She turned away, but Jared reached out suddenly and grabbed her wrist.
She flinched and he quickly let go, something flickering on his face. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to scare you. But sometimes, I just need you to do as you are told to keep you safe.”
She nodded with a sigh. “I get it.”
North followed her. At the base of the stairs, he held out his hand.
Another sigh escaped her but she took hold of his hand. “I’m surprised you’re not just throwing me over your shoulder and carrying me up.”
“I thought about it. But you would probably wriggle too much. I don’t want to drop you on your head.”
“You know you can’t hold my hand up and down the stairs all the time, right?”
“I could make it a rule . . .”
“North!”
He walked her to her door, opening it. “Remember, stay in here. Most of Jared’s family aren’t trustworthy.”
“Oh, I know. Trust me. I don’t want to speak or see any of them.”
“I’ll come back for you when the coast is clear. Then I’m sure Jared will take care of your punishment.”
Yay.
40
“Ineed cake.”
Angie stared down at her phone with dread. They were in Jared’s office, about to call her sister.
And she was nervous.
“You don’t need cake,” Jared told her.
“I do. Cake is my emotional support. I need it.”
He cupped her chin, tilting her head back. “Baby, you don’t. Now, turn your phone on.
She turned on her phone and it immediately started buzzing with messages and missed calls.
Oh hell.
She should have pushed to call Keira sooner.
Guilt swirled in her stomach. “She must be so upset.”
“It’s not your fault, baby,” Jared said to her, reaching over to pull her into his lap. “It’s mine.”
“That’s right. It’s yours. And North’s. Since he kidnapped me.”
North was sitting in the armchair across from them. He simply crossed his arms over his chest. He’d made her hold his hand down the stairs again.
Which was odd.
But she couldn’t say that she didn’t like it.
Suddenly, the phone rang and she answered it, setting it to video. She wanted to see her sister and for Keira to see her.
