Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
I quickly type out a reply and hit send.
Me: Leave us alone.
A response comes back almost immediately:
Unknown Number: Never. And when I blow out his skull with my gun, that will be your fault, too.
It’s always the threat of death. Everything good in my life is taken from me by this man and I’m tired of it. But even as angry and sad about that truth as I am there is something much bigger here. The threat of him hurting Sebastian. Of killing him. My stomach clenches, and a wave of nausea ripples through me. I can’t be the reason he hurts Sebastian. I won’t be.
I sink to the cold tile floor, and while the cold sinking into my bones makes me shiver, it also jolts me back to life. How can I fix this? Is there even a way to fix it? I don’t know. I stare at the cell phone screen for a long moment. I’m not going to sit here and read through all of his messages.
Knowing my only option is to call him, I hit the green call button and wait. The line rings, and rings, and rings, and my anxiety climbs higher and higher with each pause, until the very end when he finally answers.
"You're smarter than I've given you credit for." The menacing tone of his voice cuts through the phone’s speaker.
"I asked you once already. Please, leave us alone.”
"Where's the fun in that? You’re my daughter, and I have every right to have contact with you."
I swallow the fear, the revulsion, and nausea tied to his name and voice. I shove it down, deep into the pit of my stomach so I can focus on a solution instead of my emotions.
"What do you want? I can give you money...you've always wanted money."
"Not this time. This time, I want revenge. I want you to pay for the damage you’ve caused. For taking away one of my best associates, for ruining my plans. But mostly I want you to pay for standing there smiling like nothing even happened while your piece of shit husband broke my fingers.”
"I have money. Arturo money. Isn't that better than revenge?"
There's a long pause, and I'm waiting for the next curse, the next threat, but instead I'm surprised when I hear neither.
"How much money?"
"I'm not sure, maybe a hundred thousand dollars.”
He scoffs. "That's a downpayment, nothing more. I know Arturo has more money than that."
I pause, my heartbeat thundering into my throat when I think I hear a scuffle outside the door. Shit. Is he awake? I listen a little harder, but all I catch is my heartbeat pounding in my ears. No. He would open the door and walk in if he were awake.
"Elyse...don't fucking toy with me. I promise you won’t like what happens."
"I'm not," I whisper, moving deeper into the bathroom to get away from the door. "I'm just trying to be careful. I only have access to what's in the house."
"I don’t care. It's not fucking enough."
There's nothing else to barter with. I mean yes, there is some jewelry, and fancy clothes, but that's it. I've never had any money myself, and I can't exactly walk up to Sebastian and ask for some, not without a million questions attached.
"What will it take for you to leave him alone? To let him do his business and live his life in peace?”
There's another pause and I listen as he puffs on a cigarette a few times.
"Just bring me the money and yourself. It’s the only trade I’m willing to make.”
"In exchange for..." I prompt. He's not likely to keep his word but I need him to say it out loud, to be certain.
I pull the phone away from my ear, and quickly navigate to the record app, then I hit the button and let the app do its work.
"You bring me one hundred thousand dollars and yourself, and I’ll make sure no one fucks with your husband.”
It's not exactly incriminating, but I save it regardless. At the very least, when I'm gone, Sebastian might be able to piece together what happened.
"Fine."
"Now," he bites into the phone. "Come home now."
I shake my head and then speak. "No, I can't. We both know he won’t let me just leave here. That will cause a bigger problem.”
"Sounds like paradise," he sneers. "You sure know how to pick them, Ely."
The sound of my name in that voice makes me shudder, makes me feel dirty and disgusting. I breathe through my nose to stop myself from puking. That’s all I need to do right now.
"We have a deal, but it won't be right now."
"How fucking long do you expect me to wait? I mean, you’re the one who wants this. I could give two shits. I’ll kill both of you and move on with my life.”