pink coloring her cheeks in response, even as she jerks her chin up. “Because I just heard you saying that Lanie could come in here and swear on the Bible that she’s not being held against her will and you wouldn’t believe her.”
