Who am I kidding? I don’t have the first clue. I’m a living, breathing embodiment of being sheltered. I don’t know much about the real world. It looks like I’m about to get a crash course.
It’s already started by the time the driver steers the SUV into an underground garage in the heart of the city, so much for my theory about hiding out. No one says a word as he steers the vehicle into a space and parks, then kills the engine.
“Here we are, princess,” Liam announces, with that same snide laughter in his voice. “Home sweet home.”
“Are you sure she shouldn’t be blindfolded?” There is so much bitterness in the girl’s voice, I would swear I must have done something to hurt her if I weren’t so sure we’ve never met before tonight. It’s like she has something personal against me.
“What’s the difference?” Liam asks as he opens his door. “It’s not like she’ll ever go anywhere.” Now his hand is on my arm again, powerful and unshakable. He pulls me from the car, and I stumble when my feet hit the concrete floor.
We are joined by another man, who must have driven in a separate car. He looks more like a model than a criminal, I notice.
Liam pulls me along until we come to a stop in front of a pair of elevator doors that soon open, and I’m shoved inside.
“I don’t know about anybody else,” the handsome one groans. “I could use a hot bath.”
“A bubble bath, Pretty Boy?” The guy who did the driving chuckles while Pretty Boy shoots him a filthy look. Yes, I guess they can all joke and laugh now that a bunch of people are dead, and I’m in captivity. Liam only shakes his head, smirking, before tapping a code into the keypad inside the elevator car.
Then we take off, quickly rising floor after floor. I have never felt so small and powerless in all my life. What is the point of this? What are they going to do to me? Would I get any answers if I asked? Up and up we climb until finally, the letters PH pop up on the keypad.
Penthouse? I guess anybody would imagine Liam isn’t some small-time crook, not after pulling off what he managed tonight. Still, I’m a little impressed and also a little intimidated when the doors slide open onto a large, sleek living room. The men get out first, talking quietly, probably congratulating each other on doing their job. That means they can’t see it when all of a sudden, the girl shoves me from behind.
It’s one of those things where I see exactly what’s going to happen before it does, and I know there’s no way to stop it. I can’t use my hands to break my fall, so I end up landing on my side hard enough to rattle my bones and make my shoulder scream in pain. “Whoops. Watch your step.”
The girl doesn’t bother helping me up, strutting away, while Liam doubles back to pull me to my feet. “What did we say, Selina?” He sounds annoyed. “Don’t bruise the merchandise.”
Merchandise?
“She should’ve looked where she was walking.” Okay, so we are obviously not going to be friends. I can’t say I’m heartbroken.
Liam sighs. “There’s still work to be done.” With his hand firmly around my arm, he leads me through the living room without giving me the chance to catch my breath. It takes effort to keep up with his long strides. “Can’t keep the lawyer waiting.”
I’m so busy wondering how he can sound so cheerful, I almost miss what he says. A lawyer? I’m liking this less and less every second. He takes me past one room after another in the enormous penthouse, walking fast enough that I don’t have the chance to actually look at anything. Finally, we end up in what looks like a study or office, where there is a man waiting behind the desk. He clears his throat when we enter, all business. “Are we ready to proceed?”
Liam turns and looks down at me, and for the first time, I let myself look up at him. His green eyes are startling, striking, and they pair well with his short, black hair and thick brows. But it’s the smirk twisting his well-sculpted lips that sets red flags waving in my head. Though it’s not like he hasn’t given me more than enough reason to be worried.
“What do you think, dear?” As he speaks, he turns me to the side and unties my hands. Thank God. I mean, it hurts like hell once the blood starts flowing again, but at least I’m not totally helpless. Now I want to find that Selina chick and see how she likes being pushed around.
It hits me that he’s waiting for an answer. “What do I think of what?” I ask, rubbing my wrists, wincing against the pins and needles.
“Are you ready to be married?”
It’s funny how your brain can shut down for a second when you hear something so completely unthinkable, it’s impossible to process right away. As if time stops for a second. Like the world stops spinning. “Let’s get this over with,” he tells theman standing at the desk while I gape in stunned silence. “The sooner, the better.”
“Very well.” The man slides a piece of paper our way. Liam wastes no time, picking up a pen and signing it with a flourish before holding the pen out for me.
“What is this?” I see the words in front of me, but they’re not making any sense. This can’t be real.
“What, you never learned how to read?” Liam taps his fingers against the page, or more specifically against the words at the top of it. Certificate of Marriage. “This is our wedding night.”
I can’t help the disbelieving laugh that bubbles out of me. One night, two men suddenly want to marry me? “No way. You’re joking.”
“Yes, I’m sure if you’ve learned anything about me tonight, it’s how much I love to joke.”
“I won’t do it. You can’t make me marry you.”
He glances toward the lawyer before turning his gaze back on me. “Let’s get something straight. Your behavior now affects how you’re treated going forward. Cooperate, and we don’t have to have any problems. Do you understand?”
Is that supposed to scare me? Like, I haven’t spent all my life being intimidated. He thinks an empty threat is going to convince me to marry him? Now I see this small, pitiful person for who he is, and it almost infuriates me to think he could get the upper hand on Dad. Glaring up at him, I mutter, “Do your worst.”
