A Beautiful Nightmare: A Novel by Shana Vanterpool

Author:Shana Vanterpool [Vanterpool, Shana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shana Vanterpool
Published: 2016-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

17.

We Can’t Break Anymore

Dash eyed me uncertainly.

That he was doing so at all made me laugh suddenly. But my laughs were tear soaked, and hardly humorous. I wiped my tears away and faced him. Bare. From now on I could only be bare in front of him.

I felt naked and exposed. Vulnerable. Breakable.

“Are you hungry? We should eat.” He moved around me and resumed what he’d been doing.

Broken.

I let out a relieved breath when he didn’t press me. Although he didn’t need to press me. He knew why I was breaking open. When you have nothing else to hide, your insides did the talking. Mine were screaming.

“Take these.” He held his hand out to me.

I eyed his closed fist suspiciously. “What are they?”

“Take these.” His tone hardened.

Sensing his anger, I gave him my palm. He dropped two pills—one large and orange, and one small and white—and then turned his back to me, pushing a mug of water close by. I peeked over his shoulder to find him dividing his and hers vitamins and supplements.

“We’re losing too much weight. These will help make up what we lose from fruits and vegetables. You have to start eating more. These should help us gain.” He produced two large protein bars wrapped in silver paper and red ink, and placed them both in my confused palm. “They require water. Eat them both, please.”

“Yes, master. Would you like me to eat them on my knees, or can I do so standing?”

“Coffee’s ready to go,” he continued, ignoring me. “Just hit the switch.” He ripped the plastic off of his own protein bar, and took a large bite, powering through it with his jaw. “I have something to take care of. Would you mind if I excused myself for a couple hours?” He grabbed a second bar and a carton of soymilk, meeting my gaze as he waited.

“What do you have to do?”

He looked away, and then back up. Not guilty, but reluctant. “I have affairs to take care of.”

“What kind of affairs?” I stared at him hard.

But he bent down and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “Your suspicions hurt me.” His eyes showed me how close he was to snapping.

I sighed, catching a glimpse of his soft swollen kissed lips. “Please answer me.”

He kissed me again, this time a second longer. “I left my VP in charge of my companies. I agreed to speak to him once a week for a couple hours to make sure things are running smoothly. I couldn’t just pull the plug on my work. Too many people rely on their employment. It would have also tipped my father off long before he knew I would break the bond. I’ll do it slowly, carefully.” He looked away this time, and a vein jumped in his throat. “Until we disappear.”

I was struck by the sadness in his voice, and I would bet, in his eyes as well. “I don’t want to disappear.”

“We have no other choice. The kingdom is yours. I’ll be out in a few.

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