Captured Miracle (6 page)

“You could make it right.”

He chuckled, his eyes gazing out the window. “That’s what I’m trying to do, love. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

My heart lurched at the pain in his voice and I hated myself for wanting to comfort him. I should revel in his pain. But I couldn’t. What had happened to this man to make him so - fucked up?

“What does that even mean, Calix?” I asked gently. “I’m trying to understand.”

His entire body hardened and I knew he’d assembled his shield. I would get nothing from him. “It doesn’t matter, love.” He cocked a grin. “We’re home.”

Chapter 5

I stretched my neck to the side, struggling to catch a glimpse of the massive house between the trees. The limo nosed slowly through a winding path of pines. Little lanterns poked up from the ground fringing the road. I knew that if it were night, it would be a beautiful, almost magical sight. As it was, I felt as though I were entering into an alternate reality. Tall trees stretched into the blue of the sky surrounding a massive, elegant house.

Or, that wasn’t a house.

That was a
mansion
!

The roundabout drive was made of stone to match the dark elegance of the house. There were three peaks to the house and large windows adorned the massive dark body of stone. My eyes took in the first peak, a very large crowning over the front door. Another towered behind it while the third stood to the right. Connected to the peak to the far right of the house was a long, curved garage. I felt my lips part slightly as I counted the bay doors. There were seven. What in the world did the man need a seven car garage for?

I pulled my eyes from the house to glance at Calix. He was watching me take in his home with piqued interest and I couldn’t help but think that everything about my captor was excessive, from the way he took what he wanted without regard for consequence, to the clothes he wore, to the house he lived in. It was all
excessive
.

“What do you think?” He asked, his voice gravelly.

“I think it’s excessive.” I admitted. I focused once again on the house, this time giving my attention to the grand front porch. If it could be defined so simply as a porch. The arched stone pillars led into a large room of stone where matching benches had been strategically positioned. Flowers hung from the roof in dark wicker baskets, soft pedals cascading all the way down to the floor. It was beautiful. Excessive.

Calix chuckled. “Come.” I watched him move to the door. “I’ll show you around.”

My heart thumped in my chest as I stared at the door. Only a few hours ago, I’d seen the limo as a prison, but it was suddenly a safe place.

When had the limo become my safe place?

I shook my head. “I’d rather stay here.”

Calix scoffed. “Too bad. It’s been a long drive and I’d like to stretch my legs.”

I settled back into the seat, determined to remain right where I was. I wasn’t ready to walk into Calix’s domain. He’d taken everything from me in a matter of hours, I couldn’t loose the little comfort I had found. I just couldn’t. I knew the limo. I recognized the pristine leather and tinted windows. The gentle hum of the engine had become soothing and I just couldn’t imagine leaving now that I’d found a place of comfort in a situation that should never allow for any. “I’m comfortable here.”

“Nova,” Calix raised a brow. “Come.”

“No.” I folded my arms over my chest, my heart rate spiking to a painful high.

I watched as a muscle in his jaw twitched. Long fingers curled into large palms, creating a heavy fist. “If I have to carry you over my shoulder, Nova, I will.”

My heart leapt. I could see by the darkening of his blue eyes that he wasn’t lying. If I didn’t move of my own accord, Calix would swing me over his shoulder like the possession that I was to him. He would march me into the house that I feared would be the last place I would live. I wouldn’t go to college to get my BA in English. I would never become an editor - and I would never fall in love. All my dreams were shattered because of this man taking my precious life in his palm, and squeezing.

I’m not denying the fact that I’m a hopeless romantic. I was born that way. I never denied loving the sweet fable of fairytale love. But I never once thought I would ever be robbed my chance to find my modern day prince charming. Yet, in a matter of hours Calix had done just that. He’d robbed me of everything - so why wouldn’t he rob me of the comfort I’d found in the limo too?

Slowly, I nodded. Moving stiffly across the limo I met him at the door. He held his jaw tight and I had a feeling he was clenching his teeth behind his closed lips. At the sight of his hard eyes on my face I couldn’t help but wonder, just how mad had I made him?

After a long moment of Calix peering at me through hard eyes, I murmured. “Have I done something to upset you?”

He sighed. “Nova, this is your life. If you’ve been harboring any ridiculous notions of me releasing you, I’ll have you dismiss them at once. I did not make the decision to take you lightly. As a matter of fact, I thought it through for a very long time before I acted. No matter what you do, I will never let you go.” His eyes were piercing. “Do you understand me?”

Numbly, I nodded. “I understand.”

“Good.” He replied crisply. “That being said, I expect you to accept this as your new life. I’m not a patient man, Nova.” His eyes swept over my face. “I will tire quickly of watching you wallow over the loss of your family. I am your family now. You will accept me as such. When you need something, you will come to me. When you want something, you will come to me. Have I made myself clear?”

“Crystal.” I whispered. As clear as he was, it didn’t mean I was comfortable with this. The situation he’d put me in wasn’t one I’d ever prepared myself for - not mentally or physically. As much as I understood what he wanted from this - relationship - I didn’t know how to allow myself to be that very thing.

I’d never lived my life as a confrontational being. All my plans for my life had centered around myself being in the background. I loved watching life from behind the scenes. I wanted to become an editor more than anything for the simple reason that I loathed change. As it was, I lived my life with my nose shoved into the crease of a book. At twenty-one, I had yet to visit a club or feel the weight of an alcoholic shot in my stomach. I wasn’t my sister, Jaylah. I didn’t have it in me to fight every rule or debate every statement. I was, in more ways than one, my mother’s daughter. I was soft spoken and soft hearted. I preferred a walk through nature over a walk through a mall.

Being here with Calix, I had a feeling I’d have to find my backbone - and quick. But how was I supposed to find the will to fight when the very things he held over me I loved more than my own life?

Maybe that was why Calix had taken me. Maybe he recognized my docile nature for what it was - something that would never dare question him.

Fisting my hands, I glared at the man who’d made me rethink the woman I’d grown to become. Because of him, I saw my soft heart as an excuse to be weak. If Jaylah were in my situation, she’d have ground her teeth and fought him no matter the consequences. Despite the fact that I knew Jaylah was stronger than me by a stretch, I was glad she wasn’t in my shoes. At nineteen, she wasn’t all that much younger than me but she was bright. She was like sunshine. When she walked into a room people stopped to stare. She just had this energy about her - it was captivating.

It was energy I would never again see.

“Very well,” Calix pulled me from my thoughts as he opened the door and stepped out, offering me his hand. I didn’t take it. Instead, I stepped from the limo on my own. As soon as I was standing on the cobblestone driveway, I moved away from Calix. My efforts were wasted as he caught hold of my waist, tucking me into his side.

He spoke gravelly. “I offered you my hand.”

“And I saw no reason to take it.” I stated bravely. As soon as the words were out, I wanted to retract them. Instead, I decided to explain. “There’s no one here we need to put a show on for.”

A low growl vibrated from deep in his chest and I cringed internally. I knew I’d made him angry - maybe for the last time. He’d warned me that his patience was thin and I’d continued to test him. But did I really care what happened to me?

Oh hell, who was I kidding? Of course I cared about what happened to me. I had
never
been one for pain of any kind. I’d heard of people who derived pleasure from pain - and let me tell you, those people made my head spin. Literally.

“Nova,” my name was a tense growl on his lips that was interrupted by a woman’s squeal of delight.

“You’re home!” My eyes swung to the house in time to see a tall woman in her mid seventies shuffling through the front door. Her white hair was chopped stylishly in an A-line bob and her thin body appeared to be lean and very much in shape. For an older woman, she rocked her body. “I’ve been so worried about you.” Her hand patted the left side of her chest over her heart dramatically.

I couldn’t help but stare wide-eyed at the woman I assumed was Calix’s grandmother. Standing in this very awkward situation, I’d completely forgotten about Calix’s impending anger.

The woman reached out to catch my hand between both of hers and I flinched away from her. A flash of pity crossed through her eyes before it was gone and she was babbling introductions. “I’m Gabriella, but you can call me Gabby or Grandma.” She beamed a warm smile at me and when I didn’t introduce myself, she spoke. “You must be Nova.”

Still, I didn’t speak. I couldn’t seem to find my voice or even any words to say. This situation was the furthest thing from the norm. And if I hadn’t made myself clear, I’m not exactly good with change.

Calix squeezed around my waist and my muscles tightened in response. “Yes Grandma, this is Nova. She’s obviously lost her manners.”

Gabriella reached out to flick Calix’s shoulder. “Psh!” She rolled her eyes. “After what you’ve put the poor girl through, Calix, you’re lucky she hasn’t had a heart attack.”

“Grandma.” Calix warned. “Don’t.”

His tone terrified me, but this woman didn’t seem to be affected in the least. Rolling her blue eyes that were so like Calix’s, she caught hold of my hand. Tugging me from Calix’s side, she pulled me along beside her toward the front door. “The house is enormous, as you can see. It’ll take you a while to get yourself comfortable, but I’ll be here for anything you need.”

I didn’t speak as I walked up the stone steps and onto the porch. Gabriella continued, pointing to the draping flowers. “I love flowers,” her tone was enthusiastic. “Do you like flowers, Nova?”

“Um,” I cleared my throat. “I do.”

Relief passed over her face. “Oh joy!” she huffed. “You speak...and we have something in common.”

Smiling unsurely, I nodded.

“You’ll help me tend them, won’t you?” She angled her head to the side before reaching out to pet a pedal. “They’re so lovely. Good for the soul.”

I didn’t know what to think of this woman. How could someone so nice be so oblivious to what her grandson was doing? I mean, how could she not fight him on his decision to bring me here - to force me to marry him? Did she just not care?

Calix leaned against a large stone pillar, his eyes on me. Somehow, despite the warmth sizzling through my veins at the feel of his eyes on my body, I spoke softly, quietly. “I don’t know much about flowers.”

Gabriella waved, “I will teach you.”

I didn’t reply. Accepting her offer would be like consenting to this horrible situation, and I couldn’t allow myself to do such a thing. To keep my family safe from Calix’s twisted threats, I would remain here with him. But I would never ever enjoy it. He would know that I forever hated him for taking me away from those I loved.

Settling my eyes on the floor of the patio, I slammed my lids shut against the sudden swell of emotion I felt at the loss of my family. As though sensing my sudden sadness, Gabriella tightened her hand around mine, tugging me toward the door.

“You’ll love the house, Nova.” She assured as she moved through the door.

Gabriella paused in a grand entryway. Looking at the outside of the house, I never would have expected the interior to be so warm. But it was. The walls were painted a gentle beige and the floors were a deep dark wood. The roof was high. Looking up, I could just see into a sitting room that overlooked the entry. The furniture was a mixture between rustic and contemporary, but it worked. The house was really very nice.

Gabriella started walking without removing her shoes and I followed simply because I knew she would drag me if I didn’t. “The kitchens this way.”

We walked into a large warm room. The cabinets were cherry wood and the granite was a warm cream color with blotches of brown and hints of red. I loved Calix’s house. If it were shrunken down a few sizes and didn’t belong to him - it would have been perfect.

“You help yourself to anything you want in this house, you hear me?” Gabriella demanded, sternly.

I could feel Calix’s presence behind me, but I didn’t bother to glance at him. “I understand.”

“Good.” Gabriella wore a small frown. “This is your house now, you can move freely through the rooms.”

Looking her dead in the eye, I spoke. “I don’t want to be here.”

Calix huffed a sigh behind me, but didn’t say anything. Gabriella shot him a glare, but otherwise didn’t act as though she’d even heard me. Maybe she didn’t understand.

“Come, come,” she gave a chirpy little skip. “You need to see the rest of the house.”

All in all, the house held seven bedrooms and eight full bathrooms. There were two living rooms, a theater room, a game room, a wine cellar, and even an indoor pool. I had seen every bedroom apart from Calix’s and that little fact made my heart ease in relief. Maybe he meant for me to have my own bedroom. Maybe he didn’t want me to know what he had stored behind the door of his bedroom - and to be honest I had no desire to know. I prayed I was given my own bedroom.

Gabriella turned to face me. Thankfully, she’d released me from her hold halfway through the tour. “What did you think?”