I narrowed my eyes at him as I tried to understand the long game. There had to be one, but what was it? “I don’t believe you,” I said.

“I don’t care if you believe me, but I will tell you that I do have an ulterior motive which I’m going to keep to myself for now.” He looked at the phone and walked around the table to a cupboard. My eyes grew wide as Cain pulled out a ball gag.

“I’m not putting that on,” I said, backing away as he turned in my direction. He held it up as if it was for me to inspect. The bright purple ball swung from the leather straps from his fingers.

“I got this special for you, Sunshine. I even made sure it was made in your favorite color.”

“I don’t care what color it is. I’m not putting that on.” I pressed my lips tight together. A slight vibration started up in my body as he continued to take one slow step at a time, moving closer to me.

“Oh, I think you will. In fact, I think you’re going to turn around for me and open your mouth like a good girl so I can put this on without you causing one single bit of trouble.”

My eyes narrowed into slits as I clutched the fabric of the pajamas tighter in my fists. “Why,” I asked, but I didn’t want the answer.

“You love your father, don’t you?” My stomach dropped to the floor. No words could have affected me more. “He lives in London with his new wife and baby on the way. You were trying to go visit him, were you not?”

Warning bells were ringing loud and clear as I distinctly remembered my tickets getting canceled every time I placed the order.

“It was you. You kept canceling my tickets.”

“You do catch on quick, Sunshine. I really like that about you. Yes, I couldn’t let you fly off to London and not come back.” Cain held up his finger as I opened my mouth to speak.

“Don’t try to deny it. I know you wouldn’t have returned. I told you, Sunshine, I know you better than you even know yourself. Also, just so you know, he’s not looking for you or worrying about you. I texted him to say you’d see him after you completed school. You just decided you didn’t want to fall behind.”

My jaw twitched as I snapped my mouth closed. “Now turn around and open your mouth, or I’ll have to send my brother to visit your father. I must warn you. He’s more twisted with his ways than I am. There is no telling what body part he’d cut off first.”

“He’s the one that leaves them looking mangled, isn’t he?”