Page 101 of Ruthless Oath

I didn’t know why I said that. I had no guarantee that I could fix any of this, but I had to try.

“Let me make you lunch.” He motioned to the kitchen. “How does soup and grilled cheese sound?”

“I’m not hungry.” I gazed up at him. “Let me at least call my mother. I could get her to reason with my dad. If they know I’m okay, maybe my father won’t be so brutal.”

“I may have gotten hit on the head one too many times.” He reached into his pocket and took out his phone. “But I know when I’m being manipulated.”

“Are you mad?”

“How could I be mad at such a lovely girl?” He handed me his phone. “I trust you’ll make the right choice.”

“Listen to me.” I held the phone, knowing it was my only hope. “No matter what happens, do not tell Marchello you gave this to me. If he finds out, tell him I must have taken it.”

Marchello would make Ricardo pay with his life if he found out.

“Be safe.”

“Thank you.”

“For what? I’m going to make lunch for us.” He turned and walked away, leaving me to seal my own fate.

I stepped out onto the porch and quickly dialed my father’s cell. One ring…two rings…

Come on, Daddy, pick up.

Three rings.

“Hello,” he answered.

“Daddy, it’s me.”

“Lissia, where are you? Are you safe?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Where are you?”

“A safe house in the woods.”

“How are you talking to me?” he asked. “Where is that piece of garbage? If he hurt you…”

“He hasn’t hurt me, but we don’t have much time.”

“What do you mean?”

“I want to come home so we can figure all of this out, but you have to listen to me.”

“Is Accetti there? Is he making you set up a deal? Put him on the phone.”

“No, I stole a guard’s phone. Marchello isn’t on the property. I don’t know where he is.”

I glanced at the house where I had been captive these last few weeks. If things were different, I would want more than anything to stay here with Marchello. Build a life with him—a future. I could get that for us.

“Marchello didn’t kidnap me.”

“He’s brainwashed you.”

“No, I went with him willingly.”

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