Page 132 of Savage Don

“I just did.” With a smirk, Ray slaps my ass again, edging me towards the bedroom. “Now, go get ready. They’ll be here soon.”

28

Francesca

I hear my father before I see him.

And he doesn’t sound happy.

Still, a part of me wants to rush around the corner and hug him, beg for him to come to his senses and work out some other kind of deal.

“Francesca…”

Father’s voice is heavy and broken, and his face matches the mood. When I turn into the foyer and see him, my heart drops. He looks like a broken man.

I’m wearing a modest black dress. It seemed appropriate. But now I almost feel bad, as if I’m shoving this all in his face. This is a funeral. Our relationship is dead.

“Father,” I nod, trying to keep my emotions bottled inside.

“How are you doing?” he asks, straightening his back in an attempt to hide the disappointment from his posture.

It’s no use. It’s written all over him.

“I’ve been worse,” I respond, forcing a smile onto my face.

That’s not the answer he wanted to hear, and a frown drags down his jowls.

Before he can get another word in, though, the front door bursts open behind him and a cold gust whips into the foyer.

Sonia follows.

A bright red dress wraps tightly around her sinewy frame, hugging her fake tits like she’s desperate to get her money’s worth. It looks like she’s on her way to a party, and just figured she’d stop by.

Or maybe this is the party.

“What’s she doing here?” I hear myself hiss.

God, at least I’ll be glad to get rid of her. Almost as glad as she’ll be to get rid of me.

“She’s our witness,” Ray says, appearing behind me. Then, leaning down so that his lips are at my ear, he whispers something that is meant only for me to hear. “This is your first taste of leadership, kitten. These are your subjects. You are their future queen. That is, unless they are disobedient. Then, they will not last long enough to see you crowned. Let’s make sure they don’t step out of line.”

Straightening back up, Ray takes a step forward so that we are side by side.

Still, his words drift down my back like a frigid breeze. The pressure is already getting to me. What kind of power am I actually being given here?

“You know I couldn’t miss this, honey,” Sonia says, taking her own step forward so that she is side by side with Father. “Something like this only happens—”

“Shut up,” Ray suddenly commands. “You are not here to talk. You are here to observe. Silently.”

“You used to be such a kind—”

“Don’t make me throw you out onto the street,” Ray booms. Taking another step forward, he makes my step-mother retreat. But only ever so slightly.

Father, on the other hand, barely budges, even as Sonia uses him as a shield, her long nails digging into the back of his shoulder.

The exchange makes me pause.

Why is Ray so angry at Sonia? Is it just because he knows how much I loathe the woman? Because he knows about how she tore out my bedroom door and left me sleepless the night before he came back to get me?