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I’m going to throw up again.
My pulse pounds in my ears as I look between the two of them.
None of this makes sense. Why would Dad have me kidnapped and put in a cell? Is he still trying to get me away from Christian?
I can’t wrap my mind around it. “What’s going on, Dad? What’s he talking about? Why am I here? You’re not trying to get me to come back home, are you? I already told you that I’m happy with my life.”
Dad shakes his head. “That’s not what’s happening here, Zoe. I should’ve told you about this sooner, but there’s no way that you would have done what I wanted.”
“What are you talking about?” My heart plummets to my feet as the man beside Dad grins and approaches the bars.
“He really didn’t tell you anything about what he’s been up to, has he?” The man clicks his tongue and looks at Dad. “Naughty boy, Jeremiah. I would have thought that you would talk to your daughter about what your actions have cost her.”
The room is shrinking in around me as I look between the two of them.
Though I don’t know what’s going on, Dad is the reason that I’m here. He’s the reason that I got hurt tonight. He’s why I’m locked in a cage.
“Dad,” I say, my voice hollow as I try to keep my hands from shaking as I grip the bars. “What’s he talking about? What did you do?”
“It was supposed to be Ava. It was never supposed to be you.” Dad swallows hard, his face growing red. “I could have never done this to you, Zoe.”
“But whatever this is you could have done to Ava?” Hot tears track down my cheeks. “What the fuck is going on here?”
“There’s a debt to be paid,” the man says, coming over to the bars. He runs his fingers over mine, smirking when I recoil at his touch. “You’re going to have to learn to like the touch of strange men soon, sweetheart. My bidders have no interest in a frigid bitch.”
My heart plummets to the ground as I keep my gaze trained on my father. “You need to tell me what’s going on. Right now. I need to know.”
Dad shakes his head and crosses his arms. “It’s better if you don’t know what’s going to happen, Zoe. Trust me.”
I glare at him through the tears that stream down my cheeks. “How can I trust you when you’re the reason that I’m in here?”
The man laughs and elbows my father. “She has a point, Jeremiah. Now, I think that it’s time to collect on that debt you owe me, don’t you? After all, I’ve been waiting a very long time for this. And there is still the small matter of the interest you owe on the debt after that little stunt you pulled with the cartel.”
“It’s not my fault she married him!” Dad scowls at me like all I’ve done is complicate his life. “I’ve been trying to get her to come home so I could pay you.”
“I’m going to have to charge you a finder’s fee for this as well. I shouldn’t have had to go and get her myself, Jeremiah.”
The man’s tone is patronizing. “Your debt just keeps growing. I’m so glad that the time to collect has finally come. Now, get out of here before I force you to join her in the cell.”
“You can have my other daughter.”
The way he says the words is cold. Detached. Like me and my sister are just possessions to be passed on.
“You fucking bastard!” I scream, throwing myself at the bars. “How could you do this to us?”
I’m going to kill him if I get my hands on him. There’s no way that he’s going to hurt Ava.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” the man says, his tone sickly sweet as he looks at me. “Your sister isn’t useful to us. Your father will have to find another way to pay his debt.”
Dad scowls at him and brushes by him.
The man winks at me before pulling out a gun.
The loud crack of the shot echoes inside the walls as my father’s steps faulter before he slumps to the floor.
I scream, dropping to my knees as my father’s body lies unmoving where it fell. Blood pools on the floor, trickling toward me.
I grab the bucket and throw up again.
