Chapter 190
Chapter 190:
He stood still for a moment, smoothing his hair, straightening his tie. He arranged his expression carefully. He needed to look like a savior.
He opened the door.
The door creaked open, pushing a wedge of moonlight across the dusty floorboards.
Eliza scrambled backward, tripping over a drop cloth. She raised the heavy wooden leg she had snapped from a stool, gripping it like a club. Her breath hitched in her throat — a ragged sound of pure terror.
“Dante?” she whispered, every muscle coiled to strike.
“Put that down, Eliza p>
The voice was familiar. Painfully, hauntingly familiar.
Q𝘶а𝘭i𝗍у 𝗍𝗿аnѕ𝗅𝗮𝗍𝗂𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝗈𝗇 ѕ.с𝘰𝘮
A figure stepped into the shaft of moonlight. Not the hulking form of the gangster. Slimmer. Tailored.
“Anson?” She lowered the wood slightly, confusion wrestling with relief. “How did you p>
“I told you,” Anson said, stepping fully into the room. He looked exhausted, his face pale and drawn, but there was a manic brightness in his eyes. “I told you I would take care of you.” He spread his hands in a gesture of magnanimity. “You’re safe now. I sent him away. I paid them off p>
Eliza stared at him. The relief evaporated, replaced by a slow, cold dread.
“You paid them p>
“Five million,” Anson said, as if the number were nothing. “I cleared the estate’s debt. I paid Buck’s ransom. You’re free of them, Eliza. They can’t touch you anymore.” He took a step toward her, clearly expecting her to step into his arms. He was expecting gratitude. Tears, even. “I bought you back p>
The words hung in the air between them, heavy and toxic.
Eliza took a step backward and tightened her grip on the wood. “You bought me? Like a piece of furniture? Like a horse at auction p>
Anson’s brow furrowed. “I saved you! I did what had to be done! You were trapped, and I freed you p>
“You didn’t free me,” Eliza said, her voice shaking with barely controlled rage. “You just changed the owner. You think because you wrote a check, I belong to you now? That I’ll climb into your car and go back to being your pet p>
“I am trying to protect you!” Anson snapped, his patience giving way all at once. “Look at where you are! You’re locked in a shed, surrounded by people who would sell you for parts! I am the only one who values you p>
“Dallas values me,” Eliza said. “He values me enough to let me fight my own battles. He respects me p>
“Dallas isn’t here!” Anson swept his arm toward the empty room. “Where is your husband now, Eliza? Is he swooping in? No. I am the one standing in the dirt.” His voice cracked. “I am here p>
“He is here,” Eliza said, with a conviction that surprised even her. “He’s always here p>
“You’re delusional.” Anson’s hand shot out toward her arm. “We are leaving. You are coming back to the Manor, and we are going to forget this ever happened p>