Page 60 of The Devil's Heir
His eyes twinkle with amusement. "I certainly do. Shall we have another go at it?"
I try to shove him away, but it does no good. "I want to know what these rooms were used for!"
Jarek drops all the playfulness and turns hard eyes on me once again. "It's none of your fucking business, Lily. What happened many years ago has nothing to do with you. It's not how I do things, so just drop it."
"I'm sorry, but I can't—"
Jarek slams his hand on the wall beside my head, clenches his teeth, and growls, "You can and you will. Now, go back downstairs and forget you ever saw any of this."
He pushes himself away, making room to let me move, and I don't waste any time doing so. When I get down the hall, I glance over my shoulder to see Jarek standing in the same place, staring at the wall with his hands fisted at his sides.
I don't know what's going on, but I can't stay in a place with so many secrets. Is it really worth the money? If it's something that happened a long time ago, why can't he just tell me?
I race down the stairs, where I can breathe so much easier. My chest rises and falls in quick succession. I don't hear any footsteps behind me, but I don't want to stay and wait for Jarek to appear.
Moving back through the corridors and finding my way back to my room takes me longer. This place is like one massive maze, and it's way too easy to get lost.
"Liliana—what are you doing here?" Jackson's voice makes me jump, and I spin around to find him closing one of the doors.
"Oh! Well, I think I may be lost." I let out a soft giggle. "Is this where your room is?"
"No—"
His words are cutshort when the door opens again, and another guy steps out, fixing his clothing. My eyes return to Jackson, and I notice his slightly disheveled clothes.
"Oh!" I exclaim, finally putting two and two together. "I'm sorry—I didn't mean…"
"It's okay, Liliana. This is Seth. He works security here. We meet up before his shifts, but we never—"
I hold my hand up, stopping him. "There's no need for an explanation, Jackson. I won't tell anyone either." I turn to Seth and reach my hand out. "It's so nice to meet you."
"Miss…" He nods his head.
"Liliana or Lily, whatever you prefer."
Seth nods again and then leans into Jackson, saying, "I've got to go. I'll see you later." He kisses Jackson and hurries off down the hallway.
Crossing my arms, I raise my brow as I stare at Jackson. He rubs the back of his neck as he returns his attention to me, wearing a sheepish look, and I smirk.
"Hm, I think a little chat is in order…"
THIRTY-ONE
Jarek
Finding Liliana upstairs is not what I wanted to come home to. She doesn't need to know my family's sordid past. Until I see that she's staying for good, none of that is her business. As much as I keep saying she will stay, I really don't know.
My ancestors were fucked up, and that's all she needs to know. It has nothing to do with the present or the future. I may be depraved, and I may despise most women, but I would never do what my ancestors did. The cage punishment is the worst of my nefarious actions against women, and it's stated in their contracts.
When it comes to my lewd and sinful activities, I try to make them as consensual as I can. Of course, Carmen and a few others are exceptions. I have no respect for her or her kind, therefore consent is not needed for anything I do to her. The only thing stopping me from completing all the vicious plans I have for the bitch is her uncle at the moment, and even that connection is beginning to fray.
I have to get the fuck out of here. I thought a nice afternoon home with my pauper would be a good change, but now I have the need to hurt something or—someone. I think a trip to the Reformatory is in order.
The Reformatory is one of my moredarkerclubs. Almost anything goes while visiting this dance club, and below it—in the dark recesses of the club's basement—anythingis fair game. It's where the crime families come to do their most shady shit. Whether it's weapon deals, drug deals, or ending the life of a snitch or traitor—they pay good money to use my facility for it.
We do most of our work here. The warehouse, where I took care of Liam, is just a convenient place sometimes. Tonight, I want to play. I need something more than the other clubs can offer me, and I want to make others dirty their hands to prove their fealty to me.
Not long after leaving the office earlier, my shipping manager had sent me an email with three names: Lansky, Richards, and Gallo. If anything, my manager stays on top of everything I tell him to do.
