Page 24 of Deceit
Sympathy flashed in Rafe’s eyes as he gave me a final, fleeting glance on hisway out. When the door closed behind him, Papa held his stern gaze on me for a few seconds before his lips thinned, and he began slowly pacing the floor with his head bowed.
His customary posture when he was debating whether someone should liveor die.
Anger radiated off him in huge waves, and when the silence between usbecame too much, I couldn’t help but break it.“I’m sorry, Papa,”I started, my voice meek.“I know you’re mad about the bar, and Gus-”
“You think I didn’t know about your little visits tothatdive?”Papa snapped,interrupting my pathetic excuse for an apology.“I’ve known about you singing there for the last few years, Sofia, don’t make me out to be a fool.”He sneered, and my gaze dropped to the floor, unable to look at the disgust etched on his face as he continued.“I allowed you to keep going back because it kept you occupied. Kept your mind off things while I found you a suitable husband. But that will change now. You will no longer go tothatplace.”
I sank my teeth into my bottom lip to stop it from wobbling. I’d beenignoring the little voice telling methatI would never sing at Bar Forty-Fouragain, not wanting to acknowledgejusthow much it would hurt to lose the only thing I had in my lifethatwas for me.
Papa began his pacing again, his brows furrowed as if he was deciding onwhat to say next. I waited patiently for his scolding to continue,eventhough every part of me wanted to run from my room and never return.
“You know, when your mother told me she was pregnant with twins, I hopedwe would be having two boys. But when you were born and the doctor put you in my arms, I realizedjusthow important you were.”
Thatshould have softened the blow he’djustdelivered by effectively tellingmethathe didn’t want me, but I heard the undertones in his voice, and sure enough, he didn’t disappoint when he continued.“Daughters in our world have important roles. They have their uses. They can make or break unions between families.”
He stopped his pacing short of where I sat, glumly staring at the floor.“TheWolfes have an impressive hold over Hollows Bay. Did you know they own the biggest contract with organizations in South America for the import and export of firearms? That’s without mentioning how well-organized they run their drug market. With them as our allies, our family business will thrive. But we could lose our liaison before itevenbegins if you fuck this up for us.”
I squeezed my eyes closed, trying to ignore the hurt in my heart. What Papawas saying shouldn’t have come as a surprise to me; he’d always made it clear what my purpose in life was, but hearing him speak so coldly about my existence drove the knife in deeper.
“I won’t mess it up, Papa,”I replied, keeping my head bowed.
“No, you won’t,”he replied softly.“You won’t mess up because you’regoing to do the one thing to ensure the union doesn’t fail.”
My head whipped up, a heavy lump of dread settling in my stomach.“What…what do you mean?”
Annoyance curled his lips.“I mean achild, Sofia. You will have Wolfe’schild. It’s the only way we can ensure our family and theirs will never be at war again.”
Without thinking, I stood, fueled by panic.“But, Papa. I don’t want-”
He closed the gap between us, rage flashing in his eyes and silencing mywords of defiance.“I don’t give a damn what you want, Sofia. Youwilldo this for our family. You will seduce Miles once you are married, and you will let him fuck you whenever he wants until you fall pregnant, do you understand?”
Any form of response caught in my throat as I battled to stop tears filling myeyes. How could my own father be asking this of me? And so callously. I always respected my father, no matter how much he ignored my existence, but atthatmoment, all respect went into the gutter.
“Papa, please-”I forced the words out as the first tear slid down my cheek.
“I asked if you understood?”
I couldn’t bring myself to reply. I didn’t want to agree to what he wantedfrom me.
I always knewthatI wouldn’t have a say in who I lost my virginity to, andthatone day, it would be expected of me to give my husband children. Ijust…didn’t think it would be so soon, nor with someone who could barely stand to be in the same room as me.
“I’ll take your silence as confirmationthatyou understand,”Papa hissed,taking a step away from me.“Butjustso we’re clear, Sofia. I’ll be wanting proofthatyou and Wolfe consummated your marriage. I expect to see blood on the bedsheets the morning after your marriage, or believe me, there will be hell to pay.”
My cheeks flushed, embarrassment joining the party of emotions alreadycoursing through me. But my father wasn’t done dropping bombs on me yet. He turned to leave my room, pausing at the door to face me once more.“Rafe loves youverydearly. He’ll do anything for you. I only hopethatthe sentiment is reciprocated.”
My brows shot up, disappearing into my hairline as I gaped back at Papa,comprehension dawning on me as I met his eyes. He’d hurt Rafe if I didn’t do what he wanted of me.
After whatseemedlike a lifetime, Papa stormed out of my bedroom, thedoor slamming with a resounding thud. The second I was alone, my knees buckled and I collapsed to the floor, tears cascading like a waterfall down my cheeks as helplessness consumed my entire being in one gulp.
Chapter 6
Miles
The choked moans from the woman on the stage filled the voyeurroom. Her tits jiggled violently from how hard the guy behind her was pounding her ass while she did her best to swallow the cock shoved in her mouth.
Both men held the woman in place with firm grips on her hips and her hair, refusing to let her move an inch as they chased their orgasms, spurred on by the people around them watching on.
In times gone by, I would have loved every second of watching, and itwouldn’t have been long until I was joining in, getting off on knowingthatIwas being watched.
