She crams the rest of the bar into her mouth, and I notice her hands trembling.
This time, itissubmission. Submission, brought on by fear.
Vaguely, I wonder if it was the sight of the knife that scared her, rather than the punishment. Maybe she thought I was going to…
Fuck.
Noel’s words still have an effect on her. She doubts me. Some part of her still sees me as the man who could end her. Whowouldend her, if push came to shove.
I guess that’s why she was so hesitant to get married. People don’t usually feel enthusiasm at being forced into marriage with their would-be killer.
The thought pisses me the fuck off. My hands crisp around the wheel as I inwardly curse at Noel, barely able to contain the fury boiling in my veins. I am going tokillthat motherfucker. I am going to make him suffer. I wish I’d made Elias suffer instead of blowing his head off, because he and Noel are the two pieces of shit responsible for making Seraphina feel unsafe with me.
Except they’re not here right now. She is. And I’m angry at her, too, even though I know it’s absurd. They fucked with her mind, a mind that was already vulnerable because of me. Because sheonly ever knew me as her captor, as the man who punished her while barely ever showing how much he cared about her.
I understand her fear, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want to wring her neck for believing Noel’s lies.
I grit my teeth and force my full attention on the road again. I’ve avoided the highway and the small country road is clear of cars. Only two more hours and we’ll be home.
The phone rings, and I see it’s Logan.
“Yeah?” I say, picking up. “I’m in the car. You’re on speaker phone.”
“Oh.” He pauses, appearing to hesitate, and I know it’s because he doesn’t want her to realize how much danger she’s been in.
“We’ve found their location.”
“We? Who’s we? Not Vincent, I hope?”
“No, we’ve been keeping him strictly out of things. I don’t believe he’s guilty, but you can’t be too careful. Lucy’s been hot on their trail, though. She’s the one who gave the all clear, and now she found their trace at a hotel in Maine, near the Devil headquarters there. Guess they figured you drove straight up the coast. Makes sense, since they don’t know about the house. That’s the only property that belongs to us in New England, as far as they’re concerned.”
“Got it.”
“Anyway, you can go a little easier now. By the time they pick up your trail, the house will be well-guarded. We’re in the process of setting up a whole security system, and Igor’s been keeping busy hiring guards. In one week everything will be in place. So…”
Suddenly, I notice that Seraphina looks white as a ghost. “Gonna have to call you back, Logan,” I say, and hang up the call. “What is it?” I ask her.
She shakes her head.
“Tell me,” I warn her.
She hesitates, passing a hand over her eyes.
“Go on.”
At last, she shakes her head again, and when she glances up at me, I see her eyes are full of quiet resolve.
“Remember what happens when you lie to me,” I threaten. “If I find out that what you’re withholding from me is more important than a half-eaten granola bar, I will punish you severely.”
Her eyes grow wide, but more from curiosity than fear. “What kind of punishment?”
I roll my eyes, half in amusement, half in exasperation. “Not the kind that will turn you on.”
“Oh.” She sounds disappointed, and I can’t help but snort. But I also know her well enough to realize that if she’s really made up her mind, it will be impossible to change it.
Still, I have to try, and my cock throbs at the thought. Which is kind of fucked up because we’re in danger, and that stupid rebellion of hers is not helping matters.
It’s also not helping the aggravation that’s been steadily building in me all morning. But I guess we’re both all kinds of fucked up, because her anger and mine are turning me on, and I can tell it’s the same for her as her thighs squeeze together.
