I grab what I need, transferring it to the counter and get to work. I lose myself in the warmth of the stove while I fry up scrambled eggs. It’s not great, but I’m not a good cook. Never have been. I survived on ramen and toast for most of the time I’d been here. Thankfully, the pub down the road always did a special dinner treat and I’d end up eating there when I was tired of noodles.
I don’t expect to impress them with my skills in the kitchen, but as I start the toast, my mind flicks back to the past, and I recall a moment in time when I didn’t know my dad was a monster.
“Please,” I beg him. It’s going to be my birthday in only two days, and he hasn’t told me what he has planned. The man who I look up to, my hero, stands in the living room while my mom sits in her armchair knitting. I always tell her she’s too young to knit, she teases me and tells me it keeps her calm.
Our life is perfect. I have a loving family, I have friends and when I turn thirteen, I’m going to start babysitting. But Dad’s new job has taken him away so many times in the past few months, I’m scared he’s going to miss my special day.
“Don’t bother your father,” Mom says, but she’s grinning from ear to ear.
Dad drops to his knees in front of me. I’ll be a teenager, but he still at times talks to me as if I were a child. “I might have to go away for a few days. But listen to me, Cherry Pie,” he murmurs, “I’ll be back and I’m going to bring you the best present ever.”
I don’t want to show him how sad it makes me he’ll be gone, but I can’t hide the expression which must be clear on my face. Dad’s smile morphs into guilt, and my chest tightens. I know he has to work to put me through school and pay for our food and such, but I want him here.
I wish he didn’t have to leave so much. But Mom said his new boss is strict and doesn’t like when things don’t go his way. I love my dad, but I think he needs a new boss.
“Okay,” I finally mumble, and he pulls me into his arms and holds me tight.
“I love you, Cherry Pie,” he whispers in my ear before pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Always.”
At the time, he was already a criminal. We learned through the trial how my father started working for the Bratva, then he moved onto the Cartel. All these organizations named are responsible for violence across the world. My father enjoyed what he did.
Sitting in court, I watched him with rapt attention. Satisfaction was painted on his face, as if he knew one day he’d go down, and he wasn’t concerned. A shiver traces itself down my spine, as if a finger is slowly trailing me from neck to tailbone.
Guilty. The word rung through the court, and when it was over, when they took him away, he looked right at me. It was as if he was silently telling me he’ll come for me.
Deep down, as dangerous as I know my captors are, these three men have nothing on the monster who made me.
CHAPTER TEN
FALCON
Since the email came through from Dante, I’m wondering how to make this shit go away. I read through the details this morning, I know I have to tell Crow, but as he watches me from his desk, I’m concerned.
He’s on edge. It’s because of her. Having her so close, in our home, it’s taking a toll on him. It’s been eight hours, more or less, and yet I’ve seen the tension in his shoulders tighten with every passing moment.
But fuck me, she’s beautiful. I can’t stop thinking about her either. Last night, I watched her from my computer, knowing soon enough, I’ll have her naked, taking my dick.
“What’s going on with the intel from Savage?” Crow questions, his gaze zeroed in on mine.
Leaning back in the chair, I kick my feet out and say, “We’ve found the links, like he said on the call. But what he did find is Mahoney made a call to the Bratva; he wants them to get him out.”
“Without the prospect of parole, there is only one way of him getting out,” Crow says, and I nod. The fucker is going to break out. “If he steps foot outside those walls, he’s fair game. The girl will die before him though,” he tells me.
“Does she though?” We planned our revenge for years, but right now, I don’t know if I want to kill her. Hurt her yes, make her cry and scream, most definitely. But to slice such a pretty throat has me second guessing myself.