Page 12 of Devil Mine

He steps up to him, raises his leg and brings his heel violently down on the joint at my father’s shoulder. There’s a nauseating crack and then his arm bends behind him at an unnatural angle.

My father’s agonized howl tears through the silence.

My stomach turns. I think I’m going to be sick.

Paunchy Guy shoves my father halfway forward until his elbow hangs off the chair. The boss repeats the motion.

A second crack, a second howl.

“You’re welcome.”

Even if I can’t see it, I can hear the sadistic smile in his words.

I stumble backwards, away from the wall.

“You have thirty days, Alex. Twenty million quid plus an interest payment of my choosing for your tardiness and to pay me back for the mercy I’ve shown you today. If I have to come back here, I’ll slice you into a hundred pieces and scatter them around this office you love so much.”

Fresh panic seizes me when I realize the confrontation is coming to an end. If they come out now, they’ll find me.

I look around frantically, my eyes stopping on Eileen’s desk. I dart across the reception area and duck under her work station just in time.

Moments later, I hear footsteps walk past her desk and down the hallway. Their steps sound composed, unhurried. They don’t seem scared in the least to be apprehended for what they just did.

And that scares me almost more than anything.

I stay under that desk for long minutes, searching for composure. I’m shaking like a leaf, my body struggling to calm down after the extended bout of fear and trauma.

I’m in complete disbelief at what I just witnessed. This isn’t our life. Criminality, violence,torture. Those aren’t words I ever thought I’d have to use, let alone witness.

When my legs stop shaking long enough for me to stand, I crawl out from under the desk and get to my feet.

I smother the small part of me that wishes I’d seen his face. I’d probably be a dead woman walking if I had. Whoever that man was, I hope I never see him again.

He’s a monster.

But maybe I’m no better than him in the end, because I don’t go and help my father.

I don’t stop to consider it, I don’t even look back at his office.

I put my pink stilettos back on and walk away.

???

Chapter Five

Thiago

“We shouldn’t be here, jefe. It’s dangerous.”

I lift my head from where it’s resting against the soft cushions of the velvet couch I’m sitting on and look at Arturo.

“Let them come,” I say, dropping my head back against the couch and closing my eyes.

“We’ve been watched from the moment you set foot in this club. We’re vastly outnumbered, we’re completely exposed and we're surrounded by hundreds of civilians,” he says, disapprovingly. Lower, he adds. “You’re being reckless.”

“Relax, Turo. They won’t kill me here.”

I bounce my head along to the club music, enjoying the moment of relaxation. It’s been a busy two weeks and I’ve hardly had a moment to rest, let alone sleep.

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