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I tried to walk away from him, but he snapped his hand around my arm, jerking me to a dead stop. Then he took a deep breath. “You leave me no other choice.”
“Meaning what?” I struggled to get out of his hold, but it was no use.
He yanked something from his pocket, handing an envelope to me. Then he let me go, walking toward the window. I sensed he was waiting for me to discover what was inside.
Exhaling, I threw him a look before unfolding the flap, pulling the single photograph from the interior. It took several seconds for reality and understanding to sink in, yet there was no mistaking what I was looking at. Oh, God. I pulled the picture against me, unable to stop shaking. Then I crumbled against the wall, taking gasping breaths. “What have you done?”
No. No. No.
Every horror I’d ever lived, the screams that I’d shouted out with no one to care about me, burst through the surface. Stars floated in front of my eyes, the horror of learning the truth something that would never leave me.
“Nothing else as of yet, but if you don’t agree to marry Dante, then I will finish what I should have done years ago. And I do mean permanently. Do you want that on your conscience? Do you want to make that final decision?”
I gasped for air, fighting to understand what was happening and what I could believe as the truth. Nothing made any sense. Years of lies. Years! Why did my father hate me so much? Why?
“How could you do this?”
He took his time before answering. “Because you’re a bad seed just like your mother was. I tried to overlook who you are, but you’ve proven time and time again that you were just like her. What a shame her life had to end. I’d hoped for better luck with you. I can tell I was a fool.”
Oh. My. God. The man was a monster, a murderer.
“You killed her. You killed my mother.”
He turned slightly, enough for me to see the smirk on his face. I flew toward him, pummeling my fists against his back, able to knock him hard in the jaw twice before his goon grabbed my arms, yanking me away.
My father turned around, rubbing his jaw. Then he ripped the item from my hand, laughing as he studied my face. The man was pure evil.
I was sick inside, no longer able to process what was happening, shaking so badly that all I could think about was dying. “You killed her.”
“She left me no other choice, Christiana. I discovered she’d been working with the Feds. Can you believe that?”
Every word he said was insane, but I knew what he could do if I didn’t sign the contract and marry a man I didn’t know and one I had no doubt I would hate. A single tear fell but I knew that’s what he wanted. He needed me weak, so much so that I wouldn’t dare try to defy him.
“So. Now that we understand each other, I hope that you will no longer remain difficult. Can I count on your to act like a lady so we can move forward with the business at hand?”
I had no idea what to say to him. “Whatever you say, Daddy dearest.”
He gritted his teeth, obviously tamping back his anger. Then he nodded toward his soldier, who walked closer. “Given I know how you are and that I won’t be able to keep an eye on you twenty-four hours a day, I’ve come up with an alternative. To that end, it will also allow you some sense of freedom, which is a privilege and one you don’t deserve but one I want to provide.”
“What does that mean?” I glanced at Goon Boy, trying to decipher when he had in his hand. My ears were ringing, the nausea in my stomach increasing. None of this was real. It couldn’t be. It just… couldn’t be.
“Sit down on the bed, Christiana. Now.” My father’s insistent voice sent another wave of terror through me.
I didn’t fight him, easing onto the edge of the bed, my heart racing to the point my chest was aching. Oh. God. How had I been so stupid. My father had had my mother killed. Why? Why? When Goon Boy crouched down, I realized what he had in his hands.
An ankle monitoring system. Was he kidding me? I was sick inside, so much so I almost threw up and likely would have if I’d had anything to eat in the last twenty-four hours. “You can’t be serious.”
“Take off your boot or shoes will be a privilege you’ll need to earn.”
Oh, my God. I hated myself that I was shaking like a leaf, trying to blink away sudden tears. I’d been fooled once again, stupid enough to believe I had a life and would be able to make choices. Had it taken him this long to find someone who’d agree to marry me? Disgust tore through me but at least if I could leave the house, maybe I could figure out how to get some help.
Feeling empty, I bent down, removing my boot, tugging up the leg of my jeans. I couldn’t watch as the contraption was put into position, the bastard enjoying his duty a little too much. I resisted kicking him in the face, which was difficult.
“Is that too tight?” the goon asked.
“No. It’s fine.” I had to shut down everything. My emotions. My thoughts. My hatred. I needed time to figure out what I could do. If anything. I also needed to find out if what he’d told me was the truth. I couldn’t just believe him. The man was a consummate liar.
The soldier nodded then stood, immediately backing away.
