16 Chapter 15 (1/2)

Mariana

When Dornan left, promising to return with something for me to eat, I didn't antic.i.p.ate him returning ten seconds later with his father in tow.

I could tell that Emilio was annoyed, but I had no idea why. I'd done as I was told. Flown thousands of miles with his psychotic employee. Ridden on the back of his son's bike, effectively blindfolded. Gone to my dungeon like a good little girl.

And then I remembered the blood.

'What the f.u.c.k is this?' Emilio asked, after he'd burst past his son. Dornan said nothing as Emilio s.n.a.t.c.hed up my arm, tearing at the bandage. He glared at his son. 'I specifically said not to mark her. Did you do this?'

Dornan remained blank. 'No,' he said. As soon as Emilio turned back to me that glint of amus.e.m.e.nt sprang forth in Dornan's eye.

'Who did this to you, girl?' Emilio demanded. 'I'll skin their f.u.c.king hide.'

His concern was odd and I was terrified of telling him that I had cut myself.

'She fell off the bike,' Dornan broke in unexpectedly. 'Fainted. It's lucky she didn't hurt herself any worse. I don't think that f.u.c.ker gave her anything to eat the whole time he had her.'

Emilio ground his teeth around the toothpick that was jammed between his lips, muttering obscenities in Italian. 'f.u.c.king Murphy,' he said.

He shook his head, hands on his hips. He looked like the d.a.m.n G.o.dfather in his tailored suit. 'Have you checked her out yet?' he asked Dornan, with such a casual tone it made my skin crawl.

'Checked me out?' I repeated.

Emilio threw me a look of derision before looking back to his son.

Dornan shook his head. 'I was busy cleaning her up. I know you hate mess.' His jaw clenched as he spoke, and it was obvious to me that he didn't like the power his father wielded over him.

Interesting.

'What do you mean?' I asked, louder this time. 'What does he mean?'

'Shut up, b.i.t.c.h,' Emilio said, clearly annoyed that I was speaking.

'Whatever, old man,' I replied.

He paused, turning slowly.

'What did you say?'

'I said, whatever,' I repeated. 'I might have offered myself up as a trade for my family's lives. Doesn't mean I need to enjoy it.'

He chuckled, the rage still evident in the way his neck tensed. 'You'd be a sick little wh.o.r.e if you did enjoy it here.'

'You're an a.s.shole,' I answered.

I was rewarded with a punch to the jaw. Seemed his rage overrode his desire not to mark me. It f.u.c.king hurt, too, propelling me backwards. I fell against the bed in a pile of limbs, covering my face with my hands.

'Wait,' I said, panting a little. 'So you get to call me b.i.t.c.h and wh.o.r.e, but I don't get to call you what I want? That's hardly fair.'

His smile vanished and he spat the toothpick out, stalking towards me.

'Life isn't fair,' he said emphatically. 'If life were fair, your stupid father wouldn't have LOST MY f.u.c.kING COCAINE!'

His tone terrified me, and I couldn't help but close my eyes as Emilio's spittle landed on my cheek.