Chapter 51
I didn’t call in help, I got in my car and drove there alone, texting Dare to call off the manhunt that I’d started and then called Uncle’s house and told Lisa to hold dinner; that my fiancée and I would be there in an hour. She passed the phone to Uncle, insisting he needed to speak with me. I rolled my eyes.
He knew she’d taken off from Tessa’s car and he thought it was hilarious. Him laughing at me pissed me off, big time. I knew he’d find it even more hilarious when he saw me with the injuries Claire had bestowed on me yesterday.
My brother had already seen me last night after the gym and I knew I wouldn’t live it down any time soon. A*****e was enjoying getting digs in at every available f*****g opportunity.
I listened to Uncle’s ribbing for all of 10 seconds and hung up on him, got outta my car, walked into this mall and as soon as I neared the food court I spotted her sitting in the back corner by a frozen yogurt kiosk, looking timid, looking pretty in a black and white checked dress with a red collar.
She saw me almost immediately and the look on her face was pure terror. She stood up, pushing the chair back with her legs and it fell over. People were staring.
I shook my head at her, narrowing my eyes and warning her with my expression as I picked up my pace. She didn’t heed my non-verbal warning.
She got up and took off, knocking some guy’s tray filled with fast food garbage, out of his hands. She apologized and kept going, running in a pair of red high heels, clutching a red purse.
I didn’t want a scene but I couldn’t help it, I ran after her. She wasn’t fast in those heels and I caught up to her about four stores away. I caught her elbow and squeezed.
She let out a sound of despair and we were coming up to a hall, where there were utility rooms so I shoved her down the hall and up against the wall. I took a deep breath in an effort to rein in my fury,
“We’re gonna casually walk out of here and get into my car and we are going to my uncle’s house for dinner. As planned. I’ll deal with you when we get home. Understand?”
Her eyes were feral. She wanted away from me in the worst way. She looked around like she was going to bolt again.
“No, Claire. You aren’t gonna make a scene, you aren’t gonna to do anything but what I’ve said. Understand?” I took her hand and put it under my arm and around the waistband of my pants so she could feel the butt of the gun I had back there.
She choked on a sob. I took her hand into mine and walked, fast. She struggled to keep up with me. She had tears in her eyes but she held it together and we headed to my car.
When we got in and the doors were closed, she let out a big breath.
“I don’t want to go to your family’ house. Just take me back to your house and get the beating over with.”
I laughed, “The beating? You think that’s all that’s gonna happen?” She stared at me wide-eyed.
I leaned toward her, “How ‘bout I burn your friend’s house down, put your douchebag of a father in the ground, and pick one of your little sisters to be shipped off to a whorehouse in Mexico? How’s that for a start?”
She cowered against the door. I grabbed her chin and made her look at me, “You’ve really f****d up. Not only did you take off but your actions have my sister thinking that things aren’t cool with you and me, and what’s with you and me is nobody’s f*****g business. You broke two rules. Now I’ve had a good chunk of busy people involved in trying to find you and that means a lot of people know that my fiancée took off from me. Talk about an absolute cluster f**k!”
The tires on my car squealed out of the parking lot, “We’re going to my uncle’s house and you’ll behave yourself or you’ll be sorry. Very f*****g sorry. So much for this morning, huh? Conniving little bitch.”
Claire’s POV
I couldn’t catch my breath, I was hyperventilating. I couldn’t settle down. I was gasping and I was going to throw up. Until now I knew Azriel Clarke was scary, crazy scary, but I had no idea he was this horrifying.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
“Pull over; I’m gonna puke.” I always threw up when I got super stressed.
He pushed his foot down and the car started moving even faster. I put my head in my hands, leaned forward and took a succession of slow and deep breaths, but it was no use, whatever was in my stomach was coming up.
“Pull over!” I hollered, and started to wretch, the puke came up into my throat and I managed to stop it from going projectile all over the windshield. I yanked off my seatbelt. He squealed the tires, slamming on the brakes, jerking me forward, making me bump my head on the dashboard. I shoved open the door and he reached for my arm but I shrugged him off and got my head out and threw up all over the road.
After a minute, after I was sure there was nothing else coming up, I sat back in the seat and closed my eyes. I wish I’d had the nerve and the strength to run but he had a gun. A gun.
f**k my life…