Devlin marched me out into the hall, then hauled me up over his shoulder. I fought him, of course, but just like this morning, my objections were useless.
“You can’t do this,” I yelled while pounding my fists on Devlin’s back, which was just as hard as the rest of him. My strikes probably hurt me more than they did him.
“You did this to yourself.”
“I can wear what I want.” All of this because of a stupid dress. Fiona said it would piss Devlin off, but I didn’t expect this.
“Like fuck you can,” he barked back.
No one cared about my screams. We had to pass at least a dozen people, and not one person so much as gave us a sideways glance.
What was wrong with everyone? Did I step into the twilight zone, where everyone was a robot? Money didn’t buy obedience like this. I even asked one girl for help, and she acted like she didn’t hear me.
I couldn’t help but think back to what Fiona had said.
“That man’s soul feeds on secrets.”
No normal father would allow this behavior. Then again, no normal man would be interested in Charmaine. Who exactly was Angus Adair?
Devlin opened a door to a dark staircase and muttered, “This would be so much easier if he’d just let me kill you.”
That’s when I started to get scared.
Each jarring step down into the black abyss caused my stomach to drop. I could feel the walls closing in on me. The only thing worse than the dark was snakes. I didn’t like not being able to see. Anything could hide in the shadows.
“I’m sorry, okay?” I clung onto Devlin’s shirt and buried my face in his back. “I won’t wear the dress again.”
“It’s too late for that.”
This wasn’t a game anymore. He had to feel me shaking. “Please, Devlin.”
His shoulders lifted with a sigh, and for half a second I thought he might take pity on me. But mercy wasn’t in Devlin’s vocabulary. He did put me down, though. I was lifted off his shoulder and placed on my feet.
The coolness of cement traveled up my toes and into my calves, which was when I realized my shoes were gone. More than likely kicked off in my fight.
Then he turned on a light, and I immediately wished for the blissful ignorance of darkness to return. This room wasn’t a room. It was a dungeon, complete with a cage and manacles hooked into the stone walls.
Who the hell had child services given me to? The Manson family? What kind of person had a dungeon in their house? I needed to get out of here. I needed to get Charmaine out of here.
Devlin’s shadow covered me, hiding the small touch of light I had. “Give me your hands.”
Licking my lips, I looked up at the stern lines etched into his forehead. Moisture carried musty scents up my nose with every breath I took. I could taste the earth and feel coolness creep into my bones. This place was what I imagined death would feel like. Cold and alone, with nothing but dirt and stone around me.
“I don’t have all day,Bréagán.” This time Devlin held out his palms and waited for me to obey.
My gaze swung from his open hands, then up to the glint in his eyes. I didn’t like the way he was staring at me. Like he wouldn’t just devour me, he’d enjoy every bit of my destruction. Even that I could deal with.
This wasn’t my first rodeo with an angry asshole. The hint of something darker behind all that hate, however… Now that gave me pause.
Impatience filled the air as Devlin cleared his throat. Arrogant prick really did expect me to do what he said, but I wasn’t a puppy for him to order around.
“Go fuck yourself, Devlin,” I snarled and moved to push my way past.
His little dungeon scare tactics weren’t going to work on me. I would go where I wanted, with the clothing I picked out, any time I pleased, and there was fuck-all he could do to stop me. At least that’s what I told myself.
The ball of his palm thrust against my shoulder, knocking me back into the wall. When the hard stone scraped against my back, I was suddenly thankful for the loss of my shoes. I barely managed to keep my footing as it was. There’d have been no chance with heels on.
And what did Devlin do while I was tripping over my own feet? He moved in like a predator and slapped his hand on the wall above my head.
