I woke with a start, bouncing in my seat as the plane touched down. I'd been dreaming...or maybe it was real. Whatever it had been left my breathing erratic and hands gripping the large arms of the seat. As consciousness seeped through my brain, my nightmare was forgotten, replaced with the terrifying reality of the last few hours. Images—so real that I still smelled his cologne and felt his warm touch on my skin—of the scene from hours earlier at the distribution center held me mute and captive as the plane taxied forward toward the gate.
“Tell no one about this arrangement."
“You are mine. Your father gave his word."
“Araneae McCrie."
“Do as you're told and she will never know, nor will her husband. They will remain blissfully ignorant."
My stomach twisted as the picture my recoll
