"Unfortunately, you can't spend your life painting. Just a fairytale," he added.
Anger swelled from deep within. "As if you would have any idea, Father."
Another laugh. Another gulp of wine. This time, he looked me directly in the eyes, his grip firm. "You're going to have to make sacrifices for this family as well, but I assure you, everything will work out in the end."
"What in the hell are you talking about?" The fear ready to consume my entire being was suffocating. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a man approaching. Everything seemed in slow motion as I glanced in his direction.
Dominick.
"What is going on?" I demanded, now unable to yank my hand away. I felt trapped, the ugly suffocating feeling crowding beside my anger.
"Senator Hargrove. Caroline." Dominick sat down without being asked, immediately reaching for the wine. "What a delicious day."
My father was ghostly white, his lower lip trembling. There was hate in his eyes as well as resignation.
"What is going on here?" My voice was several decibels higher.
Dominick turned his head beseechingly slowly to look into my eyes. "You haven't told her yet, Drummand. You certainly had enough time."
"This is my decision! This is my daughter!" my father retorted, his chest rising and falling from ragged breaths.
"You already made the deal," Dominick said smoothly, his eyes twinkling. "You know how I feel about lies as well as people who try and renege on deals made with my family. You can imagine the consequences."
"Tell me what is going on," I hissed through clenched teeth. My father glared at Dominick, whose eyes were glistening in the sunshine, the slight curl on his mouth sickening.
"As I was saying, you need to help this family by making a sacrifice. You are very special and always will be, but what I'm asking of you is vital in order for this family to continue on." My father was almost babbling the words. "Business takes precedence."
"Business. What are you talking about?"
Dominick shifted a glance in my direction, a knowing look on his face.
I felt lightheaded, finding it difficult to breathe. "Go on, Father."
"Dominick Lugiano is a very important man," my father continued. "He has impressive connections and the ability to make or break a career."
My father had sunk to a new low. "I know who he is. He's a murderer." I laughed when I said the words. I was surprised that Dominick didn't bristle, although the look he gave me was ice cold, sending chills racing down my spine. His eyes were suddenly black as coal, glinted with evil. My skin crawled from the images flashing in my mind. I would never be clean from his ravaging touch.
"Keep your voice down!" This time, it was my father's voice that was overtly loud, drawing attention from the few at the other end of the room. He adjusted his tie, taking several deep breaths, his shaking hand reaching for his wine. Everything was deathly quiet as he took a sip.
I was sick to my stomach, a sharp pain forming in the back of my eyes. "Tell me!"
"I made a deal with Dominick. You are now his property, but he's assured me that you'll be treated fairly."
The words didn't register in any form, simply floating through my mind as if he was playing a game. I looked from my father to Dominick and the gleam in the monster's eyes was powerful.
Dark.
Demented.
"What?"
My father fiddled with his wine, taking several gulps.
"I asked you a question and you are going to answer it. What is going on?" I snapped, although I wasn't entirely certain the words could be heard.
"I made a deal in order to keep our reputation and our life intact. As I said, you will be well taken care of." Exhaling, my father seemed relieved. What the hell was going on?
"Like a fucking puppy dog? You can't be serious," I muttered, struggling until I was able to pull my hand away.
Dominick sat back, shifting his seat and crossing his legs. He gave me a long, languishing look of... Ownership. "Let's make this easier. Your father is a criminal, Caroline. He owes my family a significant amount of money. And there is more. Ugly details that you certainly shouldn't be forced to hear. He simply made a deal in order to keep you both alive. I own your father and his businesses. Now, I own his daughter."
The words stung, taking a full minute to register. Then I reacted, jerking up from the table. "You can't own a person. I don't know who you think you are, but this isn't happening. How dare you, Father. You're a horrible fucking excuse for a human being. I hate you and you will never see me again." I took long strides, not caring who'd heard my outcry. I made it outside, storming toward the curb. There had to be a way to get the fucking hell out of here.
Within seconds, I felt his hand wrapped around my arm, much like it had before. Dominick jerked me to his side, his fingers digging into my skin.
"While I understand your disgust in what your father was required to do, there is no other choice if you want your father to live."
I managed to slap him across the face, wrenching away from his hold. "You bastard."
He barely reacted, only closing his eyes for a few seconds. When he stared at me, crowding my space, there was no need for him to hold me physically. His eyes were intense, the danger exploding in his irises. "I'll let that one pass, sweet Caroline, but you will never strike me again or the punishment you receive will be severe. There will always be consequences for your actions, just like your father's. Get used to the fact that I own you. After tasting you, the deal shouldn't come as that much of a shock. Whether or not you agree to this transaction no longer matters. This is the way of business, my family's business."
The breath was knocked out of me, the terror real. He would have my father killed, everything in my life destroyed and even then, there would be no recourse. He'd played me, purchasing my art, seducing me as if I mattered to him. Everything had been a giant game.
I was now his property.
I would run, finding a way to expose my father and all his criminal activity. No one would ever own me. The thirty thousand would help. Unless he stopped payment. Jesus. Christ.
"There is nowhere for you to run and no method of doing so. I know where your girlfriend lives, Audrey, isn't it? Lovely girl. And the money I paid you? Forget about it, at least until you earn the right to have your own money."