Innocence (Tales of Olympus #1)(58)

Cora laid her head in her arms on the table. What now? Would they not even help her if she wasn’t willing to testify against Mar—

But she hadn’t even finished the thought before the door was pushing open again.

And there stood Marcus himself. “I must say, wife, choosing not to testify against me is the first smart thing you’ve done all day.”





Eighteen





“Marcus,” Cora sucked in a breath, her heart hammering like a bird in a trap. She backed away, putting the table between her and Marcus. Her mouth opened to scream, but she thought better of it.

“What are you doing here?” she croaked. Did the police know he was here?

Marcus tilted his head to the side, a cold smile curling his perfect lips. Despite everything, the sight of him hit her in the ovaries.

They were back in this cruel game where he was the hunter and she was the prey. She retreated as he paced forward, stopping when her back hit the wall. Cornered.

“Did you think the good officers of this precinct wouldn’t notify me of my missing wife’s appearance? Cora,” he put a hand over his heart in mock concern. “I was so worried.”

Ice trickled through Cora’s veins. The police? He even had the police in his pocket? Was it just this local department or how high up in the city did it go?

Marcus put his hand to her neck and she closed her eyes, preparing for him to squeeze.

But all he did was rub his thumb across her collarbone. “What have you done with my adornment, wife? It was a wedding present, after all.”

“What are you going to do to me?” She licked her lips, and heat flared in Marcus’s gaze.

“What I’m going to do now is take my wife home.” Her nipples hardened at his proximity and the look in his eye. Her crazy body responded to him as always.

Nothing stopped Marcus from getting what he wanted, and he wanted her.

He took her wrist in an unflinching grasp and pulled her toward the door. She tugged at him, more out of habit than outright defiance, and he paused.

“If you make a fuss, you won’t be the only one who pays.” He didn’t look back at her and didn’t have to. He wouldn’t just punish her. He’d punish the cops in the precinct who helped her. Maybe the captain deserved it, but the lady cop who’d been kind to her didn’t.

Cora didn’t protest as he pushed open the door and pulled her firmly out. His presence rolled over her senses and everything else receded.

Oh gods. He was taking her back with him. And she was letting him. Before, submitting to him was a game she’d played in her head. She always swore to herself that sure, she’d submit—in order to get his guard down. And if she enjoyed it sometimes, well that was all the better, because she’d be more convincing to Marcus that she was harmless.

Escape had always been the ultimate plan.

But there was no escaping Marcus. Today had made that more than clear. There was no place to run and nowhere to hide where he wouldn’t find her. At least not in this city.

So what did it mean that she went with him now without even trying to fight? As they walked through the police precinct, the halls were eerily quiet. Was she supposed to just accept this as her fate? To give up all her dreams of freedom?

While the precinct had bustled with people on her arrival, now there was no one to be seen as he walked her down the hallway. Seeing the abandoned desks made it all sink in—just how powerful her husband was. She’d never had a chance.

She swallowed hard against the choking emotion as Marcus pushed through a set of doors Cora hadn’t seen before, that led to a side alley.

Sharo stood waiting by the car. If he was surprised to see Cora, his face didn’t show it. He merely opened the back door like always. Marcus didn’t acknowledge him. No, his focus seemed to be all on Cora as he marched her directly to the backseat and urged her none too gently into the car.

She wrapped her arms around herself and scooted to the opposite end of the bench seat the second he let her go. His presence affected her no matter what. It filled the car, like the subtle scent of his cologne. A sweet ambrosia, drugging her, dragging her under.

She wanted to try the other door, to open it and run as fast as she could. But no doubt it was locked, and even if it wasn’t, Sharo would be able to easily chase her down. She wasn’t in the mood to lose the last ounce of dignity she had remaining.

Marcus was silent on the short ride back to the Crown hotel. Again he grasped her wrist instead of her hand as they exited the car and made their way through the lobby. Cora felt all eyes on her. The way he was dragging her after him, no doubt she looked like a chastised schoolchild.

She hung her head so that her hair obscured her face. But only for a moment because what the hell did she have to be ashamed of? She lifted her head and squared her shoulders, glaring down anyone who looked their way. It wasn’t her who ought to be ashamed, it was everyone else who allowed themselves to be under Marcus’s thumb.

If she shouted that Marcus was keeping her against her will, would any of these people even bat an eye?

What could they do even if they did, though? Call the police? A lot of good that would do.

They were in the elevator, now, Marcus and her, ascending to the top of the building. It felt like only seconds later that the ping sounded and the elevator doors opened again. She was right back where she started. And everything was worse. So much worse. Her heartbeat began to race.