Page 42 of Heartless Sinner

“What about Johnny? Where is he?”

“He skipped town. I can’t find him anywhere.”

Motherfucker. He set his old man and sister up then left them to deal with the fall. If anyone in my family did shit like that, they’d be killed.

“I’ll find him.”

Brody looks pale again. “What about Scarlett? Please don't hurt her."

I’m glad he’s not asking me to spare Johnny, because I won’t. Johnny sounds like one shady motherfucker, and he also sounds like he’ll have more information I need.

That said, I should be able to get a foot through the door now that I know about the Nexxus.

I straighten, adjusting the cuffs of my shirt before I stand. Brody keeps his eyes glued on me.

“Micah.” It’s strange hearing him call my name. “Please let Scarlett go. Do what you want to me, but let my little girl go.”

Let her go… I’m not sure I can. Not from here nor from my mind.

“I’ll let you know what I decide later.”

I move toward the door ignoring the anguish on Brody’s face. It’s time to talk to my bellezza. Now that we know each other, it’s time she gets acquainted with the real me.

Chapter Ten

Scarlett

My wrists are bound above my head with manacles so tight my circulation has been cut off, and my shoulders and fingers don’t feel like they belong to me anymore.

The guy who looked similar to Micah—Brahm, I think his name was—chained me to the wall and locked me in this room for what has felt like eons.

Time has passed like molasses, marked only by the steady flow of rain running down the stained-glass window in the arched alcove across from me.

Although a dim light hangs above my head, that part of the room is barely visible, and it has the same ominous vibe as upstairs with its pretense to be something it’s not.

How funny. That sounds just like me.

Over the last few days, I’ve taken acting to a whole new level, so maybe it’s fitting that I’m here.

I think I may die here.

I can’t imagine anything else coming from this disastrous situation. Dad and I are being held captive God knows where by a man I thought was my escape from reality.

How in the hell could a man I meet at a bar and spend the night with turn out to be the man I was supposed to steal from?

Fate is so fucking cruel to me. It’s never been kind. Even in those twisted ways people talk about when strange things happen to them that work out for the best.

For me, there is no light or silver lining. But perhaps this is kick-my-ass-karma.

Because I’m a thief.

It doesn’t matter what my reasons were. I still did the crime and now the shit I feared has come back to bite me.

The worst thing is, I don’t know where they took Dad. Or if he’s still alive.

Terror has twisted my insides into jagged knots, but I’m more worried about my father than I am for myself.

I’m not a crier, but worrying about Dad has ripped every tear from my soul.

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