Page 15 of Candy & Her Saints

We both leap forward, snatching Dad’s sleeves.

Dad arches his brow, staring down at us. “That’s it. I’m calling the triplets in here.”

I frantically wring Dad’s sleeve between my floury fingers, marking it. I know that I’m making things worse. I can’t think of the right words.

I’m not even meant to have a voice.

“Just listen.” Vito looks like he’s struggling as much as I am. His voice is raspy, as if it’s paining him to talk with his split lip. “Thomas is an entitled asshole but he hasn’t got any real power within the Saint pack. In fact, I hear that he’s spent time in the Alpha Center. The mayor has been punishing him for not following orders. So, he’s not some loyal, well-behaved deputy mayor. He won’t know anything recent that’ll be helpful. Plus, I don’t think that his dad’s ever cared much for him. He’s treated as expendable. Kidnapping him won’t help.”

Dad’s gaze darts between us in a way that makes my skin crawl.

He can always see too much.

“You really don’t want me to take Thomas, do you?” He growls.

Mutely, we shake our heads.

“How much is he worth to you?” Dad demands. “You can choose. Either pay me from the bakery everything that you have in your account, or I’ll take Thomas as payment just because he has pretty aquamarine eyes. I always did fancy redheads.”

My stomach is tied in knots.

I either lose the business that I’ve built with blood, sweat, and tears.

My home.

My dream.

Future.

Or I give up a man who probably doesn’t even remember that I exist to Dad.

It’s not a choice.

Helplessly, Vito’s gaze meets mine. “We’ll do whatever you want, Dy. You’ll always be heard by me.”

Fuck, that’s why I love my brother.

“We’ll pay.” My voice is raspy with tears. “Please, don’t hurt Tom.”

I bet that the Saint pack would be laughing if they could see this: Snakes choosing to secretly suffer for them.

I’m a dumbass.

Yet I could never live with myself, if Thomas was forcibly taken into the pack against his will. Some of the Snake Betas are members through kidnap and coercion.

I hate it.

It’s another reason that Vito has been fighting to get us out.

Dad’s lips purse in disappointment, but then, he shrugs. “Hand me your phone, son.”

Reluctantly, Vito pulls his phone out of his pocket, swiping it on, before holding it out to Dad.

“Open up your account first,” Dad orders. My heart is in my stomach, as I watch Vito slowly tap on the screen, before passing over the phone. “There, all transferred. Have a good evening. I’ll say hello to the triplets for you.”

Numbly, I watch Dad stride out of the devastated kitchen.

My life is devastated too.

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