Mafia King's Contract Breeder
Chapter 24 That Was Pathetic

Chapter 24: 24 That Was Pathetic

Lara POV

"Why?" Emmanuel Sagres asked slowly.

"What do you mean, why?" I said, with a burst of frustration. "I’m worried about them. I just want to know that they’re alright!"

"I gave you time to settle your affairs before coming here."

"Yes, but—"

"That was only two days ago."

Yes. But I told Chloe and mom to run in a panic, and I didn’t explain anything, and I don’t even know where they are now.

"Did you tell them something you should not have?"

"No! I didn’t mention you at all."

"So what is it that you need to talk to them about?" Emmanuel asked.

I stared at him in disbelief.

"I just — want to talk to them. Is that so hard to understand?"

From the look on his face, maybe it was.

Emmanuel Sagres stared at me for a long moment.

Then he reached into his jacket and pulled out a phone.

Nothing like my battered, cracked old phone. It was a sleek, thin smartphone, faintly warm with his body heat when he put it into my hand.

"Very well. You can call them."

The rush of unexpected relief made me weak.

"Thank you—"

I closed my hand around it and took a step back. Emmanuel wrapped a hand around my wrist and pulled me back onto the sofa.

"Right here," he said lightly.

"What?!"

"I cannot have you sharing information with them," Emmanuel said, as though that should be obvious. "If you have something to say, you will say it in front of me."

I prickled at the thought of the mafia king listening in to my conversation with my family. But the need to hear Chloe’s voice was stronger.

"Fine."

I fiddled with Emmanuel’s phone, the lock screen lighting up to a bland blue background, the kind that came default with the system.

[Fingerprint not recognized]

Emmanuel took it from my hand, unlocked it, and opened it to the calling system.

Angling the phone away from him, I quickly punched in Chloe’s number and clicked call.

My heart began to race as the dial tone rang.

Beep beep — beep beep —

No one picked up the phone.

I glanced at Emmanuel anxiously. He lifted his eyebrows.

Fuck. After all that, if Chloe didn’t answer...

"Put it on speaker," he said, looking bored.

"Seriously?"

"Or you can give it back."

Pressing my lips together, I turned on the speaker and called again.

This time, Chloe finally picked up.

"Hello?"

Her familiar voice came faintly from the other end.

"Chloe! It’s me."

"What? It’s hard to hear around here — oh, you can put that there, yes."

I could hear the boom of music and voices in the background. I frowned slightly.

I spoke a little louder.

"It’s me, Lara. Chloe, where are you?"

"Lara!" Chloe cried out. "Oh God! I was so worried about you!"

The background noise cleared, as though she had stepped out from the noisy space.

"Why are you calling from a blocked number? Are you safe?"

"Yes, I’m fine. I’m just — doing a job. I’m...being a nanny for a rich family," I said.

It was the cover story I had invented while waiting around in this gilded tower today. Close enough to the truth, right? If only I had thought of something clever like that in the first place, instead of running my mouth about robbing banks and tombs.

"Oh, is that what it was? Oh, Lara! You really scared me when you told mom and I to leave East Windlem. You sounded like you had the devil chasing you."

I winced and glanced at the devil himself. He looked up with those pale blue eyes full of assessment.

I looked away again.

"Yeah, that was all just a misunderstanding. The place I’m working at has pretty strict security measures, so I might not be able to call very often. Is everything alright on your end?"

"We’ve found a place to stay," Chloe answered brightly. "I’ve been taking care of Mom, so don’t worry. And my course at Clarinton Academy will begin next month. I’m so glad that you found a good job, Lara."

I smiled, warmth filling my chest.

At last, the anxiety that had been clawing at my insides began to calm.

"You’re going to Clarinton? Are you all prepared?"

"Yeah! Uh, actually it’s not such a good time to talk. We’re in the middle of moving things. I have to go!"

"Wait, Chloe— I love you—"

Beep beep—

I stared down at the phone again morosely.

Two long fingers pulled the phone out of my hand and tucked it away again.

"That," Emmanuel said, "was pathetic."

"Excuse me?!"

He stood up, looming over me with his full height, wearing an expression of faint disgust.

"So that was your sister, hm? She cares nothing for you. And yet here you are, pining after her."

"What are you talking about?" I got to my feet too, tugging down the hem of the sheer blue babydoll, glad for the inches of extra height that the heels gave me. "You know nothing about my family."

"Samuel, Christina, and Chloe Brinson?" he said coolly. "I know everything I need. I did a background check on you before I offered you the contract."

I froze.

I thought that he had forgotten all about my dad, wasting away in prison for his crimes.

"So —you know my dad used to work for you."

Emmanuel frowned, looking as though he did not understand the question.

"Yes."

"You know that he went to prison for you."

"Yes?"

"Have you no shame?!"

"Shame?" Emmanuel looked as though the emotion just didn’t exist to him. "I have repaid him for his service."

"By taking his daughter as your sick little toy?!" I snapped.

Emmanuel’s demeanor turned even more icy than usual.

He took a step forward, forcing me to lift my chin to keep holding his gaze.

"I paid your mother a handsome amount for his service. A payment for a service, just like with you. What more do you think I owe you?"

I opened my mouth, already ready to hurl another insult at the selfish, heartless man.

Then his words registered to me.

"You paid my mother?" I said. "When my dad went to prison?"

"Yes. More than I have paid you, even."

My legs felt numb.

I collapsed back down against the sofa.

Three years ago — when dad went to prison — I never heard a word about any compensation.

Mom cried and cursed and spent all day and night out at the gambling dens, ignoring me and Chloe. I had to give up my college dreams and work at The Red Door to keep Chloe in school.

Mom knew exactly what I did.

She never said a word.

Did she gamble the compensation away...?

No, no. Mom was an absolute idiot, but she wouldn’t do that, right? Not when it was really important. She wouldn’t do that to me.

"I don’t believe you!" I said, looking up at Emmanuel Sagres with wild eyes. "You must be lying."

"I have no interest in lying to you." He tilted his head. "What I do have interest in — is why you seem to think I am to blame for all your family woes?"