Page 15 of Tempt Me (Dark Odyssey 4)

A swap, a trade.

A swap for what? I said I’d do anything. I can make some very foolish decisions. But this… I didn’t know what to really call it. I was trying to save Dad. So, what did I offer?

My body.The answer comes to the forefront of my mind and pangs of terror race down my spine. What else could my offer mean?

It’s clear I’m offering my body.

After all I’ve been through, how could I do such a thing?

But… what else could I do? I have nothing left to give.

My mind flutters and my stomach churns.Jesus… I start whimpering and trying to cry without making too much sound.

The blindfold is only removed once the car stops about forty minutes later.

I blink and register the fortress of a house before me, rising into the night like a castle.

It’s large and impressive, comparable to a stately home. The architecture has a gothic European feel to it, but even in the dark I can see it’s been modernized. I don’t get the chance to look properly, of course; it’s so I can’t identify my surroundings. Salvatore opens the door and picks me out of the car the same way he put me in. Not rough and forceful, just dominant, and I know if I want to have some hope of saving Dad, I need to comply.

I’m numb, so I don’t even register that I’m barefoot until my feet touch the cold ground.

Guards meet us at the entrance of the house. And as we walk into an expansive entryway with double doors and a high ceiling it feels like going into some official’s home. I guess it must be. They all called that guy—Vincent—boss.

This house already looks like someone wealthy and important lives here. I guess too that if Dad stole two million dollars from him, then that’s the kind of wealth I’m looking at, or more.

Salvatore leads me up a wide set of stairs with an ornate crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. We continue down a corridor with marble flooring and go into a bedroom. I walk in, but he hangs back at the door.

Once again, I’m in the biggest shit life can throw my way, but as the lights go on, I take note that the room is beautiful. Fit for a princess. There’s a queen-sized bed in the center with a gold chandelier hanging above it. The lights look like pure starlight. The colors of the room are cream with soft ashes of rose pink.

Nice… but maybe for someone else.

Not me, who’s being held here, captive. Or… whatever it is I am. I have no idea what’s going on.

He didn’t say.

Vincent.

He never said anything when I posed the offer. He lowered his gun, and while my heart lifted, my poor soul wept for myself. I still don’t know, though, if it’s a yes or no to my offer. What if it’s not what I thought?

What if Dad’s dead? What if Vincent killed him already?

“You will stay here,” Salvatore says, cutting into my thoughts. “Someone will bring you up some food in a few minutes.”

I open my mouth to say his name, but I stop myself.

I shouldn’t do that. No names.

I don’t think it would bode well for me if I showed that I know their names. Although they didn’t exactly make any attempt to hide them. I picked out a few: Salvatore, Gabe, and Vincent.

“Please, can you tell me what’s happening?” I ask, my voice quivering.

He looks me over, and there’s a softness about his expression that’s not as vicious as his brother. They’re all brothers. I can tell. They all look too similar not to be. The boss looks the toughest.

Salvatore looks hesitant. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

“What will happen next?”

“Doll, please… no more questions.” He shakes his head, and I bite the inside of my lip. “We don’t like questions and definitely not the kind we have no answer to. I don’t have to tell you that your father is in a lot of trouble. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

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