Dark Lonely Lies (The Denton Family Legacy 6)

Landon didn’t leave. He didn’t untie her.

He simply watched her.

“I hate you. You know that? I hate you and your family.”

“I know.”

“Ugh, stop being so agreeable. It sucks. Do you know that? It sucks to watch you. To see you. I hate all of this.” She kept on spewing vile words she didn’t even mean, but she couldn’t help it. Hearing him, seeing him, it was a sick and twisted reminder that she was nothing more than second best.

“I need to use the bathroom.”

She watched him walk to the corner and drag a bucket beneath her chair.

“Are you kidding me right now?” she asked.

“It is what it is.”

She gritted her teeth. Hatred filled her. She shook her head. “If you loved someone, you wouldn’t do this to them.”

“I have no reason to believe you wouldn’t escape.”

She laughed. “As much as I’d love to run away from you right now, where exactly would I go? I have no identification. No passport. I don’t know how your uncle got me into this country, but I’m nothing. I have no money. I’m all alone, again. I shouldn’t be surprised. Running from you, I’d go back to your uncle’s. Great plan, they woul

d just send me back here to you. Believe me, not a great plan. I may be angry and I’m not going to pretend I don’t want to punch you in the face, but I’m not stupid either.”

“You can punch me if you want.”

“I’m going to give it a try but not when you expect it.”

He watched her again.

His gaze heated her flesh, making her think of a whole load of things, stuff she didn’t allow herself to ever consider. She knew what assholes men could be when they wanted a fuck, and she wasn’t going to give in. Not ever.

Once Landon was back with his family, she wanted out of there so fast they wouldn’t know what hit them.

Landon tilted his head from side to side before finally coming toward her. He began to release the binds.

She didn’t charge at him or knock him out. Wrapping her fingers around her wrist, she rubbed the blood back to them. She hated being tied up with no way of escaping. It freaked her the fuck out.

“If you try to leave, I want to remind you I have a bounty on my head.”

“I know.” Maybe she should kill him? No, she wouldn’t make it that easy.

With her legs untied, all that remained was her waist.

She wanted to run for it, but she grabbed the arms of the chair instead. There was no way she’d make it out in this world. As much as it killed her to admit it, she needed Landon to protect her. To keep her safe until he got her home.

Landon took her hands and it was her first instinct to pull away, which she did.

His gaze landed on her hand then on her face.

“You don’t have to restrain me.”

“I wasn’t restraining you. I …” His brows drew together, his lips pursed.

“You what?”

“I know you think this is all bullshit and I accept that, but I still need to hold your hand. I want to.”