Page 57 of Wicked Truths
It’s going to be harder to get away from both men, but I have to at least try.
I try to put on the most innocent looking expression I can.
“Can you untie my hands? At least one of them? I’ve already promised to comply with any and all questions. Hell, I’ll even follow you wherever you tell me to go. I haven’t done anything to make you not trust me.”
That is the truth. I’ve done nothing but comply since I was thrown in the backseat of the car.
The two men stare at one another, trying to decide if I am trustworthy or not.
I’m not, but I can pretend to be.
“Look, I could have stood up and tried to run tothe door by now, but I haven’t. I haven’t even thought of trying to run away. I’m not stupid. I know there’s no way I can get outside, let alone to the street before I’m caught, and then I’m back here in a worse position than I am right now.”
The nicer man pinches the bridge of his nose. “Fine, but one wrong move and you will be tied to the chair, wishing you could take it all back.”
His threat doesn’t scare me, but I still nod and say, “Understood.”
I won’t do anything right now, but when the opportunity arises, I’ll escape, and then there will be hell to pay.
Chapter Sixteen
FRANCESCA
The achein my shoulder feels immediate relief the second the rope is removed from my wrists.
Not that I’d tell anyone the truth, but there are still some lingering side effects of getting stabbed a couple of years ago.
Vinny hands me the bottle of water.
“Thank you.” I say before gulping down half of the water.
The water is cool and refreshing, easing the hoarseness in my dry throat. I was thirstier than I thought I was. I twist the cap back on and place the bottle of water on the floor.
I glance around the office. It’s pretty bland compared to the rest of the house, with a cheap-looking desk and office chair on the left side of the room and two armchairs and an end table on the right side of the room.
The walls are a boring gray, and the marble flooring of the foyer stops at the doorway. The nice mahogany wood flooring of the office is covered with a pretty ugly white and gray floral rug.
There are no paintings or pictures hanging on the walls. There isn’t even a computer on the desk.
It’s almost as if this is a holding room of sorts. Aplace for prisoners to be held and questioned until the real interrogation happens.
Vinny steps closer to me with his gaze locked on my every move. “What do you know about your father’s shipping business?”
“Nothing.” I roll my shoulders forward, relieving the stiffness and ache.
He doesn’t believe me. “So I am just supposed to believe that you have no idea about the business, but you were at the shipyard tonight?”
I need to lie better if there’s any hope of Dad and Rhett finding me.
“Why do you think I was sneaking around behind the building? I followed some of the guys. On foot, mind you, because I don’t have a car. I wanted to know what’s been going on. I guess you aren’t the only one that wants to keep women out of the business.”
I clench my teeth as anger builds in my veins. None of this would have happened if Dad and Joey just let me in on what was going on with the family business.
If they trusted me enough with the truth, then I wouldn’t have had to seek it out on my own.
The nicer man chimes in. “But you are his daughter. His only girl.”
“And why should that matter? I’ve been gone for two years. I was dating a man who I didn’t even know his true identity because my father kept me in the dark and out of the family business.”