Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
The corner of my mouth lifts. “Besides you?”
This time a burst of laughter escapes her. “Yeah, besides me.”
I shake my head. “I’ve been too focused on work to have a relationship.”
Her eyebrows draw together. “Do you really think your father is looking for you?”
“He won’t rest until he finds Vincent and me.”
“Are you close with your father?” she asks.
I shake my head. “No, but his pride won’t allow him to give up.” I give her a reassuring look, and with dead certainty, I say, “He’ll find us.”
And then he’ll beat the shit out of Vincent and me for allowing Prodi to kidnap us. Fun.
“And your mother?”
The corner of my mouth lifts again. “I’m her favorite.”
“Oh, good. I was starting to get worried,” Everleigh admits.
I raise an eyebrow at her. “About me?”
“Yeah. I was starting to think all you’ve ever known is violence.”
“I have people who love me.” I glance at the door feeling like shit because Everleigh has no one.
Silence falls between us, and my thoughts turn to Vincent. I haven’t seen my brother since the first day when they made him torture Everleigh.
I have no idea whether he’s dead or alive.
When I hear footsteps, I gather the two paper plates and climb to my feet.
Dario opens the door, his gun in his right hand. Instead of taking the plates, he orders, “Come.”
Christ. Here we go again.
I’m still in a world of pain from the beating and knife wound to my hand, but not wanting to give them any satisfaction, I set the paper plates down, and schooling my face into a neutral expression, I walk into the hallway.
Just like before, Everleigh is right behind me.
When we enter the room where Prodi is waiting, sitting on the wooden chair like a fucking king, I steel myself for any kind of torture they’re going to throw my way.
There’s no sign of Vincent which fills me with disappointment. I was hoping to at least see my brother. I don’t dare ask about Vincent. It will just make things worse.
We’re joined by three of Prodi’s soldiers, which probably means they’re going to beat the shit out of me again.
It’s better than losing any of my body parts.
Prodi glances between Everleigh and me, then says, “I think you’re lying to me.” He waves a hand at us. “I don’t think you’re dating.”
“I don’t give a shit what you think,” I mutter.
The man is way too focused on something as trivial as my relationship status. What’s he playing at?
From the one euro ransom he demanded from my father, I get the feeling Prodi is all about mind games. He knows we can handle physical torture, so maybe he’s trying to break us mentally.
“Prove to me you’re in a relationship with the girl,” he demands.
Fuck.
When I don’t move a muscle and keep quiet, Prodi lights a cigarette and says, “Or my men will take turns fucking the girl before I put a bullet between her eyes.”
“Alek,” Everleigh whimpers. She presses into my side, and I feel her body trembling like a leaf caught in a shit storm.
Stay calm.
“How do you expect me to prove a relationship to you?”
A smirk forms on the bastard’s face. “Fuck her.”
Prodi lifts his chin at Dario, who trains the barrel of his gun on Everleigh.
There’s not a doubt in my mind they’ll kill her if I refuse.
Anger ignites in my veins, and knowing there’s no way out of this, I glance down at Everleigh. She meets my eyes with a horrified look.
A blast echoes through the room, and the bullet misses Everleigh’s head by an inch. Shock registers on her face, then she shrieks and presses her face into my bicep. “Alek!”
My anger turns to rage, and I lock eyes with Prodi. “I wasn’t aware you got off on watching other people fuck.”
He shrugs as he blows out a puff of smoke, then he dares me, “I don’t think you’ll go through with it.” He pulls his gun out from behind his back and rests the weapon on his thigh. “As an incentive, if you don’t fuck her, I’ll kill both of you. Less mouths to feed, and I get to send your body parts to your father.”
Prodi has no idea what I will and won’t do.
Taking hold of Everleigh’s arm, I walk closer to the wall and press her back against it. I lean down until my mouth brushes against her ear, then whisper, “This is the only way to keep us alive.”
She nods quickly, her breaths exploding against the side of my neck. Tears spiral down her cheeks, and lifting a hand, she grips my side. “I know. Just do it. I don’t want them raping me before they kill me.”
Christ, I’m going to fuck Everleigh in front of five men.
My heartbeat speeds up, and when I lock eyes with her, I say, “Just focus on me.”