by Dori Lavelle
“I’ll show it to you soon enough.”
Instead of taking me to lunch, he takes me to Lily Pond, a five-star spa, insisting we need to spend some relaxing time together. I don’t realize just how exhausted I am until I lay myself down on the massage table for a full body massage, and sink into the hot tub afterward. We spend the entire afternoon at the spa.
When we leave, Dax takes me out to dinner at the LaClaire. Even though we’ve spent the entire day together, I’m finding it hard to say much to him, still annoyed about his behavior toward Curtis. And all through the expensive meal, I can’t stop thinking about the delicious pizza I left behind at Fantasia.
I’m still silent when we get back into the car and Dax gives the driver an unfamiliar address.
“Where are we?” I ask when the car finally drives through a pair of iron gates and enters the spacious driveway of a luxurious mansion with windows that are at least three or four stories tall.
“Your home, baby.” He squeezes my hand. “It’s my early wedding gift to you.”
I peer through the window at the huge mansion, with balconies wrapping around it, and manicured lawns.
“You bought this?” It looks expensive. It’s the kind of place I’d daydreamed about in Mistport. But in my daydreams it didn’t look as intimidating.
“Do you like it?” he whispers into my ear.
“I . . . It’s huge. You do know that we’re only two people, right?”
He lays a hand on my stomach. “Not for long. I plan on having many babies with you.”
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper as he kisses me. I used to fantasize about starting a family with him, but now the idea of carrying his babies in my womb is making my stomach clench up.
For a moment, I forget what happened at the restaurant, I forget the tension, the accusations, the anger. My body, as usual, is obedient to his touch. My tongue cannot help but dance with his.
I’m breathless when the kiss comes to an end and Dax places his hands on both sides of my face.
“There’s one more surprise.” He kisses my nose. “We’re moving in right now.”
I move my head back to get a better look at his face. “Already? Why the rush?”
“Why wait? Everything is ready for us. It’s fully furnished.”
“But it’s too soon. With all the packing and everything. I’m really busy at the moment, as you know already.”
“You don’t have to do a thing. It’s all taken care of.” He’s relaxed against the seat, a satisfied expression on his face.
“You have taken care of what exactly?” I curl my hands into fists while holding my breath.
He pulls out his phone and studies it for a moment as if I didn’t just ask him an important question.
“Dax,” I say between clenched teeth. “Answer me. What did you take care of?”
He pushes his phone back into his pocket and brings his gaze back to me. “Your apartment, of course. I’ve given it back to the landlord.”
Blood drains from my face. “You can’t do that.”
“I did. Since I had a key, I let the movers in and had everything taken care of immediately. I didn’t want you to stress. You just have to give your own key back to the landlord. He’s already showing it to potential tenants tomorrow.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “This is ridiculous. You can’t just make decisions behind my back.” The anger that has been building up inside me becomes a blazing fury. “What about my things? You brought them all here without talking to me first?” Now I know why he kept me busy all day. He wanted me to stay away from my apartment.
“Some of it. Not all. I want us to have a fresh start. I bought you new stuff, better stuff.” He places a hand on my cheek but I push it away. “What’s wrong? I thought you’d be happy. You love surprises.”
“I’m not happy, Dax.” I was looking forward to spending the last few weeks in my apartment before moving in with him after the wedding. “That was my apartment. You had no right.”
“Sweetheart, this is a good thing. You should be excited. It’s a new beginning for you, for us. Don’t you love the house?”
“I do, but that’s beside the point, Dax.” My voice rises with each word. “We are in a relationship. We’re partners. You can’t make all the decisions for us.”
“Are you saying you’re unhappy?” His tone is hard now. “Are you throwing my love for you back in my face?”
“I’m just saying—”
“Don’t. Try being grateful instead. The decision is made and that’s all there is to it.” He grips my arm tight as he talks. “We’re staying here tonight.”
His words leave a chill down my spine and something inside me tells me that there’s another side to Dax Pierce, and I better not bring it out.
Chapter Thirteen
As Dax shows me the massive house, I pretend to be excited, but I’m not. Not even the infinity pool, the sauna, the workout room, or my vintage-style walk-in closet filled with new designer clothes excites me. I can’t stop thinking about what Dax did. I’ve been trying to hide from the truth that has been staring me straight in the face. But I can’t hide from it any more.
Dax is just like my father. He’s controlling. He wants to marry me so he can own me. I’ll never be an equal in his eyes.
I’m relieved when the tour comes to an end and we settle in front of the fireplace in the master bedroom, with Dax admiring a portrait he’d had done of me. It doesn’t impress me either. And my mind is busy making plans for my future.
I decide that I’ll spend the night here because I’m too mentally exhausted to launch into another fight with Dax, but tomorrow I’ll go back to my landlord. Not to return my key, but to ask for my apartment back. Then I’ll take it from there. Tonight I just want to sleep. It’s easier said than done.
After Dax makes love to me and falls asleep, I close my eyes. Sleep refuses to come. There’s too much on my mind.
I need to talk to someone I trust. My sister comes to mind. We haven’t spoken since the day she told me she couldn’t come to the awards. Like Dax, she also doesn’t want to accept my acting career.
I sneak out of bed and tiptoe into my walk-in closet. The thick plush carpet muffles the sound of my steps.
I sink onto a cushioned vintage chair and call her. I need her so much right now.
“Does this call mean you’re no longer upset about me missing the awards?” She yawns.
“No.” I shake my head. “I mean, yes. I’m not upset.” My arguments with Christa now seem so petty compared to the issues I’m having with Dax.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I can explain.” She sighs. “I wanted to tell you, but you refused to answer my calls.”
“I’m sorry.” I rub my forehead. “You don’t have to. It really doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Yes, it does.” Christa coughs. “I couldn’t come because the day before I received news that... that the cancer is back.”
“No.” I tighten my sweaty hand around my phone as dread twists around my heart. “It’s not... why didn’t you—”
“I didn’t want to tell you because I wanted you to enjoy your big night. You worked so hard.” Her voice is growing husky. She’s crying. “I know I didn’t support your career, but you surprised me. You stuck it out. I’m proud of you, sis.”
“How bad is it?” My career at this point is not important.
Christa is quiet for far too long. When she speaks again, I have to strain my ears to hear her. “Worse than last time. It has spread to other parts of the body.”
“Please tell me they can do something. I’ll send more money.”
“No.” Christa’s tear-soaked voice is sharp. “You worked hard for that money. I don’t want you to waste it.”
Pain spreads through my chest on its way to the rest of my body. “Stop saying that. I’m your sister. I’m working for both of us.”
“It’s too late.”
“It’s never too late. We can fight this.”
; “No, we can’t. They doctors say I won’t live past...” Christa blows her nose. “Six months or less. That’s all I have left.”
“I’m coming home tomorrow.” I lean forward until my forehead is resting on my knees. We both weep in silence. There are no words to erase the pain.
“Cheer me up,” Christa says finally. “Tell me about you and Dax. You looked happy on TV. Looks like I was wrong about him. I’m so happy for you. How are the wedding plans going?” As soon as Dax proposed, I told Christa and she did seem pleased for me. Dax had no family members to share the news with since he is an only child and both his parents are no longer alive.
I sit up straight again and wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. “I’m not.” I hiccup. “I’m not happy.” Fresh, hot tears flood my eyes again and before I know it, I’ve told her everything that happened in the last few days. When I come to the topic of the house, she echoes my fears about Dax. He’s controlling like papa was and she thinks if I marry him, it will be worse.
Before I can say more, the door to the closet opens and Dax walks in, his expression like thunder. I wipe away the tears quickly and hang up on my sister without thinking.
Dax doesn’t say anything to me as he stands in the doorway, watching me. I can’t even remember what I said to Christa anymore. How much did he hear? The vein throbbing at the side of his jaw tells me he’s furious.
I lower my gaze to my phone then back up at him. “Did I wake you?” I get to my feet.
No response comes from him as he takes a few steps into the small room. When he’s close enough, for a second I think he’s about to put his arms around me but, instead, he swings his hand back and brings it crashing against my cheek. Fire explodes under my skin and skyrockets to my brain.
My hand flies to my cheek to cover the part that has been assaulted, my eyes wide with horror, my heart clenched like a stone inside my chest.
“Oh my God,” I whisper. “Oh my God . . .” Fear claws through me as I back away from him until my back meets a wall. I slide down it to the carpeted floor, my hand clutching my chest, my cheek throbbing. “How dare you!”
He comes to tower over me. I cover my face with my hands to protect myself from the next blow, but it doesn’t come. Instead Dax falls to his knees in front of me.
“Oh God, baby. I’m so sorry.” He grabs me, pulling me to his body, hugging me and kissing my face all over, but I flinch away, curling up into a ball, tears streaming down my cheeks. “Don’t touch me. Don’t ever touch me.” I shove him away.
“Stop that.” He grabs me again, so tight I can’t move or breathe. “I love you, Emma.” He holds me to himself, his hand around my head, pressing me into his naked chest. “I don’t know what got into me. Those things you said to your sister . . .” He sucks in a breath. “You discussed our private business with her. You betrayed me.”
This time I succeed at pushing him away from me. “She’s my sister and I only told her the truth.”
He rakes a hand through his hair. “We’re about to get married. As a married couple, we have to keep some things private. We don’t want the press getting ahold of it.”
I sneer at him. “You’re afraid my sister will go to the press? Are you that paranoid?”
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” He squeezes his eyes shut and opens them again. “I—”
“I don’t care what you want to say. You’ll never lay a hand on me again.” My voice is sharp, determined. “If you ever touch me again, I’m leaving.” The truth is, I’m already done with him. He hit me once, he can do it again. I won’t end up like my mother. As soon as I’m out of this house, I’m not coming back.
“It will never happen again,” he says. “That man wasn’t me.”
I get up from the floor and go to the bathroom to splash my face with cold water. He follows me inside and watches me with a broken expression. I don’t care how much he begs. I don’t care how my body feels for him. I’m leaving. I just need to be careful so I don’t get hurt again. Right now, I’ll pretend I’m still in this relationship. He doesn’t need to know yet that I have one foot out the door.
“Your sister doesn’t like me, does she?”
I don’t say anything. Whatever I say could get me hurt. “That doesn’t matter. I’m still with you, am I not?” Not for long though.
“I just don’t appreciate you talking to her about me.”
“You can’t stop me from talking to my sister.” I spin around to face him. “She’s my family.”
“You don’t need another family. You’re about to build your own with me. Our family should come first.”
I lean against the sink, my eyes closed. I feel him come closer. He tries to put his arms around me but I step out of the bathroom. I don’t even stop in the bedroom but walk out the door. I’m about to descend the stairs when he snatches my arm.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Away. Far away from you.” I say without wavering. I pull away again, but he yanks me hard and slams me against the nearest wall.
Air bursts from my lungs and spills from my lips in a croak as I struggle to breathe.
“The fuck you are.” His body presses me hard to the wall and his mouth finds my ear. “You’re never leaving me, Emma. You’re mine.”
“I’m not—”
He gives me a backhanded slap that shuts me up and makes my head swim with fear.
Chapter Fourteen
“Dax and Emma, you’re all everyone is talking about. The sexiest couple in Hollywood. We were delighted to hear you’re getting married. So much to celebrate.” Leah Borrelli from Alda magazine smiles brightly on the other side of the screen. With each word, her sharp bob sways like a curtain that frames her freckled face. The magazine is very popular as it offers raw, unfiltered celebrity interviews.
They had asked for an in-person interview, but Dax had bullied me into telling her that I’m too busy planning the wedding to meet her in person.
If only she could read the lies from my lips. If only she could see that Dax is participating in the interview to keep me in check. I was the one the magazine had initially wanted to interview but Dax had wormed his way in. He wanted to watch my every word, my body language. He wanted to ensure I don’t reveal his secrets, that he treats me like a prisoner. That he is a monster.
“Emma, you must be excited about becoming Mrs. Pierce. You’re the envy of many women.”
I glance at Dax, who’s sitting next to me on the second leather desk chair in his bright, luxurious office.
His face breaks into a forced grin and he squeezes my hand hard under the table—too hard. I hold back a grimace. “That’s all she talks about,” he says. “Tell her, Emma. Tell her how excited you are.”
I try to pull my hand away but he tightens his grip. He had not hit me again, but with each word he instills fear in me. He has held me hostage in his new mansion for one week. To torture me, he doesn’t lock the front doors. He wants me to know my freedom is so close yet so far out of reach.
Before the interview he’d warned that if I say anything I shouldn’t, he’d kill me. After what I’d seen in his eyes the past few days, it’s hard not to believe him.
I wipe away the smile and look straight into the camera, fighting the urge to tell Leah what goes on behind our closed doors. I put on a bittersweet smile. “He’s not the man everyone thinks he is, you know.”
I regret my words immediately when something cool and sharp presses at my abdomen. I don’t look down. I know it’s the knife he’d pointed to my throat over breakfast this morning, when he threatened to kill me.
I stiffen a little as I feel the tip of the knife pressing lightly into my skin. “I-I mean—”
Leah laughs at the same time that Dax chuckles. “We love your sense of humor, Emma. We all know you’re just trying to scare away the women who are after him. You want him all to yourself, don’t you?”
Dax moves the knife from my belly and runs the tip downward to my vagina. What Leah
doesn’t know is that while I’m dressed in a creamy satin blouse and my hair and makeup are spot on, I’m naked below the waist at Dax’s orders.
He wanted me to feel vulnerable. I’d fought back at first, as I had done the past week, but he brought Ruby, his poisonous snake, to my dressing room, warning me that he would release her and watch as her poison took my life. I’d thrown up with fear and had to change from the simple black dress I had planned on wearing into the blouse he picked out for me.
Without thinking, I murmur the jingle from the Obsession Inc. commercial while my heart stutters with fear.
“What was that?” Leah tilts her head to the side.
“Sorry. It’s nothing.” I force a smile. “Yes. Yes, of course. He’s—” I glance at Dax again, his grin sickening me, “—he’s mine.” The last word is barely audible.
“Don’t worry,” Leah says, glancing at her note cards. “We promise to stay away. We totally adore you as a couple.”
A sigh of relief spills from my lips as Dax moves his knife away from my body. I start to breathe again.
Leah leans a little closer to the camera, so close her freckles are visible under the flawless makeup. “So, when is the wedding?”
There’s no way I’m marrying the snake. I just need to find a way to escape this prison. The past few days, it had been just the two of us. But it’s only a matter of time before he has to go out or someone pays us a visit. Until a day ago, I’d been hoping it would be Curtis as he had insisted on meeting up with me for another lunch after Dax butted into the previous one.
But Dax made me send him an email, telling him that I was too exhausted and needed to take a few days off to relax.
Dax had also drafted a letter he wanted me to send to the Dancing Lights producers to back out of the agreement. All I had to do was sign it and send it off, but I refused to let him take everything away from me. I’d thought he would kill me right then as he threw me to the floor and put a foot to my throat. Instead, he just enjoyed the look of fear on my face as my eyes filled with tears. It shocked me when he removed his foot and threw my laptop at the wall.