“What the hell?” I nearly screech as the door flies out of my hand and cracks against the wall.
Lunging forward and grabbing my wrist, he tugs hard on my arm before he grits out, “I’ve been very patient, Sophia. Very, very, patient…”
“Let me go!” I cry as he drags me forward.
Throwing my weight back, I try to slide my wrist out of his hand, but he only tightens his grip.
“You wouldn’t believe how patient I’ve been, even if I told you,” he grumbles.
“I don’t care!” I shout and slap at his hand with my free arm. “I honestly could not care less! Let me go!”
“Oh, I know,” he says with a rueful laugh as he drags me into the kitchen. “I know you don’t care. That much has become very clear.”
Ignoring my slaps and resistance, he tugs me over to the island near the oven and finally releases me. “So, for now, I’ll do all the caring for you.”
Before I can get both feet under me, he pushes me down on a stool.
Without taking his eyes off me, he reaches across the island, grabs a plate, and slides it in front of me. “Now eat.”
I glance at the plate and my stomach immediately churns at the thought of putting anything in it. Especially eggs.
Shaking my head, I try to stand up, but his hand comes down on my shoulder, pushing me back down.
“You’re not leaving this chair until you eat,” he growls as his fingers squeeze firmly around my shoulder.
Tipping my head back, I glare up at him.
Who does he think he is? Coming into my house, unwelcome, trying to boss me around?
“You eat it,” I growl back and shove the plate away. “I told you, I’m not hungry.”
I try to shrug his hand off and stand up again, but he pushes me right back down.
“Goddammit, Sophia. Eat, please,” he repeats, as if he suddenly expects to obey him.
Frustrated and angry beyond belief now, tears sting my eyes as I shake my head and shout, “No! Fuck you! I don’t want to eat!”
I try to stand up again only to be shoved back down. When my butt hits the stool again, I grab the plate and launch it at him out of spite.
“Fuck!” he shouts and jumps away, bringing his arm up to protect his face.
The plate smacks against his forearm before clattering to the floor.
I stand up from the stool so fast it topples over, landing between us.
Bare chest heaving, James looks down at the floor, at the eggs splattered across his pecs and abs, then he looks at me.
There’s anger in his gaze. Oh yes, there’s anger, but there’s also something else. Something that makes me incredibly uneasy. “Sophia…”
He swipes at his chest, wiping off most of the egg, his eyes never leaving me. Then he starts to step over the toppled stool.
Quickly, I take a step back to keep some distance between us.
“You need to leave, James,” I try to say firmly, but my voice wobbles.
He needs to leave for the sake of my sanity.
I cannot deal with all this shit today.
I don’t want to do this today.
James shakes his head and continues to advance on me, forcing me to stumble backwards. “I’m not leaving.”
“Get out of my house, dammit! Go! I don’t want you here!” I cry out, my damn emotions all over the place.
I’ve gone from being annoyed and angry to being regretful and afraid in the blink of an eye. I don’t know how it’s come to this. How he’s managed, yet again, to bring out the worst in me.
“Leave before I call the police!”
James shakes his head again, prowling forward. So sleek, muscled, and lethal, he reminds me of a panther ready to pounce his prey.
Not knowing what else to do, having failed to intimidate him with my threat, I let out a shriek and decide to make a run for it.
Spinning around, I run for the front door.
My purse and phone are in the living room somewhere, too far away.
But I know, thanks to James and his visitors, that there have been active patrols around my house.
If I can make it outside, I can get help.
The kitchen is right off the foyer. There’s only about ten feet between me and the front door. A short distance any other day but today.
Running as fast as I can, I barely beat James. My fingers fumble as I struggle to quickly twist the lock, wasting precious seconds, but in the end, I manage it.
A sense of triumph begins to fill me as I grab the handle and start to pull the door open.
Only to completely shatter as James crashes into me, his body forcing my body to slam the door closed again.
Defeated, but not ready to give up yet, I keep my grip on the handle and throw my weight back, trying to force him off.
Only to have him push back into me again, flattening me against the door.
We fight back and forth for a couple of minutes, with him overpowering me each time, until I finally release a screech of pure frustration.
Releasing the handle, I pound my fist once against the door then I twist around.
I shove at his hard chest and tell him to, “Go! Just go away, dammit!”
He barely budges. Hands planted firmly on the door, his arms are tensed and locked. Keeping me trapped.
Breathing heavily, his expression is somehow completely calm as he says, “No. I’m not leaving, Sophia.”
I shake my head in disbelief. I’m so worked up, so distraught over this whole stupid situation, I nearly wail as I push at him, “Why? Why won’t you go? Why won’t you leave me in peace? Why are you doing this to me?!”
If he had a heart or soul, he’d realize how very, very evil he’s being by pulling this shit on me right now.
When my entire world has broken and crumbled.
Dark eyes capturing my eyes, they bore into me as he says, “Because I can’t sit back and watch you waste away.”
What?
His answer is so unexpected, it throws me off.
Panting, I stare at him in disbelief.
Is he serious? Or does he think I’m stupid?
I shove at him again. “I’m not wasting away.”
Showing his own frustration, James leans in and growls, “You are. You’re not eating. You’re barely sleeping. You’re not taking care of yourself.”
His criticism and fake concern hurts more than it should, and my first instinct is to brush it off.
“Not eating for a couple of days isn’t going to kill me,” I scoff.
But being stuck with him in this house just might.
“Try more like four,” he counters.
I blink at him. How does he even know it’s been four days?
Then I remember Johnathan stopped by. They probably traded information about me. Keeping tabs on me.
“So? What are you going to do? Tie me down and force feed me?” I ask sarcastically, still not believing he’s truly the least bit concerned about me.
He’s only concerned about whatever he needs from me.
Jaw tensing, his eyes continue to bore into my eyes, trying to glare me into submission. “If it comes to that…”
And it’s just too much. Too damn much.
Making a sound of disgust, I roll my eyes. But before I can do much more, his hand is on my jaw. His grip forcing me to look at him.
“There are ways, Sophia… Many unpleasant ways to keep you safe and healthy…”