I suck in a gasp, hating how obvious I am about my fear. He takes a step back and indicates for me to move back to my seat.
Not ready to push boundaries again, I hastily move back to the table, glancing up just in time to watch as Marcus washes down a pill with a clear liquid that I assume is anything but water. Taking my seat, I glance around the table again, going over the options and hesitating with the foods before me, not educated enough to know what half of it is. “When you say that I’ll need energy,” I question, glancing back at Levi. “How much are we talking?”
“You better fill that plate,” he tells me. “And make it fast. My patience is growing thin.”
5
My plate is all but licked clean and I stare down at it in astonishment. That was one of the best meals I’ve ever had, despite the possibility that it could have been laced with drugs, poison, or who the hell knows what. It was the expensive kind of meal that I imagine a fancy restaurant would serve. People like me don’t eat like this, but I guess the DeAngelis brothers are living in luxury every freaking night. Though, I’m sure they probably have a professional chef chained to the stove. I’ll have to check that out at some point.
I slide the plate in front of me, unsure if that’s proper table etiquette, but honestly, I don’t give a fuck if it’s not. All I want to do is make a point that I’ve been a good little girl and abided by their ridiculous rules. So now, maybe they can offer me what I want to know in return.
Realizing that Roman is the one calling the shots here, I turn my gaze to him. “Why me?” I ask, the burst of energy from dinner making me brave, but the same fear still pulses through my veins. “Earlier, Marcus called me by name. You know who I am, which means that I wasn’t some random girl you chose to abduct for your wicked games. You targeted me.”
Roman leans forward onto his elbows and rubs his thumb and forefingers over his chin, his eyes narrowing in thought. “Yes,” he finally says, giving it to me straight. “We know exactly who you are. We know every last thing there is to know about you, but you were not targeted. We were simply collecting what we were owed.”
I shake my head, my brows furrowing in confusion. “You mean … me?”
Roman nods. “Correct.”
“No,” I rush out. “That’s insane. You’ve got the wrong girl. Owed? What does that even mean? Are you under some fucked-up illusion that you own me? Because that doesn’t make any sense. I haven’t made any weird deals with anyone. I don’t owe anyone any money. I haven’t stolen anything. I mean, I owe my landlord this month’s rent, but he’s not about to go and sell me to you to get even. He’d shit his pants at just the thought of making a deal with you. No,” I repeat, vigorously shaking my head again. “You’ve got the wrong girl. I don’t even have any friends.”
Levi sighs, bored with the conversation. “Is your name Shayne Mariano?” he questions. “Do you go by the name of Shay? Twenty-two years old. Your birthday was in March.”
“I … I mean, yes, that’s me, but you’ve got your wires crossed. There’s been some serious fuck up with the paperwork. So please, drop me back at my apartment so I can go back to my miserable life. Hell, just kick me out the front door. I can find my own way back and you can sort out whatever mix up there was on your end. I won’t even say anything about it, just please, let me go home.”
Marcus laughs, standing from the table and slowly walking toward me, his sickening gaze locked on mine. He walks around the back of my chair and I slowly suck in a deep breath, not trusting him behind me for one second. He leans forward, his chest arching over my seat as his hand comes down on the armrests of the gold-trimmed dining chair.
He reaches around me, and I watch with caution as he takes the knife from my dinner plate, admiring the sparkles of the chandelier’s light dancing across its dull blade. Before I can react, he’s pressing it against the base of my throat.
“Is your father Maxwell Mariano?” he questions, that name sending dread sailing through my veins. There is no mix up here. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, no thanks to my father. I slowly nod, letting out a sigh and not even bothering to fear the knife at my throat as I come to grips with my new reality. “Then we have the right girl.”
Marcus laughs and pulls away from me, grabbing a bottle of scotch before making his way back down the long table. Dropping into his seat, he hooks one leg over the armrest and leans back to get comfortable. “Like I said,” he grins, holding the bottle of scotch up in cheers. “Welcome to the family.”
My heart races as I look back at Roman. “Okay, so … what? He’s broke again but instead of stealing from me, he stole from you, and now I’m supposed to repay his debt?”
Roman nods. “Something like that.”
I let out a shaky breath and stand, making all three of them flinch as I begin to pace the floor behind the chair. “So what now? You just … own me? I become part of the furniture, and live down in that torture chamber until you inevitably decide to kill me? I’m just supposed to be your toy to fuck with?”
None of them respond. They just keep watching as I drive myself insane with questions. “Couldn’t you just … Why did you have to ruin my life? He’s the one who fucked up and stole from you. Fuck up his life. He’s a worthless piece of shit. I didn’t … I don’t …”
“Sit. Down,” Roman’s voice flows through the large dining hall.
Needing to calm myself, I sit back down and reach for my drink, and as I take a sip of water and close my eyes, I realize that I’m more fucked than any girl has the right to be.
I’m theirs.
The DeAngelis brothers own me.
I’m their property and there’s nothing I can do to fix this. Death seems to be the only way out of here, and it’s my fucking scumbag father that condemned me to such a fate. His gambling addiction should have been the end of him, but instead, it’s the end of me.
Fucking hell.
My elbows hit the table and I drop my head into my hands, needing to scream, but something tells me that the three psychos in the room have already had enough of my outbursts today. Roman said they’ve been lenient, and I have to agree, but that’s only going to last so long.
My tongue rolls over my bottom lip and I let out a shaky breath, wanting to know every bit of information that they’re willing to offer me before this little grace period is over. “You mentioned rules,” I ask, not aiming my question at a specific brother. “What rules?”
Levi takes the reins. “As we mentioned, you will earn your meals. Behave and you will be rewarded. Try to run from us, and you will suffer the consequences as you learned before. However, we do not make a habit of missing. Do not be fooled,” he says, allowing his knife to glisten in the light and shine right into my eyes. “I have no issue stabbing this knife right through your back.”
I swallow hard. I’m certainly not fooled. These guys have earned their reputation for a reason.
I nod, starting to feel the heaviness of the situation weighing down on me. “What else?”
“It’s quite simple,” Marcus says, filling in for his brother as his voice drops to a tone so sinister that chills spread through my body and send goosebumps rising on my skin. “When it’s time to play, you better be ready. Girls who refuse us don’t often enjoy what comes next.”