At her words, he actually complied. Sierra was surprised enough she stopped her retreat and stared at him as he threw his head back and laughed. What the heck? Had he lost his mind? Was she going to end up on the front page of all the tabloids? She could see it now, Unwanted Heiress killed by crazy Tycoon. She was sure they'd find her body mutilated, and then manage to get a shot of her father presenting a tear.
The thought of her father crying for the camera angered her more than the thought of Damien going crazy and killing her.
Damien began his accent, pinning her to the back of the couch, her legs trapped against the high backed piece of furniture, his arms caging her in.
Desire flooded through her, causing her breath to deepen and her tongue to drift out and moisten her lips. His eyes narrowed in on the movement before slowly lifting upward and connecting with her gaze.
"I will get vengeance, Sierra, revenge against your best friend and all her relatives. You see, you were my ticket in because of who you knew. When your father called, I wanted nothing to do with him. I know the kind of man he is, but when I found out who you associated with, I figured it was my lucky day. I want them comfortable around me, thinking they're safe and sound. They may have no trouble sleeping at night, but I know the truth about the Anderson's. I know who they really are," he said, his mouth only an inch from her own.
What?? Sierra's mind raced trying to make quick sense of Damien's words. She couldn't understand why he'd want to hurt Bree or any of her family? They were some of the best people she knew.
"I … I don't understand."
"It's really quite simple, Sierra. Joseph and George Anderson swooped in and stole everything from my father – the corporation he helped his father build, the money he was left, everything! He was with my mother at the time, and she was pregnant with me. A few months after she had me, he died. She believes he took his own life, though that wasn't proven. Every last dime was ripped away from her. To make matters worse, she found out she was pregnant again. She knew she couldn't feed two children, so she left the hospital without my sister. To this day I haven't been able to find her.
"My mother died in a filthy apartment after leading an impossibly hard life. I swore to her I'd seek revenge, and I will. You were just a convenient step at getting Joseph and George's children to trust me. Once they do, I can get to their fathers, and they'll pay – they'll pay for what they put my mother through, for the loss of my sister, for the hell I endured as a child."
Damien took a breath, not backing up even the slightest as he pushed his words out through his teeth.
No. He didn't have the facts right. She knew Joseph and George. They would never be that cold-hearted.
"They would've helped your mom if she asked," Sierra said, regretting her words instantly when she saw the fire flare in his eyes.
"She went to them. She begged for their help, and they shut the door in her face, saying they wanted nothing to do with her or her bastard son," he seethed.
"That can't be true. I won't believe it," Sierra said, her own anger rising at his ill will of this family she loved.
"Believe it. The world isn't all fairy tales and pixie dust, Sierra. You need to grow up and face reality. You've signed on to help me, and if you go back on your word, I'll return you to your father and you can face his wrath," Damien threatened.
Sierra would face a thousand lashes from her father to save her friend. Even though she in no way wanted to return to the horrible man, being away from him for a few weeks had strengthened her in many ways. She still feared him, knew he'd come through on his threats and kill her if he so deemed, but for some reason, the longer she was away, the more she realized what a weak man her father truly was.
If he wanted her dead, she'd already be gone. No, death wasn't what Douglas wanted for her, he wanted her miserable. Once she stopped giving him the power over her, the thrill would be gone and he'd stop. If not, she'd rather die than live with him again.
Her mind whirled as she tried to figure out why Damien felt so hostile toward the Anderson's. If she rushed to Bree and told her everything, she wouldn't learn the rest of Damien's plan. She needed more information, what his next move would be. If he really knew these people who he thought had wronged him, he'd realized how mistaken he was. The Anderson's were truly good.
"What's the matter, Sierra? Will daddy cut you off of your colossal allowance if you displease him? He assured me you'd do whatever I want. Well, the cards are on the table – how much is your integrity worth?" he mocked.
Sierra narrowed her instantly rage filled eyes. Let him think what he wanted. She'd rather he thought she was a greedy socialite than him knowing the reality of the years of abuse she'd suffered, of how long she'd been nothing more than a weak, pathetic, beaten-down child. She'd never get the image of her father's hand rising high in the air, only to slam down on her innocent flesh, out of her head.