“If only you had gotten off that easy. I’m having a document drawn up. It’s awfully handy. I have a friend who does wills. You’ll sign one bequeathing Noah to me, along with all of your financials.”
“And if I refuse to sign?”
“Then I’ll break every finger you have so you’ll have to use your tongue to sign.”
Shaking my head, I fight back tears. I will not let her see me cry. I’m going to get out of this. I just have to use my head and not let my emotions get the best of me.
“Bea, I mean this with the utmost disrespect. Fuck all the way off, and when you get there, come back and do it again. I will not sign anything that gives you Noah. No one would believe it. You can’t make me.”
Her face twists into an ugly snarl, and she stands so quickly her chair flies back, clattering on the floor. “You will sign those papers,but you are right.” She smiles. “Ican’t make you, buthecan.” She points toward the stairs, where another person is walking down.
As he stands next to Bea, I look at the newcomer and my brain freezes. “Aidan?”
“Hello, Cora.” He smiles, and though it looks friendly, I know it’s anything but.
I stare at the two of them, confused as can be. Why would Aidan be here? I’m pretty sure it’s Bea’s basement I’m holed up in.
“Are you here to help me, or help her?” I gesture toward Bea.
Giving me a shake of his head and a sad smile, Aidan says, “Not for you, kiddo. Sorry.”
Laughing, I glare at both of them. “Don’t think you’re actually all that sorry,” I toss out. If he’s with Bea, then who knows what she’s told him. “I’ll tell you what I told her: I’m not signing anything. You can’t have Noah.”
Crouching down in front of me, Aidan pushes my hair back, pressing into the lump on my head in the process. I flinch and jerk away, but he grabs a chunk of it, holding me in place.
“You’ll sign it, because if you don’t, we’ll do things the hard way,” he finishes, grabbing a hold of my finger with his other hand and snapping it back quickly. I feel a sharp twitch and then pain radiates through my arm. I pull back, but he still has hold of my hair.
Tears well in my eyes, and I want to scream but don’t. That bastard just broke my finger; I have no doubt. Looking down, I see where my pointer finger is no longer straight but curved at an angle. He shoves me back against the wall and stands to his full height.
“I haven’t been around the last few years, Cora, or we would have met sooner. Your mother was my younger sister, and we were very close until I ended up in jail. Your asshole father decided it was a good idea to get caught with drugs but told the cops they were mine. He disappeared for a few months when she was pregnant with Noah because he knew I was looking for him.”
Well, that explains his absence at least.
“Mandy and I didn’t see eye to eye with our mother. She thoughtshe was too good for us.” He sneers. “Mandy told me about the money that our mother gave you, but of course, the judge didn’t hesitate. He tossed me in jail, and I’ve been there ever since. I couldn’t even go to her funeral or contest her will.” Shaking his head, he walks back towards Bea, who’s been silent the whole time. It’s like she’s enjoying the show.
“So, here’s what’s going to happen.” He points at me. “You’ll sign whatever papers Bea gives you, and she will get Noah. I’ll get the money that was meant for me, and everyone gets to go on with their lives. Except for you, of course.”
“You’re delusional, both of you,” I spit out. My head and finger are throbbing, and I know I need to get out of here, but I don’t know how. “No one will ever believe I just left Noah.”
“Won’t have to worry about that. It’s crazy what a gas leak in a car can cause.” He turns toward the stairs. “I’ll be back soon. Be ready to sign those papers.”
As he heads back upstairs, I glance at Bea. “Don’t worry. You’ll see your mom real soon, Cora. You can ask her all about your real father then.” She snickers, following Aidan.
The realization that I’m well and truly screwed starts to creep in. I need to form a plan. Glancing around the basement, I take my time moving around as much as the chain will allow. My vision blurs, and the pain in my hand keeps me from going too fast as I crawl.
Feeling around on the dark, dusty floor, my hands find something slim and metal. Tugging on it, relief floods through me when I see it’s an old screwdriver. I might be able to break the cuff, or at the very least, I now have a weapon. I clutch it in my non-injured hand and slide back to the mattress. I am not going down without a fight.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Atlas
As I follow Seth to his car, I try to keep my composure. I can feel Aidan’s angry, watchful gaze piercing through me as he stands at the corner of the lot, but I refuse to acknowledge him. I can’t alert Seth without Noah thinking something is wrong, so I have to be smart about this. The urge to confront Aidan and demand answers is overpowering, but he can’t know I’m on to him just yet.
“Why don’t you guys stop for ice cream or something first?” I suggest when we get to the cars. Somehow, Seth found a spot close to mine.
“Isn’t it kind of cold for ice cream?” Seth asks.
“It’s never too cold for ice cream,” Noah replies, looking at him like he’s crazy.
