Page 86 of Undercover Desires

“Good,” he grumbles, his bitterness resonating clearly in his tone.

“You have a son that misses you,” I whisper, wondering how this is all possible.

A pang of sorrow crosses his face, softening his stern features for just a moment. “He’s better off without me in his life,” he mutters. “I lost any hope for a family a long time ago, girly. Why do you think I live out here alone?”

Tears well up in my eyes as I consider the family he abandoned. “That’s so sad,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “Don’t you ever wonder what it would be like to see them again? Brandon was so young when you disappeared.”

A mixture of regret and longing flickers in his eyes. “Of course I do,” he admits, his voice heavy with the weight of his decisions. “But I made my bed. Now I have to lie in it,” he says with a resigned sigh. He walks away from me, heading into the kitchen.

I glance around my surroundings. He’s alone out here on what looks like a farm or property of some sort; it’s dusty fields as far as the eye can see. Even if I did escape, I wouldn’t have gotten far out there barefoot. He returns to the living room and places a cup of coffee on the rustic table in front of me. He looks me over like he’s trying to make up his mind on something.

“Brandon’s a good man, smart and sporty. He’s done amazing things with his life. You really missed out,” I tell him, the words heavy with resentment. He might have spent a long time out here alone, but he had a family once; he cared about them. I can’t let myself believe he could do something bad to me. He’s my family.

“You think I don’t know that?” he snaps, and I can sense that I’ve struck a raw nerve. The frustration and regret in his voice are palpable. “You’ve met Reader. There are only two optionswith him: you help him or you’re dead. I gave my kid a chance at life. With me around, he would have followed right along in my footsteps. I did this for him.” I see the truth in his eyes. He did, he disappeared for Brandon. He must have been working for Reader for a hell of a long time.

“Is that it? You’re going to kill me?” I whisper, swallowing the lump in my throat.

He rubs a hand through his beard. “Not quite. He won’t kill you while you’re still valuable to him.”

“So, he’s going to use me as bait?” I squeak.

He gives me a knowing look, and I can see the torment in his eyes. “Has anyone ever told you you talk too much?” He sighs heavily like I stress him the fuck out. He’s forgetting I’m the one tied up.

“No,” I respond, undeterred, my determination to uncover the truth driving me on. “I’m going to find out as much as I can about my current situation before Reader shows his ugly face again,” I admit, glancing around the room again. The ceiling, clad in dark wooden beams, feels oppressive. The furniture is older than the relics in Nanna’s house. Dust bunnies collect in the corners of the room. This place is dark and dingy, and from what I can see, my only escape is those sliding doors I tried to get out earlier.

“Well, you do. I live out here to enjoy the peace and quiet. You need to zip it.” He glares at me as he takes a sip from his mug.

“If you untie me, I’ll stop asking so many questions,” I try, pleading with his sense of decency.

“Not going to happen, girly,” he grumbles.

I glance at the coffee on the table in front of me. “Is something to eat out of the question? I’m starving.”

“Best I could do is a piece of toast.” His eyes soften a little. He’s not cold like Reader, he’s just trapped by him after some badchoices he made in the past. And I bet I can get through to him if I have enough time.

“I’ll take it. Thank you.” I smile toward him, hoping to appeal to his sense of decency.

He disappears into the tiny kitchen and goes about making me some toast. When he’s done, he places it on the table in front of me.

He looks me over cautiously. “I’ll untie your hands. You give me any reason to regret it, I won’t do it again. I don’t care how long you’re here for, you can starve. Are we clear?”

“Crystal,” I agree, surprised how easy it was to get him on my side.

He unties my hands, and I roll my shoulders, bringing life back into them. I take a piece of toast, looking it over. It’s burnt at the crust and smothered in butter and jam, but it’s food, and since the last time I ate was yesterday morning, I don’t care. I bite into it, and it tastes like heaven. Sugary chargrilled heaven. I devour the two slices quickly, then pick up the mug of coffee and take a sip.

“Stop looking at me like I could be your savior. It’s not going to happen,” he mutters, shaking his head.

I shrug. “I’m sorry, I just I can’t believe you and my father came from the same woman. You might look the same, but you're completely different.”

“Heard it all my life. He was the peaceful and kind one, like our mother. I take after our father.”

“What was your father like?” I wonder out loud.

“The kind of person you would cross the street to avoid. He was a criminal working for whoever would pay the highest price. No job was too disturbing for him. When our parents separated after my mother found out what he was doing, I went with him. I wasn’t smart like your father. School wasn’t my thing, and I was more rebellious and knew with Dad I could do whatever Iwanted. He didn’t make me attend school or do anything I didn’t want to do. I wanted to be hard like him. And I learned all I needed to know before the age of fifteen.”

“Looks like you achieved your goal.” I sigh, sad for him. Who aspires to be a criminal? But maybe I get it. The only reason I wanted to be a cop was because I thought so highly of my father. I wanted to be just like him. And I guess for Duncan, it was a case of the environment he grew up in, as sad as that is.

He shrugs, like nothing matters to him anymore anyway. He collects our empty plates and mugs and takes them into the kitchen. I hear him washing dishes and wonder how many other prisoners he’s kept here for Reader. He makes all of this look like a normal day. When he’s done, he comes to stand in the dining room again. Leaning back on the wall, he looks me over, like he wants to say something but stops himself.

---