Fingers dig into my upper arms as he shakes me roughly. “Yes, you are. I’ll call the priest right the fuck now and get it done.”
Searching his eyes, I try to find a way through to him, but he’s gone. Some coked-out demon has replaced him.
“You fuck everyone else all the time, Talon. We don’t have anything in common. I don’tlikeyou. You don’t like me.”
“What? Ashlyn… You’re myeverything! I love you. What are you talking about?”
I notice he didn’t deny sleeping with other girls. It doesn’t matter to me anyway. I was always hoping he’d take more than a casual interest in them. “Is this some business merger? Is that what this is?”
His jaw stiffens, giving me an answer. “Not for me. We’ve always known we’d be together. The stupid money part is secondary.”
“Right…” Squirming, I finally get loose from his hold. But he catches the strap of my dress and steps on the bottom, halting my progress.
“Come on. We’ll go get hitched right now by the minister in the chapel.”
“No.”
He spins me until I hit his chest. I shove, but the dress hinders me. It’s like running through sand. Nails scratch at his skin as he attempts to grab me again. Then, I’m slapping him away.
His hand lifts. For half a heartbeat, I think he’s reaching to fix my strap. Then the sound hits first—the crack—and the heat comes second.
Shock and searing pain rip across my face as he full-strength slaps me across the face. Blood surges from my tongue until I fall to the floor, evening bag exploding on the ground, its contents and me spilling out on the rug.
I attempt to scramble away, but he comes at me again.
And for the first time, I’m truly afraid of what he may do to me…
thirty-seven
AIC
Hi, baby.
I fucked up, I know that. I need to know you’re okay.
You’re at the casino… Can I call?
Ash, answer me.
Please, baby girl.
I’m sorry.
The phone staysblank as the crowd at the Josephs’ gala roars around me. No typing dots. No reply. Only silence pressing against my ribs like a heart attack.
I heave a sigh of frustration, running a hand through my hair. The party is an obligation. For my future CEO position, and to not be rude to my hosts, my parents’ best friends. But I’m nothere.
All I can think about is making it to Ashlyn to try to kiss her at midnight and start our life together now.
If she’lltake me back.
But I have this awful feeling that she won’t. She hasn’t answered my texts. Although that’s not unusual, either.
“Hey, Aiden! It’s been a while…”
A hand drags slowly across my back. Blaire and Elowyn smile like debutantes, surrounded by a couple of undergraduateThetas. “Hey, yeah. Been busy.”
Across the room, Ryan’s ears perk up as he glances my way.