Chapter 22 CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Ginnie
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Varkos’s voice sliced through the hallway like a blade.
Shit!
For half a second, I considered running away before he could get to me, letting instinct take over—but then Lily stirred in my arms, her small fingers tightening around my shoulder, and reality crashed back in.
Slowly, I turned to face Varkos who was standing at the far end of the corridor, his eyes dropped instantly to the luggage bag clenched in my hand, then to Lily curled up against my chest.
“I’m waiting for an explanation, Ginnie,” he ordered.
I said nothing.
My heart was pounding so violently it felt like it might tear straight through my ribs, but I forced my face to stay calm.
Are you deaf?” His voice dropped low, more dangerous as he took a step closer towards me. “I asked you a fucking question.”
Still, I stayed silent.
Lily shifted in my arms again, her tiny face pressed into my shoulders…the only thing grounding me right now as fear crawled up my spine.
“So,” he said quietly, his eyes piercing into mine, “You now sneak through my halls in the middle of the night and you think I won’t demand an answer?”
I swallowed hard, my pulse thundering in my ears as my mind spiraled with all the different lies I needed to form in order not to make Varkos suspect anything.
The blackmailer’s voice echoed sharp and merciless inside my head as I tried to speak.
One week.
Varkos will know.
His daughter.
How the hell was I supposed to tell him that the reason I’m trying to escape is that my secret has been found out? That Lily was his daughter.
No…
“This is the last time I’ll ask again,” Varkos’s voice shattered through my thoughts, his tone far more dangerous than shouting. “Why were you trying to escape this mansion, Ginnie?”
My fingers curled tightly around the strap of the bag until my knuckles burned. He leaned down slightly, forcing my face up to meet his eyes, “Look at me when I speak to you.”
“I—“
“You wouldn’t try to escape,” Varkos cut in before I could finish, “Unless you’re hiding something. You have three seconds,” he said, “Or I’ll make you talk the hard way.”
My lips parted to speak, then closed again.
Holy fuck!
What am I supposed to say now?
“One.” Varkos started, his jaw clenched so tightly I feared his teeth might shatter.
“Two.”
“Three—“
“I’m leaving because I don’t want to be here anymore,” I said, the words breaking out of me at the last minute. “I want to leave with my sister.”
His eyes narrowed. “That’s not an answer.”
“Don’t you get it?” I snapped, “I’m not safe staying here.”
“From whom?” he demanded.
I hesitated a bit—just long enough to form the lie carefully for him to believe every word. “I’m not safe because of Kenna,” I said quietly.
That got his attention, anger flashing briefly through his eyes before he parted his lips to speak. “What the hell do you mean by that?”
“She hates me,” I shot back, “And now, for some unknown reason she’s starting to suspect me of having sex with you.” I lifted my chin slightly, “After how you defended me tonight, she won’t stop. She’ll make my life a living hell in this mansion.”
For a second, silence stretched heavy and thick between us, Varkos studied my face like he was trying to decide whether I was speaking the truth or hiding something more.
“And you think running will save you,” he finally said.
“No, but I know that staying will destroy me. If not for me…but my little sister, Lily.”
His gaze lingered—too long on Lily who was still peacefully asleep, then he straightened himself up slowly. “You’re not going anywhere,” he said coldly, “Because Kenna won’t dare touch you anymore.”
“Why should I believe you?” The words rolled out of me before I could stop myself, “Tonight, she only just slapped me. What about next time—“ I shook my head. “I might not be able to survive what she does next.”
His expression darkened, something volatile flashing behind his eyes as he stepped closer, his body towering over me. “I said. You’re not going anywhere.”
“You don’t get to decide that for me,” I clenched my jaw, “all I’m asking is for you to let me go.”
“I said no!” Varkos’s voice thundered across the hallway— a sound that made me flinch so hard I almost dropped Lily.
“Why?” My voice cracked despite my efforts to sound calm. “Why do you care if I leave or not?”
His gaze dropped briefly—to Lily, then back to me. “Kenna won’t harm you anymore because I’m going to mark her,” he said, “Tomorrow night.”
The words hit me harder than I expected, followed by a sharp, sudden pain that flared in my chest, like something tearing open. But I crushed it down instantly, forcing my face to look unbothered.
“Good,” I said. “That’s what you always wanted right?”
For a brief second, Varkos’s eyes searched mine, looking for something…anything that showed that it really bothered me. “You act like you don’t care.”
“No,” I lied smoothly. “Why would I?” The words tasted bitter even as they rolled off my tongue.
“Then you have no reason to run,” he shot back. “Kenna will be my Luna, so there won’t be any reason for her to hate you so much anymore.”
“I’m fine with that,” I hissed, turning to walk away, when suddenly, his hand shot out and locked around my wrist possessively. The force sent a chill through me as I gasped, staggering back awkwardly.
“Try this again,” he said slowly, leaning close enough that his lips almost touched mine, “and I won’t spare you.” His fingers tightened around my wrist more, just enough to hurt.
“You belong to me, Ginnie,” he growled, “forever…and you can never escape me. Cause I’ll find you anywhere.”
My breath hitched.
For a moment, I couldn’t move, nor did I breathe a single ounce of air. Then he released me suddenly, “ Go back to your room,” he ordered. “Now.”
I didn’t look at him.
I turned and began to walk away slowly, my legs shaking terribly as though I was about to faint. Lily was still safe in my arms—but inside, everything was screaming.
I’m so damn screwed!