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

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 back on the shelf. There, good. Now no one will ever know.

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

that

comes out

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

20 – Danger

want to…-2

can also see that the bolt

it’s a mistake. I know I

as I know these things, though, I stare at the door,

and then, my inner voice still screaming at me to stop, I pull it open just a crack and

without the thick door to keep

two men facing me, strapped to chairs, fabric gags tied across their mouths. They’re moaning, one sobbing, as they look at

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

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

They shake their heads no, but this is apparently not the answer that

man 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,

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

and then –

my god –

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

other man and then move directly to

shut and then bolt –

across the kitchen, pull open the kitchen door

I think, he’s

– but now? The truth feels like it has hit home inside of

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

B

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Gifts

makes me want

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

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