Page 16 of The Devil's Deal

Dom: How could you say that? What about the necklace?

Chiara: Get the hint and stop texting or I’ll have my daddy call the police.

Dom: I hate you. I hope I never see you again.

My chin trembles and the hurt pools into my gut.

She was never my friend. She’s as horrible as her father. How did I not know?

With one last look at the door, I toss my cell behind the tree and run like hell.

Chapter Six

Chiara

Today was supposedto be the day my mother and I ran away. But I haven’t seen her for two days now. I’ve been unable to eat or sleep, constantly crying, sick to my stomach, wondering where she is.

The only person with answers won’t give me any. Whenever he’s home, my father only brushes away my questions about Mom, ignoring me as though I’m a fly. Annoying. Irrelevant.

He didn’t return my cell either. If only he’d give it to me, I could check if Mom called. I don’t even have anyone to ask about her, which sucks even more.

Where could she be? She’d never go away without me, would she? No way. She’d never leave me with my stupid father.

And to make things worse, Dom didn’t show up at school today.Is he sick? Did something happen to him? I don’t even have my stupid phone to ask! I need someone to talk so badly, but instead I’m all alone in my room.

My lower lip trembles, then my chin, and the tears come rushing out. I cry, sobbing into my pillow, knowing no one will hear me anyway.

I need my mom. If something happened to her, I’ll die.

My foot bounces across the floor while I sit in my bed, face in my hands, tears leaking into them.

“Ahhh!” A muffled shout escapes from my damp lips.

I wish I’d never been born. I wish I wasn’t his daughter.

Grabbing a chunk of my hair, I yank it in frustration, unable to take another minute without finding out where Mom is. I know my father knows. He just won’t tell me.

But he will. I won’t give him another choice. He won’t ignore me this time.

Wiping the tears away and taking a minute to calm down, I get up and head downstairs to get answers.

Once I’m in front of his office, my pulse beats in my ears.

Thump.

Thump.

Faster and faster, my heart pounds. And the air falls out so quickly from my mouth, it becomes harder to catch my breath.

I swallow against a lump that’s suddenly jammed in my throat. My hand jitters as I form a fist and knock against the closed door.

It’s quiet inside, but I know he’s in there.

I knock louder this time. Then again.

You won’t ignore me. Not anymore.

When I knock again, the door swings open.

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