I might really feel tears pricking my eyes as I packed, and I swiped them away rapidly. Was this all I used to be price to them? Was that what they’d been retaining me right here for, similar to my father had mentioned? Maintaining me round, pretending to handle me, as a result of they knew I might make a reasonably bride for some ally they needed to consolidate their relationship with? I used to be nothing however a pawn on a chessboard for him, and now, it was my flip to be taken.

Not if I might assist it. I hooked my bag over my shoulder and became a pair of sneakers, catching sight of myself within the large mirror in my ensuite toilet. I regarded totally different than earlier than, eyes darkish with concern, jaw set tight as I attempted to muster the braveness to do that.

I had barely set foot outdoors the household mansion with out a bodyguard since I used to be a child – the flowery boarding college I had attended as a toddler had been filled with different ladies like me, pampered and guarded, reduce off from the remainder of the world. Had they been groomed to be married off to a husband of their mother and father’ selecting, too? I hadn’t stayed in contact with any of the women I’d gone to highschool with – they’d headed off to their prestigious universities overseas, whereas my mother and father had stored me shut. I had checked out their photos, envious, on social media, understanding I needed to hold residing this life, unable to pursue the identical desires they received to meet.

I headed for the steps as quietly as attainable. I had no thought how I used to be going to sneak previous the guards on the door, however I couldn’t wait round to search out out. It was late, practically eleven within the night, and probabilities had been they’d be right down to a skeleton workers – drained, not paying consideration, not watching out for me, of all folks…

I reached the kitchen, and held my breath, glancing round to see if anybody had seen me. The place was empty and nonetheless; I grabbed a couple of snacks from the cabinet and crammed them into my bag, figuring I might most likely want the sustenance for the street.

The street? Precisely the place was I planning to go, precisely? I had no thought. No clue. I didn’t know this metropolis outdoors of this home, and the few occasion areas the place my father held fundraisers and received me to indicate face. Atwood was a reasonably secure place, at the least from my expertise, however I knew there was a darkish underbelly to it – an underbelly that, by the sounds of it, was proper on my tail, since my father had given my hand away to one among its scariest members.

The again door was propped open, and I might scent a waft of cigarette smoke drifting via the door – Jacobi, the guard on watch tonight, was a smoker, and he was doubtless getting his night puff in earlier than anybody seen. I peered outdoors, and, positive sufficient, he was going through away from the door, attempting to disguise his smoking, the glow of the cig in his hand the one factor giving him away proper now.

I had seconds. He would flip round, see me there, and ship me again in, and I might haven’t any alternative however to undergo with what my father demanded of me. If I didn’t flee now, I might be trapped right here.

I inhaled deeply, and, earlier than Jacobi might flip round once more, I ran with each little bit of energy I had, speeding previous him in direction of the gate on the far facet of the backyard that led out on to the road past. I might really feel the perfectly-clipped grass beneath my toes, the breath tearing in my lungs, the chilly air burning in my system, however I didn’t care. I couldn’t cease. Not now. Not after I knew what was ready for me if I rotated, what would occur to me if I finished in my tracks.

I stored my eyes pinned on the gate in entrance of me, the bag bouncing towards my again – it was somewhat too small for me now, and it was already digging into my shoulders, however I knew I couldn’t let that sluggish me down. The tears had been coursing down my cheeks as I ran from my household dwelling, the one place I had ever identified– the place I had at all times thought I might really feel secure.

I reached the gate and unlatched it, spinning round for a second to look again on the home. My final likelihood to vary my thoughts and return, my final likelihood to overlook I had even tried this, my final likelihood to just accept the destiny they’d already chosen for me.

I steeled my nerves and pushed the gate open. No. I wouldn’t allow them to marry me off to somebody like Lombardi. I wouldn’t allow them to marry me off, interval. Even when they thought I used to be just a few asset they may do with as they selected, I knew I used to be a lot greater than that, and I needed to show it to myself as a lot as I needed to show it to them.

I reached the sidewalk outdoors, vehicles streaking by in both path. I might have flagged one down and tried to get a raise out of right here, however the place would I am going? And what if somebody acknowledged me, and simply took me proper again to my father? No, I couldn’t threat it – I used to be by myself, and I wanted to maintain it that manner. Irrespective of how tempting it may need been to let myself ask for assist, I wanted to place as a lot area between myself and this place as I might.

I wanted to run as quick as my legs would carry me, and by no means look again. As a result of if I did…if I did, I used to be wanting down the aisle of a wedding to a person who would do God is aware of what to me when he received me alone.

I glanced in both path. Which manner ought to I am going? I supposed it didn’t matter, so long as I began strolling. Gripping onto the straps of my backpack, I took a deep breath of Atwood Metropolis air and commenced to maneuver.

Chapter Two – Jaxon

“Shit, man, I don’t know,” Lee replied with a shrug. “We might attempt to discover a new route on the market, however I get the sensation the Tigers are going to chop us off at each flip.”

Chuck set free a low growl of irritation and shook his head, then glanced over at me.

“What do you assume, Jax?” he requested. I held my arms up.

“Hey, don’t ask me,” I protested. “You’re those who know this metropolis higher than I do.”

“Yeah, and also you’re the one who does most of our weapon runs,” Chuck replied. “Should you assume you possibly can deal with it, we are able to keep on with the route we’ve received. If not, we are able to discover a strategy to work across the Tigers…”

I grimaced, not eager to let Chuck down – however, earlier than I might give him a solution, I heard the bell on the door of the store ringing.

“Buyer, boss,” I informed him, getting as much as meet whoever it was. “Can we choose this up later?”

“Positive,” Chuck replied, waving me off. He had tried to elucidate to me that I didn’t have to take the tattoo store work so critically, it wasn’t rather more than a canopy for every part else the Darkish Canine received as much as, however I loved it – made for a break from every part else that was occurring in our lives, and an opportunity to flex my inventive abilities for as soon as.

I reached the entrance desk – and, after I noticed the lady approaching it, I set free a low whistle via my tooth. Rattling, she was scorching. The type of scorching you didn’t see round these elements all that usually. Lengthy, blonde hair, pale blue eyes that appeared like jewels towards her pale pores and skin, a willowy construct with a couple of freckles smattered throughout her nostril. She was dressed down in a pair of denims and a tee, however she regarded like she might have walked off some trend runway as she glanced round, taking within the designs on the wall round her.

“Hey,” I greeted her, and her head snapped round directly.

“Oh, hey,” she replied. “You’re employed right here?”

“Final time I checked.”

“I desire a tattoo,” she replied. “Can I get one? As we speak?”

“Should you’ve received the money,” I replied. She reached into the brilliant pink backpack slung over her shoulder and pulled out a couple of twenties.

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