Page 66 of On The Run

Giovani pulled that fucking hood all the way off, and I immediately started coughing and trying to get the rest of the water out of my lungs. Giovani waited patiently as I gagged and vomited all over myself. I was lucky I managed to keep it in when the hood was on, otherwise I would have probably choked on it. Of all the ways to go out, that was pretty low on the list of how I wanted it to happen. Dying anywhere in this fucking room was. I needed to get out of here.

One positive of my father slowly trying to drown me was I wasn’t dehydrated. I hadn’t eaten anything since he took me captive, but with all the water in my belly that I couldn’t avoid swallowing, I didn’t even feel that hungry. And despite pissing on myself for the last few days, or however long I’d been here, I didn’t stink that much. Or hell, maybe I did and I just didn’t smell it anymore. I thought all of my other senses were frozen at this point anyway.

Finally, when I felt like there was nothing else to vomit, I forced myself to look up at my tormentor. Every move was slow, and I felt like I was pushing my body through a heavy fog, but I managed to make eye contact with the fucker. His dead eyes bored through me. Under any other circumstances, that look would have had me running in the other direction, but today, I met his gaze with one of my own. Just for a split second, so fast I wasn’t sure I saw it, I swore there was a flicker of fear before he suppressed it. He thought he was the only one who could intimidate with a look, but he was dead fucking wrong. I wasn’t dead inside, though. No, I was overrun with emotion: fear, exhaustion, and anger. No, not just anger, rage.

Giovani thought that his psychological torture would break me. He thought it would make me his obedient little puppet that would willingly go along with his will. But I had a lot of fucking time to think in between the torrents of water and the deep-seated chill that had settled all the way down to my bones. And the more I began to think, the angrier I became.

Howdarehe. How dare this man ruin my life. The audacity of this fucker to think he had the right to control my and Pops’s life. What gave him the right? I was pissed at myself. I spent way too much time letting Giovani control my life and everything I did. I didn’t have much of a choice when I was kid, but even in the last few years, when Sage and his family gave Pops and me a chance at a real life, I still let this fucker dictate everything I did. I avoided as many in-person classes as possible to limit my exposure to people. I didn’t make friends because I didn’t want to make connections I would have to end. I didn’t date or let myself even hook up with guys because of him. Every fucking thing I’d done in my life, every decision I’d made had been with Giovani in mind. I was done. I was not letting this asshole control me anymore. I was not going to miss my one shot at love because of Giovani Santino. I fucking refused.

Once my mind was set, everything else settled into place. I just needed to be patient and bide my time. There was going to be a moment when I’d have a chance to get away, and I’d have to be ready to take it.

My eyes tracked every movement Giovani made as he came and squatted next to me. I was watching him the whole time, so it was completely unnecessary when he grabbed my jaw with a fucking vice grip, twisting my head up, but whatever. If he got his kicks abusing his weak and chained-up son, then go for it. I didn’t give a fuck anymore, as long as I found a way out.

“Are you ready to behave?” Giovani asked, the ice in his voice colder than the water he’d been drowning me with. I didn’t allow myself to shiver. In fact, I just realized I wasn’t shivering at all anymore. That couldn’t be good. Damn, I wished I knew more about hypothermia.

“Yes,” I gritted out. No, not at all, but I needed him to fucking believe me and unchain me. It was my only chance. I also needed to figure out a way out of this bunker. I was pretty sure that was what this was. One other time, in the middle of the torture, Giovani came to torment me further, and I saw him pull on a latch somewhere on the ceiling that caused a ladder to pull down, like an attic. He pulled the hood back down before I saw anything else, but I knew it was there. I just needed to get to it.

Giovani squeezed tighter, and then his grip slid from my chin to my throat. I didn’t let myself panic. I stayed as calm and limp as possible. Compliant. Obedient. Just like he wanted me.

“Yes, what?” he asked and squeezed a little tighter.

It took me a moment to realize what the fuck he was talking about. My brain was working at about half speed, and I didn’t understand what he was getting at. And then it hit me.

“Yes, sir.” Even saying the word made me want to vomit. He didn’t deserve my fucking respect, but I’d do what I had to do to get out of here. If that meant pretending to treat the man respectfully and with fear, then I fucking would. There was nothing left in my stomach to vomit anyway, so I didn’t have to worry about my body betraying me.

Giovani watched me for a long time, and there was a moment of unbridled terror when I thought he was putting that fucking hood back on me. For as determined as I was right now, that might be my breaking point. It was one thing when it was still on and I was encased in the darkness, but now that it was off and there was this sliver of hope, taking it from me so quickly would very likely be my end. As much as I told myself I’d never beg this asshole, I might if he tried to put it back over my head.

But he didn’t. “Good boy.” The words were said with no emotion. It wasn’t condescending or even how most people would speak to a dog. It was monotone and almost robotic. I tried to think back to the times I’d seen Giovani over the years, especially the last two. The man was always a psychopath, but there was something different back then. I wasn’t sure if he changed or just no longer bothered to hide behind the mask of decent society. I knew he had the ability to be the most charming and sweetest motherfucker in the world. That was how everyone fell in love with him in the first place. It was how Pops ended up falling for him, and it was what doomed Pops to a lifetime of running because nobody would believe him.

But that façade was gone. When he first took me, he was at least attempting to bother, but now it was like he just gave up, which was even more fucking terrifying. Was it because he thought I’d never get out so there was no point in acting? Or had he snapped further?

“I think we may be ready to move on to phase two. What do you think?”

I nodded eagerly. I had no idea what that might mean, but if I could get out of the chains then I’d take my chances. Even if I couldn’t make my move yet, maybe I’d be able to get warm. I’d be stronger if I wasn’t freezing. I still seemed to be holding onto my sanity, but I didn’t know if I could for much longer, and maybe sticking around long enough to get warm would help me in the long run—

No! No, if I had a chance to run, I was fucking taking it. Even if I ended up dying out there from hypothermia or exposure or a fucking bear attack, it was better than dying in here and letting the asshole win. I couldn’t get complacent. I couldn’t let the promises of dry clothes or a blanket persuade me to stay longer. That was what he wanted. He broke people. It wasn’t fucking happening.

He was waiting for a verbal answer, though, so I swallowed down bile and said, “Yes, sir. Please.” I thought the please was a good touch. With the flash of pleasure that ran across his face, I assumed he agreed.

“Let’s get you out of those cuffs then.” My breath hitched slightly, and I prayed Giovani didn’t notice. If he did, he didn’t say anything and pulled a key out of his pocket. I held my breath, not daring to move an inch, as the key slid into some unseen lock behind me. With an unmistakable click, my arm fell to the side, but I didn’t move it. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I could. The chain that connected me to the wall must’ve been removed because the cuff was still locked around my wrist. Despite the little bit of freedom and relief to my shoulders, it was so tight, it was causing me not to have full feeling in my arm.

Giovani removed the other cuff, but I still didn’t move. I’d never be able to overpower him in my condition, so I would wait. I needed him to take me out of this bunker. I had no idea what was around me or if there was anywhere for me to run to. I needed to see to have a fucking chance.

My hope died a little as Giovani picked up my arms and attached the two cuffs in front of me with a lock. It was going to make things more difficult, but at least they were in front of me. It was better than being attached to a wall.

“Do you think you can stand?” he asked me, again in that clinical tone of his I was getting sick of.

“I’m not sure, sir,” I told him honestly.

He grunted in annoyance but still hauled me to my feet. I collapsed immediately, and if he wasn’t holding me up under my arms, I’d be back on the ground.Shit, get it together, A. Don’t let weakness be the reason you miss your chance. That’s what he wants, for you to be dependent on him and grateful he’s helping at all. Don’t fall into the trap.

I half expected Giovani to drag my ass up to wherever he planned on taking me, but he didn’t. Instead, he waited patiently until I was able to stand on my own. The surprisingly kind gesture fucked with my head, and I had to force it out and stop questioning things. The plan hadn’t changed. Play nice. Take the first chance you have. Run. That was it.

“I’m good. Thank you.” My voice was quiet, unsure. I wished it were solely an act, but it wasn’t. I was actually fucking thankful he unhooked me and let me stand. How fucked up was that?

Giovani put a gentle hand on the small of my back and guided me toward the other side of the room where I saw him open the door. I waited quietly as he unlocked the hatch and pulled down the ladder. I peered up into the opening, hoping I’d see something, but it was just darkness. Fuck.

Giovani began climbing the steep, attic-type steps, and a plan formulated. It was a dumb plan that would likely get me killed, but I didn’t think too hard about it. I followed him up, but then I stumbled. Giovani shot me a dirty look and I mumbled an apology. He started up again, and once again I stumbled, this time losing my balance and sliding down a few rungs.

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