“Good girl,” he breathes.
The gun disappears from my line of sight, then Finn resumes brushing his fingers up my arm. “Turn around.”
As I turn to face him, my breathing grows shallow and fast, the quick breaths making me feel dizzy. Slowly I look up until our eyes meet.
How can you do this to me?
I see the depravity and lust in his eyes, and it answers my question. Finn’s evil.
“Show me how thankful you are that I’m sparing your mother’s life,” he says, a cruel sneer forming on his face. “Kiss me.”
I struggle to keep the disgust from showing on my face. A lump forms in my throat. “C-can you lean down?”
God. Help me.
Finn’s smile stretches as he leans down.
Think of Mom. Think of anything but what you’re doing and just get it over with.
Lifting my chin, I squeeze my eyes shut and press my mouth to his.
Don’t puke.
Don’t puke.
Finn growls against my lips, “You can do better than that.”
A sob threatens to push up from my chest, and I swallow hard to keep it down. Parting my lips, intense revulsion shudders through me as I let my tongue enter his mouth.
Finn’s arms wrap around me, and I’m squashed to his chest. He tilts his head and kisses me hungrily, even groaning with satisfaction.
Don’t puke.
His one hand slips down to my butt, and he grips me tightly.
Up until now, there’s just been a general fear of what Finn will do to my mother. I knew he’d take advantage of me, but I didn’t allow myself to think about what that entails.
He’s going to rape me, and I can’t stop him.
This man is going to strip me bare and break me.
Yanking back, I cover my mouth with a trembling hand, violent breaths rushing from me.
Finn lifts a hand, and swiping the pad of his thumb over his bottom lip, warning fills his gaze. “Really?”
“I…” My mind races to find an excuse. “I thought I heard something.”
He turns his head, listening. For once, the universe is on my side, and a phone starts to ring out in the hallway. Finn points to the ensuite bathroom. “Go. Hide!” he hisses at me.
I rush into the restroom and shut the door behind me. Pressing my forehead to the wood, I say a prayer of thanks as my breaths burst over my lips.
“Why are you here so early?” I hear Liam’s voice, his tone downright brutal and nothing like it’s been whenever he talks to me.
“I thought I’d get some work done before the day starts,” Finn answers casually.
Liam lets out a chuckle that doesn’t sound amused at all. “Has hell frozen over? You’ve never lifted a finger to work.” I hear footsteps, and for a moment, I wonder what would happen if Liam found me here.
Would he think I’m here out of my own free will?
Would he believe Finn or me?
“Show me what you’re working on,” Liam demands.
“Fuck off, Liam,” Finn growls, but a moment later, I hear him grunt, then Liam says with a voice that sounds like it’s filled with death, “Do you want to die today?”
What?
My eyes widen, and I keep my breaths as quiet as possible.
“I’m sorry,” Finn quickly apologizes, his tone suddenly void of all the arrogance. “I’m sorry, okay?”
There’s a moment’s silence, then Liam growls, “I’m out of patience with you, Finn. Either you start working, or you get your lazy ass out of my company.”
“I’ll work,” he quickly replies, fear for Liam clearly trembling in his tone.
Lifting my head, hope creeps into my heart.
Finn’s scared of Liam, and it really doesn’t sound like they get along.
Maybe Liam will believe me if I tell him what Finn’s doing to me.
Still, that won’t stop Finn from killing Mom.
I hear something fall, then Liam says, “Fucking parasite.” More movement sounds up then the office grows silent.
I take a step away from the door, straining to listen for any sound.
“Fucking bastard,” Finn spits out, then the door’s yanked open. With rage burning on his face, he grabs hold of my arm, and I stumble forward as he tugs me into the office. “Get the fuck out and make sure Liam doesn’t see you!”
I don’t waste any time and rush to the door. Slipping into the hallway, my heart’s pounding against my ribs as I run toward the emergency stairs, avoiding the elevator.
I flee down the stairs, and only when I reach the lobby’s floor do I sink down on the bottom step. Covering my face, I suck in desperate breaths of air.
This is insane! What the hell?
I have to do something.
Chapter 11
Liam
Swamped with proposals, contracts, and getting everything ready for the quarterly meeting with the management staff, I walk to Devon’s desk.
Just as I reach him, Devon rises from his chair, worry etched on his face.
Coming to a stop in front of him, I ask, “What’s wrong?”