Page 18 of Close Your Eyes

Dad plates our sandwiches, and I shut my phone off, not sure if I should have sent him that. He’ll probably stop messaging with me altogether, which is what we should do.

I shouldn’t be playing this game with him. But as I sit and eat my turkey sandwich with my father, I can’t help but turn my phone back on and spot that I’ve got one unread message from Ledger.

When I return to Bane’s home in the hills, it’s later in the evening.

“Where were you?” Bane asks, scaring me as I step through the front door.

“Have you been waiting for me?” I ask him, as he sits in a high wing-back chair, a glass of amber-colored liquor in his hand.

“Where were you?”

“Visiting my father,” I say back to him. He always lets me visit my father on Sundays.

“How is the old man?” Bane lifts the tumbler to his mouth and takes a long pull.

“He’s good.” The way Bane’s eyes scrutinize me make me feel like I’m in an interrogation. I want to flee to the safety of my room, but I know better than to disobey him.

Bane rises from his seat, stalking closer. “I heard he’s been trying to place bets.”

I shake my head, terrified as Bane moves closer to me. “He wouldn't do that,” I say, but my voice is shaky.

“I hope he’s not trying to think he can pay off his debt and you wouldn’t have to marry me.” He swipes a strand of hair from my face, and pushes it behind my ear. It sends shivers up and down my spine.

And not because it turned me on, quite the opposite actually. He horrifies me.

“There’s no escaping me, Posey.” The way he says my name makes my stomach churn with acid.

“I know,” I whisper out.

“There’s no escaping this. Even if your father did miraculously come up with the funds to pay me off, I’d still keep you for my bride. You’re mine.” He steps back, taking another drink from his glass.

I meet his eyes and nod.

He dismisses me, and I run up to my bedroom, slam the door shut and fling myself on the bed. I breathe in deep through my nose, and out my mouth, trying to will my body to calm down.

Breathe.

After a few minutes, I get ready for bed, and slide under the covers, turning out the lamp by my bedside. I grab my phone, and open the thread I’ve got with Ledger.

That’s a shame.

I smile at his reply, but I need to navigate this texting back to safe ground.

Well, I’ll be a married woman soon enough.

He replies immediately.

When’s the lucky day?

We haven’t picked a day yet, due to Bane’s case, but soon.

I’m sure you can’t wait.

I read that response over and over, wanting to tell Ledger the truth. That I can wait. That I hope Bane goes to jail and I won’t have to marry him. But those aren’t the cards that were dealt to me. So, I lie.

I can’t. We’re thinking of having the wedding here. I can get you an invite. I do have some pull.

I laugh at my little joke.