Page 35

“Up!” He lifts me by my elbow, and my legs buckle. So weak from the lack of food I can barely stand, but somehow, I shuffle behind him and up the stairs from the basement. My feet are numb from the cold, and each step I take feels like a heavy weight pulling me down.

The warmth of his small home hits me, and I wince at the sun streaming through the kitchen windows. Garbage is stacked on the counter, and the scent of the discarded half pizza has my stomach rumbling.

A sadistic chuckle leaves him, and I cower, which only causes his grip on me to tighten. Then he pushes me into one of the kitchen chairs while he takes the other one beside me.

Slowly, I take in my surroundings. Unable to remember the last time I came up here, I look for something different than before but find nothing. It’s all the same. A shithole.

Empty bottles of alcohol are strewn across the floor, the trash is spilled over, and drug paraphernalia coats the arms of the disused sofa.

The needle on the floor causes my stomach to roll like a cruel taunt.

Whenever I don’t comply, he uses a needle on me, and I hate it.

I hate the way my blood curdles and sickness lodges in my throat, the way my body sways and is unwilling to move at my instruction. I hate needles, and mostly, I hate him.

“Here’s what’s going to happen.” He pushes a stack of papers in my direction.

“You’re almost eighteen now.” I nod, knowing I’m almost old enough to be out of his evil clutches.

“My stepfather, Vincent Marino, has an annual Halloween party.” I nod again, remembering the venom that spilled from my father’s lips whenever he discussed his stepfather and his family.

“You’re going to go to that party, and you’re going to whore yourself out to this man.

” He taps the photo on the paperwork. As I look down into the dark eyes of the handsome man, I feel like my soul is being snatched from me.

The good girl I prided myself on being will be ripped away.

I’ve never had sex before, not for any reason, but I’ve never had the opportunity, never met someone I’ve wanted to do it with.

Could I with this man?

I glance down at the papers, chewing on my lip, and trace his broad shoulders with my finger. “Who is he?” My scratchy voice comes out on a whisper.

“Your grandfather.” My gaze snaps up toward his, and a menacing smile plays on his lips.

“You’re about to seduce your grandfather, Gracie, and in return, you get your life back.

” His smile grows wider as he flips the page to what looks like dozens of legal documents.

Hope springs in my chest, and he thrusts a pen into the palm of my hand before curling his fingers around mine so tightly the pen digs into my skin.

“I just need your compliance as insurance, then we both get what we want.”

Only, I never got what I wanted. Not yet at least. But I will. More determined than ever before.