Page 112 of Savage Daddies

Still no word on my sister? Huh. Interesting.

“Can I go now?” I ask.

He narrows his eyes like he’s doing a cross-examination. “No.”

“Come on. You’re the man of the night.”

“Who were you texting?” he asks.

“When?”

“Just now. Who was it?” His face turns sour. “Them?”

That’s when I see it.

The microphone.

That thing isn’t just an inanimate object anymore—it’s the key that can unlock the chains Felix has shackled me in foryears.

If it can be turned up loud enough, wine tasters and guests in the next room might just hear our conversation…

Staring up into his sadistic eyes, I make a point of nestling the clutch even further into my armpit, because if I refuse to hand it over, I’ll be able to run past the microphone and power the thing up without him knowing. It’s possible. It’s dark enough in here for my movements to go unnoticed.

“Give it to me. Your phone.”

“No.”

“Don’t you dare say no again to me, Zoe Fernando.”

I take off, beelining for the microphone. I run, and he chases after me. The scanned documents on my phone are all I have left. If he takes my phone, there is no plan B.

But the microphone presents a perfect plan C.

And to make this work, I forfeit my phone.

I just hope the wire snaking across the floor from the microphone leads to a plugged in power outlet.

“ZOE!”

An arm reaches out to block my path, just as I collide with the microphone.

The stand topples with me, and I subtly wrap my hand around the contraption to search for anonbutton. My fingers locate nothing but smooth surfaces. There’s no dip. No rounded button to press and power up the device. I fumble my hands over the grated area, but still—nothing.

I feel my whole life capsize when Felix steals that clutch from me.

I’m at a loss.

My fingers can’t locate the button.

Plan BandC both recede away from me.

“Give it back!” I demand.

Felix drops the clutch and switches on the phone.

A white light illuminates his deformed face, and he reads.

I try the microphone one last time. After that, I’ll give up. Surrender to Felix and his world. Accept that I’ll never see Fiona again, and the bikers, and that this is all my fault for failing to control my sexual desires.

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