Page 19 of Taken By Him

Why does he want to know this so badly?

“Parents punish their children.” I’m not even close to answering him, but I feel like staying away from the topic of my father with him.

“They do. But how did your father choose to do it?” he asks.

“He took my things from me,” I answer with a roll of my eyes. It sounds so silly saying it out loud. “Are you happy now?” I don’t tell him of the punishments when I was younger. When Diana was still alive. That my father would tear us apart and not allow us to see each other as punishment. Sometimes it would last weeks, once it went on for over a month.

“Is that why you don’t have anything?” He looks around the room. Other than my electronics and a small jewelry box, I’ve added nothing to the room. “There’s nothing here but your clothes and some jewelry.”

“Nothing in my room at my father’s house was really mine.”

He studies me for a moment. The sun is already setting outside, and an orange cast falls over his face.

“What do you want from all this, Dominik?” I ask when he seems content to stay silent. “Why would you want me to marry you? What do you gain? What did you give my father to get him to agree to this?” I’m being used as a pawn; shouldn’t I get to at least know the prize for the game?

His smile falters a fraction and he open his mouth like he’s going to speak. He must think better of it, though because he snaps it shut and shakes his head.

“Dinner will be ready soon. I’ll be out all night. Margaret can get you anything you need.” He steps away from the window and points to my phone. “Do not make me regret letting you have this back so soon.”

I stare at him, unable to understand him. Why won’t he give me an answer to anything?

He quietly leaves my room and shuts the door, drowning me in the emptiness once again.

* * *

Myfather’s supposed to be out of town, and he never calls me when he’s left the area. Work takes up too much of his time. So I’m surprised when my phone rings and it’s him.

“Kasia, I only have a minute. I need you to listen to me,” he starts off right away, not even saying hello.

“Hi to you, too, dad. I’m fine, thanks for asking. It’s not like—”

“I don’t have time for your whining. Listen to me.” He cuts me off. There’s something different in his tone. He’s agitated but more, he’s worried. “I only allowed him to take you that night because I need you to watch him. I need you to listen to his conversations, find out what you can about his father. Find out when he’s coming back from Poland. Find out about his associates, who he works with, who he takes meetings with.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask, looking out my bedroom window. A gardener is watering a rose garden. So much beauty in such a dark place.

“His father. Dammit, Kasia, listen,” he barks at me. “You need to find out when his father is coming back from Poland. As soon as you know, you call me. Don’t talk to anyone but me. Do you understand?”

“Don’t you have men for that sort of thing?” I ask. Dominik isn’t going to confide anything in me.

“I need to know when and I need you to find out who Dominik is talking with. Names of anyone who comes to the house, who he has meetings with.”

“Why would he tell me anything like that?”

“Make him. Get him to trust you and then find out what you can.”

“Why? What’s going on?”

“Do as you’re told for once, Kasia!” His voice raises and I pull my phone from my ear slightly. “Diana would have it done by now. She wouldn’t ask so many damn questions all the time.”

My heart sinks into my stomach.

“But she’s not here, is she, Kasia?” Poison drips from his question.

“No. She’s not,” I say quietly. I may be outspoken. I may have walked on the edge of what was proper, but he can reel me back in with merely mentioning my sister. My mother.

The guilt guts me, and he uses it to his advantage whenever he wants.

“I’ll see what I can find out,” I promise him. I gave up a long time ago that he would find a way to forgive me, but still, a small part of me believes he might. Maybe if he does, I might be able to find forgiveness for myself too.

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