Page 55 of Thor

“H-how did you—” he snaps his mouth shut and looks up in panic.

Cara pulls out another piece of paper. “Give us Madison and Martha and we’ll sign this.”

I walk over and take a look at the paper. It’s an NDA. I open my mouth to say something, but Cara stares at me a pleading eyes. She must have something else up her sleeve. I nod to Thomas, agreeing with her. I trust Cara.

Thomas grabs a pen and hands it to me. “Not until I have Madison and Martha,” I say.

Thomas pulls out his phone and instructs someone to bring them in. Mom cries with a hand over her mouth. “What did you do, Thomas?”

“Not now, Athena!” he hisses.

“No! It seems you’ve been lying to me, and I want to know what the hell is going on!” she shouts.

Thomas pushes up from his seat, completely furious, but before he can say anything, the door opens.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

MADISON

SEVEN HOURS AGO

He has my mom. It’s the only thought running through my brain since Thomas’s lackeys showed me that picture. My mom looked terrified with her arms bound with rope and a piece of tape over her mouth. I’ve never felt this kind of rage before.

How dare he!

Isn’t it bad enough to do what he’s done to me but now he escalates the torture by going after my mother. I’m complying for the time being. My only goal is to set my mom free before I get even. Enough is enough. I’m tired of being afraid. I’m tired of having this monster lurking in the shadows of my life. I don’t think I have it in me to actually kill him, but I’m picking up the nearest object and turning it into a weapon.

I will make him hurt physically because the man is too psychotic to have emotions.

Walking out of the hospital with Baldy and Musty close by, they lead me to an SUV.

Seriously, this guy doesn’t believe in deodorant. He’s as ripe as a damn onion and my eyes water any time he gets too closeto me. The other really needs to invest in some hair plugs or just shave his head. He looks ridiculous.

Baldy gets into the driver’s seat while Musty gets in the back with me. I scoot all the way to the other side to keep space, but he slides to the middle seat, caging me against the door.

Oh, God. The tears are back. Jesus! I might just die in this back seat.

I try to put my window down but it’s locked.

What kind of sick form of torture is this?!

“Don’t cry, sweetheart. I promise when Thomas finishes with you, I’ll make you feel good.” He throws his arm over my shoulder and licks the shell of my ear. His now open armpit releases more of its fumes and my tears begin to fall.

I can feel the throw up building in the pit of my stomach.

“You and that horrendous stench will kill me long before anyone has a chance to do anything to me,” I snap. I pinch my nose closed and glare at him.

Musty opens his mouth to say something but Baldy barks out a laugh. “I told you your ass smells like the inside of a dumpster. Back off, Roy. The boss strictly said not to lay a hand on her. She’s his.”

I’m his?

My anger rises even more. I’m sure I have steam coming out of my ears. Thomas is delusional.

Musty scoots to the other side of the seat while never taking his gaze off me. That’s fine. As long as he keeps those hazardous armpits to himself.

After we make it to the airport, Baldy turns to me with cold eyes. “Don’t say anything. Don’t try anything. One wrong move and your mom is dead. Understand?”

I nod shakily. As much as I want to march up to Thomas and kick him in balls, I can’t. I have to set my mom free, any way Ican. Even if that means doing something I really don’t want to do.

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