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CHAPTER EIGHT

“Things go up and down. If you can survive the down, it will come back.” ~ John Denver

Em

Thanksgiving came and went. Shyla’d had a plate brought up for me, and I’d eaten it while I watched a movie on my phone. It was lonely, but being left alone in this house was mostly for the best.

I’d been spending the last few days thinking about Saros’s offer. It was tempting. I mean, Saros Tancredi? Holy shit . Ramsey, Shyla, and RJ had talked about him a ton of times. Shyla would comment on how hot he was and that it was a shame he was single, and she was right about the hotness factor. They’d heard he played for the other team, and they entertained RJ maybe trying to get into his pants. But RJ was as straight as an arrow, and no one would buy that.

Ramsey at times spoke about how he admired the man and in the same breath how he wished he wasn’t around so some of his power could be up for grabs. It would be an insane person who went up against Saros.

Was he the only man Ramsey feared? If so, maybe working for Saros would be a great idea.

It would be a week in a couple of days, and I was curious if I’d see Saros again. Would I be sent to retrieve the package? He’d want an answer, and even I didn’t know what I was going to tell him.

The butler entered my room. “Your presence is requested.”

I didn’t have to wonder by whom; it wasn’t like anyone other than Ramsey or Shyla ever asked for me.

I got off the bed, placing my book down, and followed Jim to the other side of the house. Ramsey was alone in the dining area and once Jim escorted me in, he slid the oak doors shut.

Ramsey looked up from his mug. “Sit.” He eyed the seat beside him, so I went quickly.

“I have another package I need you to pick up for me at The Vine on Wednesday.”

I didn’t understand why Ramsey was asking me personally, or in such secrecy, but I wasn’t about to question him.

“Okay.”

“Same as last week. Go in, ask for Cosmo, and tell them you’re the pickup.”

“I understand.”

“Do you, though?”

I didn’t like his tone; it was part sarcastic and part dark.

“Yes, sir.”

“Here’s the thing, Em. Brandi, the bartender that works there, told me some interesting news.”

Fucking hell . “Oh?” I tried to act innocent, but it wouldn’t matter what expression I had on my face. Ramsey had already decided how this would go.

“Cosmo had you follow him to an office. Saros entered the office as well—not unusual, she said. But she told me that you ran out of there like a cat on fire. Then, shortly after, Cosmo left and was ordering people about. And when the night ended, Saros gave Brandi orders that if she saw you enter The Vine again to let him know no matter the time or day.”

Brandi was a bitch. I didn’t know what to say to him, not sure anything would suffice. So I stayed quiet.

“Why has Saros Tancredi taken an interest in you, and what is Cosmo Porter looking for?”

“I…I don’t know the answers to your questions.” That was partially true. I really had no idea what Cosmo was up to, but I did know why Saros was interested in me.

“What happened in that office?” Ramsey leaned forward and grabbed my hand in a punishing grip.

“He…he said he hadn’t seen me before. Was skeptical of me. Asked me a ton of questions, and then he finally handed me the package.”

“What kind of questions?” He squeezed harder and I grunted. “Answer me!”

“He asked if I liked working for you and how much I was paid.” I wasn’t about to tell him I was offered a job. “He wanted my name.”

“Did you give it to him?”

“I told him I was Em, that’s all.”

“And did you tell him you liked working for me?”

“Yes, sir.” The pop of my knuckle as Ramsey squeezed forced out a scream.

“And what did you tell him I paid you?”

I was starting to sweat, the pain was immense. “I said enough to have a roof over my head and food in my belly.”

“And that appeased him?”

“Yes, sir. Please.”

He released me, and I could immediately tell my pinky was broken.

“I think it would be best for the next two days—until you’re to pick up the package—that you have time to reflect on why you are the biggest mistake in my life.”

“What? Why? I did all you asked me to do.”

“And yet you kept vital information from me. Jim,” he shouted.

“Sir, please. I need to be at the top of my game for Wednesday.”

“You’ll be released with plenty of time to freshen up.”

The doors slid open, and Jim stepped in.

“Jim, please escort Em to the basement.” Ramsey narrowed his eyes at me. “You won’t give him trouble will you?”

My eyes burned, but I wouldn’t let any tears fall. There was literally nothing I could do to please this man. Even when I did things right, whenever I worked it out some way to do the very thing he needed, it wasn’t enough.

“No, I won’t.”

“Good, then get out of my face.”

I followed Jim through the hallway. The kitchen buzzed again—clearly Ramsey was having guests tonight. He opened the basement door and while every part of me wanted to rebel and hit him and run, I’d never make it out of this house alive.

I descended the stairs, gripping the banister, knowing he’d shut it before I made it down and I’d be sheathed in darkness.

I didn’t really need light here. I’d been to this very basement more times than I could count. My foot hit the ratty mattress and I fell onto it, wincing as I jostled my finger. I’d need to find something here to make a splint.

I felt around for a while, happy once I found things that would work. I wrapped it up and lay back on the mattress. I’d fortunately just finished a Pop-tart from my stash prior to Jim coming to get me, so I was okay for food at the moment.

The throbbing of my finger and hand actually lulled me to sleep. I hoped I could stay that way until the door opened again. I wasn’t going to do any reflection down here…Well, I supposed that wasn’t true.

If I worked for Saros, I couldn’t imagine he’d ever break my hand, toss me into a basement, starve me, and tell me every second how much he hated me.

In the darkness I remembered his face, his blue eyes, that sinister and sexy smile. How he’d practically offered to save me. In my heart, I knew if I’d told him the truth in that office, I wouldn’t be here right now.

Maybe it was time to climb out of this hellhole and fight back. I just hoped I wasn’t sentencing myself to a darker fate.