“We can’t get married. We don’t know each other, and we’ve not dated or anything.” Her pulse pounded as she saw her words were falling on deaf ears. Brad didn’t care, and from the look of it, neither did her parents.
They’d already agreed to this. She was alone.
“You’ll be my wife.” He released his hold on her and grabbed her hand. There was no use fighting him. Brad was stronger than she was. He slid the ring on her finger.
Pain radiated in her chest. The ring was a perfect fit.
One of his hands banded around her waist as the other palm slammed beside her head, on the wall.
“And that fucking Peter Miller will keep his hands away from what is mine.”
Her eyes widened as she looked at him. He couldn’t have seen that kiss, could he?
“I saw the fucking kiss, Rose. You didn’t fight him. I saw everything. He didn’t close the fucking blinds.” He leaned forward. “I suggest you kiss me the same way, or I tell your parents everything. They’ll cut you off, and you’ll be on the streets with nothing.”
He kissed her lips, and Rose let him. She didn’t fight him, but she didn’t respond either.
Brad leaned away. “I suggest you kiss me, or I’ll make sure your food is taken away from you and your parents let you move in with me. I know Adam, Tyler, and John want a piece of you. I always share what’s mine with my friends.”
She watched him, feeling sick. Rose needed to stop this. He turned to leave her room. For now, she needed to follow his rules. She needed to find a way out of this. Grabbing his arms, she wrapped her arms around Brad’s neck and kissed him. Rose closed her eyes imagining it was Peter.
Rose vowed she would find a way to get out of this. She was never going to be at the mercy of Brad or his friends.
Chapter Four
Peter hadn’t seen Rose at the library the following day or the day after that. He found out from one of the women working there that she’d handed in her notice. Seeing no reason to stick around the library, he no longer went back. Laura had left the library stopping his visits and now Rose. What was wrong with him that the women always seemed to leave him?
Stop feeling fucking morbid.
Leaving the library he saw Gabriel leaving his patrol car. He waved at the other man. Peter had a lot of respect for Gabriel. He’d taken on Amy and another man’s kids and raised them as his own.
“Hello, Gabriel. We’ve not seen you or Amy at the club recently,” Peter said, hugging him.
“We’ve been looking at moving out of Cape Falls. Amy doesn’t like living here anymore. She wants to leave.”
His words shocked Peter. “You’re planning on leaving Cape Falls?”
“I’m looking at a position elsewhere. It’s not healthy here to raise two kids. The town folk are not accepting of our ways. The Steer brothers are fighting with Anna to stay. We talked with Paul and David, and they’re ready to leave Cape Falls altogether.”
This was news to Peter.
“Wow, okay. I never thought anyone would leave the town. It’s such a beautiful place,” Peter said.
“It’s a beautiful area, but the people bring it down. They’re awful, and I agree with Amy. Our kids will be going to the same school as the locals, and we can’t let that happen. So much has happened, and they’re already being picked on. I can’t let it happen.” Gabriel appeared to have aged years in the last few months.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Peter said, meaning it.
“Speaking of trouble, do you know Rose Slater?” Gabriel asked.
“What about her?” Peter tensed thinking about the other woman.
“She keeps coming into the station and then turns around leaving it. I don’t know what to do with her. It happens a couple of times a day,” Gabriel said.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” Peter said.
He knew where she lived, and he was going to find out.
“Okay, I’ll come and see William soon. Don’t let him know about my leaving.”