Page 56 of The Devil's Heir

Liliana

I don't know exactly how long I've been here. I think it's been two, maybe three days at most. There are no windows down here, and I'm always in the dark. The only light I ever see is when Heath brings me my two meals.

I sit in the dark, I eat in the dark, and I use the bathroom in the dark, which consists of a five-gallon bucket. I'm left alone, and that's okay because my situation could be worse. There are many things Heath could be doing to me, but he isn't, and for that, I am thankful.

I'm just finishing my lunch when I jump at the sound of the door opening. Typically, Heath doesn't come back until supper time. He leaves me my food and takes my lunch tray back upstairs, so his presence this soon after he's brought me my food is alarming.

"You get to stretch your legs, Princess." Heath stalks toward me, causing me to cower.

I don't mean to show him this weakness, but I'm tired and sore and in no condition to fight off any unwanted attention.

Heath doesn't touch me, though. He first goes to the wall and unlocks the chain that connects to the cuffs around my wrists.

Then, he helps me to stand, and I'm made to follow him up the stairs and out of the dungeon-like basement.

"W-where are we going?" I stammer, blinking continuously to try and adjust my eyes against the sunlight coming through the windows.

"The boss wants to talk to you and they don't want to do it in the basement. You will behave or else…" Heath warns.

I strengthen my resolve and tilt my chin up as I reply, "Good.

I have a few choice words for this boss of yours.

" Then, hoping to get a good dig in, I add, "I can't believe you're still working for others.

You could have made something for yourself, but instead, you chose to be a douche and do despicable things to others.

You're not the boy I was proud to call my brother. "

I'm jerked forward as he yanks on the chain, bringing me nose-to-nose with him. Heath sneers, "Not everyone can have a golden pussy like you, Princess. You want to talk about me? How about you? What happened with you despising Jarek Falcon? You were running from him—"

"Yeah, and found someone ten times worse than him!" I state snidely, cutting him off. "At least he won't sell me to the highest bidder!"

"I would never have made you have a kid," Heath bites back.

"Jarek didn't make me do anything. It was my choice to have his heir," I glare back at the asshole.

Heath pulls back a few inches, and his eyes peruse my body before meeting mine again. "If you wanted a kid, I could have fucked one into you. It's not that hard to make them."

"In your fucking dreams, Heath! You have nothing that I would want my child to have."

"Oh? And what does Falcon have besides money?" Heath scoffs.

I raise my brow at him, "If money isn't enough of an answer for you, then how about his looks, swagger, and he's"—I glance down at Heath's crotch before returning my stare to his—"very well endowed."

I can see the tick in Heath's jaw as his hand tightens around the chain. "I remember how you loved sucking my cock. Maybe I should remind you what it's like."

"That was before I knew any better."

"Look here, you little bitch—"

"Don't fault her for being right, Mr. Richards. My nephew is very well endowed." A woman's voice comes from behind me, and my hackles rise.

I know that voice.

I hear her heels click on the wooden floor as she walks closer. I close my eyes, hoping I'm wrong to think it's Carmen, but I'm not. When I open my lids again, she stands there, smirking at me.

My stomach churns at the thought of her knowing what Jarek looks like under his clothing. Have they? No, I don't believe that at all. Jarek would never touch her. At least, I hope he wouldn't .

Carmen reaches out and places her hand on my tiny baby bump.

I've only just noticed the little bit of roundness a few days ago.

Jarek was thrilled to see it as he kneeled in front of me and sprinkled kisses around it.

It wasn't a picture I thought I'd ever see, and I definitely wouldn't have taken the Mafia Boss as a doting father-to-be.

He's more excited for this baby than I ever thought he would be, and it warms me knowing that.

I try to step back, away from her touch, but Heath's grip on the chain won't let me. I don't trust this bitch to be this close to me or the baby.

"I told Jarek that I'd have his heir for him, you know. I'm still young enough…"

"You can't be serious! You were married to his uncle—and he's like half your age!" I say incredulously.

"So what? I'm still as beautiful as ever, and the men love me," Carmen states, then turns her eyes to Heath and asks, "Don't you?"

The corner of his lip tilts up. "Yeah, you're a wildcat, Carmen."

"I think it's called a cougar," I mumble, rolling my eyes.

Carmen finds my little jab amusing and smiles.

She steps closer and stares down her nose at me.

"I will be the one to have the next Falcon heir.

You can either take the money I'm willing to give you and leave the country, or you will leave on the next shipment, and God only knows whose hands you will end up in. "

She grabs my chin and narrows her eyes, turning my head from side to side. I jerk away, and she releases me, but only to turn the same narrowed eyes on Heath.

"I told you not to touch her. Where did all these bruises come from? "

Heath shrugs. "She's a klutz. What can I say?"

"That's a lie! You hit me multiple times the first day I was here."

"You're lucky that's all I did, Princess. You deserved more!" he growls.

"Enough!" Carmen barks. Her attention is trained on me again as she asks, "So, what will it be? Will you leave on your own, or will we do this the hard way?"

I think about her offer. It's what I've been wanting, isn't it?

To be free to do as I please and not have to worry about money?

But now—I have a baby to think about, and I have Jarek.

How can I let him believe that money meant more to me than what we've had?

God, am I hearing what's coming out of my mouth?

Just a few weeks ago, I was ready to leave as soon as I had this baby, and now?

Now, I'm thinking about how much it would hurt Jarek if I took Carmen's offer.

Looking back, things have been great, and I've seen a different side to the devil.

I love what we have now. Hell, I think I may even love him !

I let my defiance shine through as I stare at Carmen and proudly state, "I don't want your money, Carmen. I'm having Jarek's heir, not you."

The sinister grin on her blood-red lips sends chills up my spine, but I don't back down.

"You should know I don't make idle threats, little girl. Be sure you can handle the heat before stepping into the fire." The older woman crosses her arms, lifting one of her drawn-on eyebrows.

"I can handle it just fine. The question is, can you? Once Jarek finds out that you're the one who had me abducted, there will be no place for you to hide. He will come for you." I truly don't know how good Jarek is at finding people, but I'm putting my faith in the devil himself.

An amused laugh escapes Carmen's lips. "Please, Jarek is still a boy playing at being a man.

He's the least of my worries. He will be a good boy and do as his Aunt Carmen says, just like the good old days.

After all, I have something that he treasures.

" Her eyes wander back to my mid-section before she spins and walks to the door.

Carmen pauses and looks over her shoulder. "I'll give you twenty-four hours to reconsider, then all deals are off." She opens the door and disappears.

I stare after her in disbelief. I can't believe those are the two choices she gave me!

"Come on. Back downstairs you go." Heath pulls at the chain, forcing me to follow him.

"Please don't put me back down there!" I beg.

"Sorry, Princess. I can't chance you getting away," he replies, dragging me back into the darkness.

"What happened to you, Heath? We used to be best friends…"

"You screwed me over, Lily. That's what happened."

"You were going to pimp me out!"

"I was trying to make us some money. Nothing is free, Liliana. "

I just gawk at him. "No, but there were other ways. We could have left and made a life elsewhere, but you had to go screw it up." I march back over to the corner where he keeps me chained and wait for him to lock the chain in place.

When he's done, Heath approaches me and takes my shoulders. "I really did care for you, Lily. I was trying to figure shit out for us. I know I fucked up, but you didn't—"

"I'm tired, Heath. Please leave me alone," I cut him off.

Sitting on the floor, I try to make myself comfortable and close my eyes. I can still feel his presence, but then he sighs.

"Whatever. I hope for your sake you make the right decision…"

I hear his words as he climbs the stairs, but I keep my eyes closed in case he looks back. I don't want him to see the tears straining to break free. I'm not crying for what Heath and I once had. I want to cry for what Jarek and I may never have if he doesn't find me in time.