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.

little door 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. Then, silently, I

on the leather chair. Then, for good measure, I pop the VHS out of the VCR and put it back in its black

leave the room and, quiet as a mouse, shut the door behind me. I

terrified that I’ve been caught.

out to

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

Danger makes me

want to…-2

can also see that the bolt

a mistake.

I stare at

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

louder without the thick door to keep

as they look at something just

the strong muscles of his back, the rage that I can see pulsing through him just by the way he

down from his fist, the buckle dangling. As I watch, Kent rips

shoulders heaving. The men tremble before him, crying. They shake their heads no, but this is apparently not the answer

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

move, can’t stop watching. The

and then –

god –

to scream in my direction and I

to the other man and then move directly

shut and then bolt – bolt

scramble up the stairs, sprint across the kitchen, pull open

I think, he’s a monster,

me – but now? The truth feels like it has

myself towards my room, my fingers inches from my doorknob, when something grabs me around my waist, hauling

B

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Gifts

– Danger makes me

to get free, 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

rationale for being there.