Page 51 of Tormented Kings

“I don’t want that,” I sigh.

“I’m working hard on this, Sadie. I’m going to do everything in my power to bring him down. It won’t be like this forever.”

“And what happens if you haven’t found a way to get rid of him by the date he’s set?”

Collin grits his teeth. “I don’t know,” he admits. “But what I do know is, I’m not going to marry her, Sadie. I need you to believe me.”

“I do,” I whisper, giving him a soft smile as I reach up to touch his face. “I don’t know what's going to happen or how this is going to work. But I do know I love you,” I vow. “And I want to try.”

“Me too.” He leans into my touch, kissing the palm of my hand. “Me too.”

Life isn’t easy; it was never meant to be. It would get boring fast if it was. They’re worth fighting for. If they’re going to cause waves with their families to be with me, then I can make some sacrifices for them, too, right?

Chapter 12

Sadie

There’s a heavy feeling pressing down on my chest as I leave Collin’s office. My mind is a mess; I’m a mess.

But it’s what needs to be done. I’m not stupid, I don’t think I’m invincible. I know I should fear their father, and I do. He’s a man with power and has the means to hurt me.

Part of me has been thinking of going to my mother with this and letting her know. Maybe there’s something Mark could do to help.

The guys swear they can handle it, and I need to trust them because they know more about this life than I do.

Still, it sucks.

Now that I know Collin’s father has me on his radar and it’s gone beyond just the one-time threat, I can’t help but feel like someone's watching me as I step outside the school.

Just what I needed: a case of paranoia on top of everything else.

“There you are!” Emma’s voice makes me jump. I spin around to find my friends walking towards me. “Where were you? We tried calling, but you didn’t answer.”

“Sorry,” I sigh. “I was in a meeting.”

“With who?” Mia asks.

“Collin.”

“Ohhh, a meeting, you say,” Alice teases, wiggling her eyebrows.

My eyes dart around cautiously before stepping closer. “It’s not like that,” I tell them. “He needed to talk to me about... you know.”

“The one who shall not be named?” Emma asks, raising a brow.

“Yeah, him.”

“And?”

“And nothing good. Nothing good at all. And now I’m stressed and a little depressed. I’m not in the mood for anything we had planned tonight. Would you hate me if I said I just wanted to go home and have an early night?”

“Of course not. How about we walk you home, you fill us in, and we’ll leave you to have some you time for the night,” Emma suggests, hooking my arm through hers.

“Thanks.”

We walk to my cottage, and I fill the girls in on everything.

“I’m sorry all of this has been so hard and difficult,” Alice says when we reach my place. “The last thing we ever wanted was for you to be dragged into our world.”