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.

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 hurry down the stairs and

the VHS out of the VCR and put it back

the room and, quiet as a mouse, shut the door behind me. I begin to creep back along the hallway when I hear something to my

that

out to scold

hear the sound again to my left, a kind of snap, and then a muffled groan. Unable to stop myself, I consider the door from which the sound is coming.

Danger makes me

want to…-2

can also see that

it’s a mistake. I know I

at the door, consumed by my need

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

suddenly louder without the thick door

moaning, one sobbing, as they look at something just out of my sight, terror in their eyes. As I watch,

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

from his fist, the buckle dangling.

no, but this is apparently not the answer that Kent wants. He drops the belt, moving to the man on the left and pulling a knife from his

him, pressing the sharp edge of the knife to the man’s pinky

trembling, I can’t move, can’t stop watching. The man not being cut begins to scream in panic, looking everywhere for a

and then –

god

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

the other man

the door shut and then bolt – bolt – from the

faster than I thought I could go as I scramble up the stairs, sprint across the kitchen, pull open the kitchen

think, he’s

The truth feels like it has hit home inside of me, after seeing that

from my doorknob, when something grabs me around

B

Write your comment

Gifts

makes me

of my neck, forcing my head back, my face turned up towards his.

remembering my rationale for being