The captivating eyes I love so much on my boyfriend stare back at me with lust-fueled malevolence. But instead of the warmth and love I usually feel when I’m on the receiving end of those beautiful hazels, I’m cold. Ice cold. The intent behind this sick bastard’s gaze as he’s leisurely roaming my body is crystal clear. He wants to hurt me and violate me, and he’s going to enjoy every second of my agony. Too bad for him, I’m going to do my damnedest not to give him the satisfaction.
Preston stands up again and holds his arms out. “What do you think of your new accommodations? You’re my first guest on this particular yacht. We’re about to set sail on her maiden voyage.”
This jackass acts like he didn’t just kidnap me or tie me to a bed against my will.
I snort. “Last I checked, you’re not supposed to drug or kidnap your guests .”
Preston leans against the built-in cabinet beside him. “Yes, that was unfortunate. But my son never seems to leave your side—boy is like a dog with a bone—so I had to take the opportunity while I could.”
“By paying off my driving instructor?”
His salt-n-pepper hair brushes his forehead as he inclines his head. “You’re smart, just like your mother was.”
“Don’t talk about my mom,” I seethe. “You have no right to even think about her.”
Preston releases a hearty laugh. “See, now that’s where you’re wrong. I have every right to think about her.”
I scoff. “Oh, yeah? And why’s that?”
“Because she was supposed to be mine, but my asshole business partner had to go and knock her up! ”
My eyes widen in surprise, from the words and the fact that this ordinarily poised man is yelling.
Preston straightens his spine and smiles. “You didn’t know that, did you? How much did your mother tell you about me? About your father?”
I know he doesn’t deserve an answer, but I also know the truth will be a massive blow to his ego, so I feel compelled to reply.
My lips turn up in the corners. “She said absolutely nothing about you. I didn’t know you existed until after I moved in with my sperm donor.”
I swear the vein on his forehead looks like it’s about to blow. “Liar!”
Damn. Mr. Calm and Collected has definitely left the building. Or the boat, rather.
“Nope.” I smack my lips together, popping the P.
Before I can even blink, pain ricochets through my face as he slaps me. My vision blurs as tears fill my eyes. Shit, my cheek feels like it’s on fire. I yank at my restraints, instinctively wanting to cup my burning cheek, but I’m reminded once again that I’m tied to a headboard.
“Watch your mouth!” Preston starts pacing back and forth in front of the bed. “You may look almost exactly like her, but you sure as hell don’t act like her. Mahalia was much more cooperative.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I knew there was something special about your mother from the start. Unfortunately, that bitch I was married to at the time refused to have live-in staff. I thought maybe when I knocked her up, she’d change her tune—especially when she found out we were having twins—but she had a stubborn streak a mile wide. Letting Mahalia go wasn’t an option, so Charles agreed to take her into his house. Then, the prick got her pregnant within the first month and decided to keep her to himself. I should’ve never married Jennifer. Look what I got out of it: two ungrateful brats who are sitting on a big pile of what should’ve been my money. If only I hadn’t had that foolish itch to produce an heir.”
I’m suddenly glad Kingston isn’t here right now to hear his father spewing vitriol.
I raise my brows. “So, my mother and father were in a relationship at some point?”
This man is psycho, no doubt, and I know it’s only a matter of time before he’s done with the talking portion of whatever he has planned. But you can bet your ass I’m going to glean as much information as possible while he’s so chatty. Plus, the longer I can keep him talking, the longer Kingston has to find me.
Preston glares at me. “No, they weren’t in a relationship, but she wasn’t treated like the others. Mahalia’s situation was... unprecedented. She was afforded certain... privileges, provided she cooperate. And oh, how she did cooperate . For a while, at least.”
I ignore the comment about my mom’s cooperation. I don’t need to hear him say he forced himself on her to know that’s what happened. If there was ever any doubt before, that’s long gone.
“What others?”
A wicked grin stretches across his face. “If you don’t figure out how to quickly fall in line, you’ll find out soon enough.”
The words Preston said to Madeline in that video suddenly race through my head.
I bet you’d get off on watching the new girls go through seasoning. When they’re screaming and crying and begging for mercy... girls get taken against their will over and over and over again... beaten and starved and drugged every time they fight...
I choke back bile. “Why am I here? What are you planning to do to me?”
“I plan on getting what’s long overdue. I’m tired of people trying to take what’s mine. First Charles, then that meathead who couldn’t listen to simple instructions. Even my own son, who I thought I could depend on to be my successor, fucked up. He had to go and fall in love with you. He tried to deny it, and he put on a pretty good show, but I know him better than he thinks I do. I was perfectly fine with letting him play with you for a while, but I will not let him keep you. I knew it was time to make my move once it became obvious that’s exactly what he intended on doing.”
Jesus, this guy is unhinged.
“What exactly do you think is ‘long overdue’?”
“Patience, beautiful Jasmine. First, I have a surprise for you.”
Preston gets a maniacal look on his face before disappearing into what I assume is a bathroom. I stretch my neck to see as he returns, pulling something behind him. Oh, shit. Not something . Someone . Crazy Pants here is dragging my severely beaten sperm donor through the doorway, leaving a trail of smeared blood across the polished floor. Charles’ face is so swollen, I hardly recognize him. At first, I think he’s unconscious, but then a pained groan escapes his lips as Preston stops and drops Charles’ upper body back to the floor.
“What the fuck?”
I don’t realize I said that out loud until Preston responds.
“You see, Jasmine. It’s time you learn the truth about how your mother really died. Consider it my gesture of goodwill in exchange for your future deference.” Charles groans even louder this time when Preston kicks him in the ribs. “Go on, Charles. Tell Jasmine how you’re responsible for Mahalia’s death.”
I’ll say it again: What. The. Fuck.
Chapter 25
JAZZ
“What?!”
Preston rolls his eyes when Charles still doesn’t produce any intelligible sounds. “Oh, fine. I guess I’ll tell her since you’re indisposed .”
“What’s there to tell? My mom got caught in the middle of a drive-by while she was waiting for the bus.”
He nods. “Yes, that disgustingly crime-ridden area you lived in was quite convenient to make it look like an accident, wasn’t it? But let me ask you this: Did the police ever mention any gang involvement? Or did you just assume?”
I don’t like where he’s going with this.
“Drive-bys happen all the time in LA. Why would I think any differently?”
“And that’s exactly why it was such a perfect cover-up!” Preston points his finger at me. “You see... when in reality, after many years living in freedom—per the agreement your father made behind my back because the sonuvabitch loved her in his own twisted way—Mahalia decided to pay Charles a visit.”
“Why would she do that?”
He grins. “That’s what makes this whole thing so great. Her maternal instincts apparently won out over her self-preservation. And that ultimately led to her demise.”
I shake my head. “I don’t get it.”
“Mahalia got the idea in her head that she could extort money from Charles.” He laughs. “Quite frankly, I think she’d been away for so long, she forgot who she was dealing with. Anyway... you see, her oldest daughter—that’d be you —was getting ready to start her senior year of high school. Poor Mahalia only wanted what was best for her child, who was highly intelligent, but had no hopes of going to college without a full scholarship.”
No.
“Ah... I can see by your face that you know I’m speaking the truth. Shall I continue?”