“No, of course not. Once the transfer is made, we’ll be rich. But it might take a few days to clear. This will just help us on our way, our new life together.” He pauses. “I’ve added money to the pot too. But you know I can’t take much out. It’s a joint account with Lisa.”
“Fine,” she says. “Even though you’re the one with actual money. I had to scrape for this, you know.”
“Do be quiet, Dina.” He rolls his eyes. “We’ll be getting all the money that should have been mine in the first place.” He winces, knowing that it isn’t enough. This isn’t how he wanted things to go. He deserved the business. He was the heir. He should be following his father’s footsteps.
If his father had never met Claire, he’d have everything he wanted right now. He wouldn’t be stuck waiting for the banks to open.
His stepmother is out there somewhere.
And one day he will find her.
A smile dances on his lips as he thinks of the day still to come.
CHAPTER 51
FAYE
The next time Magnus enters the cellar, I’m tipped over onto my side, lying painfully on my left hip with the chair still attached to my arms. In my desperate attempt to reach Penny, I tilted too far and fell. My throat is hoarse from screaming Penny’s name, but no amount of noise has stirred her.
Magnus stands in the doorway, laughing at the sight of me. Then he approaches. I flinch away from his boots, convinced he’s going to stamp on me or punish me somehow. I brace myself for pain but instead, he crouches and strokes my cheek.
“I take it you figured out who it is on the floor here.” He tugs at my chin, forcing me to look at my daughter’s unmoving body on the cold, hard cellar floor.
Light from the doorway spills onto her naked thighs and forearms. She’s lying on her back with most of her hair covering her face. She’s dressed in some sort of silky dress that I assume she put on forhim. The thought makes me want to vomit. But the light also reveals that her chest is rising and falling with each breath. She’s alive and she seems to be breathing despite everything.
He rips the tape from my mouth and the sock spills out.
“Let her go,” I plead. “Whatever you want, I’ll get it. Money. Sex. I literally don’t care.”
He pulls me up, righting the chair so that it’s on its legs again. Then he grins. “Sex. Now that would be interesting. My stepmother’s twin sister…”
There’s that touch of his fingertips on my face again, tracing bones through my sweat-slicked skin. His hands move down to my bound wrists.
“There’s a way for both you and your lovely daughter to walk out of here perfectly fine and go on living your dull lives. I’m rooting for you, Faye. Iwantthis to go well.” He works the knot out from one of my wrists and then grabs it with his large hand. “But if you don’t do what I say, she’ll be dead within an hour. Do you know why?” He moves closer so that I can smell the sour tang of his breath. “Because I’ll have nothing to lose. I want what I’m owed. I want myfuckinginheritance and Iwillget it.” He pulls in a deep breath. “Are you going to co-operate?”
What choice do I have? I nod.
He lets go of my arm and watches me closely. When I remain still, he moves to the other arm and begins to untie it from the chair. Then he stands back and waits, a test to see if I’m going to be compliant. I sit there, waiting for the next instruction.
Penny is what matters.
I can’t trust this man, but I’ll do whatever he says while he has my daughter.
“Get up,” he says.
I stand on unsteady feet. He watches carefully.
“Walk towards me,” he says.
I do as I’m told.
“Stop. Turn around and walk to the other side of the room and back without limping.”
There are pins and needles running up and down my legs and my hip must be badly bruised. But I lift my chin, pretend I’m Naomi Campbell opening for Versace and stride as best I can to the other side of the cellar and back.
“Good,” he says. “Now hold my hand.”
Revulsion shudders through me, but I reach out and take his hand. Gently, he leads me through the cellar door. I hesitate, glancing behind me at Penny. I open my mouth to protest but then close it with a snap. Magnus’s dark eyes monitor my every reaction, every twitch of my skin.
