“What do you mean?” My voice strained as I tried to keep it together. Panic swept through me, and my heartbeat picked up a few paces.
“Your lover. I want his blood.” His face contorted with a mix of pain and pleasure that frightened the fuck out of me. “And I will have it. I’ve sent him to Afghanistan, and I’ll make damn sure he comes back in a body bag.” He smacked his lips as he dealt his trump card.
I sucked in a sharp breath.
“Why?” My voice sounded hollow.
“Because he’s trying to steal you from me. Because I saw him fuck you with my own eyes. Because I need to put an end to the motherfucker’s life so that we can live happily ever after.”
My head was spinning.
“Nolan, listen to me. Harrison and I are over. He’s not my lover . . . anymore. I don’t mean a thing to him.” The truth of that statement hurt more than anything Nolan could do to me. “It was just a fling. I mean nothing to him, so there is no point in killing him.”
“Too late, little darling. He’s on his way to meet his maker. He has to pay for what he’s done. It’s as simple as that.”
I blinked fast, stopping the tears from falling. If Nolan ever suspected I was lying to him about anything, I’d have no chance of negotiating Harrison’s release, but telling the truth wasn’t easy either.
I feigned contempt. “I don’t really care what happens to Harrison, since we broke up. But I hate the thought of bloodshed in the name of revenge. Tell me what you want, Nolan. Let’s see if we can make this work for . . . us.” I nearly choked as the words came from my mouth. What the hell was I doing? Sealing my own fate by letting Nolan win was the hardest thing to do.
Something that sounded like a strangled laugh came from my lips. It was Harrison or me. One of us had to die. Harrison’s blood would spill or my soul would be destroyed, killing me as surely as if he’d put a gun to my head and pulled the trigger.
“I knew you’d see it my way . . . sooner or later. I’m not a patient man, and you’ve tested me to the fucking limit.”
“I’m sorry.” That was half true. I was sorry that it had come to a choice. This choice.
Sacrifice myself so that Harrison will live.
Could I do it? Could I give up my freedom in exchange for saving Harrison? A calmness washed over me that I hadn’t felt in days. My voice was low and raspy as I repeated my question. “What do you want, Nolan?”
“Marry me tomorrow.”
Jesus!
I blinked fast. “Tomorrow?”
“Yes. Show the world you are mine. Unless . . .” He smirked, and I couldn’t help shivering.
“Tomorrow is fine. I don’t have other plans.” I laughed softly. I was screwed either way. Harrison didn’t want me anymore, but that didn’t mean he had to be sent to his death. “Promise me you will abort whatever you had planned for Harrison. And Savage. We can get married tomorrow if you promise.”
I searched his face, looking for signs of sincerity. These days I had no idea what it looked like any longer; I’d been screwed over so many times.
Nolan laughed. It sounded cold and devoid of emotion. “You forget you are tied to my bed, darling. In reality, you have zero bargaining power. But as a gift to my bride-to-be, if it will make you feel better . . . yeah, I promise.”
I tried hard to not let the relief show on my face.
Oh, the fucking irony.
I’d just signed my own death warrant.
I despised this man who traded lives for his own gain. I hated that I’d be tied to him for the rest of my life. Senator Parker would make damn sure I didn’t leave his side unless it suited him. I was his prisoner for life, only I’d be calling it marriage and pretending I liked it to avoid a backlash.
Life. It was as cruel as it was bitter. I was trading my soul for that of a man who didn’t care if I breathed. Yet this was the only option and the only way forward.
My life for his.
Chapter 32 — Eva
Nolan rubbed a hand over his inflamed cheek. “We’re going to be happy, babe. If you fuck like the lioness I met with today, all my wet dreams will have come true. Not only will I have the backing of a powerful music mogul, I’ll have the most beautiful woman in LA in my bed.”
I gulped for air. Did I hear right? What did my father have to do with any of this?
I wriggled as I tried to loosen the ties around my wrists. “Hang on. Why are you mentioning my dad? Does he have anything to do with this?”
“Um, not directly. But I already asked him for your hand in marriage. For the second time, he gave his blessing. Said he’d do whatever it took to get Summers out of your life. He even joked he’d rather have a baby kisser than a baby killer as his son-in-law.”
Oh God. I stopped fighting the restraints and closed my eyes for a moment. When I opened them again, I took a deep breath and spoke in the calmest voice I could muster. “What else?”
“What do you mean?” he asked, a deep frown forming between his eyes.
“How much money did he pledge to your next campaign?”
It was starting to fall into place. My father would sponsor Nolan to stop me from being with Harrison. It was all about money and power, and never about me. I was nothing more to Nolan than a way to my father’s checkbook and ultimately a possession he owned.
“It wasn’t like that. It was just an implication. But I know Bill is good for a few million.”
What had I done to deserve this? The only man who probably wanted nothing from me for his own gain was Ryder.
Nolan gave me a lopsided grin. It was the same smile that used to make my heart skip a beat. Now it left my heart cold. I’d seen the real man behind the fake smile, and he creeped the fuck out of me. How I’d be able to keep to my side of the bargain, I had absolutely no idea.
“Since you’ve agreed to marry me tomorrow, I guess we have something to celebrate.”
He shifted closer to me, leaning on his elbows as he hovered over me.
“Um . . .” I licked over my lips as nerves got the better of me. Silence stretched out between us, and my heart pounded in my ears as I floundered and my throat grew too tight to speak.
“Yeah?” Cold beady eyes stared back at me.
Gathering all my courage, I tried to keep my voice even when I spoke. I didn’t want Nolan to hear the panic I felt. “Why the rush to get married? I . . . um, I don’t even have a gown.”
“Don’t let that worry your pretty little head. I wouldn’t care if you were naked.”
I had to buy time. Maybe he’d change his mind. “Don’t be silly. I want to look beautiful on my wedding day. It’s every girl’s dream.” I didn’t sound convincing, even to myself.
His nostrils flared and the frown was back. “Are you trying to back out?”
I could hardly breathe. Fear gripped my insides. I’d always been able to reason with Nolan in the past, but in his present mindset he wasn’t leaving any room for negotiation or compromise.
Moving my head from side to side, I spoke softly. “No, of course not. It’s just that I always wanted a fairytale wedding. The dress, the flowers, Daddy to walk me down the aisle . . . the whole thing.”
Nolan’s eyes softened for a few moments, and he almost seemed like the man I used to adore. “I’ll see what I can do to make it the best I can. But it’s going to happen tomorrow, Eva.” His jaw clamped tight. “That part is not negotiable.”
Holding back the urge to scream and cry and lash out like a crazy woman at a fate that seemed worse than death, my chest heaved as I sucked at air.
Harrison. I’m doing this for him.
As long as I repeated that over and over in my head, I’d be fine, even though my insides rattled and I wanted to run as far away as my legs would carry me. Maybe Nolan suspected as much, because I was still tied to the damn bed, and my wrists were hurting from the friction, as I’d been trying to subtly wrangle them free without success.