His eyes closed.
That’s how it should be, sweet Anneke. Because if you did understand, then you might choose to stay with me...and I can never have that.
And so Marcus kept walking away.
Prologue II
How much time had passed?
Her mind, made hazy by pain, was unable to yield an answer, and Anneke’s limbs refused to stop shaking as she forced herself to move. Relief filled her as she stumbled out of the basement and saw no sign of Marcus. She knew she was being pathetic, but she was desperately grateful that Marcus knew enough to spare her from the sight of him. She didn’t think she could live another second if she saw him again.
Making it only as far as the first guestroom she reached, Anneke locked herself inside of it and fumbled for the cordless phone. Her fingers shook as she dialed her brother’s number, and oh, when she heard Jaak’s voice—-
“De Konigh here.”
Anneke’s entire body shuddered.
Oh God, sheneeded,how much she needed to be with her family now.
Her lips started to move, but no words came out.
The pain was just too much.
“Hallo?” Jaak’s had become impatient.
Panic strangled her at the thought of her brother hanging up and she managed to gasp out, “Please.”
On the other side of the world, Jaak whitened at the unmistakable sound of his sister’s voice.
Her fingers tightened around the phone. “Please come get me.”
Jaak didn’t even think of asking why. “Where?” He only knew that his sister needed him, and he would goddamn be there for her, no matter where she was.
The phone slipped out of her hold when the call ended, and Anneke slowly slid down to the carpeted floor. Curling herself into a ball, she closed her eyes, thinking she could never sleep again—-
But she did.