Page 81 of Daughter of a Monster

“And that’s where you’re going wrong,” I reply.

“Wrong?” He’s annoyed. “I found your father, didn’t I?”

“Not from a place like this, you didn’t. Or anywhere seedier.” He just lifts his brows so I keep going. “My father prided himself on the company he kept. The people who bought and sold women from him are the people you’d never suspect because they are the people that would never need to. They have women falling all over themselves just for a whiff of the money they so clearly smelled of. They could have had anyone they wanted. But that was their thing. They took power by giving the women no choice. That’s what was so appealing to them. Control. Power. Greed.”

“And you’ve been studying this, have you?” His tone is dismissive.

“I lived it,” I reply haughtily.

“And yet you claim you weren’t aware of it happening.”

Narrowing my eyes, I take in a deep breath before turning on my heels and walking away. I only take a few steps before the collar around my neck tightens and Jericho tugs me back. The mass of him is warm at my back.

“I didn’t give you permission to walk away.” His breath is hot against my ear. His words make me angry, but angry in a way that makes me want to press myself against him like a cat on heat.

Turning to face him, I glare up into his dark eyes. “You said we were leaving.”

He tugs on the leash again, his hand moving to circle around my waist and pull my body flush with his. “Even here we must keep up appearances. I warned you you’d have to obey me.” His gaze dips to the swell of my breasts and he swallows deeply. “And you agreed.”

“I agreed because I thought there would be a point to this, because I thought we might find out some sort of information which would bring us closer to finding Hope.”

Jericho laughs coldly. “And you thought that would happen after attending one function? I have spent years searching for her. I have attended many events that turned out to be pointless. It’s part of the process. It’s part—”

I turn and stare straight into his eyes as I lift my hand and unclip the leash from the collar around my neck.

“Berkley,” Jericho warns.

Taking a step back, I tilt my head to the side, daring him to chase me in through the crowded room. Jericho’s jaw bulges as he grits his teeth.

“Berkley,” he says again, his voice so deep it’s a growl. “Stop,” he orders.

I don’t. I push my way through the crowd, glancing back to see if he follows. I know it’s stupid of me, but with the events of the last few weeks, I think some sort of rebellion is understandable.

When I reach the door, he’s still standing where I left him. His gaze is so dark and filled with rage, I almost stop and go back, but with a surge of courage or stupidity, I open the door, run down the red-tinged hallway and out into the street. The bouncer looks up at me in surprise. I look both ways down the road but nothing is familiar.

The bouncer’s eyes narrow as I lift my skirt and pull my phone out of the holster strapped around my thighs.

“No pockets,” I say as I press the buttons.

I expect Jericho to come bursting through the door at any moment and my heart races a little faster as the phone rings. Finally someone picks up.

“Berkley?” A hesitant voice says.

I give a nervous laugh. “The one and only.”

“Where the fuck have you been? I’ve tried calling like a thousand times.”

“Okay, Adele.” I chuckle at my own joke. “I’ll explain later but for now, can you come pick me up? I’m in the city.”

Once I’ve given him the address, I place my phone back in the holster and undo the clasps of the choker, letting the strip of material fall to the ground. The temperature is a lot cooler than when we entered and I fold my arms over myself, trying to keep warm.

“Everly?”

I whip around at the sound of my old name. Michael Gorman stands on the footpath, mouth open and his eyes running over me, his arm slung over the shoulder of an extremely well-dressed woman.

The color drains from my face. Michael is part of my former life. Someone I haven’t seen since the day my life was turned upside down.

“My god, that is you.” He tugs me into an embrace. “How long has it been?” Laughing, he pulls away and holds me at arm’s length. “Well, you’ve certainly grown up.”

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