He smirked. “I like to make the accommodations comfortable. It makes people feel safe when we all know they’re not.”
“You said they would be.”
“For now. We will see. I will speak to them tomorrow.”
“Just don’t… don’t torture or hurt them. Please, Dante. I meant what I said. I’ll do anything.”
“The only thing I want you to do is to go back to your home and take care of your son. I want you to think long and hard about what you want. If it’s my sister, you better fucking wow me or I won’t even let you look in her direction again. Understand?”
“Yes,” I said fiercely.
“Good. Come on.” He nodded for me to follow him, so I did. We returned to the main level.
“If I am impressed, then I will reward you,” Church said as he led me to the front door.
“Reward me? By giving me my brothers back?”
He smirked. “Perhaps. I was thinking something a little more special than that. It’s a gift I have been wanting to give to you. As long as you comply, I will give you an ending you will love.”
I studied him for a moment, deciding I didn’t want to know what he had up his sleeve.
“I’ll be seeing you,” he said.
“I’m free? Just like that?”
“Just like that.” He smiled at me. “Don’t fuck it up.”
I backed away slowly. I’d wait to thank him. I’d learned that much about the underground.
3
COLE
Time moved differently in the underground. No windows to let light in. No noises from the city. No stars in the night sky.
I knew this wasn’t how it used to be, what with the nice beds and bathroom, but it didn’t make me the least bit comfortable.
I was certain the first night I’d spent all of it on my knees praying. Then I slept curled in a ball on the floor after falling asleep during my millionth round of praying for my family back and Rosalie’s forgiveness in all the mess we were in.
It could have been a day or ten. I had no idea.
Food was slid through a slot in the door, and it made me nervous to eat because I didn’t know what the fuck—or who the fuck—the main course was if rumors on Dante Church were true.
But I had eaten the peanut butter and jelly sandwich and bag of chips that had been pushed at me hours ago out of desperation, and had drunk the water.
Nothing terrible had happened, so I counted that as a success.
Aside from my worries about Rosalie and Ellis, I was worried about my brothers. Enzo was strong, but E… I was definitely concerned his returning here could trigger something in him.
My door creaked open, and Dante Church stepped inside. I sat up on my bed and stared at his imposing form. He brought in a chair and placed it before taking a seat.
“What the fuck do you want?” I grumbled. “Is it time for my spanking?”
He chuckled softly at that. “Perhaps. How are you enjoying your stay?”
“It fucking sucks, you prick. Let me go.”
His green eyes glittered as he stared back at me.
