Page 63 of Loyalties & Longings

My mind begins to race, asking questions I cannot give the answers to.

Dad trusts him. Why would he do this? Why now? How long has he had this planned? What would he have done if I had just waited back at the bar? Is this a personal thing against Dad?

Well, there’s no better way to get to Dad than to use me. My body refuses to do what I want it to. However, I feel whatever was in that syringe coursing through my body. It makes my veins feel like ice as it’s carried through my circulatory system.

Dad is by me, trying to get out of his restraints, if the grunting and muffled wails are anything to go by. The man with the familiar voice crouches down, swiping back the tendrils of hair that have fallen over my face.

“Don’t worry, Enzo. I’ll take good care of her,” he says. But it sounds as though it’s said through a smile like there might be a double meaning to his words.

A chill runs deep through my body, and although I can’t move, I feel sweat forming on my forehead.

Dread rolls through my body in palpable waves. My chestfeels so tight. Almost as ifhehas me in his arms, crushing the wind right out of me. Black dots start to dance in my vision, and I feel faint. I fight my body, which is trying to shut down. Not now.

I can’t. I have to save myself. I must saveDad.

Suddenly, it feels like I’m flying, as if my body is weightless and floating up. Closing my eyes tightly and opening them again, I see thathehas picked me up and is carrying me. He’s taking me upstairs, and my body bounces with his tread on each ascending step. I feel him stop at my bedroom door.

“It’s okay, Siren. There’s no need to fight it… just let it take over.”

No.

No, no, no,no.

The nickname is no longer like a term of endearment but a weapon being used against me. This can’t be real. It isn’t happening. I am completely and utterly helpless. Inside, I’m screaming, howling in hatred and disgust, crying at how powerless I am.

How could I let him do this to me?

Tears fall down my cheeks, and the movement of air as we move through the house bringing a cold sensation to my wet skin.

Then, there’s an exploding sound from a doorframe splintering as he kicks my bedroom door in.

I knew he was strong, but I didn’t realize he was kick-a-door-in-with-ease strong. He clearly wants to make sure I know it is something he is quite capable of doing.

He stomps over to my bed and lays me down. I refuse to look at him, even with the lights off. Although I probably won’t be able to see him clearly. I’m not going to risk seeing his face at this moment.

He storms out of the room, and I quickly blink away the tears that have pooled in my eyes. I fight with all my might, hoping mybody answers my prayers and starts moving.

I need to get up and run.

Stepping back into the doorway, he flicks the bedroom light on. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust before they grow wide in horror.

He stands at the entrance to my room with rope in his hands and a menacing smile that leaves a sour taste in my mouth, which has gone as dry and rough as sandpaper. I try to swallow down the lump in my throat anyway. I feel as though I’m going to be sick.

“This is just in case,” he says wickedly, holding up the rope. “Don’t look so fearful. You’ll probably enjoy what I’m about to do to you,Lakey.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Lake

Massimo is the utter definition of sleazy, from the way he talks to the way he holds himself. Feeling bile rise up the back of my throat, I struggle to swallow it down as I lie on my bed, unable to move any of my extremities. I watch defenselessly as he binds my wrists and ankles to the bedframe with the rope he brought in.

If I get out of this situation alive, he’s a dead man.

My fingers twitch, but I make a point not to look at them. I don’t want to draw his attention to them. The feeling in my body is returning sooner than I assume he thought it would.

Thank the stars.

Massimo is slumped in my reading chair by the window, sneering at me. It looks like he’s pondering what to do to me first.

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