“We have a formal event this evening.You’ll be ready by six.”
“And if I had other plans?”I asked quietly.
“Cancel them.”
The air shifted.
“Is that an order?”I asked.
His gaze lifted again, just slightly.But there, in the shadows behind his eyes, was a flicker of something dark.A warning dressed as patience.
“What happened to obey?”
I straightened.
“I obey when I’m respected,” I said evenly.
Something sharpened his eyes.
“I paid your debt in full,” he said.“Defiance isn’t a luxury you’ve earned.”
“And I paid mine,” I replied, my voice steady.“With twenty lashes.”
Silence.
Then his smile appeared, slow, dangerous.
“You’ve only begun.”
My pulse spiked.
“We have an agreement,” he continued.“Be ready.”
A pause.
“What kind of event?”I asked.
“A charity gala.”He sipped his coffee.“You’ll be at my side.”
Ownership.
“I don’t have anything appropriate to wear.”
He gave a slow, knowing smile.“That’s been handled.”
Of course it had.
Creed Kirkland planned for everything.My hesitation.My rebellion.My silence.
My surrender.
“I’ll let Aunt Ruth know,” I said.
“Good.”He set his cup down with a soft click.“Ennis will handle the rest.”
I murmured a thank you, but I wasn’t sure who I was thanking, Creed, for his instruction, or Ennis.
Creed stood.
