young. Finding your mother has given me a second chance for the love that was cut short so many years ago. That’s why I’ve made her mine. She’s my second chance to get everything right this time.”
“But she’s not yours. She belongs to my father. And he’ll come for her someday.”
Even as young Lindsey said the words, she realized she’d gone too far.
But Swain was in a benevolent mood that day. Or perhaps he didn’t want to upset Sarah and lose whatever ground he’d been making with her. In either event, he chose not to beat Lindsey down, as he’d done so many of the others who’d questioned his authority or talked back to him.
Then he took credit for his generosity.
“I’m going to overlook that slight, sweetheart, because I want you to see that I’m your protector as well. Whatever evil the world has become, I will watch over you and make sure it doesn’t come for you. Your father has already died, or he’d have been here by now.
“I’m terribly sorry that little Beth is gone too. If I could, I’d bring her back. You’ll see her again someday, and you’ll both be in a far better place than this cold and miserable world. But in the meantime, it’s essential for your own well-being that you face the facts of your current situation. It’s just you, me and your mother now. Sure, my men are here to serve us, as is your aunt and your cousins and some of their neighbors. But they’re just bit players, and we’ll rid ourselves of them one day when we no longer need them.
“And then you’ll see that I’ve been right. That you’ll love me just as much as the father and sister you once had. And your mother will too. I can already sense that her feelings for me are changing.”
Lindsey shivered as she remembered the conversation, and the chill helped her refocus on the present. From across the kitchen, she could see Swain stand and take her mother’s hand and lead her toward the stairs and to the master bedroom.
He was wrong on so many levels. Her father was alive, and was coming for her. She just knew it.
And she would never love Swain, or even like him. Neither would her mother. They were just biding their time and plotting their escape.
Chapter 22
Swain closed the bedroom door behind them and said, “Please, my dear. Take off your clothes. Let my eyes feast on your body.”
His tone was soft, but she knew it for what it was. A command. A directive that was not debatable and non-negotiable.
She complied not because she wanted to, but because she had to.
“I see you’ve shaved this time. Thank you for that.”
“I know that’s how you like to see me.”
“My own Sarah did, long before it became the standard…”
He caught and corrected himself.
“I’m sorry, dear. I meant you no disrespect. I meant my first Sarah.”
“I know what you meant, sir.”
“Ah, once again, you call me sir. Why the formality, after all this time? I’ve asked you time and time to call me John. You’re the only one in this compound I’ve given that permission to, yet you choose not to take advantage of it. Why is that?”
“I just don’t want you to think I’m giving into you. That’s all… sir.”
“You’ve gotten more bold over the past months. If you were anyone else I’d have knocked you down. Maybe even had you taken out and shot. Do you realize that?”
“Yes, sir.”
As Sarah settled into an easy chair, completely naked and trying to position herself to hide her most intimate features, Swain walked to the dresser and opened the top drawer.
He removed a glass pipe about six inches long, with a bowl on the end about the size of a golf ball. At the top of the bowl was a tiny
“But she’s not yours. She belongs to my father. And he’ll come for her someday.”
Even as young Lindsey said the words, she realized she’d gone too far.
But Swain was in a benevolent mood that day. Or perhaps he didn’t want to upset Sarah and lose whatever ground he’d been making with her. In either event, he chose not to beat Lindsey down, as he’d done so many of the others who’d questioned his authority or talked back to him.
Then he took credit for his generosity.
“I’m going to overlook that slight, sweetheart, because I want you to see that I’m your protector as well. Whatever evil the world has become, I will watch over you and make sure it doesn’t come for you. Your father has already died, or he’d have been here by now.
“I’m terribly sorry that little Beth is gone too. If I could, I’d bring her back. You’ll see her again someday, and you’ll both be in a far better place than this cold and miserable world. But in the meantime, it’s essential for your own well-being that you face the facts of your current situation. It’s just you, me and your mother now. Sure, my men are here to serve us, as is your aunt and your cousins and some of their neighbors. But they’re just bit players, and we’ll rid ourselves of them one day when we no longer need them.
“And then you’ll see that I’ve been right. That you’ll love me just as much as the father and sister you once had. And your mother will too. I can already sense that her feelings for me are changing.”
Lindsey shivered as she remembered the conversation, and the chill helped her refocus on the present. From across the kitchen, she could see Swain stand and take her mother’s hand and lead her toward the stairs and to the master bedroom.
He was wrong on so many levels. Her father was alive, and was coming for her. She just knew it.
And she would never love Swain, or even like him. Neither would her mother. They were just biding their time and plotting their escape.
Chapter 22
Swain closed the bedroom door behind them and said, “Please, my dear. Take off your clothes. Let my eyes feast on your body.”
His tone was soft, but she knew it for what it was. A command. A directive that was not debatable and non-negotiable.
She complied not because she wanted to, but because she had to.
“I see you’ve shaved this time. Thank you for that.”
“I know that’s how you like to see me.”
“My own Sarah did, long before it became the standard…”
He caught and corrected himself.
“I’m sorry, dear. I meant you no disrespect. I meant my first Sarah.”
“I know what you meant, sir.”
“Ah, once again, you call me sir. Why the formality, after all this time? I’ve asked you time and time to call me John. You’re the only one in this compound I’ve given that permission to, yet you choose not to take advantage of it. Why is that?”
“I just don’t want you to think I’m giving into you. That’s all… sir.”
“You’ve gotten more bold over the past months. If you were anyone else I’d have knocked you down. Maybe even had you taken out and shot. Do you realize that?”
“Yes, sir.”
As Sarah settled into an easy chair, completely naked and trying to position herself to hide her most intimate features, Swain walked to the dresser and opened the top drawer.
He removed a glass pipe about six inches long, with a bowl on the end about the size of a golf ball. At the top of the bowl was a tiny
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