Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76572 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76572 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Arthur only curls his lips up in another enigmatic smile. “Oh, he hasn’t figured it out yet, Cilla, dear. Do you want to tell him, or should I? This is going to be so much more fun now.”
Priscilla keeps trying to get out of his hold, and in response, Arthur only tightens his grip further. I’m about five seconds from ripping my own hand off just to get to her and remove his. She didn’t do me any favors but back in my room, for a few seconds, she chased away the darkness enough that I could think.
My demons are back in full force now, though, and the darkest part of me can’t wait to unleash them on the entire Capri family. I’ll kill them all. Anyone even remotely associated with the Capri’s won’t survive their mistake.
Arthur’s voice cuts through the red rage rolling through my head. “He does brood beautifully, doesn’t he, darling? Since you aren’t going to tell him, I suppose I should do the honors.”
Priscilla gives one last attempt to get out of his grip and then stands her ground, her chin hiked up. She doesn’t meet my eye when she speaks, and her voice is barely a whisper. “This is my boss. The man who sent me to drug you.”
The man she wants me to kill. Interesting.
But by the gleeful expression on Arthur’s face, I know there is more he can’t wait to reveal. “Go on, dear. Finish the introductions.”
She stays silent, and Arthur squeezes her arm until she lets out a soft, pained moan. Then he shoves her so hard she bodily bounces off the wall beside him. He barely spares her a glance as she regains her footing.
His cold, dead eyes are on me now. “You didn’t think I’d send just anyone to grab one of Adrian Doubeck’s revered Five, did you? This is my daughter, Priscilla.”
I flashback to the hotel room when she mentioned her boss and being the daughter of an illegitimate Capri heir. She even told me his name, which I remembered, but why couldn’t I remember the rest of it?
Arthur laughs softly. “He understands now, my darling. Let’s get the first drug round ready for our new friend.”
She spares me one last glance and precedes her father to the door.
Fuck. Too bad. She’ll have to die with the rest of them after all.
7
CILLA
I should have known I’d never be free of this place. Free of my father. Agreeing to do something so terrible to Ivan gave them leverage over me. All they have to do is lock us up together so he can take his revenge, and I’ll be a problem no one has to deal with anymore.
I stare at the wall across from my sad mattress on the floor. It’s barren, so why bother decorating when they move around so much. I mostly live out of the duffel bag at the end of the bed these days. The outfits I own are all easy to shake the wrinkles out of. My work clothes are kept in the closet so, at the very least, I can look presentable when I go there.
If I had a choice, I wouldn’t be a prostitute, but it did give me the chance to stash away some money to eventually escape. My father might still chase me down, but I might be able to get a few days of freedom before he drags me back and punishes me.
A heavy thud hits my door, and the wood slams open into the wall behind it. Nothing surprises me anymore, so I stay on my palette and stare up at the angry eyes of my father.
He kicks at the mattress. “What the hell are you doing still in bed? We have work to do.”
I swallow hard to buy myself a minute so I don’t snap out an answer and get hurt. “What kind of work? I thought I did my part.”
His scowl is answer enough. It not only called me an idiot but promised pain if I didn’t get up right now. Yet I stay huddled under my thin blanket, unable to move. I know he wants to drag me back to that cell, and I can’t face Ivan again. Not after what I’ve done to him.
“Get the hell up, girl. I don’t have time for this. What’s your problem? Are you sick?”
The drugs are still swirling through me, but that’s not what he means. It wouldn’t matter if my brains were leaking out of my ears. He’d still expect me to perform whatever menial task he has in mind. “I’m fine.”
He crouches down, putting him closer to me. His Old Spice scent is enough to make me gag, but I keep it together.
“Did you fuck him? Is that what this is about?”
I shake my head against the pillow. “No, we didn’t get that far.”