Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Father

Gifts

Chapter 20 – Danger makes me

want to…-1

My heart pounding, I press the stop button on the remote as fast as I can and return my wide eyes to Kent, who is still looking at

1. me.

Please, please, please. By all that is holy, let him not have seen me watching his sex tape.

“What are you doing in here,” he asks, angry.

“Um,” I say, terrified, hoping he doesn’t pick up on the tremor in my voice. “Fiona brought me here? Said I could look through some…” my eyes dart around the room for an answer that is not porn. “Some family photo albums? And home videos?”

He narrows his eyes at me, his eyes flicking to the pile of vintage Playboys on the floor. “She shouldn’t have brought you down here,” he says, moving aside so that I can leave the room. I quickly get to my feet, flicking the power button on the remote so that the TV goes blank.

Then, dropping the remote, I scurry out of the room, praying with all my might that Kent does not go back in to see what tape

is in the VCR.

He closes the door behind me as I head for the steps. “Go upstairs,” he says. “Don’t come down here.”

Glad to obey, I hurry out into the kitchen, heaving a sigh of

phone.

My hand slides over smooth denim. I stop dead in my tracks, panicked, and pat all over my body looking for it. Then, slowly, I turn back towards the little door. I definitely felt it in my back pocket when we left the patio…

God damnit. My phone must have fallen out in the weird porn

room.

Steeling myself, I know I have to go back. If my dad or Janeen ever called I didn’t have it – I’d just die with guilt.

to listen. I don’t hear a sound. Tentatively, I put a foot on the step, waiting for a creek. Nothing. Then, silently, I hurry down the

pop the VHS out of the VCR and put it back in its black casing, which I slide back on the shelf. There, good. Now no one

mouse, shut the door behind me. I begin

stop dead, terrified that

out to scold

groan. Unable to stop myself, I consider the door from which the sound is coming. It’s thick,

20 – Danger makes

want to…-2

see that the bolt is

mistake. I know I shouldn’t.

things, though, I stare at the door, consumed by

hand to grip the metal handle and then, my inner voice still screaming at me

without the

tied across their mouths. They’re moaning, one sobbing, as they look at something just out of my sight, terror in their eyes. As I watch, though, their torturer reveals

sight. My eyes take in the strong muscles of his back, the rage that

his fist, the buckle dangling.

their heads no, but this is apparently not the

starts to scream as Kent stands behind him, pressing the sharp edge of the knife to the man’s pinky finger. The scream turns to

I can’t move, can’t stop watching. The man not being cut

and then –

my god

me peeking through the door, fixates on me. He begins to scream in my direction and I think

change, Kent’s eyes shift to the other man and then move directly to

then bolt –

go as I scramble up the stairs, sprint across the kitchen, pull open the kitchen door and then use the banister to

god, I think, he’s a monster, he’s a

– but now? The truth feels like it has hit home inside of me, after seeing that scene

of the stairs and throw myself towards my room, my fingers inches from my

B

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Gifts

Danger makes me want

but he holds me fast. He grabs me by the hair at the back of my neck, forcing my head back, my face turned up towards his. I pant, in his arms, pinned against him, finally still. “What did

phone!” I gasp, remembering my rationale for being there. “I forgot my phone!”