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.

in the kitchen, pulling it open a crack to listen. I don’t hear a sound. Tentatively, I put a foot on the step, waiting for a creek. Nothing.

into the little room and grab my phone, which is sitting on the leather chair. Then, for good measure, I pop the VHS out of the VCR and put it back in its black casing, which I slide

mouse, shut the door behind me. I begin to creep back along the hallway when I hear something to

dead, terrified that I’ve been caught.

comes out to scold

hear the sound again to my left, a kind of snap, and then a muffled groan. Unable to stop

Danger makes

want to…-2

I can also see that the bolt is not

know it’s a mistake.

though, I stare at the door,

steps closer, reaching out a hand to grip the metal handle and then, my inner voice still screaming at me to stop, I pull it open just a crack and

suddenly louder without the thick door

as they look at something just

take in the strong muscles of his back, the rage that I can see pulsing through him

from his fist, the buckle dangling. As I watch, Kent rips his fist to the side letting the belt drag

his shoulders heaving. The men tremble before him, crying. They shake their heads no, but this is apparently not the answer that Kent wants. He drops the belt, moving to

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 a howl of horror, of pain, as Kent

feel myself trembling, I can’t move, can’t stop watching. The man not being cut begins

and then –

god –

me. He sees me peeking through the door, fixates on me. He begins to scream in my direction and I think I can hear the words “help!

eyes shift to the other man and then move

door shut and then bolt

the stairs, sprint across the kitchen, pull open the

god, I think, he’s a

The truth feels like it has hit

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

B

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Gifts

– Danger makes

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

my rationale for being