“I’ll leave. Do you want me to call Rebecca or Rachel? What about your therapist?” Jameson asked, growing worried as he watched her skin turn three shades of white, and terror showed in her eyes.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t want to see anyone. Do the others know?”
“I told Julio, Garrett, and Matthew after you told me,” he confessed.
“You’ve known for weeks, and you didn’t say anything,” she said breathlessly.
“I needed time to think. We spent so much time together while I watched over you. I started having feelings?—”
“Stop. Please, Jameson. I can’t hear anymore,” she pleaded.
Jameson nodded. “Remember what I said earlier. I only wish you the best.”
She stared at the door, giving him the hint that their conversation had come to an end. Jameson walked out and got into his truck. He knew she’d feel this way, but why did it have to hurt this much?
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The door clicked shut behind Jameson, and she ran to bolt it shut. Caroline struggled to breathe, and the room seemed to spin before her eyes as she processed what he told her. Her hands shook as her heart pounded in her chest. She clung to the walls as she made her way to her bedroom. Grabbing her bag, Caroline stuffed her clothes inside, not bothering to fold them. For six years, she imagined what she might do if she ever got the chance to face James Stanton again. Caroline felt robbed.
Her memory drifted back to the night James’ men stole her from her home.
The shock of watching her mother fall from the gunshot and hearing her father call her name seemed to slow down time. James sat across from her in his limo, and the man smiled.
“As you have witnessed, Caroline. I don’t put up with hysterics or deal with someone who refuses to cooperate. You’ll be my guest at the mansion. Tonight, you’ll stay in your room while you get over your shock. Tomorrow, I’ll expect you at the breakfast table at eight. We have guests to entertain in theevening. I’ll send Celia to help you dress appropriately,” he said as if they had agreed upon a business transaction.
Caroline glanced at her jeans, covered in her mother’s blood. What happened to her father? She heard the shots, and he yelled, still calling her name.
When they arrived at James’ home, the car went around back, and the two men dragged her from the vehicle. Caroline trembled as they tossed her into a room and locked the door from the outside.
She lay on the bathroom tile until an elderly Chinese woman rubbed her back, waking her.
“Hurry, miss. You’re not dressed. James will be upset if you’re not at your seat at the table,” the kind woman urged her. She fussed over Caroline, undressing her like a rag doll. She started the shower and ushered her inside.
When Caroline finished, Celia dried her off, helped her put on a dress and kitten heels, and slicked her hair back into a ponytail.
“When you return, we’ll play with your hair and decide on clothes for this evening. Don’t speak unless spoken to and eat while you can,” she warned her.
Shooing her to the door, Caroline stepped into the hallway. Two men escorted her to the table and shoved her onto one of the chairs.
James entered a minute later. A maid and a butler rushed to set his breakfast and coffee before him. Caroline’s plate remained empty.
“Good morning, Caroline,” he greeted. “I trust you grieved your parents last night and got it all out of your system. Everything from your clothing to your food will be earned. Do you understand?”
“Do you want me to clean your house?” she asked naively.
James chuckled darkly. “No. I have something else in mind for you. Thomas never told me about his lovely daughter. I have businessmen attending a dinner this evening. You’re responsible for entertaining Cain. If all goes well, we’ll enter into a business arrangement with him tomorrow morning. I suggest you do your best to pique his interest.”
Caroline froze. Her college sweetheart remained her only sexual partner, who broke it off when he moved to the East Coast the year before.
“We’ll start our lessons this morning. Come sit on my lap, Caroline,” he ordered.
Fear crippled her as she entered the bathroom, nausea hit her, and she dropped to the floor over the toilet bowl, spilling the contents of her dinner. The tears flowed as she sobbed uncontrollably. When she closed her eyes, she no longer saw James sitting at the head of the table. Jameson took his place.
Doubt replaced fear as she debated whether Jameson ran the trafficking ring and brought her to a new place of hell. Rising, she rinsed out her mouth and splashed water on her face. When it didn’t help, she sank slowly to the floor, giving up on ever finding peace.
Jameson pulledout of the cabin’s driveway and took out his phone. He scrolled through the names until he got to Matthew and pressed send.
“Where did you go?” Matthew asked when he answered.
