Uncontrollable Bachelor (Bachelor Tower Series), стр. 31
He held my hand steady, and patiently waited for me to be ready. I calmed myself as much as I could and then started.
“So much has gone on in my life since you and I broke up. You know all about medical school and I assume you know I’ve…dated.”
“Of course. I’d have been shocked if you didn’t,” he said.
“Well, my job brings me to places that aren’t always…safe. There are rules and guidelines associated with accepting these assignments. For the most part, I follow them.” I let out a heavy sigh. “There was one time I didn’t.”
“And that’s what you want to talk about?” he asked. I nodded. “What happened?”
“I met a man. He came to see who people were talking about. They called me a miracle worker. All I did was basic medicine, but it was more than what they were used to getting. See, these people were poor and couldn’t afford medical care. That’s why I was there. To help.”
“I’m sure what you did felt like a miracle to them.”
“I guess. When he…Prince Babboo…came, I was elated. I thought this was my chance to make him see the suffering his people were facing, and show him how easy it would be to get them help. We spent hours together talking about their needs. Of course, he didn’t want to stay there among the poor folks, so he brought me to his palace to talk.”
“And did you get through to him?”
I shook my head. “He wasn’t interested in what I had to say. He only listened so he could get me into his bed.”
“I’m sorry.”
“When I started to figure it out, I accused him of using me. He denied it, of course, and like a fool, I fell for it.”
“Maybe you wanted him so badly to open his eyes and see things from your point of view that you held onto that hope, not for yourself, but for his people.”
There it was, Jace seeing me as perfect. I’m not. I make mistakes, some horrible, and this proves it. “Or I was just an idiot. Once I gave him a second chance, he turned. He was cruel in the way he spoke to me and controlled everything, where I went, who I treated in the clinic.” I swallowed hard and choked out the next part. “When I confronted him, he showed me that I…I had no choice but…to…obey him. And when…I didn’t…he…beat me.”
I felt Jace’s hand tighten against mine and his whole body tensed. I couldn’t bring myself to look into his eyes. I was so ashamed of what had happened.
“I’m sorry, Shannon. You didn’t deserve that,” he said, his voice filled with anger.
“But there’s more. He told me he wanted me to stay, that I was his. I made a friend at the clinic who helped me sneak out of the country. Babboo called me and demanded I return. I said no. He said I will always be his and that one day, whether I like it or not, I will return to his bed and pay for my disobedience.”
I never even felt the tears coming down my cheeks until Jace reached up and brushed them away. “He can’t hurt you. Not here.”
“I wish that was the case. But he won’t leave me alone. He will never give up. The morning you called and asked me to join you on this trip, Babboo had called a little earlier. It was as though he knew I was with you. And since then, I’ve had this horrible feeling that I’m being watched.” I looked out into the woods and added, “Like he’s out there watching us right now.”
Jace pulled me onto his lap and said, “Baby, he’s not here. Trust me. You’re safe. There’s just you and me in these woods.”
I sobbed against him, wishing I could’ve held back the tears, but there was no stopping them. I wanted to believe him. But my gut told me otherwise. If Babboo was here, he wouldn’t just take me back with him, he’d punish Jace for being with me. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to Jace because of me.
“I…I think we should go back inside,” I suggested. Not that the cabin offered any protection, but at least if Babboo was out there, he couldn’t see what we were doing.
“We can. Or we can still go for that walk. Maybe the waterfall will help wash away these tears,” he said.
I thought Jace would be flipping out, threatening to kill Babboo. Instead it was like he didn’t want to talk any more about it. I understood. It wasn’t fun saying it, never mind hearing it. Even if Jace couldn’t deal with it, at least I had told him the truth. If something ever happened to me, someone could tell my father where to start looking.
I slipped off his lap and said, “Let me get the towels.”
Jace grabbed my hand and stopped me. “Shannon, thank you for telling me.”
I nodded and said, “You’re the only one who knows. I trust you not to tell my father.”
“I won’t,” he said, then let my hand go.
As I entered the cabin to get the towels, I threw myself on the bed. I needed a few minutes alone, and more tears to flow. I had finally verbalized the ugly truth of what I hid from everyone. I thought I’d feel like a weight had been lifted, but I didn’t. The pain was still fresh. Will it ever lessen? Will I ever forget?
I buried my face in the pillow to muffle the sound of my crying. I didn’t want Jace to come and hold me. I just wanted to disappear, even if only for a few minutes. Then I could go back to pretending to be happy all over again.
Chapter 14
Jace
I was glad I had taken her to the waterfall. She needed something to get her mind