Page 116 of Property of Yak

“I know you’re awake, Bambi,” Aragon growls as he grabs my face.

My eyes snap open and he laughs.

“Little Bambi, caught in my trap. Tell me you didn’t really think that old lady claim from the imposter was going to save you, did you?”

“Let me go, Aragon,” I spit out.

He laughs sarcastically.

His hand moves from my face down to my chest. I can’t help but gasp as he rips my shirt open, tearing it to shreds.

“I’ve dreamed of this body. The plans I have for you…” he says with longing.

No. Whatever he’s thinking, no.

“Yak is already looking for me,” I tell him with false confidence.

Aragon scoffs. “Please, that boy couldn’t find his way out of a wet blanket if he tried. He has no idea you are missing because he’s so busy chasing his tail. That brother of his isn’t much better. I’ve been stealing from right under his nose for almost two years now, and he’s none the wiser. It just goes to show that he never should have been named president.” He stands and starts to pace. “I should have been given the spot as president. Everyone knows it even if they don’t want to say it out loud. Yooper only got it because he can speak using fancy words and comes off so put together. The last president didn’t see through his act. It should have been me. ME!” he says, slamming his fist against his chest.

I move my wrists, trying to test the restraints.

“So I set him up. I started stealing from the club to see how long it would take to catch on. I started to build my own army. Make my own deals with the cops and guys at the port. Made it so I could get to shipments easily. Then have the cops raid us. Only instead of taking the products for confiscation, they brought them here to be sold! Then he brought Yak in, who couldn’t keep his nose out of anyone’s business.” He spins back toward me. “Then I saw you, and of course, you had to pick him. But that doesn’t work for me. I get what I want, Julie, and that’s you.”

“Aragon, that wasn’t the deal. You knew I wanted her,” Ray speaks up. “She’s mine.”

Aragon spins back toward him. “I told you that you could have a turn with her. I never told you that you could keep her. That’s your fault for misunderstanding.”

My eyes move to Ray.

“You were supposed to be his friend,” I say, referring to my dad.

He makes a sound in the back of his throat. “Your dad isn’t as good of a cop as he thinks he is. He’s too by-the-book. He doesn’t understand shades of gray. Sometimes it’s acceptable to get your hands dirty.”

I shake my head. “You’re wrong.”

He raises a brow. “Really? You’re going to say that after you let a criminal fuck you? Let him crawl into your bed night after night and exchange I love yous?”

My heart skips a beat and not in a good way.

Holy shit. There’s no way he should know that.

He laughs, nodding. “I was right there, standing outside of the window, watching. You let him take you bare. You could be pregnant right now.”

Am I pregnant? No, but he doesn’t need to know that.

“No,” Aragon hisses, turning back toward me. “Is that true? Did you let him take you raw?”

“I got it on camera,” Ray adds to the fire. “You should be better about making sure the curtains are fully in place.”

I close my eyes as despair tries to choke me.

I am totally screwed. I don’t even know if Yak knows where I am. He’s not going to find me in time.

I could try to convince Aragon that Ray is lying, but if he really did record it, then it will only make things worse. No, I have a feeling honesty might be the best policy right now. If anything, it might buy me some time. Time I desperately need for Dad and Yak to find me.

Please find me.

“Answer me,” Aragon demands.