The words replay in my mind in an endless loop, and I feel as if I’m going to be sick. I can see Mac’s bright blue eyes smiling at me, still feel his possessive grip on my neck, still hear his gentle voice.
Destroy him.
He goes on about what he expects, what I’m to do next. He’ll give me money, a car, and numerous resources to do this well. In the vague recesses of my mind, I’m aware that I can use these to my advantage, but I can’t seem to string logical thoughts together.
“All this to get out of being punished by you?” I stare at him, surprised that my betrayal was taken so seriously that he’s ready to levy such severe consequences.
“Aye, Bryn, and you ought to know that by now,” he says with a shake of his head. “But also because you’ve no choice at yourage. Because like your sisters, your only option is to be wed to another family to strengthen ours. It’s your duty.”
Bile rises in my throat.
I manage to choke out a question.
“When do you need my answer?”
I hate the idea of betraying Mac.
But did he betrayme?
Does he know whoIam? How could he? And I thought he was just a nice guy, someone who actually showed concern.
“You can tell me tomorrow morning,” my father says, as if he’s making some type of benevolent gesture or granting me leniency.
I nod. “I’ll give you my answer then.”
I prepare for the evening in a sort of daze, horrified at the options before me. I have three, as far as I can see.
Agree to be married, sight unseen, to a veritable stranger. The very thought...
No way.
Seduce Mac. Make him fall in love with me. Then ruin him.
I shudder. That sounds possibly worse. How could I live with myself?
Or third. I could escape. Run away.
But where? How? And how would I prevent my father from finding me?
I will myself not to cry as I run a mascara brush through my eyelashes. My hand shakes, and the brush stains my cheek, giving me an almost macabre look. I stare at it for long moments before I clean it off.
The excitement I had from earlier has dwindled to nothing but a dull ache in my heart.
Tonight, I’ll see Mac again. And in a sick twist of fate, I have to accept that he either already knows who I am, or he’s going to. And when he does, what happens next will determine our future.
I can’t bring myself to destroy anyone, much less the one man who’s ever shown me attention and kindness. My father’s demand is sick and twisted, and I hate the very thought.
I consider standing him up, just not showing at all.
I actually even consider the arranged marriage situation. Ugh, I can’t. I don’t care if it’s to the hottest guy in the world. Men of the mob are cruel. They inspire hatred and violence.
God.
Mac’s one of them, too.
I look through my clothes, flipping through them disinterestedly. Everything seems dull and lifeless, and I have no interest in doing this at all.
I glance at the time, when my mobile dings.
