“I have done no such thing.”
“You married her,” Cormac seethes. “You raped her last night. A man like you takes whatever you want without worrying about the consequences. I will not let my sister be abused by you. I will not let you take her to another country and do whatever the hell you want to her.”
“Cormac, you’re hurting me,” I whimper.
Either Cormac didn’t hear me or he doesn’t care because his grip on my arm only tightens as he pulls me towards his car.
“Let her go.” Marco rushes at Cormac, shoving him away from me. “I will not lose my wife to you.”
Cormac lets out a sharp laugh. “Your wife? She is not your wife. She’s your property and I will not let my sister be that.”
“Even though you treat her like she’s your property?”
Cormac grabs Marco’s shirt, pulling them face to face. “I have never treated my sister badly. You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“She said you were hurting her and you didn’t let her go.”
“When did I do that?”
“Just now.”
Cormac shoves Marco back. “You don’t know anything. Come on, Ciara. We’re going.”
I don’t move. I’m not sure why I don’t but I can’t get my body to move an inch.
Cormac looks between me and Marco with an incredulous expression. “Come on, Ciara.” He reaches for me but I back away from him. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Marco was right,” I say, surprising myself. Even Marco looks shocked from the way his eyes widen.
“What?” Cormac hisses.
“You were hurting me. I told you that and you didn’t let go of my arm. And you tried telling me what dress I could wear for my wedding day. You do try to control me, Cormac.”
“Then I’m sorry. But let’s go.”
“You don’t sound sorry,” I mutter.
“Ciara, stop being difficult. Come on. You don’t actually want to go on your honeymoon with this fucker? You hate him.”
“I do. But…”
“But what?” He sighs, running his hand down his face. “I came here to save you from him. So let’s go.”
“And go where? Dad wants this marriage to happen. I’ll just be sent right back to Marco if I leave with you. I lost my chance at freedom but I’m married now. There’s no getting out of this. Going with you doesn’t change anything.”
“What the hell are you going on about?”
“Marco didn’t rape me last night.” The words are out before I even realize what I’m saying.
Cormac goes still. “What?”
“You said you were saving me from Marco because he’ll hurt me. That he raped me. But he didn’t. We didn’t…”
It’s clear from the shock on Cormac’s face that he doesn’t know what to say.
Marco walks over to me and puts his hand on my low back. “Ciara and I are going on our honeymoon. She is my wife, Cormac. It would be for the best if you remembered that.”
“See? He’s treating you like you’re his property.”
