Page 6 of Betrayal (Corrupt Empire 1)

“Next time you want to hit something, try not to make it a reinforced steel door.”

“No shit,” I muttered.

I wasn’t planning on hitting anything else except maybe him.

He stood up, walking around and standing in front of me. I craned my head up to look at him.

“You saw something you were never meant to see or be a part of. So, Daniels, I have rules. You will obey me in all things. You will not talk back to me. You will stay here until I decide otherwise. Simply put. You. Are. Mine. As I said before, there will be consequences if you break these rules and any others I decide are appropriate. Have I made myself clear or do you have questions? This is your one and only opportunity to ask.”

My heart thudded in my chest at the finality of his words. His? Was he certifiable or just a psycho? Either way, I wasn’t a piece of property or someone he could own.

“What the actual fuck is all that supposed to mean?”

His expression didn’t change. I wasn’t sure what I expected.

“Are you deaf?”

“No. I just don’t understand anything. You killed my parents in front of me and now you’ve chained me up in a room with nothing but the clothes on my back. I didn’t even do anything. Why? Why are you doing this to me? Give me one fucking good reason.”

I’d had enough. The hold I kept on my temper snapped entirely. I dragged myself off the floor. I only came up to his chest, but I didn’t care. He wasn’t going to get away with any of this.

He took a step towards me, backing me right up against the wall as I tried to get away from him. He slammed his hands against the wall by my head, effectively caging me in.

“Do not take that tone with me.”

“You’re insane.”

“And you are a spoilt brat.”

I spluttered. How dare he make assumptions about me? Spoilt? The last fucking thing I was. Did he think I was some rich kid who thought she was better than everyone else? Hell no.

“Fuck you.”

His eyes hardened to steel.

“Listen very carefully, Daniels. I am going to let that slide because you’re clearly not in the right frame of mind to understand your situation. Make no mistake, you talk to me like that again, it will not end well for you.” He paused, appraising me for a moment. “In answer to your question. Why am I doing this to you? I don’t need you running off and telling tales. What happened last night will stay between us.”

It most definitely wasn’t going to stay between us. The moment I got out of here, I was going to the police. Not only had this man killed my parents, but he’d essentially kidnapped me. No way I would allow him to get away with either of those things.

“I’m just supposed to accept that?”

“Yes.”

“Well, let me make something clear to you. I am not your slave. I will not bow down to you. Go. To. Hell.”

He straightened, his hands falling back to his sides. He shook his head.

“Perhaps a little time to reflect on your circumstances will put you in a better frame of mind.”

He turned away and walked towards the door. He gave me one last look before he flipped a switch from outside, plunging me back into darkness.

“No. Don’t put me in the dark again. No.”

I couldn’t face it. I started towards the door but it slammed shut, stealing away the last bit of light I had. I let rip and screamed. I raged until my voice was hoarse and my throat hurt. I collapsed on the floor in the middle of the room and cried again.

When my tears dried up, I turned on my back, staring into the blackness.

My parents were dead.

I was a prisoner.

And I didn’t even know the name of my tormentor.

All of those things made my head hurt and my heart feel tight.

My life as I knew it was over.

Nothing would be the same again.

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