Page 53 of The Deception You Weave

Dad's eyes burn into the side of my head, but I refuse to look away from the monster staring at me.

“Let him go," I demand.

Victor holds my eyes for a beat before the skin around his eyes crinkle and he throws his head back laughing.

"Wow, Scarlett. You've got bigger balls than I ever gave you credit for. It's such a shame Mummy ran away with you when she did. You could have been a real asset to me." His eyes once again linger on my body and my stomach churns with disgust.

"Leave her alone. This has nothing to do with her," Dad cries.

"Oh but, William. It has everything to do with her. You see, it's not just been you that's screwing me over, but both of you. And you can bet your fucking asses that I'm going to get to the bottom of it."

"I've got nothing to do with this. I did what you wanted, I planted your cameras," I spit. "It's not my fault you didn't get the intel you wanted."

"No, but it did result in one of my best men in the hospital, didn't it, Scarlett."

"What's he talking about?" Dad demands of me but again, I refuse to look at him.

"Kane's accident had nothing to do with that."

"Oh, but it was. He was angry and you pushed him over the edge."

"His actions are beyond my control."

He tuts and shakes his head. "This seems to be a regular occurrence with you, isn’t it? First Riley and now Kane. You're a curse, Scarlett Hunter."

Dad gasps but we both ignore him.

"So why did you come near me? Do you have a fucking death wish, too?" I smirk.

He chuckles, it's cold, evil and I feel it right to my toes.

"So…" he says, finally turning his eyes away from me and to my dad. "Daddy, did you want to tell your daughter why you're both really here, or shall I do the honors?"

"Fuck you." Dad spits in Victor's face.

He pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and wipes the spittle away before rearing his arm back and punching Dad square in the face. His nose explodes once again, sending a river of blood spilling from his chin.

"Stop it, please," I cry. "Stop it. This isn't his fault."

"Oh but, Scarlett. It is. You see," he says, taking a step back from my dad and pulling his handkerchief out once more to clean up his knuckles. "Daddy here isn't just a dumbass mechanic that he led you to believe. He's the one who runs most of my supply chain."

"What?" I ask, rearing back in shock. "No, you're lying. There's no way. No w—"

"I'm sorry, sweetheart." My dad's voice breaks through my shock and I sit there staring at him with my mouth hanging wide open.

"What?"

"It's true. I work for this cunt."

A growl rips from Victor's throat at Dad's words.

"It was never my intention but, fuck, some bad shit happened and I didn't have another option."

"But someone bought the garage, they paid the debts, they…" Realization dawns. "That was Victor."

An accomplished smirk appears on Victor's face.

"Dad, how could you?" I cry. He sold his fucking soul to the devil.