He chuckles lightly. “Easy, princess.”
“You set us up!”
I see it now. I see how his head works. He knew Knox would follow, especially after he told me to come alone. He knew, and it’s what he wanted. But why Knox? Why not just deliver me to my uncle himself?
“I did,” He agrees. “Now what are you going to do about it?”
“I’m going to slice your throat,” I growl.
His eyes lick down me. “And then?”
“I’m going after him.”
He nods, “Good.”
My head snaps back. “What?”
“You were afraid, Elena.” His arms cross over his wide chest. “No matter what I did or how I made it happen, you wouldn’t have left this little town. All I’ve done is give you some motivation.”
“They’ll kill him!” I scream.
“They won’t; I have your uncles’ word.”
“His word means nothing, Caden!” I feel the hot sting of tears at the back of my eyes, fear choking me. “They’re going to kill him! Why, Caden? Why did you do this to me?”
“Listen to me.” He closes the gap between us, his voice stern, eyes hard as he grips my chin between his fingers, hard enough there’s a bite of pain, “I did this to save you.”
“Save me!?” I choke. “Knoxismy salvation, Cade.”
“He is,” He agrees, “And now we’re going to get him back, and your uncle will never see it coming.”
“What the fuck are you talking about!?”
“I won’t lie, I gave you up, Elena. I told your uncle exactly where you were, and what to do to make it hurt. I spun the tale, fed his ego and his thirst for control. I told him exactly what to do to get you to come to him, to end this once and for all.”
His words settle in my stomach, feeding the monster I hadn’t realized had been slumberingsince I fell into Knox’s arms and the safety he promises.
“I told him I knew you weren’t dead, that you had reached out for my help, but I was instead offering my assistance to him and all he had to do was draw you out, and the only way he could do that was by taking the man you had fallen in love with. He won’t kill Knox, he needs him to call for you.”
“It didn’t have to be this way,” I whisper.
“Yes, Elena, it did, because you would have stayed in that safe little bubble until the fight came to you and then you would have lost. Now it is in your hands.”
“But he’s expecting me.”
“Yes, but he isn’t expectingme.”
My heart is in pieces, my stomach in knots. They have the man I love, the only man I haveeverloved. They’ve taken everything from me, every fucking thing I’ve ever loved, they’ve stolen my happiness, my freedom, and I am going to get it back.
I am.
“If they hurt him, Caden,” I hiss at him through gritted teeth, leaving the threat open.
“I will hand you a loaded gun myself,” He promises. “You called for my help, and I am here giving it, you just have to trust me.”
“Hard to do when you’ve given me no reason to.”
“You want to hear the plan or not?” He steps back. “Or are we going to stand and argue for the next hour while Knox waits for you?”
