He Didn’t Kidnap Me. Not Exactly novel Chapter 25

Chapter 25

“Wait… what?”

I blinked at him, certain I had misheard something. But…

“You can resume school.”

That was what he said. Those exact words.

I stared at him for a second longer, like if I looked hard enough, the sentence might rearrange itself into something more realistic

and familiarly frustration. It didn’t.

“…Are you serious?” I asked slowly. “I can go back to school?”

“That’s what I said.”

Oh.

Oh.

“Okay, wow.. okay, wait-” I let out a breath that turned into something between a laugh and a sigh. “Thank you. Like, actually, thank you. You don’t understand- I have more presentations next week and assignment’s due for submission and I was literally thinking my entire academic career was about to collapse in real time—”

“There are conditions.” DeLuca said and that stopped everything. Mid-thought. Mid-breath. Mid-life comeback speech.

“…of course there are,” I said, nodding once as I straightened slightly.

Right. Balance restored. Nothing good ever comes without a catch. Things would’ve been suspicious otherwise.

I folded my arms lightly, settling into a calmer mood. “Okay. Go on.”

He didn’t move, didn’t soften, didn’t do anything that would make this feel like a negotiation.

“You’ll be monitored at all times,” he said. “When you leave this house, my men will follow you. You won’t see them unless I want

you to. When you’re at school, the same applies.”

I stared at him.

“All times?” I repeated.

“Yes.”

That was… intense.

“I’m not planning on running, you know?” I said, because that felt like something worth clarifying. “Where would I even go? I don’t have the budget for a dramatic escape.”

“This isn’t a discussion.”

Right.

Of course it wasn’t.

“You’re still my hostage,” he continued. “This changes nothing except your location. When I need you, I will have access to you

Immediately.”

That landed heavier than the rest.

It was not loud, not a threat. Just facts; his facts.

I held his gaze for a second, then exhaled slowly.

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