Page 10 of Reckless Promises

All night I’ve been telling one after another. But there’s no comfort to be found in the truth right now.

Security shuffles my mom and sister toward the door, and Gen glances back at me one final time before stepping through it. I memorize the flecks of green in her eyesand the look on her face. She’s my reason to be strong now, no matter how impossible it feels.

Mom doesn’t glance back as the guards hurry her outside. And even if I know it’s for the best, it stings as I stare at the back of her head, watching the only two people I care about disappear.

With them gone, I’m left with my father. He’s a meticulous planner and furious things haven’t gone according to plan. He yells at anyone and everyone who walks in his path. Angry his deal is ruined. Pissed there’s nothing he can do to stop it.

And even if I don’t want to be Sascha’s wife, I’m terrified of what it means that Dad can’t fix this. Fearing Sascha is one thing—but at least with him I know what to expect.

Cillian is an unknown.

If I’m a means to him enacting revenge, I’m not sure what his plans are for me so he can get it.

The door Mom and Gen were shuffled through slams, and I jump.

What if that’s the last time I see them? Women go missing all the time in these circles, and no one asks questions. Cillian bought me in a highly recognized auction, which means I’m his property now, and he can do as he sees fit.

“This is ridiculous; you’re not going with him.” Dad stops in front of me, looking down at me in disgust.

He’s the one who put me in this position, but he sneers at me like it’s my fault it didn’t go according to plan.

So, I tip my chin up and silently face off with him for the first time in my life. Because I no longer belong to this man.

Dad’s eyes narrow before he pushes past me to once more make his way over to Sascha, who is facing off with the blonde woman. “I’m going over your head.”

Sascha types another number into his phone, brushing his red hair back off his forehead and showing off the dark scar that stretches across it. For a man who has skated past death as many times as he has, I’m pretty sure he has nine lives.

“Get me Joseph.” Sascha waits a beat for someone to come on the other end of the line. “We had an understanding. Gabriel and I needed to cut a deal, and you told me nine hundred was more than enough.”

He pauses each time the person on the other end responds.

“You know I’m good for three times that amount… I don’t care how this works, you knew why I was here, and I specifically called you to ensure anyone entering wouldn’t outbid me… I don’t care if you didn’t know he’d show up… this isn’t over.”

Sascha hangs up, turning to my father. “Did you know?”

“Of course not.” Dad puffs up to his full height, facing off with Sascha. His broad shoulders roll back as he fixes his cuffs. “I didn’t even know Cillian was in town. He doesn’t attend these things.”

Dad’s gaze cuts to me, and I realize he’s still plotting.

“We can use this.” Dad turns back to Sascha. “We’ve been angling for a way to get back at Ronan for stealing the Rossi business. This is it. She’ll be in there with him.”

Goosebumps prickle my arms. Walking into Cillian’s clutches is dangerous enough. Especially since I plan to spend my time figuring out a way to get Gen and me out of all of this. But if Dad doesn’t plan on backing down quietly, there will be two targets on my back.

“Ronan died with his secrets.” Sascha narrows his gaze. “If Cillian knew what happened the night his father died, he wouldn’t have even bothered bidding on her.”

“Unless that wasn’t his reason.” Dad glances at me once more. “Survive this and you might be useful to me after all.”

Survive.

It’s how I’ve spent my life, and he tosses it around like that’s my trophy for making it up to this point.

I smooth my fingers over my dress and try to settle my souring stomach. Even now, sold to my father’s enemy, I’m a chess piece to him. A pawn in his game. And if I survive this, he’ll just make use of me in other ways.

“And then what?” Sascha takes a step to my father. “She helps us take down the Cross family, and I get her once she’s all used up?”

His disgusting comment has bile rising in my throat.

Of all my father’s treasures, my sister’s and my virginities are his most prized. It’s why we’ve barely had any freedom in our lives. And as Sascha’s eyes cut to me like I’ll be worthless when I’m no longer a virgin, the fullunderstanding of why my father has controlled us slams me in the chest.

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