“If this is your idea of an apology, it sucks.”
He sighs, placing his beer down on the table and scooting over close to my side. He winds his hand through my hair. “I will make it up to you. I promise. But you need to make me a promise too.”
The nerve of him to think he has the right to demand anything of me. Still, I’m supposed to be gravitating toward the doting wife impression, so I need to give him something. “What?”
“You will leave your old life behind. Anderson, Hunt, Lauder, and Xavier are a part of your past. I’m your future.”
I stare into his eyes, honestly checking to see if there’s some alien life form inhabiting Charlie’s body. “I’m not giving Xavier up. He’s my only best friend.” Jane has moved away, and while I miss her, and I want to reach out to her, I’ve come around to my brother’s way of thinking.
Rydeville is not safe for her.
Associating with us is not safe for her.
She is better off without us.
It kills me to admit that, but it’s the truth.
I’ve got to let her go.
But I’m fucked if I’m letting Xavier go too.
“I’ll be your best friend.” He takes hold of my neck, pulling my face closer to his. “I will be everything you need.”
Holy shit. He’s batshit crazy. Like fucking certifiable.
“Xavier is nonnegotiable,” I say, plucking his hand off my neck and moving away from him. Giving in would be out of character for me, so I can react naturally and still play my role to perfection. “And Jethro goes.”
“You misunderstand, Abby. This isn’t a negotiation. You’re mywife. An elite wife. And it’s not becoming to hang around that fucking freak. And Jethro stays, because you will not go near Kaiden Anderson.”
“Do you even hear yourself?” I shout. “What the fuck did my father do to you?”
“He showed me endless possibilities, Abby. And we can make our own rules.” He leans toward me, his eyes earnest and excitable. “No one is touching you or hurting you, and I will cherish you like a queen. All you have to do is follow my rules. It’s not that hard.”
Yeah, it is. Because I don’t love you, you freaking nutjob psycho.
“You hurt me,” I challenge, plastering a fake hurt look on my face.
“I know.” He hangs his head, and I’m wondering who is playing whom.
“And forcing me to follow rules is hurting me too,” I say, really driving the knife in.
He looks up. “It’s for your own protection.”
“Oh, Charlie. How little you know.” I cup his face, shaking my head. “If you want me to come around to the idea of an us, then you can’t clip my wings. It’s as simple as that.” I tap one finger off his temple. “Use the brain I know you still have, and think of all the things you know about me. I don’t respond well to threats, and I hate being forced into doing anything I don’t like.”
“Don’t patronize me, Abigail.” He pushes my hand away. “I’m not someone you can manipulate.”
We’ll see about that.
“I beg to differ.” I smile sweetly at him as I stand. “This is the way it’s going down, Charlie. I will stay away from Kaiden and do everything I can to be a good wife to you. I’ll even consider making this real, but only on my terms.”
He stands, grabbing my hips and pulling me to him. “You don’t hold any cards, darling. You can’t make demands of me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” My smile is smug in the extreme. “I know Mrs. Rose told you Xavier was here today. It wasn’t just a casual visit.” I purposely drop my smile, adopting a more sinister look. “He has the security footage from the house, and we have evidence of your father’s murder.” I run my hands up his toned abs and onto his broad chest.
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not. But there’s an easy way to find out. Ask my father what happened to the tapes from Christmas Day.” I’m bluffing, and it’s a risky game, but I’ve got to try. “Tell him your new wife is already running rings around you, and see how well that goes down.”
