“Over my fuckin’ dead body.” I didn’t mean to say that out loud, but the laughter across the table lets me know I did just that.
Amato’s expression has softened. “Seems we do have a mutual goal now.”
My blood is humming with a deadly rage. “Can I ask a favor?”
He shrugs, his attention falling back to his pasta. “Sure, you can ask.”
“Leave Barone to me.”
He freezes, his hand pauses twirling the spaghetti. He glances at Franco.
***
Fifteen minutes later, I’m sitting in front of Barone’s house, recalling the end of the conversation with Amato.
He and Franco had exchanged a look, before Amato returned his attention to me. “If I let you have Barone, you’ll owe me, Mr. Donnelly.”
I reached my hand across the table. “Agreed.”
He sighed and shook my hand. “All right. My men will take care of cleanup. This must be one special girl.”
Amato has no fuckin’ idea. I would kill for Sam. I would die for her. And which one happens depends on how the next few minutes go.
Chapter 49
Samantha
The bedroom door opens. Talula runs her cold gaze over me. “It’s time.”
I walk stiffly to the door. My voice comes out scratchy as I beg, “How is my daughter?”
Her lip curls in a sneer, but that’s the only answer I get.
The desperation makes me grab her silky white sleeve. “Please, is she okay?”
Her eyes narrow on my hand and I release her. “She’s fine. And she’ll stay that way as long as you behave yourself.”
I swallow. If I had any doubts whether I could get help from her those are squashed. She is no Celia. I follow her out the door and down the stairs.
My feet freeze as I suddenly get a vision of my future. A future of faking smiles in public on the arm of a monster, one where there’s beatings, confinement and rape in private. A future where I have limited access to my daughter because she’s used as a punishment and reward system.
And as she grows up and sees the truth, how will Michael control her? How will he stop her from exposing what happens in his house? Will he chain her up, too? This almost breaks me. I can’t do it. I can’t walk her into this living nightmare. But I also can’t see another option. At least this will give me time totry and escape again. But then I think of his warning. No second chances. Another escape attempt will sign our death warrants.
The only way out is if he’s dead.
Talula shoves me forward and this time my feet move.
She leads me into the living room where Michael is standing in front of an unlit stone fireplace in a suit. An ancient priest is by his side. There are a half a dozen armed men sitting or standing around the room. Italian mafia by the looks of them. These must be Amato’s men, here to protect his investment.
So, Michael is expecting trouble.
I eye all the firepower in the room and send up a little prayer that Killian hasn’t found me yet. If he walks into this house, he won’t be walking out. And that would surely kill me.
My breathing picks up as I take my place in front of Michael. I stare at the floor, wishing it would open up and swallow me.
Michael grabs my chin in a rough grip and forces me to look at him. His eyes are burning with triumph, his lips curled in satisfaction.
I can’t believe I didn’t see this demon behind the human mask he wears. I keep my expression neutral. Keep the fire out of my eyes.
