Page 79 of Soul Bound

“What makes you think he’s going to tell you what you want to know?”

She crosses her arms. “Because if he doesn’t, I’m going to march my little ass up onto that stage and tell everyone they lied about me being dead and what they did to me.” She leans up on her tippy toes and kisses my jaw. “Play watchdog and guard the door.”

I don’t even have time to retort because she slips through the door.

23

Winslow

Ialready know Ranger is not going to be happy with me for leaving him outside, but someone had to watch the door. I’ll make it up to him later. I’m sure between the two of us, we can come up with a payment plan of sorts.

Cyrus’s back is to me as he stands at one of the urinals when I step inside. I do a quick scan of the restroom and find it’s just us. Thank God. This is already going to be the family reunion from hell, we don’t need to add witnesses. I silently turn the lock and lean against the door. I wait for him to notice me.

He finishes up at the urinal and turns to wash his hands at the sink. He glances at me and at first, I don’t think it fully registers it’s me standing here. His head snaps in my direction and his dark green eyes widen in horror.

“Hi, Dad.” I hold up a hand. “Wait—does that name still work when technically your daughter has been legally declared dead? Who did you have to bribe to get that done? I bet it cost you a small fortune. Was it worth it?”

He stares at me, completely stonefaced. “It cost a lot,” he finally admits. He moves to the sink at a pace that makes it seem he has all day. “I would have paid more if I’m being honest.” He flips on the water and I move to stand behind him. He looks at me through the reflection in the mirror. “Speaking of, I had moved some money over from other accounts, but it was soon after taken from my checking account. You wouldn’t have had something to do with that, would you,Winslow.” He says my name like it’s a bad word. A curse.

“Consider it payment for the emotional scars—and physical scars I was left with.” I shrug. “Don’t worry, I gave a couple million of it to organizations that help homeless kids and at-risk youth. I just know how much youcareabout children’s safety and well-being. I saw how much you cared firsthand.”

He sneers. “Yes, I’m sure growing up in a multimillion-dollar mansion with a full-time staff was a real hardship for you Winslow. Get off your fucking high horse, child. And might I remind you,you’rethe one who ran away from home.”

“Have you stopped for a second to ask why I ran away from home?” I challenge.

He grabs a white towel from the basket on the counter and dries his hands. “We just figured you were a petulant, ungrateful child. And after what you’d put your mother and me through, we were relieved to see you gone.”

He’s not telling me anything I didn’t already know, but I won’t lie and say his words don’t sting. I don’t let him see he’s affecting me though, I keep my chin lifted and my face expressionless. “Welldaddy dearest, I ran away because your mother almost killed me. She drugged me, then tied me to a bed and had some shady priest try to perform an exorcism on me. I almost died. I was so dehydrated after being left there for four days if one of the tutors hadn’t found me I would havedied—but I guess that wouldn’t have fazed you considering you already faked my death and you haven’t seemed to skip a beat.”

“You’re lying.” He glares. “My mother never would have done something like that, and you should know, she passed away last year when you were busy living as a street rat in New York.”

I send a silent thank you to whoever’s in charge for not sending that evil crone’s ghost my way. “My condolences. She was such a kind and loving person; you must have gotten it from her,” I say dryly. I push off the wall I was leaning on and step forward.

He runs an agitated hand through his thinning hair. “Why are you here, Winslow? Are you here to make a scene?”

I shake my head. “No, sadly, today is not the day for that. Though it does sound like a fun activity I look forward to participating in.” I take another step. “But, if you don’t answer my next questions honestly, I will go up on that stage and tell everyone what kind of man you are. I will tell them how you paid to keep me locked up in that hospital, I will tell them what your mother did to me, I will tell them about your wife’s little pill problem. I will tell them fuckingeverything.”

“And what makes you think I can’t stop you from doing that? I could get rid of you right here and now. I have men here who are more than willing to dispose of a body for some extra cash.”

“First of all, you really need to look into hiring better staff—where are you finding these guys?JesusChrist, you can’t threaten to kill somebody and then go out there and preach about how you’re the right choice to be governor. We don’t need any more corrupt politicians in this country.” I roll my eyes. “And second, I let out one scream or one yelp of pain—if I raise my voice even the slightest, that door is going to break down and you’re going to have a very pissed off man on your ass. And he’lldestroyyou. You won’t stand a chance. So, what do you say, will you answer my questions?”

His jaw tics and his hands ball into fists at his sides, I start to think he’s going to refuse, but then he stiffly nods his head. “Fine.”

“Great, that’s what I was hoping you’d say.” I smirk. “Okay let’s just get right into it. I know you bought me at an auction twenty-two years ago. I also know another one is taking place in this building as we speak. I need to know where it’s happening and how I can get into it.”

Cyrus Montgomery isn’t one to show what he’s thinking on his face, but he looks truly shocked I know about the auctions. His mouth gapes slightly and there’s the slightest hitch in his breath. “How do you know this?”

“Does itreallymatter?” I ask. “I just need to know where the auction is. Did you know one was taking place tonight?”

He scowls at me, and his lips flatten into a stern line.

I sigh heavily. “I thought we had an agreement,” I remind him, but still, he doesn’t say anything. “Fine.” I throw my hands up and march toward the exit.

“Wait.” I barely get five steps before he breaks.Good.

“Where is it?” I ask harshly.

“It’s in the penthouse—I agreed to let them host it at the same time as my event so they could use it as a cover. Plus, sometimes they have girls with them. And I’ve found some of my donors and fellow…colleagues, enjoy the occasional night away from their wives.”

---