Page 16 of Quiet Confessions: Part Two

It doesn’t.

“Fine! I will indulge you in this if you agree to go on a date with the girl. I will be there the entire time with her father, and you have to actually make an effort,” he demands. Ugh, I will do anything for Patience, even date someone else. How fucked up is that?

“Done,” I grunt, feeling as if I am signing my future away in a sense. It’s only a date. It’s nothing permanent.

“Patience is currently throwing a tantrum,” my father lies. Fucker. “I saw her as she was packing her bags when I visited the house. I wanted to see how everyone was faring. Imagine my surprise when Patience James flounced out of the house cursing the James’ name?”

I know he’s lying, because Patience would never leave without saying goodbye. I know this as much as I know that she loves baking and dominating people. I’ve managed to underestimate my father. I thought he’d play fair.

Keeping my back straight, I refuse to back down.

“Patience wouldn’t just leave after signing the contract,” I remind him. His smile dims a little as he realizes that I know about the contract. “The company is important to her.”

“Yes, yes. The little bitch is young and stupid. She got cold feet, which isn’t my problem. I’m sure that she’ll come to her senses and find a way to warm her feet up,” he says dismissively. “We shouldn’t be meddling in Cal and his future bride’s business, after all. They’ll figure it out.”

“Dad.” I sigh.

“She will come back!” My father screams, the veins bulging in his neck. I’m stunned, eyes wide. I’m surprised he didn’t just give himself an aneurysm.

“Yes, sir,” I mutter.

“Now, let’s talk about the date you’re going on,” he says, once again looking relaxed with a smile.

My father is a psychopath, and I’m just finally realizing it.

Numbly, I listen to my father, not one step closer to finding Patience.

ROOKE

Isabella grabbed Esme by the hair and threw her into a wall because she was crying. I’m very protective, and I lost my damn mind.

“Leave her alone,” I roar, fighting against my chains. Patience isn’t in the cage, and unfortunately she’s the only one who would be able to calm me down.

Isabella turns to me with a predatory smile. “Such a big, strong, tough man. I’ll have you know that it is my God given right to train you all,” she says. This woman is batshit crazy. Kicking me in the thigh, she digs her heel into it.

Grunting with pain, I close my eyes against it. I would rather take the brunt of her anger over Esme any day. A hard series of slaps force my eyes open, and this damned woman’s ring catches me above the eye.

As it bleeds, running into my eyes, and I blink furiously. I miss Isabella signaling the guards to bring me down out of my chains.

As they drag me out, I can see the fear in the women’s eyes around me. I keep my mouth shut because I know I can’t bring them hope. This place is where hope goes to die.

One of the guards punches me so hard my head flies back. I spit blood in his face, for once no longer caring about the consequences. Countless punches and kicks begin, and I’m thrown on the ground as they beat the shit out of me.

Finally, common sense starts to filter through and I find the will to curl into a ball, protecting my head.

“Isabella!” I hear Spider yell. “The Bossman wants to know what all the noise is about.”

Mumbling to herself, I hear panic in her voice. “Stop!” she yells. My eye is swollen, so I can barely see her as I lay helpless on the ground. I know I look like a damn mess. “Take him into one of the side rooms, Spider, and make sure the idiot lives. Take one of the girls to help you.”

Heels click across the concrete floor as she rushes out of the room, and Spider hauls me up.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” he groans.

As I pass out, the last thing I see is Patience’s panicked face.

* * *

“Rooke,” Pay hisses, and I can feel a cool cloth on my neck. “Come on, baby. Open your pretty eyes so I can yell at you for being an idiot.”

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