Broken (The Captive #5.5)(57)

His teeth ground together so tightly that he thought he might shatter a few of them. "So be it."

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes." It was a lie, he knew it was a lie, but he forced himself to hold his father's gaze as he uttered the words, "I will marry Anna."

"Good," his father said in a cheerful tone that made Atticus's eye twitch. "Now get out."

Atticus waited for a minute before spinning on his heel and storming out of the room. He wanted nothing more than to escape this manor. He had to put some distance between himself and his father, but there was something that he had to retrieve before he could escape here.

He hurried to his room, gathered what he needed and left the manor. It was just beginning to rain again when he stepped outside. Merle was waiting for him where he'd left him by the stable. "Went that well did it?" his cousin inquired as he handed Atticus the reins to Drago.

"He threatened to have Genny killed."

Merle looked at him as if he'd just told him that it never rained in England. "Atticus…"

"I'll find a way to destroy him if he ever lays a hand on her," he vowed as he swung onto his saddle.

Merle's mouth pursed, his eyebrows drew thoughtfully together before he turned to look at Atticus. "I know you don't want to hear this but maybe you should marry Anna. It doesn't have to be for a long time."

"I told him I would marry her but that is not going to happen. I have to get Genny out of this country and somewhere safe." The only problem was he didn't know how he was ever going to be able to do that, or where they could possibly go that his father and the other aristocrats wouldn't eventually find them. "Somehow."

Merle turned toward him as they entered the woods and rode through the rain toward the vampire village. "I may know of a way," he said. "And a place that will be safe."

***

"There is a woman at the door for you, milady."

Genny looked up from the game of dice she'd been playing with Camille and frowned at the guard Atticus had left behind. Arturo was standing in the doorway with his shoulders thrown back and a blank expression on his face. She'd asked him numerous times to stop calling her milady but he insisted upon it.

"Who is it?" she inquired.

"She claims to be your mother." The man's face remained expressionless as he spoke but she heard the tension in his voice.

A shiver ran up Genny's spine, the hair on her neck stood on end. She could tell Arturo to send her away and he would, but Marie would only continue to come back until she was finally seen. Camille stared at her with troubled eyes, the dice clattered on the table when Camille placed them down with a trembling hand. It was the palest Genny had ever seen her sister.

"Why don't you go upstairs," Genny suggested gently.

"You're going to see her?"

"She'll only return and I think it's best to get this over with."

Camille glanced apprehensively at the doorway before shaking her head. "I'll stay with you."

"You don't have to."

"I want to."

Genny nodded her agreement and turned back to the guard. "Send her in."

"Are you sure milady?" he inquired.

"Yes." Genny rose from her chair as Arturo turned away and left the doorway. She had to fight with herself not to twist her hands before her. There was no way she was going to reveal to Marie just how much she dreaded what was about to unfold. Marie wouldn't be here if she didn't want something, or if she didn't suspect something about Felix.

The front door opened with a small squeak and closed again with a click. Genny thrust her shoulders back as Marie appeared in the doorway and entered the room with her usual grace. Arturo stood behind her, his distrust evident in the watchful eye he kept on Marie as she moved forward. Genny bowed her head to his unspoken question when he looked toward her. He glanced at her mother again before turning away from the doorway. She wasn't fooled into thinking he went far.

"I was so worried about the both of you," Marie said in a sickly sweet voice that made Genny's stomach roll. "I didn't know where you'd gone when I came home to find the both of you and Felix no longer there. Are you alright my darlings?"

A low snort of disdain escaped Camille as she shifted beside Genny. "We're fine Marie," Genny answered.

Marie glanced around the manor before focusing on the two of them again. "What is all of this? I could scarcely believe it when some of the villagers told me that you had moved in here. Where is Felix, is he here?"

"Is he not at home?" Genny inquired innocently.

"No, he hasn't been seen in a few days. I know he wouldn't leave me," she moaned.

"Why not? Everyone else has," Camille muttered.

Genny elbowed her and shook her head disapprovingly. Camille was right of course, but Genny didn't like the idea of her sister stooping to Marie's malicious taunts. Marie's eyes narrowed on Camille but she didn't respond with some scathing retort like she normally would have. Genny didn't understand why she held her tongue; she never had before.

"Felix was different though," she said and folded her hands before her demurely. "He cared for all of us so much."

The sad thing was Marie actually did believe the man had cared for her. "Now that you've seen we're fine I think it's time for you to leave," Genny said quietly.