Once she was done in the bath, she dried her body and hair and started to get changed. She heard the door go, opening and closing.
Minutes passed, and her mother shouted up the stairs requesting her presence. Staring in the mirror, she saw the dress was a perfect fit. She hated it. Her stomach growled. She wasn’t allowed breakfast anymore, and her lunch consisted of fruit. Brad didn’t offer her anything more, and whenever he saw her lunch, he smirked.
Spending time with him and his crazy friends scared her. Her only consolation was the fact lunch was spent near other people.
Leaving her bedroom, she made her way downstairs to where her parents were waiting in the sitting room.
“There she is. Come on in, Rose,” her father said.
She froze when she saw Brad with his parents. What were they doing here? Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she headed toward the only seat available. The room was silent as she took her seat. Brad smiled at her.
“Can I get a refill?” Brad asked.
“Certainly. Rose, get Brad a refill on his wine,” her mother said.
Feeling sick to her stomach, Rose moved into the kitchen, grabbing the wine bottle. Brad still had his crazy smile as she refilled his glass. There was water for her. She poured out some wine and took her seat. Her thoughts returned to Peter and the kiss.
Soon they moved into the dining room. Rose blanked everything out. She’d learned from a young age to keep quiet at her parents’ dinners.
Brad spooned food onto her plate, and no one questioned what he fed her. She noticed he didn’t put much on her plate, and he didn’t give her seconds. When she reached for more food, her mother shot her a glare, stopping her from eating.
Tears filled her eyes, but she glanced down at her lap. She sank her nails into the flesh of her thighs, to stop herself from calling out.
After Peter’s kiss, this was turning into the worst night of her life.
“Rose, why don’t you and Brad go up to your room?” her father asked.
She frowned. “Why would I do that?” No boy was allowed in her room.
“Do it, and don’t argue.”
Brad grabbed her arm, leading her out of the room. “You should learn to do as you’re told,” he said, escorting her upstairs.
Dread filled her, making her stomach turn. She’d not eaten enough, but with Brad leading her upstairs she was thankful.
He knew where her room was, which she didn’t like.
Brad closed the door, taking a seat on her bed. “This is nice.”
“Why are you here, Brad?” she asked. “Our parents are not friends. There’s no reason for you to be here.”
“Well, you see, that’s where things are about to change.” He got off the bed, moving toward her. She took a step back. Brad reached behind him pulling out a small black box. “Our parents already think it’s a great idea. You’re going to be my wife, Rose.”
The wall stopped her from moving. His hand curved around her waist, halting her progress. Brad opened the box, but she couldn’t bring herself to look at him.
“We can’t get married. We don’t know each other, and we’ve not dated or anything.” Her pulse pounded as she saw her words were falling on deaf ears. Brad didn’t care, and from the look of it, neither did her parents.
They’d already agreed to this. She was alone.
“You’ll be my wife.” He released his hold on her and grabbed her hand. There was no use fighting him. Brad was stronger than she was. He slid the ring on her finger.
Pain radiated in her chest. The ring was a perfect fit.
One of his hands banded around her waist as the other palm slammed beside her head, on the wall.
“And that f**king Peter Miller will keep his hands away from what is mine.”
Her eyes widened as she looked at him. He couldn’t have seen that kiss, could he?
“I saw the f**king kiss, Rose. You didn’t fight him. I saw everything. He didn’t close the f**king blinds.” He leaned forward. “I suggest you kiss me the same way, or I tell your parents everything. They’ll cut you off, and you’ll be on the streets with nothing.”
He kissed her lips, and Rose let him. She didn’t fight him, but she didn’t respond either.
Brad leaned away. “I suggest you kiss me, or I’ll make sure your food is taken away from you and your parents let you move in with me. I know Adam, Tyler, and John want a piece of you. I always share what’s mine with my friends.”
She watched him, feeling sick. Rose needed to stop this. He turned to leave her room. For now, she needed to follow his rules. She needed to find a way out of this. Grabbing his arms, she wrapped her arms around Brad’s neck and kissed him. Rose closed her eyes imagining it was Peter.
Rose vowed she would find a way to get out of this. She was never going to be at the mercy of Brad or his friends.
Chapter Four
Peter hadn’t seen Rose at the library the following day or the day after that. He found out from one of the women working there that she’d handed in her notice. Seeing no reason to stick around the library, he no longer went back. Laura had left the library stopping his visits and now Rose. What was wrong with him that the women always seemed to leave him?
Stop feeling f**king morbid.
Leaving the library he saw Gabriel leaving his patrol car. He waved at the other man. Peter had a lot of respect for Gabriel. He’d taken on Amy and another man’s kids and raised them as his own.
“Hello, Gabriel. We’ve not seen you or Amy at the club recently,” Peter said, hugging him.
“We’ve been looking at moving out of Cape Falls. Amy doesn’t like living here anymore. She wants to leave.”
His words shocked Peter. “You’re planning on leaving Cape Falls?”
“I’m looking at a position elsewhere. It’s not healthy here to raise two kids. The town folk are not accepting of our ways. The Steer brothers are fighting with Anna to stay. We talked with Paul and David, and they’re ready to leave Cape Falls altogether.”
This was news to Peter.
“Wow, okay. I never thought anyone would leave the town. It’s such a beautiful place,” Peter said.
“It’s a beautiful area, but the people bring it down. They’re awful, and I agree with Amy. Our kids will be going to the same school as the locals, and we can’t let that happen. So much has happened, and they’re already being picked on. I can’t let it happen.” Gabriel appeared to have aged years in the last few months.