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“Three minutes.”
Thomas nodded, turning back to me.
“His intentions were good. The deal was not. You’ve been through a lot this last week. I’m sorry for that.”
“Deal? My father made a deal? I told him no money or loans.” My head briefly lowered through my whisper. “Is that what this is about? Did he borrow money from someone? Did.” I almost couldn’t catch my breath. “Did he do something illegal?”
Nothing. The man just stared at me as my mind raced through the worst scenarios possible. What sort of deal he could make for money?
“Wait. Please, you have to tell me. Am I in trouble? Am I going to die?” The last came from nowhere, but the look at my question had my blood turning to ice in my veins.
“Stand tall and be strong. Can you do that?”
My body went rigid as my head nodded. It didn’t matter as I dove for the door handle. With hard jerks, the door stayed closed. Locked. I couldn’t get out.
“Shit. Shit!”
“Sharks are attracted to blood, Ms. Brexton. You’re about to get eaten alive if you don’t calm down and compose yourself.”
Compose. Compose. He’d just said there was a chance I could die, and he wanted me to stay calm?
“I’m sorry. I swear I am. I’ll pay whatever you want. Please, just let me go.”
“You’re bargaining is not with me. We’re just the messengers.”
The pull of brakes sent my stomach flipping with nausea. With as fast as my pulse pounded, I was sure I was about to have a heart attack or be sick.
“Slow, deep breaths. There you go. Slow. Calm. Sit straight.” I obeyed; my eyes as big as saucers as I nodded to Thomas. “Good. When this door opens, you cannot run. If you run, the dogs will come after you. They will go for your throat, and they will restrain you until I can intervene. Sometimes, they don’t listen, and people get hurt. Really, really hurt. Do you want the dogs to get you?”
“N-n-no.”
“That’s right. No. We don’t want that. So, when the door opens, you’ll stand and wait for me. When I get out, you will stay by my side the entire time. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Perfect.”
As if on cue, the door opened. My feet would barely work as I reached for the dark-haired man’s hand and tried to stand. Thomas was directly behind me by the time I steadied myself.
“Right this way, Ms. Brexton.”
My legs wouldn’t move. What looked like a million stairs stood before me, giving way to the biggest house I’d ever seen. A man in black stood on a balcony to the left. If he was armed, I couldn’t tell. The shadows were heavy around him, barely making him noticeable at all.
“Fay.”
“Where are we?”
“No questions. He’s waiting.”
He…
Each step was harder than the next. Thomas kept a steady pace, but one I could barely keep up with. My legs were trembling. What had my father done? Who had he been going to for money? Was it even about money? It had to be. It was Thomas, for crying out loud. I’d heard that name more than a handful of times in the last few years.
“Not much further now.”
We made it up the steps, not pausing as we headed towards the large, black French doors ahead. Where I expected an elaborate entry way, the area was anything but grandeur. Black doors. No flowers or plants. No glass. Just doors amongst stucco walls.
“Thomas, I can’t do this.”
