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“And you do?”
“Actually, yes, I do. My father and grandfather did before me. We learned a long time ago that while brutality has a place in our world, it is not usually with our employees. If they’re loyal to us, we ensure they are paid very well, have the best benefits available, and of course they and their families have health care.”
Was he kidding me? I resisted laughing in his face. Even I knew better than to cross but so many lines. “Well, I’m not one of your employees and I certainly don’t have any reason to be loyal to you.”
He was obviously aggravated at my continued push and pull with him, but I wasn’t certain what he expected out of me other than being obedient like some lap dog. That wasn’t me, especially after what I’d been through.
“Fair enough, Georgia. I don’t want to treat you like a prisoner, but I was very clear that there were rules that were required to be followed. That included not attempting to find a method of escape.”
“What are you talking about? I didn’t do that.” How would he know I’d tried every window and door on the second floor, checking every drawer in the bedrooms in my attempt to find a weapon that could be used? I’d managed to locate a letter opener, hiding it under the mattress of my bed. But there was no way for him to know that.
He stood, walking closer. “As you might imagine, security is vital in my world. Come with me.”
“Where?”
“Not far, Georgia.”
I didn’t budge from where I was standing, watching as he moved around to the other side of his desk, sliding his hand underneath the edge. Seconds later, the bookshelf drifted to the side, highlighting an opening behind it, a doorway leading to a hidden room.
“Come. I want to show you something,” he said, far too much in passing.
I did as he asked, more trepidatious than before. The room was full of equipment including several computers and other monitors. When he flicked a switch, an entire wall full of flat-screen monitors was turned on. I knew instantly the asshole had cameras in the three rooms Dillon and I were staying in.
“As I said, I’m required to be very conscientious about security, including the methods that are used. Being a cautious man has kept both me and my family alive during the few attacks we’ve endured.” He grabbed a remote, shifting the pictures I was seeing to another moment in time.
He’d captured every second of me attempting to find a way out and discovering the letter opener. The fact he remained quiet, allowing me to understand what I was seeing was more unnerving than anything else.
“So what?” I asked after a full two minutes of being forced to watch the garbage.
“So, you disobeyed me. I haven’t asked much from you, Georgia.”
“Are you kidding me? You asked me to come with you, leaving everything I worked so hard to achieve.”
“Understood. And you know why. You made the choice. Didn’t you?”
I wasn’t going to win this argument. “Fine, Sabatino. I did but I was coerced into doing so.”
“Did you know that most children follow in their father’s footsteps?”
What was the bastard trying to say to me? “Are you trying to tell me you’re like your father?”
“Very much so. He was a good man albeit a tough task master. That doesn’t mean he didn’t care about his sons. He also taught me to respect women, namely because he adored my mother with all his heart. She was his rock, his… escape.”
“Why are you bothering to tell me?”
“Because it’s something you obviously need to hear,” he answered. “I’m not your enemy, Georgia. You were my savior when I needed it. Now, it’s time for me to repeat the kindness.”
“I wish that’s all this was but I’m no fool.”
He chuckled and flipped off the cameras. “Think what you will, Georgia. I obviously can’t change your mind. The cameras were installed for your protection. Nothing more.”
“Then why were you spying on me?”
“Because I needed to see how compliant you would be, how trustworthy.”
“I’m sorry if I disappointed you but I’m never going to be a doormat again.” Making the statement seemed ridiculous. He walked closer, placing his palm on the small of my back, leading me out of the room.
“And I don’t want you to be. I simply want you to understand that whatever reason we were put together, the end game only happens in one of two ways. You can provide whatever limited assistance you’re able, eventually returning to your lonely existence or you’ll end up dead. Unfortunately, there is no in-between in this world.”
