Page 15 of Darkness Falls

"Deal with her? Like you did before? No, Damien, you will stop being so abrasive with her. Do what you did before and pretend to be nice to get her under control. She could learn to lean on you again," my father tells him. Even the suggestion makes me sick.

"Fine. When are you going to let me see that thing anyway? I'm dying to know all the dirty details about some of the other people we've talked about."

"You get access to this notebook when you're in charge. Until then, mind your fucking business and worry about doing what I say," my father spits.

I knew that notebook was important! There had to be a reason my father always kept it under lock and key. I'm not positive what's inside, but it has to have something to do with the blackmail they seem to be using to Rogue's advantage. I have to get my hands on it somehow to find out for sure.

I was never supposed to hear any of this. They planned to keep me in the dark, which is further proof that as a woman, I am completely useless in their eyes. He's only letting Damien partake in all of his activities because he needs a sidekick to knock me up.

"Keep Callie in line. We are getting close to making everything happen, and I won't let that little bitch ruin it all."

Damien's response is too quiet for meto hear.

I need to get out of here before they find me lurking outside the door. Who knows what my father would do to me if he found me snooping on this conversation. My body shifts to the side, and the floorboard beneath me creaks. Fear courses through my entire body, and I freeze in place, closing my eyes, praying they didn't hear me. My heart slams in my chest so loud it almost drowns out the sound of the footsteps closing in on me.

Why am I frozen in place? I need to run up the stairs, but even if I go now, he will see me. Should I play it off like I just got here and knock on the door? My choice is taken from me as the door whips open, and my father looks down at me.

"It's rude to eavesdrop, daughter."

"I was just coming to find Damien."

"So, you're sneaky and a liar? Is that what you're trying to tell me?" My father's eyebrows shoot up in question.

"I don't know." I can't get the right words out. He grabs me by my arm before I can say anything else and pulls me into the office, throwing me down in the chair next to the one Damien’s seated in.

"You wanted to be a part of this conversation, so be part of it. Just know once this conversation is over, you and I will be heading down to the basement. It appears you need to be taught a lesson for eavesdropping," my father says as he makes his way back to the seat behind his desk.

I try my best to keepmy composure, keeping my face devoid of emotion. He wants a reaction from me, and I know if I give in, it will only make it worse for myself.

"Damien, let's get Callie up to speed since she thinks she's worthy enough to be part of her legacy."

He smiles at my father before turning to me and narrowing his eyes. "We trade in secrets and use them for blackmail to get what we want. It's really not that complicated."

"You make it sound way less effective than it is, son."

Son? I know my father isn't referring to Damien as his son. He's out of his damn mind.

"What I was trying to say is that we have an extensive list of acts that may or may not look badly upon the people who possibly performed them. Politicians, police, teachers, and some very upstanding government officials that feel indebted to us for keeping said list to ourselves," Damien tells me, but it still doesn't make sense.

"Anyone can get blackmail. Why would they care if you know a petty little secret?" I open my mouth by mistake, asking him.

"The secrets we hold are career-ending and possibly life-ending secrets. My father started compiling them when he was in charge, and the more we stacked up, the easier it became." My father grins and holds the notebook up in the air. "With this, we have just about everything we need to be wherever and do whatever we want."

My eyes trail over to the black-and-white composition book. It doesn’t look so important. Maybe that’s the point. It looks like a regular notebook,so nobody would second guess it. Power like that shouldn't exist. It definitely shouldn't be at the hands of someone like my father and Damien.

"Now you understand why you need such a strong husband? You're too weak to take control of Rogue. You need someone by your side who can keep everything in check for you. You have too many emotions. I'm doing you a favor."

He actually thinks he has my best interest in mind. "You never planned on telling me any of this, did you? You just expected me to blindly marry him?" I say while pointing over to the brute sitting next to me.

"You're correct. You didn't need to know because Damien will handle all of the specifics for you. All you have to do is look pretty and smile just like you've always done. Leave the real work for the men." My father smiles.

"I won't marry him," I state firmly.

"You will!" he grits out. "Damien, take your bride-to-be down to the basement and strap her to the chair."

My eyes go wide as Damien stands to pull me out of my seat. I try to rip my arm out of his grasp, but his fingers only dig in tighter. These bruises will complement the others perfectly. He drags me out of the room and directly down to the basement. I hate that he is so much stronger than I am. When he grabs my shoulders to place me on the chair, I push back at him and turn to try and run.

"We've been over this. You know I love it when you fight."

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