"I told you to remember I gave you a choice." He growls and yanks on me.
As soon as the door opens, a rush of cold air hits us and I shiver involuntarily. I don't want to go down there into the inky darkness and I make my feet like lead.
"No, Brody. Please," I beg him. "I'll call them just don't leave me down there."
"Leave you down there?" His eyebrow still firmly raised. "Oh, no. This isn't for you."
Again he pulls on me and I have no other choice but to follow him down the wooden steps. I curl into his back, uncaring of how badly he treated me, I'm scared and I want him to protect me from the sinister feeling that permeates the air.
His chuckle vibrates against my cheek and I grit my teeth to stop myself from telling him off. I need his protection not his wrath. My bare feet hit a concrete floor and I shiver at the cold contact. It's damp down here and the moisture seeps its way into the soles of my feet. The air smells musty and stagnant, there's no ventilation. I cover my nose and mouth with the sleeve of my sweater and let Brody drag me deeper into the dark abyss.
He stops suddenly and I hear the clicking of an old style pull string light. When the light turns on, I blink away the glare and let my eyes adjust. As they do, I see a man tied to a chair, his head touching his chest and his hair oily and matted.
"Brody," I dig my nails into his arm. "Who is that?"
The man's head slowly rises and I scream when I see his face. He's gagged but he's trying to speak and he begins to struggle in the chair.
"Papa!" I scream and run to him.
Brody's quick though and he grabs the ends of my hair before I can get to Papa. My head snaps back with the force and I can feel the strands being ripped out like nails digging into my scalp.
"Not so fast." His cold voice says with a tsk.
"Brody!" I turn on him with a screech. "Why do you have Papa? How long has he been down here?"
"Call them and tell them we are working shit out."
It dawns on me why he has my papa here, it's his bargaining chip to ensure I do everything he says, and it's fucking working.
"I will." I nod because what other choice do I have? "Has he eaten? Brody, please take him out of this room and I will do anything you want."
I can hear my father's dispute through the gag in his mouth and I would guess because he's seen firsthand what Brody is capable of. Brody’s expression doesn’t change, if anything he looks bored with this whole situation. I mean, why would he really care? He’s already taking whatever he wants from me.
He grasps my hand again and reaches up to turn off the light again.
“Brody!” I scream and try to pull out of his hold. “We can’t leave him down here.”
He lets out an exaggerated sigh and turns back around to face me. His eyes rove all over my tear soaked face and he shakes his head.
“You may regret that soon enough.”
“What?” He’s making no sense and I want to reach out and shake him.
“Let’s get this phone call done and then I will bring the bastard upstairs.” He growls and snaps off the light.
We’re plunged into darkness again and I scramble into his back, my fingers gripping onto his shirt.
“Does he need to be in the dark?” I exclaim.
“Yep.” He states and yanks me back up the wooden stairs.
“Ma petite,” Caine’s voice comes through the phone’s speaker and my eyes roll into the back of my head. “What the fuck is goin’ on?”
“Hey,” her voice cracks and I want to crash my knuckles into her throat. “Brody came to see me and I decided to come with him to talk about some stuff.”
Her voice shakes and I grit my teeth in annoyance, Caine will see right through this. I clear my throat and when her eyes fly up to my face I make sure she sees murder reflected there. I won’t think twice about killing her piece of shit father downstairs.
“Why the fuck do you sound like you’re crying?” He barks out and I breathe in deep to calm my insides. I would love nothing more than to beat his face in right now.
“Because Caine,” her voice sounds snooty and she hastily flicks the tears off her cheeks. “I’m trying to work things out with him and that means explaining all the vile disgusting things his brother did.”
She’s staring at me with fire in her eyes and I can't help the hardening of my cock in my pants. That’s what I need to see more of, that steel in her spine, and fight in her eyes.
“Oh,” he exhales and I can tell by his tone he believes her. “She’ll call me every day. You hear that brother?”
“Oui.” I answer begrudgingly.
“Sha?” Cooper’s whiny voice fills the room. “I miss you, you’d tell me if that monster was hurting you, right?”
Next time I see him, I’m knocking him out.
“I’m fine, Coop.” Her face brightens at the sound of his voice. “I promise.”
“I love you.” He says quietly.
“I love you, too.” She answers and runs her hands through her damp hair.
“Kail.” The Teacher’s next.
“Hey, Oliver.” She grins. I want to knock her out, too.
“How long are you planning on staying there?” He questions and I grit my teeth. Forever, asshole. “Christmas is next week and remember we have that New Year’s ball.”
“I’ll let you know in the next few days.” She answers.
“Okay,” he clears his throat. “I love you.”
“I love you, Oliver.”
I can taste the blood in my mouth as I bite into my cheek. This shit is fucking annoying.
“Ma petite,” Caine’s voice is back. “Zeke will be coming by tomorrow to check up on you and bring you some clothes and your phone.”
She won’t be getting shit.
“Okay, thank you.”
“You will call me, if there is a missed call, I will be coming there.” His voice is filled with unconcealed threats. “I love you.”
“I love you.” She whispers back and hangs up the phone.
“There.” Her voice is sad. “Are you happy?”
“Never.” I answer honestly. “But that’ll do.”
I pick up my phone and turn to leave the bedroom.
“Can you please bring my papa upstairs?”
“I told you I would.” I just didn’t say I would be making him comfortable. He’ll just be tied to another chair.
“Brody,” she calls out again. “Where’s Georgina?”
“That’s for another day.” I’m fed up with talking and if I don’t leave this room right now, I’ll be putting her mouth to better use.
"Why do you have my daughter?" I knew I should've kept the fucking gag in his mouth.