“Not even when we were young.” I swallow and he lets go of my chin. “Can you even remember me?” I don’t answer him.
“I tried to play with you every time my father took us with him to your grandfather’s place.” I truly don’t remember him. If my math is correct, I was about seven or eight when his mom died and his dad got slaughtered.
“But your brothers always meddled in my business.”
“Oh, they’re so the meddling kind,” I whisper.
“Jackson used to bully me … he almost killed me once … threw me into some kind of well … can you remember that?” I can just stare at him. Right now, I wish Jackson had actually killed him back then. Harsh … but true.
“Yeah, I thought as much. But trust me, babe, you will never forget me again.” I gag and puke on his feet. He pulls another disgusted face. My throat burns, my head hurts, and my tummy turns. Please just let my baby be alright.
He strolls to a table in one corner of the room and pours something that looks like scotch before he falls casually into a chair while taking small sips from his glass. I struggle against the ropes but they just cut deeper and deeper into my arms. It feels as if I’m going to faint, my head is dizzy and my body seems numb, probably from the cold.
“Now we’re just waiting for your b. o. y. f. r. i. e. n. d.” Looks like we’re going to kill some time until Damion gets here. My heart flutters just thinking about the man, but now is not the moment to get all smoochy about my baby-daddy. It’s time to get answers.
“Why did my mom help you?” I use my draining energy to stand up straight, trying to relieve the pain in my arm. He turns the glass around in his hand, the golden liquid catching the light, twinkling like a star.
“I don’t know. It was strange. Alexander’s right-hand man brought her here after the monsters left. She treated our wounds and gave us a car and money to escape.” Okay, now I feel like the guy who got on a plane to sunny Hawaii and ended up in snowy Russia.
He gets up and walks back to me.
“Why did Alexander wait so long before he killed her?” He looks away … his face flushed with guilt.
“He didn’t know who helped us until much later.” I guess that makes sense. “I guess I’m the one who spilled the beans. I didn’t mean for her to die, though.” He doesn’t sound too sorry.
“Your father said he didn’t plant the bomb that killed Alexander … do you know who did?” He holds up his glass and stares at the liquid shining in the light.
“No. But we’re thinking it might have been Alberto. It was definitely an inside job.” I gasp. Alberto? He doesn’t look like the type who would kill his own father – but then again – I don’t know him that well.
“Whoever it was should get a fucking medal.” For once, I agree with him.
Something slips into my mind.
“Your dad said that Alexander burned and broke you and your sister,” I start very softly, careful not to poke the beast. “Did they physically hurt you too?” His eyes lift and find mine. For a second, the harshness is replaced with pain and sadness … before he pulls his face in a not-very-pleasing manner.
He puts the glass down and unbuttons his shirt. He pulls down one side to reveal his left shoulder. A big ugly B is burned into his flesh, right above his heart.
“It stands for Blackburn. Lucinda has one too.” My eyes grow wide. I guess they suffered a hell of a lot. But still – I was not there. I didn’t do shit.
“And what did I ever do to you?” I try one last time to reason with him.
“You had to go and fuck that pretty-boy moron. Why could you not just have stayed with me?” Because you’re a certifiable … crazy … perverted … narcissist. And I have no passion for you … like that of an asexual female panda.
But don’t dare to say it out loud. I have a special something inside me I need to protect. And no matter what … Darren can never find out about that … he will kill Damion’s baby.
Movement at the door interrupts him and the tattoo guy that brought us the pizza drags in my father’s body … or by the looks of it maybe his corps – it’s a naked bloody raw mess of a human being. He throws it down against the pillar next to me and the carcass groans painfully.
Okay, so he’s still alive for now.
“I want your father to watch me take his little girl,” Darren says. My dad whimpers out what sounds like a sad cry. Darren goes back to his table and his drink.
“Sniff pixie dust and soar,” I whisper at my father … hoping he can hear me. He makes a soft whining noise.
I watch as the tattoo dude says something to my ex. Something that doesn’t go down well.
“Fucking idiots!” Darren shouts out and kicks the chair over. Something definitely pissed him off. And I know only one dude that pisses off people THIS much – Jackson. Either that or Kiara found some help. Hope flickers through my tired body and pulls a smile onto my mouth.
“Are they dead?” he shouts as he turns around to look at the pig who’s standing behind him.
“No, just unconscious,” the man answers, “but don’t worry, he won’t go far as long as we have his sister.” Are they talking about Jackson?
“If he ruins my plans I will kill you.” He’s panicking. Good.
My smile increases. Maybe our not-so-good plan worked after all.
“You know, boss, that guy is a freaking lunatic … he took out two of the guards while still tied up. And he kept on smiling like a fucking devil the whole time we tortured him … fucking crazy.” His words send chilling jolts down my spine. Yep, it’s the loony twin alright.
A frantic horselaugh cackles over my lips. Jackson is on the loose. He will save us … I just know it.
I start pulling at the ropes again, fighting the pain and exhaustion.
Darren struts to me and sticks the gun into my stomach. I swallow the banter and stop breathing as my gun phobia spasms through my body. Please don’t shoot my baby, I pray silently, my eyes focused on the gun. I watch him moving his finger on the trigger and it feels as if my heart is going to burst through my chest.
Darren chuckles as if it’s a big joke. My humor is gone. I’m scared to death and I think I’m going slightly insane right now.
“Did you find the girl?” Darren looks at the man who openly stares at me as if he’s going to eat me for lunch.
“Yes, she’s tied up with the young one,” the other guy says without taking his eyes off me, and I’m sure some spit is running from the corner of his mouth, while his hand fiddles with his crotch.
“If you find Jackson and he gives you any trouble just shoot him in the head.” The man nods and walks away. Darren picks up his glass and goes back to his chair again. I look down at my father.
“Dad, Daddy are you okay?” I whisper down to him, not wanting Darren to hear us. He opens his eyes slightly, but I can see that he’s hurt pretty badly.
“Mel, forgive me, girl. I just -” he struggles in a shallow breath, “- wanted what’s best -” Deep inside my gut tells me that this might be our last conversation ever.
“Dad, I forgive you.” I’m not sure if I truly mean it, but I know it’s what he needs to hear right now. His eyes light up a little and he gives me a small smile. Then I lean over, as close as my tied-up body allows, and talk to him with a huffed voice, “Dad, I’m pregnant. You’re gonna be a grandfather soon. Hang on, okay?”
This time he manages a big smile on his bloody face and tears form in his eyes.