I shook the thought from my head. No, my father might be controlling, but I hadn’t been a prisoner. I’d been allowed to go into the city to pick up new books, just as long as he knew exactly how long I’d be and where I’d be going. There had been plenty of times when I’d spotted one of his men’s cars following mine along the road or caught sight of them standing in the doorway across from one of the shops I’d ducked into. Even though those trips had felt like my moments of ‘freedom’, they hadn’t been, not really. My father had kept tabs on my every movement and, even at nineteen and an adult, I’d never dared to stay out beyond the time he’d given me or do something different.
A strange fluttering started in my stomach, and my heart seemed to miss a beat. If I was to escape and run back home to my father, wouldn’t I just be running back to another prison? I’d spent my whole life wanting to leave, only for my father to make it clear to me that I had no future other than the one designed by him. No, I must have lost my mind to even be considering such a thing. This man had proven to me he was more than capable of violence towards me, but then so was my father. I’d lost count of the number of times he’d threatened to kill me if I didn’t do what he wanted.
A crazy thought filled my head. This stranger would take me out of the country, and my father had no say about it. What if I could survive long enough to create a new life for myself? Would my father catch up with me eventually and drag me back? What if I had a different name? Would he find me?
The possibility was dizzying.
I was insane for even considering it. This man, Leo, clearly had a plan for me, and I doubted it involved me taking on a new identity and living happily ever after. I could only assume that it had something to do with my father. Perhaps I was being taken with the plan to ransom me? In which case, he might kill me after getting the money or whatever else it was he wanted.
I dared to look over at him. His eyes had slipped shut, dark-blond lashes resting on his cheeks, his lips slightly parted. He’d taken me for reasons beyond my understanding, but could I use it to my advantage? I’d be playing a dangerous game—possibly a deadly one—but my life was in jeopardy anyway. What did I have to lose?
A shiver ran through me, fear combined with anticipation.
His eyes opened again, as though he’d sensed my thoughts. He frowned. “Are you cold?”
I nodded. “A little.”
“I’ll get the fire going.”
See, there was that caring side again. I didn’t think this man was all bad, even if his actions said otherwise.
Chapter Eleven
Leo
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LOGS WERE STACKED EITHERside of the wood burner ready for the cold winter. I checked the mantelpiece above it and found firelighters and a box of matches, too. It had been a while since I’d had to lay a fire, but I was sure I could handle it.
I got to work, stacking the kindling down and a couple of slightly larger pieces on top. I’d put the bigger logs in once I’d got it going.
The fire crackled and popped. The heat was slow coming but gradually built, then more of the wood caught light.
I was aware of the girl, Kaja, watching me from the chair. What had made her react so badly to being locked in the cupboard? I knew I shouldn’t care—it made no difference to me what had happened in her past—but I couldn’t help but be curious.
Movement came from behind me, and I turned to find she’d crept closer to the fire. The fire still hadn’t had the chance to heat the room. I was grateful not to spend another night out in the forest. Though it was nowhere near night-time, I’d been awake for more than twenty-four hours, and I was exhausted. Had she really spotted me when I’d been watching her and yet hadn’t said anything? What possible reason would she have for doing that? I imagined how differently things would have gone if she’d spoken up. I’d most likely be dead now.