Page 67 of Throne of Sin

Demi

“Jameson, you’re going to regret this,” I hiss, not wanting to raise my voice, scared Oakleigh will come and see what’s happening. I need to keep her as far away from this as possible.

“No, I’m not.” He leans in. “The best part is that I got to have fifty percent of what Dante paid for you, and I get the entire amount from this guy. Must say, you’re the best investment I’ve ever had.”

He steps back. “She’s all yours.”

The two men shake hands while my hair is pulled tight around the auction guy’s hand. He doesn’t have to tell me to walk. When he moves, so do I. Oakleigh is the only thing on my mind.

He opens his large, cubed van back door. “Get in the cage.”

I hesitate and he pushes me forward, my hands catching on the vehicle. Getting on my hands and knees, I crawl into the animal cage. He smiles, locking it, leaving me with no room to stretch out. The hard ground pinches on my skin and knees as I try to move around.

My muscles scream in protest under the strain of the long drive. Hours must have passed by the time the van stops moving. Doors open, and he unlocks the cage.

“Get out.” He doesn’t have to tell me twice. I crawl out, trying to stretch out my cramped legs. A building stands in front, its roof falling in on sections.

“Soon, this will feel like a castle to you,” he pushes me forward. As we enter the house, tall bird-like cages are all around the room with women in them. “This is the next batch of girls I’m selling. I’m going to have you help me train them.”

Over my dead body.

“Anything you would like,” I reply sweetly, buying me time to come up with a plan. These girls deserve their second chance.

“I’m a little disappointed, Jameson told me you’d be a headache.” He grabs my wrists and wraps his belt around them, snugging them tight behind my back.

“Let her go, Capella!” Dante walks in with his two brothers, Romeo, and Savio. They look furious and dangerous.

“Not in this lifetime!” Capella shouts, shooting his gun while pulling me in front of him to act as a human shield. The Mancini men don’t return fire, but keep their guns trained on us.

“My daughter is at my mother’s house with Jameson, save her and forget about me!” I cry, tears pouring down my cheeks as I realize I didn’t even get to hug my daughter goodbye. It could have been the last time I ever saw her.

Dante steps closer, ignoring my words. “Dante!” I plead for him to do as I say.

Capella fires again, skimming Dante in the arm. My heart is hammering out of my chest as I slam my foot down on the man holding me and try to pull away. I hear three shots, and Capella falls to the ground.

Dante comes running toward me, lifting me in his arms. “Are you okay?” His hands run down and over my body, searching for any sign of a wound.

“We have to get Oakleigh!” I frantically yell, on the verge of a panic attack.

“We have her, babe. It took Max five minutes alone with Jameson to have him crying like a little girl, and for him to tell us everything we needed to find you.”

“What do you mean? You have her?” I ask, pulling away.

“She’s with Max, safe and around the block. I didn’t want her to see the shit show in here.” His words are a blur as I run out to see my daughter. I hear him talking in his commanding voice, to me or someone else, I don’t know as I push ahead, needing to know Oakleigh is safe.

I step outside, seeing a car come to a stop. Oakleigh gets out of the black sedan and comes barreling at me. We collide with a thud and I hold her as tight as I can. “I love you so much! Are you okay?” I ask.

“I’m…fine…mom. Max and his brothers…got me.” Her words are split between coughs as she begins one of her coughing spells. All I can do is rub her back.

“When was the last time you took medication?” I ask her, even though she can’t respond yet. On the outside, I’m trying to be patient, but on the inside I’m reeling.

“This morning. Grandma gives it to me every day…” She finally says when she has her coughing under control.

“Really?” I ask, shocked.

“Yeah. She’s really nice too. It’s not the same without you, but we have fun together. She even set me up in a school and I have two friends!”

I’m stunned we’re talking about the same mother I grew up with. The woman she’s describing is a past memory I hardly remember.

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