After I managed to choke down the eggs and bacon, I finished my coffee and sat back in my chair.
“I’d like to go now,” I said.
“I bet you would,” he said. “But unfortunately, you’re going to be staying here for a while.”
“You can’t keep me prisoner.” I glared at him and felt my anger rising again. “Just because you think I’m involved with the Club.”
“Oh, darling,” he said, his voice low, a little smile on his face. He leaned toward me and stared into my eyes, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. “That’s not the only reason I’m keeping you.”
“What… why else could you want me?”
That smile got bigger and I felt like I might not keep my breakfast down after all.
“Like I said, you’re a good-looking Irish girl,” he said.
“If you touch me,” I said, clenching my jaw. “I’ll rip your dick off.”
He leaned back and laughed. He seemed genuinely delighted, but I stared him down, feeling sick and dizzy and in pain from the wound on my shoulder.
“Oh, shit, Colleen. I love it. But don’t worry, I don’t take what isn’t mine.” He laughed again and stood up, coffee in his hand. He carried his finished plate into the kitchen then turned and stared at me, arms crossed over his chest.
“No,” he said, “I’m going to keep you because you’ll be a good bargaining piece to use against your uncle. Even if your family isn’t involved in the Club anymore, still doesn’t mean he’ll turn his back on his niece. And beyond that, I like the idea of a pretty red head walking around my house.”
“Screw you,” I said.
“Any time you want, darling.” He smiled and walked behind me, and put his hands on my shoulders. I felt a shiver run along my skin and I tried to pull away, but the pain in my wound flared up and I let out a little groan.
“Don’t touch me,” I said.
He pulled his hands away.
“I have a meeting,” he said. “But I can’t leave you alone here, so you’re going to have to come with me.”
“What?”
“You heard me.” He stepped back and gestured at the stairs. “Get up and get ready.”
“I don’t have any clothes,” I said. “And these are covered in blood.”
“I’ll bring you up something to wear,” he said. “Go get in the shower and clean yourself up.”
I crossed my arms. “No,” I said.
He stared at me for a long moment then let out a sigh.
“We’re meeting with the Don of my family,” he said. “And so I can’t have you smelling like blood and sweat and fear. So get your ass up, go take a shower, and I’ll bring you fresh clothes. And if you play nice, I’ll give you a little bit of freedom tonight instead of locking you in that bedroom. Okay?”
I stared at him for a long moment then crossed my arms. “No,” I said again.
“Fine,” he said. “I tried to do this the nice way.”
I didn’t have time to react before he grabbed the back of the chair and pulled me away from the table. I turned my body toward him and lifted my arm, intent on hitting him, but pain flared in my shoulder again. I let out a groan as he stooped down, slid his arms behind me, and lifted me straight out of the chair.
I stared at him, mouth open, too angry and in too much pain to say anything. I tried to hit him weakly, and only managed to brush my left hand across his cheek. He let out a little grunt but didn’t break stride as he carried me upstairs. I noticed a padlock hanging on the doorframe and I realized that’s how he kept me inside, as he carried me into the room, into the bathroom, and deposited me on the ground.
I stared at him from the cold tile floor as he stepped over me and turned on the shower.
“Dr. Chen said to be careful with the stitches for the next few days,” he said. “Clean it, but be very gentle. Pat it dry when you’re done. There are new bandages under the sink, and if you need help getting it on, I’ll come up.”
I looked away, down at the porcelain tub. I could see spider-webbed cracks in its smooth white surface, and I wanted to scream, wanted to kick. But I knew it wouldn’t do much good.
He had me. And I wasn’t going anywhere.
“Get showered,” he said. “If you’re not cleaned up by the time I come back, I’ll carry you into the shower, strip you naked, and clean you myself. And trust me, I’d much rather we did it that way.”
I didn’t look at him as he turned and left the room. I heard the bedroom door shut and a lock click into place.
I felt alone and so small. There was nothing I could do right now. The bastard had me, whether I liked it or not.
And I knew there was no escape.
If he was going to war with the Celtic Club, he wasn’t going to let me go. Pretending like he might was just a fantasy. He was right, even if my father wasn’t involved with the Club anymore and I had no real affiliation, Mathis was still my uncle, and he was still the Club’s Second.
I was a bargaining chip for that bastard. Just a tool for him to use.
I hated him. I hated him so much I couldn’t breathe.
And yet the memory of his touch still lingered. His strong arms, his concerned face as he picked me up from the floor of that bodega. He carried me back here and saved me, all before he knew who I was.
He didn’t want me to die, even though he could’ve left me there if he wanted.
That kept bothering me. He could’ve
