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“What the hell? I can’t be promised to you. I don’t know you. I don’t want anything to do with this.” My voice becomes louder with each word spoken.
“Red, the power we hold together, standing strong as one, is what our families need.” He steps toward me, but I move back.
“Don’t come any closer. You need to leave. I will not be yours. I’m no one’s. I don’t even know who the hell I am now.”
Hunter takes a step closer. “Red...”
“Don’t call me that! My name is Aelina Beaumont, and you are no one to me. As far as I’m concerned, this conversation never happened.” I pull my shoulders back, standing taller. “Leave. Now.”
“Aelina, you have to understand. You don’t get a say in this matter. You will be mine. It may not be right now because I’m a decent person, but if my father finds out that I know where you are and you won’t agree to be mine...” He takes a deep breath, swallowing hard. His eyes darken even further than I’d thought possible. Tension rolls through the air in waves, and the confidence I felt moments ago is starting to evaporate with just one hard look from Hunter. “Aelina, if you don’t agree to be mine, you will die.”
I gasp, my hand shooting to my mouth as I step back. He rushes forward and reaches for me as I back up against the wall. “Go to your grandmother. She can give you all the information you need.”
My body ignites as anger fills me. I point my finger directly in Hunter’s face, stepping closer this time, my confidence returning. “You do not get to dictate anything to me. As far as I know, I have no family. They didn’t want me.” I throw my hands in the air in frustration. “Matter settled. I don’t belong to you or anyone.”
Hunter moves so fast, snatching my upper arms in his hands before I can breathe. I open my mouth to scream, but he presses his lips over mine.
The instant his lips are on mine, something in me changes. There are sparks, an energy inside me, something I didn’t know was there or could even exist between two strangers. My body relaxes, and the anger I was feeling a moment ago dies like the flame it was. In its place is a new calmness, where butterflies swarm my stomach in a fluttering wave of euphoria. My eyes close, and I relish his kiss, my body melting into his against my better judgment.
My head screams at me to pull away. I should slap him. To do anything other than be lost in this painfully perfect moment. Instead, I allow Hunter to devour my mouth. A low moan escapes me. Then, as fast as his tongue begins tasting mine, he’s gone.
The instant his lips leave me, the tingling stops, and I’m left wanting. I pant heavily, craving his taste, but I am left in the darkness as he pulls away.
“You can deny me all you want, but know, you will be mine. I can see it in your eyes. I’m not an evil person. You know how to find me, and you know how to find your grandmother. It’s time to decide what you want...answers or death. It’s only a matter of time before another member of my family finds you.”
He doesn’t give me a chance to respond before he walks out the front door, and I’m left with my head spinning. I race to lock the door behind him, then collapse onto the couch. My eyes close, and I allow the darkness to swallow me up.
* * *
My reflection stares back at me as I stand in front of the window of a dress shop. My clothes are covered in dirt, and dark streaks are smeared over my tear-stained face.
I’m alive.
I could have been murdered.
That grave was meant for me.
I hold out my hand, which clutches a roll of money and a piece of paper. I stuff the paper back into my pocket and unroll the money. Counting it, I discover it’s in bundles of one thousand, and there are ten of them.
Ten thousand dollars.
How is this possible?
I quickly glance over both my shoulders to make sure the man isn’t following me. Thankfully, he’s not.
Tall buildings and shop windows remain dark and stand silent in the blackness of the night. I turn in a full circle, trying to discover where I am. This part of town is the dirtiest. Even as I think it, a rustling of rubbish rolls past me. I need to move and get out of this area, especially with this amount of money. I’ll surely be killed if I’m caught by someone with this kind of cash on me.
My legs pump as hard as they can and don’t stop, no matter how tired they are. Suddenly, the echo of screeching tires startles me.
The sound of my phone ringing pulls me from my nightmare. Groaning, I rub the dried sleep from my eyes. It’s been a while since I dreamed about that night. It’s like I was reliving the moment once again.
My thoughts turn to last night.
Was it a dream?
Reaching over, I grab my cell. An unknown number lights up the screen, and I don’t answer numbers like that. It’s most likely a telemarketer, so I press the decline button, sending them to voicemail.
I pull my achy body upright. “This couch is not for sleeping,” I mumble, tilting my head to either side and stretching out my stiff neck.
