Page 129 of The Heir

And I know once I return to it, I'll never be the same.

The interior of the lower level is a plain, sterile white. So bright I squint my eyes a little as it takes me a second to adjust. There's no seating, only brick walls and a single stainless steel door in the middle of the wall straight ahead with a key pad which hosts a singular red light.

"So," I say hesitantly. "Who're the ones in the solid green uniform?" I ask, peeking over at Frank.

"Those are my trainees. They come here for a full year before being released for duty," he replies in a matter of fact tone that warns me to stop asking questions.

Looking around, I see no cameras, which strikesme as odd.

Snuggling in deeper to King's warmth, I take a deep breath relishing his spicy scent. Two of the men break off to guard either side of the door that Frank and Micah lead us through. They stand to the side and Frank gestures for me to step forward.

"Use your keycard," he says in his gruff voice. "It'll only work for this door, and Claudio's room."

My brow arches as I step forward, digging the key back out of my pocket where I'd stashed it. "Are there a lot of other rooms?"

"Many."

Holding the key up to the black box, the red light flashes before turning green. A buzzing sound ensues, and then the door opens. "Who are here?"

Frank gives me a rather cold look. "All the unsavory folk who are not fit to be living amongst society."

"They come here to be…" I trail off, hoping he'll finish my sentence.

He raises his chin a bit, looking down his nose at me. "To be someone else's problem. Just like Claudio Maniotti isyourproblem."

I bite my lip, nodding my head and then stepping through the door. I blink, looking to the left and the right, seeing a long hallway with nothing but stainless steel doors with black numbers above them.

"Room three," Frank states.

King's hand settles onto my lower back, and I take my first step to the left walking down the hallway that's just as stark and sterile as the entryway we'd just come out of. Coming to door three, I face it, willing myself to be strong.

Taking a deep breath I close my eyes and relive every kick. Every time I had to piss and shit in that bucket in the corner of the room. Every time I had to turn my back to him in order to protect my baby. Every time the light was taken away and I was forced to spenddays in pitch darkness as punishment. Every time I cried myself to sleep, wondering if I was ever going to see my family again.

Or make it out alive.

My thoughts move beyond my captivity and to the rest of my childhood, ruminating on every day I was forced to struggle and grow up without a father. Choking down top ramen night after night to the point I couldn't stand it anymore. The gross smell of the man I had to lose my virginity to in order to make sure we could have a roof over our head for one more month. It all comes back in one huge mind fuck.

Claudio took more than just my freedom for a month. He forced me to give up my innocence.

Opening my eyes, I place the card to the keypad and wait for the light to blink. The door slides open on a soundless whoosh of air, and I take another steadying breath and step into the darkness.

Chapter thirty-four

The Demon's Commuppance

Lights turn on as soon as I enter in the threshold, and it takes my eyes a second to adjust as everything happens so slowly. First thing that I notice is that the lights above me shine dimly with a recessed feature. I take another step forward, and more lights begin to slowly flicker on one by one around the perimeter of the room, only bright enough to show me that this is averylarge room with more concrete walls and nothing else. No window. No air flow. The center of the room is pitch dark.

My skin immediately breaks out into a fine sheen of sweat.

Memories of being held captive in that basement continue to assault my mind, and I take a hasty step back, smacking right into King's chest. His arms immediately wrap around me, holding me close. Despite him lending me his comfort, tremors start from deep within, and I close my eyes as I take a deep breath, trying to get a grip.

"I'm here," he whispers in my ear, but still I shake, unable to pull myself from the memories. "We don't have to do this, Izzy. You can change your mind and let them handle it. I won't judge you, baby."

Suddenly Frank steps to my side and tilts his head. "Look at me, lass," he says gruffly, pulling my attention from my fear. Our eyes clash, and I fight like hell to keep the tears from falling as my anxiety rises to new heights.

Trembling, I force myself to maintain his eye contact, attempting with everything in me to calm my rapid breathing. King's hand closes over mine even tighter, pressing into my belly.

Frank holds out an arm, pointing to the darkness as he pins me with a stern stare. "Your salvation is in that room. You just need to be brave enough to step in there and take it, Isobel." He tilts his head down and his eyes harden as he holds his hand in between us, clenching his fist. "Now, go show that piece of shit he didn't break you. Bestrong!"

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