Chapter 0010
The car pulls around to the back of Kent’s mansion and enters a garage. When I get out of the car,
Kent is standing at the entrance to the house, his arms crossed.
The guards move to the trunk to remove my dad.
“Why did you do this,” I ask, ring at the mafia boss.
He looks me in the eye. “Because I knew that if I let you say goodbye, you’d tell the driver your address
and lead us right there.’”
I gape, realizing, of course, that I did precisely that.
“Whereas,” he continues, “if I told you that we wanted to take your dad for leverage, you’d have
mmed up and given him a chance to run. Honestly, Fay,” he says. “You’ve got to be a little
more canny if you’re going to survive in this world.”
I hang my head, suddenly ashamed and exhausted. He’s right, I’m too na?ve.
The guard takes my arm and moves me into the house.
“Take him to the chamber,” Kent says to the guards who carry my dad. Dad wriggles in their arms, but
it’s half-hearted.
I twist as the guards take him away, but I’m held tight. “The chamber?!” I call. “What is -“
“He will be fine, Fay,” Kent says to me, holding my gaze. “You have my word on it. And I don’t give my
word lightly.”
I bite my lip. “Please,” I say, begging now. “Tell me what’s happening.”
“I am merely gathering all the yers in one ce, Fay,” Kent says. “We have word that Dean still has
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control of your sister.”
I gasp, tears springing to my eyes. “Is she okay? Is she –“
“She’s fine,” he says, his face stone.
“Please,” I breathe, “can you get her away from him? She owes him money –he’ll make her pay for it –“
“Why should I, Fay?” He snaps, interrupting me. “What can Fay Thompson give to me,” he says, “to
make it worth my time?”
“Nothing,” I whisper. “I have nothing. But…” My whole body starts to tremble. “I’ll do anything you
want.”
“Fay Thompson has nothing I want,” he says, careful. “Fay Alden, though…”
His words drift off and his n snaps together in my mind. My dad’s freedom, my sister’s, in
exchange…
I stand up straight. “Do I have your word, on your son’s life, that if I agree to this…you’ll let them go?
Make sure they’re safe?”
He nods slowly, smiling now. “My word, on my family. Your dad and sister will have my explicit
protection.”
I close my eyes and look away, dread filling me as I make this devil’s deal. “Fine.” I say. “I’ll do it.”
Lippert snaps his fingers in front of my face, making my eyes fly open. “Fay,” he says, “your father and
sister? They have to believe it. Do you understand?”
I hold his gaze and slowly nod, agreeing.
“Take her upstairs,” Lippert says. “To the guestroom. Get some rest, Fay. I will have your sister brought
here and tonight we will all have a chat.”
The guard takes me upstairs and leads me to a beautifully appointed bedroom. I hear the lock click
behind me and sink onto the bed. I know I should be trying toe up with a n…
But Lippert is right. I’m an amateur. He’s three steps ahead of me at every turn.
And I’m so, so tired…
Quicker than I would have thought possible, I fall back into a troubled sleep.
A few hourster, I’m awoken by the sound of the key in the lock. I blink away my sleep and see a
woman peeking in my door. “Hello?” she says. “May Ie in?”
I huff a littleugh. “Do I have a choice?”
“No, dearie,” the older woman says, not unkindly, closing the door behind her.
“A shower for you, quickly,” she says, gesturing towards the bathroom.
I obediently oblige, not seeing the point in arguing. When Ie back, she seats me at a little vanity
and quietly does my makeup, pins my hair up in borate curls, and dresses me in a far-too-gorgeous
red gown that falls to my ankles.
I study myself in the mirror. The dress is not girly, but neither is it scandalous or provocative. Instead,
when I study myself in the mirror I look…
Well. I look every inch the mafia princess. Rich, poised, a little dangerous.