“I liked you better in what I bought for you.”
I force myself to meet his eyes. “Well, you never gave me a choice, did you?”
His expression doesn’t change. “I know.”
“I’m not going back.”
The words catch him off guard.
He looks at his watch. “I expected this.”
“What is that exactly?”
“You’ve always needed space before realizing you belong with me.” He tucks his bottom lip with his teeth. The certainty in his voice is more terrifying than anger ever could be. “You don’t belong here, Amy.” His gaze sweeps the campus, at the students walking by. “This was never your life.”
“It is now.”
“No.” His voice remains soft. “It’s a small vacation.”
He reaches inside his coat. My body tenses. Instead of a weapon, he removes a small envelope. I don’t know why I thought he would shoot me out in the open, but I wouldn’t put anything past him. He’s a snake, and like all snakes, you don’t know the exact moment it will strike.
He hands it to me, but I don’t take it. The last thing I want is anything from him. I freeze when he slips it into the front pocket of my bag instead.
“Read it later.”
“What is it?”
“Our marriage license.”
The words hit like ice water. “It was never finalized, not legally, and I don’t remember signing anything or agreeing to be your wife.”
He smiles. “But signatures can be corrected.”
My stomach turns. “I’ll never marry you, Roman. I think you know by now that showing up here was a mistake.”
Roman nods thoughtfully. “I’ve learned not to take your first answer personally.”
My heart pounds so hard it hurts. Everything blurs because he believes whatever narrative he has spun in that crazy head of his. The whole time I was with him, he made me believe he was my savior and I hate to admit the last day I saw my father, he was right. I traded one cage for a another.
Students pass behind us, but to me, it’s like I’m trapped in a nightmare. I hear laughter, talking, laughter, but no one notices what is happening. The thought of Saint showing up to save me floats away like a cloud.
The sharp realization hits me like a ton of knives in my back. He isn’t here, and he isn’t going to save me from Roman.
Roman glances toward the crowd. “Kanyan university.” He looks back at me. “Very selective.”
“I gotta go, Roman. I think you should go.”
“I intend to.” He smooths an invisible wrinkle from the cuff of his coat. “But before I do...” His smile disappears. “Make sure you remember who you belong to. It would be very unfortunate if something were to happen because you’re careless.”
It isn’t a question. It’s a threat. He made my father disappear, and he has the power, money, and connections to do it.
Roman doesn’t know that he is equivalent to a fly on the wall at Kenyan, but who would care if anything happened to me? Who would stop him?
Roman doesn’t know what goes on at this school. Here, I’m Prey. Which means no one would ask questions if I disappeared, and no one would look for me. I’m just another scholarship student. No protection. No power. No family.
Roman steps closer. “I’ll make this very simple, Amy.” His voice drops until only I can hear it. “I’m not asking you to come home.” He smiles. “I’m telling you to prepare.”
My eyes find his. “For what?”
