Page 20 of Stealing the Dancer

It’s a fight to keep my eyes on Hagen when I notice Mack’s eyes start to open.He lies on the floor between Hagen and me, and I’m not sure why he brought him in here.He has to have some kind of plan, or he would’ve already killed him.For some reason, he’s playing with Mack.

“What does that have to do with me?”I ask, and a creepy smile takes over his face.

“No one will question when I take your father’s place if I have his daughter on my arm.”

“Hardly anyone knows I exist,” I remind him.

I’ve been one of my father's best-kept secrets.Sure, there might be some whispers.A few times when my father took me to the ballet, some gossiped that I was his young girlfriend.As gross as that was, my father didn’t correct them for my own protection.

It hits me hard in the chest.That’s all he’s ever wanted to do.I know he didn’t pick this life either.It was handed to him from his own father, and Grandpa passed away long before I could remember him.

“Soon all will know.”The idea suddenly terrifies me, but isn't that what I wanted?To be seen and heard?No, I wanted to be free.

“What are you going to do to him?”I glance down at Mack.

“You’re going to watch him die.”

“No!”I scream, pulling at my binds.

“It’s your own fault.You gave yourself to him.I can smell him all over you.You caused his death.”I swallow the lump in my throat because he’s not wrong.If Mack dies, his blood will forever be on my hands.

“He’ll kill you.”

“He has no fucking idea.He’ll never see it coming.”Hagen smirks, thinking I’m talking about my father.

“I don’t think you’re as clever as you think you are,” I spit.

“You underestimate me,” Hagen sneers.

“He’ll kill you all too.”I glance at the three men behind Hagen.When I did a count on the screen in the panic room, I knew there was more.I’m guessing they’re outside.

The men glance at each other like they are debating if they made the right choice.I’m guessing they didn’t work for my father, and that’s why I’ve never seen them.Hagen must have brought them in himself.

“Shut up or I’ll gag you,” Hagen barks at me.

“You didn’t tell them, did you?”

“Tell us what?”one of the men asks.

“Shut up!”Hagen snaps again.

“Who my father is.”We’re states away from home.People around here might not know who he is, but back home, they do.

“Who’s her father?”another asks.

“I said—” Hagan begins, but I cut him off.

“Roy Baxter,” I say, and their eyes widen.

“It doesn’t matter.He’s as good as dead,” Hagen tells his men, who aren’t so sure if they want to be here anymore.

“Wrong,” I tell Hagen.“It’s you that's as good as dead.”

ChapterFourteen

MACK

“Isaid shut your mouth, you little slut.”I watch in horror as Hagen rushes over to Whitley and backhands her.The sound cracks through the room, and the rage that fills me is enough to bring me fully out of my fog.

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