Rocko cowers beside me as he curls into a ball, holding his ribs in absolute agony to the point I even start feeling a little bad for the guy. But fuck him. He’s on his own here.
With Rocko’s grip no longer holding me down, I begin scrambling. Now’s my only chance. I get my hands underneath myself and hurry to push myself up when the other guy crouches down, finally giving me a look at his face.
I suck in a breath. This is worse than I thought.
Anton smirks at me and it’s as though he’s a cat watching a caged mouse desperately trying to get away. “Now, where do you think you’re going, young one?” he questions, shaking his head at me like I’m a child in need of a little discipline.
My eyes widen in fear, frantically searching around for a way out. All I need is a branch or something sharp and I should be able to fight my way out, but remembering the way he tossed Noah around the other day, my chances are slim.
“Don’t even think about it,” Anton says, reading my mind. “We need to…discuss a few things and if you try running now, I promise you, this chat will happen in the middle of your home where Daddy dearest and little Aria will be joining us.”
My heart races. This is much, much worse than I thought. “You leave my family alone,” I yell.
Anton cringes as though the high, screechy pitch of my voice is too much for him to bear. “Now, now, child. There’s no need to scream. I have no intentions of visiting your family and I’d honestly prefer not to, but that’s your decision. I’m simply letting you know your options if you choose not to comply.”
My teeth clench with the image of Anton Mathers making himself comfortable in my home, Aria sitting by his side, sharing the details of her life, unaware of the dangers right before her.
Something tells me Anton’s not lying. This is my only chance and realizing this is the only shot at keeping my family safe, I’d do whatever it takes. I push up until I’m sitting and awkwardly get to my feet, never once taking my eyes off Anton as he does the same. “What do you want?” I ask, turning myself front on and squaring my jaw to let him know he can’t intimidate me, though I have a feeling the fear in my eyes is as clear as day.
“Good choice” he murmurs, pushing up from his crouched position. “There are a few things. It seems that your name keeps popping up and to be honest, I’m quite sick of it. Something needs to be done as you’re getting too big for your boots.”
I narrow my eyes on him in confusion. “What are you talking about?” I demand. “I’ve had nothing to do with you until you tried to kill my boyfriend last week.”
“You see, that’s where you’re wrong,” he tells me, slightly amused. “So very wrong. You’ve been causing me hell for longer than you could possibly know.”
“I’m sure you can appreciate that I’m not in the mood to play your little mind games right now. Your goon just manhandled me and my knuckles are fucking aching, so just get on with it so we can all get out of here. What do you want?”
He considers me a moment. “What business do you have with Gina Rivers?”
“Gina?” I grunt. “What the hell does that matter? It’s none of your business.”
Anton steps forward. “On the contrary,” he says. “It certainly is, now answer the question. I do not like to be left waiting.”
“Well I don’t exactly like dickheads kidnapping me from my friends and delivering me to people like you, but you know what? Shit happens. Get the fuck over it.”
“Watch it, child. You’re testing my patience.”
I hold my ground, my lips pressing into a tight line and letting him know exactly what I think of this situation.
“Gina. Now,” he roars, somehow making the vibrations of his tone shake me right through to my core.
“She’s my mother,” I give in, making his brow arch in curiosity. “Why the hell is that important? And why does it have anything to do with you? How do you know her?”
“I’m the one asking the questions here,” he snaps. “You’re not to see her again. Is that clear?”
I bark out a sharp laugh. “Excuse me?” I gape, unable to believe what I’m hearing. I mean, is this guy insane? This conversation is seriously not turning out the way I was expecting. “Who do you think you are? She’s my mother. I’ll go and see her whenever the fuck I want.”
“Not unless you value your life,” he tells me, deathly low. “Gina was my biggest rival and I promised her that I would take every last thing away from her and that includes you.”