Chapter 160

I’ve been planning many ways to escape in my head, but it seems impossible. I don’t have my wallet or my phone. Drake threw them all away back at the event hall. He has men watching me.

“How can I go with you? I don’t have my things with me,” I say, trying to reason.

“You don’t need those. Come, we’re taking off for a few minutes.” He grabs my wrist and pulls me to him, but I struggle.

“No!” I yank my hand away, crying again. “I can’t go with you.”

He grunts under his breath and reaches for my wrist again. “I have men outside your mother’s house. I can order them to blow up your house.”

“No, you said you didn’t lie.” I sniffle. “But you are lying now. You’re maybe a narcissist and a sadist asshole, but you’re not a murderer.”

A muscle in his jaw ticks. “Not yet, I’m not. But I will be if you challenge me. Your family’s blood will be in your hands. Amir?” He cocks his head to the side, and Amir, one of his bodyguards, steps forward and hands him a phone.

Draken then shows me a picture of my apartment.

I clasp my hand to my mouth. Oh, no.

“How dare you?” I toss the phone at him and slap his face with my shaking hands. “Don’t you hurt my family! I swear, Drake. I will kill you in your sleep. You violent piece of shit.”

“Goddammit…” he hisses and seethes under his breath. His hand grips my wrist as his other hand touches his face. “Don’t try my patience, Alayna. You won’t want to see that side of me again.”

I gulp my throat dry. That side of him. He knows it’s still my weakness.

The pounding in my chest quickens when I hear the airline’s announcement.

“This is the final boarding call for passengers booked on flight 587A to Wichita. Please proceed to gate three immediately. The final checks are being completed, and the captain will order for the aircraft’s doors to close in approximately five minutes. I repeat. This is the final boarding call for passengers booked on flight 587A to Wichita. Thank you.”

“That’s our call. Come.” He drags me with him.

Wichita! At least I know where we are going. When I get there, I can try to call Brandon. I have to find a way back to him.

We landed in Wichita after almost half a day in the air. I am now thousands of miles away from my family and my fiancé. I’m just too tired to protest and powerless to do anything but follow Drake’s command, so I just keep my mouth shut to conserve energy. I can think of something else later. His guards are just right next to us.

We stop at a hotel where he rented a suite with one bed. One freaking bed!

“We stay here for the night, but we’re leaving tomorrow. My sister is expecting our arrival.” He tosses his stuff on the couch and sits.

I scowl in confusion. “You have a sister? I thought you were an only child.”

“It doesn’t hurt if you sit, Laynie.”

I remain still. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“Yes, a half-sister. She’s my mother’s eldest. She knows about you and your dad and everything my father did to us—to our mother.”

My limbs and legs feel frail, so I just eat my pride and perch on the edge of the bed.

“I’m not sharing beds with you, Drake. If you ever try to force me, I’ll fight you. I’m not the same as before.”

“Oh, are you?” A smirk curls on his lips, crossing his legs. “Shame. I was looking forward to making you mine again.”

I cringe. “Don’t you dare!”

“But I won’t force you.” Suddenly, he stands up again and starts undoing his shirt while watching me as he does. He moves closer to me slowly, and goosebumps roll over my body.

I stagger back, grabbing a pillow from the bed to cover myself. “Stop. Stay away from me.”

Drake halts a foot away from me and completely peels off his shirt, displaying his bare torso. Compared to his physique before, he is broader and leaner now. With his huge arms, he can break my bones if he wants to, and I won’t be able to defend myself. It hurts to be weak.

“I will not force you because eventually, you’ll submit to me,” he finishes.

“Never,” I promise. The last time was different. I loved him then, but anger and disgust are all I feel for him now.

“Not now, yes, but I know you will.” He takes a step back, grabs something from his stuff, and then throws it at me. They’re his clothes.

“Get changed. There’s the bathroom.” He points to the door behind me. “Hurry. We have a lot to discuss before we leave.”

“Discuss?”

“I’m a man of my words, Laynie. Didn’t you say you wish to know about Richard?”

I manage a gasp and clutch the shirt I’m holding. At least, there’s still some decency left in his soul, but he’s still strange to me. I realize I’m never going to figure out what kind of man he is.