Page 62 of Untamed
Is he serious?
My head spins with the news coming out of his mouth, so I pull out my phone to text Miko.
Me: Check out Veronica’s connection with Wayne. Check all offshore accounts.
Miko: On it.
Something tells me she has something to do with this. I just can’t pinpoint what and why.
Then he slumps in his chair with a heavy exhale. “You’d best go and get ready for the event,” he mutters, the defeat in his tone evident, and he doesn’t so much as look in my direction.
The man appears utterly broken.
What the fuck is going on?
THEA
AGED TWELVE …
My throat is dry, and I want to cry, but it’s no use. All my tears are dried up, and it only hurts my throat more if I make a noise.
Has he forgotten about me?
The man took me from outside my dance class after my mother said she would collect me. It’s the first time she’s offered to fetch me from any of my classes, so I was super excited, but the moment the parking lot was empty and I was still there, I knew she’d forgotten.
She always forgets me, like I don’t exist to her, and when I do exist, she doesn’t like me, not even a little bit. The only time she smiles at me is when I do as she asks and dress how she wants.
Posy says it’s because she’s jealous of me, but I don’t understand why she thinks that. I’m sure she’s just trying to make me feel better. If my best friend were here, she’d be so brave; she wouldn’t have run out of tears, I’m sure.
The lock on the basement door turns, and my tummy does a horrible flip.
I don’t want him to come back, but I also really, really need a drink of water. Maybe someone has come to rescue me?
The man in the wool mask sends my heart plummeting to the ground, and I try to look away from his dark eyes. Though, they seem a little familiar, and even that makes me scared. What if I do know him?
He tilts his head. “Do you know who I am?”
I swallow hard, and it hurts, then I shake my head vigorously, and his shoulders relax.
“Good.” He kneels in front of me, and I scoot back until my back hits the wall. When he wraps a lock of my hair around his finger, I cringe. “You have such soft hair, Theodora.” He licks his lips, and bile burns my throat. “I love the color of your hair.”
I squeeze my eyes closed as his finger trails down my bare shoulder and over my chest.
His touch continues lower, so I slip inside my head, imagining I’m anyone but the girl trapped in the basement. I’m not Theodora, and I don’t have soft blonde hair.
I become the girl I always dreamed of being.
Free.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
MASSIO
When I slip into Thea’s room, I’m surprised to find her staring down at the gold dress laid out on her bed. Her hair is in long blonde curls trailing down her back.
If I didn’t know her body so extensively, I would question if it was her at all.
Her ass cheeks hang out of a G-string, and though my blood boils at the sight, I can see through my crimson wave of fury. Hell, I see beyond my feelings and push them aside with ease to comfort my girl.
