Jack laughed. “Not for free.”
“Of course not. But I would have. Whatever you wanted. If it meant you’d stay far away from Paige and Lily.”
The punch came harder this time, snapping my head to the side. Stars burst across my vision, and I felt blood drip from my split lip.
“You know what I always fucking hated about you?” Jack asked, not waiting for my answer. “How rich you were and how girls flocked to you or how everyone wanted to be your friend.” His eyes were gleaming with malice. “Until you introduced me to her. Your pretty little friend. The one who looked at me after that stupid party like I hung the moon for her.”
My blood went cold. The party where I kissed Paige. In the room where she was blindfolded and?—
She thought it was Jack.
“I didn’t even like her at first, you know?” Jack continued, his voice full of amusement. “I was just toying with her. Until I found someone I actually fell in love with.”
“You didn’t love Paige?” I asked, my voice hoarse.
I heard Cillian’s voice whispering in the tiny earpiece he’d given me. “Keep him engaged. We are close. The backyard is clear. Entering the house.” They had searched the backyard and were climbing upstairs.
“How could I? She was just... there. Convenient. A means to an end.”
“Then why marry her? Why?—”
“Because of you.” Jack leaned in close, his breath hot on my face. “I loved how jealous you got. I loved the look in your eyes whenever I touched her, held her hand, kissed her in front of you.” I could smell the alcohol on his breath, feel the mists of his spit on my cheek when he snarled next to my ear, “And you couldn’t do a damn thing about it because she was mine.”
“Where is Lily?”
I was angry and furious as rage burned through my veins, but I didn’t want to show him that it affected me.
“The look on your face when I proposed—” Jack cackled. “Fuck, that was priceless. Especially when she said yes?—”
“Where the fuck is Lily?!”
Jack stepped back, and I saw his expression change.
“And now you can have her,” he said softly. “Have Paige, take her and marry her. Play house with her new baby.” His smile was cruel. “I’d like to see if you can make her happy without her daughter.”
“What did you do?” My voice came out deadly quiet. “Jack. What the fuck did you do with Lily?”
40 I PROMISE
DEREK
The rope burned against my wrists as I worked them back and forth, feeling the fibers give way and the rope loosen.
I thought he was lying about hurting Lily. Despite his rocky relationship with Paige, he had never done anything to harm her. Even when he snatched her, he took her blanket and favorite elephant soft-toy with her.
That’s not something someone would do to hurt a kid.
Jack paced in front of me, his movements erratic, while Cillian’s voice crackled through the tiny earpiece lodged in my ear.
“Keep him talking,” Cillian murmured. “We’re checking every room upstairs.”
I swallowed hard, tasting blood where he had punched me. “Jack, listen to me?—”
“Shut up!” He turned around, his eyes wild. “Just shut the fuck up, Derek.”
My fingers found the loosened knot.
Almost there. Just a little more.
