“Behave tonight, or you won’t like later,” he growls in my ear, and I nod.
We sit down to eat homemade lasagna for dinner. I haven’t had it in a long time, but I can’t bring myself to eat much of it. I am a mess of nerves just waiting for the inquisition to start. Nana and my dad chat for a bit, and Nicole chimes in. Rex talks only when asked a question, and I can tell that he’s on edge. He keeps staring at the iced tea in front of Nana, and it’s starting to creep me out a little bit.
I reach down and grip his hand. He blinks as if coming to and gives me a sinister smile.
“So tell me, Rexley, what are your plans for after school?” He takes another bite of pasta then gives Nana a big smile.
“Well I’m looking into a football scholarship, but honestly, I think I might just marry your granddaughter and fill her full of babies, that way she can never leave me.” I choke on my drink, and my father looks pissed. I try to laugh his comment off, but I don’t think it helps.
Nicole sighs beside me and mutters, “Psycho,” under her breath.
“Listen here, young man. My daughter will be going to college. She has worked too hard to just throw her life away for someone who only wants to control her.” I drop my fork and instantly start to defend Rex and myself, but it doesn’t matter.
What was a peaceful dinner turns into a screaming match. A glass shatters, and I watch as my Nana shakily stands before falling to the ground.
CHAPTER3
NOW
REXLEY
Icarry Cat up to our bed and lay her down. She needs to rest. I know this came as a shock to her, but she will see. This is an amazing gift. We are finally going to be a family. We got close before, but my mistake ruined that.
I shake my head of thoughts from that day and look down to my sleeping kitty. She’s so perfect with her sunshine hair and porcelain skin. I wonder what our baby will look like. I hope she takes after her mother and not my family. The coldhearted, soulless eyes are hereditary it seems.
I gently lift Cat’s shirt and press a kiss to her belly. It’s not really noticeable yet, but I know my little princess is in there. My second chance.
I can’t fight the grin on my face. Everything is finally coming together. All my years of planning and creating our perfect home. A place away from the brainwashers and doctors.
We are safe here. They will never find us, and if they do well… I shake my head of thoughts of murder and mayhem.
“I love you my little princess,” I mumble into her skin, placing one more kiss. I carefully climb to my feet and stride to the door. I need to leave and go get some more supplies. Cat needs to start on a healthy diet, and she will need vitamins. I will have to see about ordering things for the baby too.
Plus, we will need some more medical equipment. It was actually quite easy to get an ultrasound machine, but it’s the other medical supplies that I’m going to have to be smart about. Not that I don’t already have a plan. I have been preparing for this since the day my kitty left me alone in that padded room.
I glance over my shoulder once more at Cat, then blow her a kiss and shut the door. I place the padlock along the bar and make sure she’s locked up tight. I won’t be gone too long, and the small sedative I gave her should keep her asleep until I get back. I can't risk the chance of losing her again, or her exploring.
Whistling as I walk to my room on the floor beneath our master, I shuffle over to the closet and cough as the dust smacks me in the face. I grab my briefcase, ID, and prescription pad from a box labeledShephard, then make my way down the stairs to my boat.
It looks like Dr. Ryan Shephard is returning from his two year sabbatical.
* * *
I returna few hours later with a surprise for my kitty and a boatload of medical supplies. The fluffball in my arms whimpers, and I laugh. I can’t wait to see the look on my Kitty’s face. Unlocking the front door, I shuffle inside, disarm the alarm, and stride up the stairs. Soft murmurs are coming from behind the door, and I grin.
“I have something for you and my little princess,” I coo as I open the door. Cat gasps from the bed and tears fill her eyes.
“Bizzy?” she chokes out, and I shake my head with a frown.
“Sadly, no. I tried to keep her alive until you came back to me, but you took too long. This is Bizzy two, her pup.” I stride over to the bed and place the one-year-old puppy on the bed beside Cat.
“I…I don’t understand,” she whispers as Bizzy two licks her hand, then the tears that fall from her eyes on her cheeks. “I always wondered if you had something to do with her disappearance. She never liked you much, and you seemed overly pleased the day she ran away.”
I snort at that and shake my head.
“You act as if it was something malicious. All I wanted to do was bring her here to our forever oasis. I wanted to give you everything you ever wanted, and it would have worked if you hadn’t betrayed me.” I start to feel my temper rising, so I take some deep breaths and shuffle closer to my kitty. She holds her hand up, silently asking me to stop, but she should know better by now.
She’s mine. I hover over her and squeeze her cheeks tight, placing a kiss onto her perfect pouty lips. She whimpers, and I smirk. She always plays hard to get, but in the end, she always gives in to me.