Page 38 of Wed to the Devil
“It would have been fine. I have been coming here to volunteer at this very house for half my life. I’ve managed perfectly well until now.”
Dare’s hands drop to his sides and he clenches his fists. “You are carrying my baby, Talia. That child is worth a billion dollars. Don’t forget that.”
“I haven’t forgotten!” I snap. “Even if I wanted to, you haven’t given me the chance. I can barely breathe, let alone forget.”
His expression turns murderous. “That’s it. Get your coat.”
“Why?”
He leans toward me, his words precise and cutting to the quick. “Because we are leaving.”
“We can’t leave!” I protest. “I’m in the middle of working a shift!”
Dare pulls out his phone, texting for half a minute. Then he looks up at me, his tone brooking no arguments.
“There are three nannies on their way here right now to work for the entire weekend. Now go get your fucking coat. We are going away for a while.”
I blink. “What? Where?”
Dare’s face gets so red that I shrink back from his touch when he grabs my wrist. “No more questions.”
My pulse hits the roof. I swallow and nod, hurrying to get my coat. Before I can do anything else or even let the other adults know I’m leaving, Dare hauls me out of the house and pushes me toward the waiting SUV.
ChapterTwelve
DARE
It isn’t until I am steering the yacht out of the harbor that I begin to feel in control again. It’s a drizzly day, the sun hiding behind heavy clouds all day long. I grip the polished wood steering wheel as I look out over the sea. All I see beyond the deck of the boat are shades of gray sky and deep blue-black water.
Everything is so much simpler at the helm of my yacht. There are no backstabbing brothers, no imperious grandparents, no sketchy characters looming far too close to Talia for any kind of comfort. And because I have turned off my phone and directed all business to my personal assistant, there are not even any urgent business matters that demand my attention.
Here, it’s just me and the ship. When I want to change direction, I do so with an easy twist of the wheel. There are five screens in front of me that give me a sense of what is coming. Other than that, the yacht gives me no orders and suggests no directions.
I’m the one in charge.
It certainly makes me feel better than being told that I’m selfish. There is no one here to make a fuss about my personal priorities or to call me an asshole for putting myself first.
It’s nice, though it feels atinybit hollow.
The softest scuffing noise makes me turn around. The steering wheel is on the highest deck of the boat. I left Talia sitting in the warmth and comfort of the main deck’s viewing area. Lined with sleek black leather couches and enclosed by glass walls, it allows one to look out at the sea in any weather and while wrapped in luxury.
The scuffing sound comes again, followed by the faintest moan. I slow the yacht and head down the steps, spotting Talia as soon as I open the door to the viewing area. She’s on her knees, bent over a small wastebasket, emptying the contents of her stomach.
I walk over and touch her back and she stiffens, straightening and wiping her mouth on the back of her sleeve. “I would like some privacy,” she says softly.
I kneel beside her, reaching in my jacket pocket and withdrawing a handkerchief. I offer it to her, looking at how pasty she is. I imagine she would blush a deep red right now if her face were not drained of nearly every ounce of blood.
Talia takes the handkerchief, her eyes fluttering closed for just a second. Then she bends over the wastebasket again and heaves. I can do nothing but pull her long hair from her face, closing my fingers around her hair like a hair elastic and drawing it to the back of her neck.
When the bout of seasickness passes, Talia wipes her mouth once again.
“Let’s get you to bed,” I say. “Come on.”
Without waiting for her response, I hook her under each arm and haul her to her feet. It only takes the work of a couple of minutes to guide her downstairs into the largest bedroom, to peel off her coat, and to take off her shoes. Talia grabs the wastebasket from the bedroom and drags it into bed with her.
I head into the bathroom, rooting through the medicine cabinet until I find a bottle of anti-nausea medication. Returning with a couple of pills and a bottle of water, I offer them to Talia.
She looks white as a sheet when she turns to me. “What are you offering me?”