Page 122 of In My Heart
“And me?” I asked. “What was I?”
His eyes met mine without hesitation, almost as if he’d been waiting for that very question.
“A contingency.”
The word made my stomach turn and I fought not to erupt at him. He continued, almost conversationally, like we were father and daughter, just catching up.
“When I became ill, I needed stability. Continuity. You were the remaining variable that secured it.”
I stared at him, disgust rising sharp and clean.
“And before that? When you sent those men after me in Chicago? Were they going to kill me? Do you know what they did to me?” I cried.
“I didn’t need you then. You were a loose end. I didn’t tell them to kill you unless it was the only option,” he shrugged.
“The only option?” I scoffed. “You didn’t even see me as a person.”
“You’re a means to an end I have been planning for over a decade,” he said. “Your blood will secure my empire.”
My throat tightened.
“Daniel?” I said, not looking away from Adamian, “Is that all I am to you? A place for you to stick your dick, in order to secure your legacy?”
“No,” he answered flatly.
That made me look at him. His expression was controlled, unreadable - but not dismissive. It set me aback that he even seemed to put any thought into his answer.
“You’re leverage too,” he corrected calmly. “That’s different. You have more value than the name that comes with your blood. I will use you to expand business too, in time.”
Adamian gave a faint cough of laughter, clearly proud of the stone cold protégé he had created.
“He learns quickly,” he said approvingly. “You see why things had to be this way.”
I was shaking with rage when I turned back to him. I glared hard, hoping looks really would kill on this occasion.
“You’re dying,” I reminded him as calmly as I could. “And you’re still like this.”
“I don’t need longevity to finish what matters,” he replied.
Something dark twisted inside me. Did I share any of this dark, twisted DNA with this monster? Was that what brought trouble to me constantly? Was I giving off some sick energy that made people want to hurt me?
“You don’t care about anyone.”
“I didn’t care about your mother, nor do I care much for you beyond what I can use you for,” he admitted easily. “I care about the family. The business, and my legacy.”
“I’m your blood. Doesn’t that mean a thing to you?”
“You’re a girl. No use to the family except for making an advantageous marriage. Remember that. You mean nothing to me, other than securing my family with my chosen heir.”
“Good luck with that,” I scoffed. “You might think you’re winning right now, but my brother will never sit back and let what you’ve done to his family go. You’ll all be dead soon enough.”
“Rafe De Santis is weak. He can’t even keep hold of the business he has. No one’s coming to save you now, daughter. The best thing you can do is shut that pretty little mouth and do as you’re told. Maybe then you can save yourself.”
Silence settled heavily in the SUV. Inside I was boiling, determined to save myself, but I’d be damned if I’d do it by playing the dutiful daughter and wife.
Outside, the landscape had shifted. Open grounds and lush fields of grass. A distant structure rose through rain and I quickly realised it was a chapel. My stomach dropped. I was running out of time.
“No,” I uttered, the word slipping from me.
