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Father strutted up to me, a sneer on his face. “Fifteen fucking years and thousands of dollars is what it’s taken to find you. You’re going to pay every fucking cent back.”
“Daddy, please let me go. I promise I won’t say anything this time.”
My father and brothers laughed.
Then, father shook his head. “No. Cyril has waited patiently all these years, he had faith we’d find you within his twenty-year time limit. Howard and Russell are over there now letting him know you’re back and will marry him next week.”
“I’m not marrying the arsehole, I’d rather die.”
“I could easily arrange that, it would please me more than you can imagine. You’ve been a pain in my fucking arse since you were born. But for some reason, fuck knows why, Cyril wants you. You humiliated him when you spoke to the police and now he wants you to pay. I need you so I can get at Cyril’s company, so I’ll let you live for now. I hear from the boys, he likes his fucking rough and inflicting pain. The thought of you suffering brings a smile to my face.”
“Why do you want his company, you have plenty of money?”
My father was a billionaire as far as I knew so I couldn’t figure why he needed the other company. Cyril had been left a mining company when his father died, but the man was a gambler and philanderer, so although wealthy, he wouldn’t have anywhere near the money my family had. Father shook his head.
“A few bad decisions along the way, second and third mortgages on the property. I need him to bail us out.”
“Where’s mother?”
“She passed ten years ago.”
The news of her passing came as a shock but it shouldn’t have. She’d been almost as heavy a drinker as my father and brothers.
“It doesn’t surprise you?”
“No.”
“You kept tabs on your family?”
“No.”
Howard and Russell drove up and I thought maybe I’d be taken inside and left alone while they discussed their latest dilemma. It would give me time to formulate a plan of escape before Cyril arrived. I shuddered at the mere thought of him touching me.
“He’s coming?” Father’s question was directed at Howard.
“Mid-morning tomorrow.”
Father nodded in my direction. “Take her inside and don’t slap her around.”
Charles and Richard wrenched at my arms and I yelped in pain. I was thankful my shoulder joints didn’t pop out.
They half carried, half dragged me upstairs to the guest room. I was determined not to co-operate in any way. The door was kicked open and I was flung inside. My head crashed into the solid wood of the end of the bed and everything turned black.
***
KYLE
”Wake up, sleeping beauty. We’re in Mincrow.”
Luke opened his eyes and observed the motel I’d stopped at. I’d made the booking online as we travelled, so all we needed to do was pick up the key.
I stepped from the truck, and by the time I reached Luke’s side, he stood on the pavement. I stole a quick kiss, gathered his hand in mine and we headed for reception.
We pushed through the solid wooden door and a young lady smiled as we approached. She commented on our long drive and said we looked tired. Tired wasn’t the word I would have used for me, I was bone deep exhausted. I’d managed to catch a few minutes of sleep here and there as Luke drove, but I was just too damn worried about what was happening to Wendy. The woman at the desk appeared to be around the same age as my foreperson and I noted her name badge.
“Serina, would you happen to know Natalie Winters?”
Her face lit up when I mentioned the name. “Of course I do, we were close friends until she disappeared. What happened to her was disgusting. I understand why she ran, but I wish she’d come to say goodbye and let me know where she was going. I guess she didn’t trust me not to tell her father.”
“How long had you known her?”
“Since we started kindergarten. We spent hours together every day. She was the sister I didn’t have and I was hers. Her father’s a cruel man, he hated the fact he’d sired a girl. He used to say—“a man’s stable should be full of colts for a bright future.” He considered what he called a filly, a slight on his manhood.”
I was pleased, it appeared Serina was chatty and would tell some of what we needed to know.
I deferred to Luke to continue asking the questions.
“What happened to force her to leave town?”
She shook her head and stepped back.
“I can’t tell you. You two are strangers and it wouldn’t be right.”
Luke reached into his pocket, removed his wallet and showed his police badge and identification.
Serina paled. “Please tell me you’re not here to tell us something bad happened to Nat.”
