Page 117 of The Attraction File

FORTY-SIX

Evaleen

“Ugh, it smells,” I said.

“It’s a warehouse. What do you want, a fancy hotel, sweetheart? You could have had that if you married me like I wanted so long ago. Not run away on your eighteenth birthday like a scared little bitch. It was as if you didn’t like me.” Damien frowned. His voice just as gravely, just as menacing, as when I was a teenager.

Only this time I wasn’t a scared little girl. I was a woman with anger coursing through my veins. That fury took root the day he walked into my house fifteen years ago. But it has grown and flourished since.

He’s just a sad bully past his prime, believing he could tie me up and scare me. I’m not frightened anymore.

I tried to pull my arms from behind the chair, but it was no use. There was another chair beside me. I tried to shift mine toward it but discovered the chairs were bolted to the ground.

Those dirty detectives took off the cuffs once we got here and then tied me with a rope to the cold metal chair.

“Yes, because that’s what a teenager dreams of. Marrying a man old enough to be her father and living a life of crime. How dreamy.”

I glared at him as he pushed off the table he was leaning against and strolled toward me.

“You always had a mouth on you,” Damien said as his fingers curled around my jaw, with a grip just tight enough to cause pain. But I still didn’t give him the satisfaction of showing him. Instead I smiled as best I could. To show him he no longer scared me. Even tied up I held rage.

Frowning at my reaction he brought his hand back, slapping me. The burst of pain was so intense I thought for a moment my eyes would explode. “At least your slut mom learned not to piss me off. She was a quick learner; you, not so much.”

I raised my head, my cheek and eye still throbbing, and spit in his face. Damien’s stubble covered jaw tightened as his lips thinned. He raised his hand again and I stiffened, bracing myself for another slap but he stopped when the door behind him opened.

I heard someone walking but only saw darkness. It wasn’t until the person stepped into the light that I said, “No, it can’t be you.”

All the background checks I did on him and he was working for Damien.

“Nice to see you again, Ms. Bechmann.” Trey Larson tipped his head toward me with his devastating smile.

My heart sank wondering how far this went at Mimir. Jacob had no idea his recent hire was working for a very bad man. Maybe no one knew.

“Trey, why would you do this?”

Damien turned his back to me and waved his hand. “Never mind the bitch. Is she there?”

Trey nodded. I twisted my fingers, attempting to pick away at the knot. It was a long shot, but I had to do something.

“Yeah. Do you want me to get her?”

Damien nodded and turned his head to me with a smile on his face. “It will be nice to have a little family reunion again. I will enjoy playing catch up with Lucy.”

I let go of the rope. Strands of hair stuck to my face as I shook my head furiously. “No, not her. Not my mom. You have me, Damien. Why do you need her?”

Damien waved Trey off. I yelled after him as Trey walked away, “No, Trey. Please. What have I ever done to you?”

My face burned with tears and fury as I twisted in the chair. I had to get out.

“I need backup, Evaleen. For when I call the senator. He may not care that I have his daughter, but when the police find Lucy’s body, they will do some digging into her past. He will pop up. That would be terrible for his career.”

Her body? No!

“What are you talking about? Daughter?”

His eyes widened and a few moments later, he threw his head back in laughter.

“She never told you?” Damien’s dark eyes twinkled in the sparse light of the room.

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