Page 58 of Eternally Bound

He leaned down, and his stale breath hit my face. “Do you know who I am?”

I choked back the nauseated feeling from his smell. His hand stroked my cheek, and it took all my self-restraint not to wince at his touch. It creeped me out.

“Do you?” he raised his voice.

“Yes,” I barely choked out my answer.

He wrapped his fingers around my throat, squeezing tightly. I hated that it reminded me of the way Daniel pressed his hand against my throat. It brought pleasure with Daniel, and now it caused fear.

“He took my son from me.”

I couldn’t talk, my airway being blocked off by his hand.

“He killed my son,” he rasped, a resemblance of emotion in his voice. “It was my son that learned about you. Instead of knowing his place inmymafia, Daniel had to go play a hero. He took everything from me. My son, my men.”

The door to the office opened and he instantly let go. While I gasped for air, two men came in pushing a rolling cart with a television on it. I took a deep breath in and then exhaled slowly. I tried desperately to hold on to my non-existent strength. I had to be brave. I couldn't let him see how scared I was.

“Are we watching TV?” I asked, attempting a sarcastic tone.

The men continued on, pushing the stand to the opposite side of the room. I stood to the side, watching them warily. Once they had it situated, they plugged it in and handed a tape to his uncle.

“Let’s give you a glimpse of my nephew, beautiful Ainslee,” he drawled, his eyes skimming over me.

He was giving me the creeps. Just as his son did all those years ago. There was something so off about him. He came up closer to me, and I instinctively stepped backwards and bumped into a wall. I clenched both my hands into fists and held still as he raised his hand to up my face. He trailed his fingers over my cheekbone gently, and I swallowed hard, jerking my head away from his hand.

“Daniel won’t be happy to know you touched me,” I rasped, keeping the fear out of my voice.

“That’s the point.” He grinned, his vile breath insulting my senses. “You will be his downfall.”

His voice made my skin crawl. He had a manic, crazed look on his face. His greasy, white hair was sticking up at all angles adding to his lunatic look. There was something unhinged in his stare, kind of like his son’s. It was probably where he got it from. Those dark eyes of his, similar to Daniel’s, glittered as he stared at me in fixation.

“I can see why Hugo wouldn’t let go,” he purred, his voice creepy. “You attract men like moths to a flame, don’t you?”

This man had Callen killed. He wouldn’t hesitate to kill my family. Cruelty was part of his DNA. He reveled in people’s suffering and pain. He disgusted me, and I had to force myself not to twist into a grimace.

“Daniel will come for me,” I repeated, my voice barely a whisper. I had no doubt in my mind that he would. He would always come for me, protect my son, and my family.

My body shifted, stepping sideways to get closer to the door, but he blocked it. My eyes darted around the room, desperate to see any way out of here. There was a single window in the room but short of throwing myself through it, I wouldn’t be able to open it. It was the industrial kind of window that never opened.

I was trapped. Daniel was my only hope. My lower lip trembled, but I took it between my teeth and bit into it, releasing the copper taste of blood on my tongue.

“Now, let’s open your eyes to the true Daniel Carrington.” He stepped back from me and moved towards the single chair in the room. “Who knows? I might spare you,” he added, a cruel gleam in his eyes. “After all, I’m without an heir now.” His eyes roamed my body, while my insides shuddered with disgust. “I wouldn’t mind you as my wife, see you swell with my child.”

I literally had to contain the gag from sounding out. If he touched me, I’d lose my shit. There were men and women so much braver than me. If this old man touched me, I’d break. He chuckled as if he could read my thoughts.

He leaned back into his chair, his legs slightly parted. Without the cruel smirk on his face and unhinged look in his eyes, he’d be a good looking man. There was resemblance between Daniel and his uncle, but thankfully Daniel wasn’t a cruel madman. His dark eyes were my safety, it felt like coming home.

He nodded at the man that still lingered in the room and the old box television flickered to life. The static sounded throughout and then the recording came on.

“I don’t want to see it,” I muttered. I knew there was a side of Daniel I had not seen. I didn’t care to see it either. I loved him regardless.

“You will see it. So you know who you are dying for,” he said, his smile portraying the satisfaction of inflicting pain. “So you know why Callen McLeod died.”

“He died because you killed him,” I accused, fury in my voice.

“No, he died because my nephew killed my son.” He raised his brow, as if challenging me. I remained silent. “Daniel was always a jealous little prick. My son wanted you, and Daniel couldn’t handle a little bit of competition.”

“Your son never had a chance. He was despicable and cruel.”

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