Stealing Grace Read Online Free PDF Page B

escape.
    She could tell he wasn’t bluffing. Everything was so calm with him. He always spoke so matter-of-factly. She wanted to vomit. Instead to hide the tears that were pooling in her eyes, she started, wordlessly, to gather dishes and clear the breakfast plates.
    She took her time and tried to process what he had said to her. I’m to be his wife? Is that why he hadn’t come into my room last night, because we weren’t married yet? This is some religious cult. Why? Why? WHY? A community, what does that mean? Suddenly she heard a knock at the door and froze.

    Chapter 3

    “Come on in, Paul. Buck,” Alex said, he sounded elated.
    Elena wondered what it was that made him so happy about all this. He hadn’t seemed to be particularly attracted to or interested in her since she got here.
    She stood, still frozen leaning against the kitchen counter when he rounded the corner.
    “It’s time. Come on in here with us, Elena,” he said, his eyes glowing.

    * * *

    Alex was excited. This made it final and legal. No one could take her from him now. They would be bound together by community law, man and wife. She was his now, for real and it made him giddy that he’d actually pulled it off. He’d done it. No one was the wiser of what was really going on and he planned to keep it that way too.

    * * *

    Elena swallowed the bile in her throat before taking the first step to be a monster’s wife.
    She stood there next to him, numb and stomach churning, so close their arms almost touched and she thought she would rather die than do this. Before she realized it she was sobbing out loud softly and breathing heavy. Alex said his “I do” and now their menacing eyes were upon her.
    “Don’t be stupid, girl. You do as you’re told!” Paul, the minister was yelling at her.
    He grabbed her arm and shook her as if to wake her up as Buck, the witness, stood by and watched impassively. Alex removed Paul’s hand from her and turned to give him a glare before looking back toward her. He placed his hands gently on the tops of her arms. He looked into her eyes and spoke softly.
    “I told you not to be scared. Just say the words and this part will be over.” He sounded genuinely concerned and upset that Paul had grabbed her.
    Some macho thing, Elena was sure. There was no way he actually cared or he wouldn’t be doing this.
    “I do,” she croaked out not waiting to be prompted again.
    She was usually the kind of girl to make the best of any situation and this didn’t seem like anything different at this point. Oh, God, I’m married. There’s a reason for everything .
    Alex, quickly slipped the tiny band on her trembling finger and then his own. There was no kiss the bride at the end. After the ‘ceremony’ the minister and witness said goodbye to Alex and Paul glared his disapproval at her.
    “You mind you husband, girl,” was the last thing he said before walking out the door.

    * * *

    The afternoon was pretty much a blur. Same thing as before; he read, she sat in a trance of silence, time being of no concept or consequence.
    About an hour before lunch he told her they would have some friends over and she should make some sandwiches or something, enough for four. When they heard the knock she was already in the kitchen.
    She was horrified and relieved at the same time to see the brunette. The first girl removed from the room yesterday. She came in through the back door with the guy who owned her now. No doubt they were married as well. It was confirmed when she glanced at the girl’s petite scared shaking hands and saw the plain band on her finger.
    She could do nothing but hug her the moment they were close enough and out of sight. No words were needed. They both knew what was happening and that they were powerless against it. She saw the bruise on her arm.
    She pulled her toward the stove and spouted something about her helping with lunch loudly. Out of earshot the chatter ensued. The girl, who told Elena her name was