AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She shivered. “I do know.”
“I need to return to the banquet. But Elizabeth … When you return home, I would like to know who you were speaking with alone in your sister’s bedroom. He sounded very intriguing. Promising, even.”
Her shivers turned into full-on shudders. Elizabeth had to control her reaction as Peter and others were watching. Should she make up a fictitious name? Did her father already know? She had not said Hays’s name, but a camera or a photo taken by one of the guards may already have found a match with face-recognition software.
Hays! Oh, no. For fourteen years, she’d waited for one of her parents to use him against her, and her fears were coming to fruition. He would have to go into deep hiding with Jacey, Cade, Quaid, and Anna. She had ruined his life and career by engaging him in conversation and not shoving him away. She dared not look around and give Peter any more ammunition.
“I will look forward to that conversation,” she lied. “And to seeing you again soon, Father. Enjoy the banquet.”
“Thank you. Enjoy the time with Thomas and Jacqueline. It will be short-lived, I’m afraid.”
He planned to kill them. Why send her out here? Simply to create more pain? If Quaid and Jacey were murdered, what would she have to live for? She had one bargaining chip—the one thing that had worked on her parents—but she hadn’t utilized it since Jacey escaped a year ago.
“I am only grateful Jacqueline and Thomas will live long, healthy lives as they associate with me. You understand I could not go on living without them.”
The threat lingered. She toed his line, and sometimes he seemed to think she was truly brainwashed, but comments like this were against the rules. She had no idea what he might do.
She studied the dark mountainside beyond, lights from Jacey’s porch and some twinkling lights over the timbered pavilion behind her. Her pulse raced, but luckily he couldn’t see that.
“We can discuss the matter further when you return. Goodnight, doll.”
“Goodnight, Father.” She hung up the phone and slipped it into the small hidden pocket.
Turning, she ignored Peter’s speculative glance and walked toward Jacey and Cade.
Hays. Jacey. Quaid. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest. If Father did not murder them, he would use them to manipulate her. She had never effectively hidden how deeply she loved them, and she had dared threaten him. If he killed them, she couldn’t go on. Morbid. Dark. Typical for her life, but nothing she wanted her brother and sister to be part of.
Quaid and Anna angled toward her.
“Everything all right?” Quaid asked in a low voice. For just a moment, he was almost concerned for her.
She had to swallow before responding, “Wonderful. Thank you. Father will cover my responsibilities and I can stay until tomorrow evening.”
“That was kind of him.” Quaid studied her. He was brilliant and had experienced more of the physical pain but less of the mental and emotional manipulation than she had. Would he put the pieces together, or did he believe Mother had made her into her minion and Elizabeth was the one hiding her dark soul?
There had to be a way to confide in him. She had tonight and all day tomorrow. Would they all stay here? How could she get rid of Peter and her guards? Make them sleep in the barn where their friends and Mother had been shot? Not a bad idea, but they’d never allow it. They’d guard the door to whatever bedroom she was assigned, as always.
“Are you up for a wild challenge, Elizabeth?” Anna asked, beaming.
Something in Quaid’s blue eyes beseeched her to go along with whatever her sister-in-law was proposing.
“Of course,” she said. “I love a challenge.”
She didn’t. Every moment of her life was a challenge. She wanted to be safe and to let her guard down. The way she’d only been with Hays.
“Ah! Let’s go then.” Anna clapped her hands together. “Quaid, do you mind having some of the men bring vehicles we can all ride back home in after our adventure?”
“Sure.” Quaid turned to give instructions.
“Jacey, will you grab some towels?” Anna called.
“Yes, ma’am. We’ll be right behind you.”
“Let’s walk together.” Anna offered Elizabeth an arm.
Elizabeth was confused but trusted her new sister-in-law. She threaded her arm through Anna’s, and they walked away from Jacey and Cade’s yard and along a dirt road toward the lake. Her men spread out in front, to the sides, and behind her. The road was hard packed enough that her heels didn’t sink.
Quaid stayed right by Anna’s side. Elizabeth jolted when Hays stepped up to her other side. There was some plan happening, and she had no idea what it was. Hays’s presence made her stomach hop with happy anticipation. What if he touched her again? Would he stay with her family tonight or go back to his important SEAL assignments?
