Golden Cage Mommy Mutiny (Elyse) novel Chapter 76

Julian rushed to his father, face flushed with shame. “Dad, I was wrong–I shouldn’t have snuck out by myself.”

The harsh, hard–faced man who’d looked ready to rip someone apart softened the instant he saw

his son.

He patted Julian’s shoulder and said gently, “It’s alright–your old man was worse at your age.”

Then he shoved Julian forward and put on a stern expression. “Julian, you’re grown now–stop acting like a child, okay?”

“If I hadn’t checked the footage in time, do you know how close you were to real danger today?”

Julian bowed his head, contrite. “I won’t do it again, Dad.”

That quiet, private exchange of fatherly concern sent Tessa, Derek and the others into cold sweats;

they finally understood they’d messed with someone they shouldn’t have.

When Vincent finished soothing his son, his face turned hard as flint and he barked an order to the

men in black: “Teach them a lesson–beat those scum until they don’t even know their mothers.”

At his command the men surged forward, boots and fists flying toward us.

Julian stepped between me and the attackers and turned to his father. “Dad, she’s not with them-

she helped me.”

He took my hand and gently pulled me aside.

Vincent rubbed his head, gave a hollow laugh, and said, “Right—right. I almost forgot. The tape

shows a girl helping him.”

“Keep her out of the way. Don’t hurt her,” he added, then, without missing a beat, snapped coldly,

“Now you may proceed.”

At that signal the black–clad men descended on Tessa, Derek and their two friends with full force.

They came back up whining and screaming for mercy.

“Sir, I’m sorry–please have mercy!” one of them cried. “Help–someone’s dying!”

Chapter 5

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When the four were beaten to the point of barely breathing, Vincent finally signaled to stop.

He stepped forward, grabbed Tessa by the hair, and hissed in her face, “You called me nothing, said I wasn’t worth anything–say that again and see what happens.”

He jabbed his chin toward her. “I’m standing right here. Try me.”

Blood and dirt smeared her face; all her swagger had drained away.

Tessa dropped to her knees and started banging her forehead on the pavement, choking out pleas. “Please… Boss man… I was wrong–please spare me, I won’t ever do it again.”

Vincent snorted, kicked her over, and spat, “You smashed my son’s car, you hit him, you even tried to take advantage of him. Since you’re so eager for men, I’ll arrange for you to be trafficked down in Central America–let you get everything you want.”

“But because you hit my son,” he added, voice like ice, “I want your hands left intact as proof before you go.”

“You lot forced me to walk away from the old life and go straight–then you made me break my vow. You begged for this.”

He then strode to Tessa’s two friends and, with a single sweep, kicked them to the ground, his tone bone–deep cold.

“I hear you even dared to pee on my son’s car,” he said. “You know what my rules demand for

that?”

The two girls clutched themselves and howled, “Please, sir–spare us!” then pointed at Tessa. “It was her she made us do it!”

–

Vincent ignored their pleas and looked back at Tessa, his face flat as slate.

“You’re counted as well,” he said.

Chapter 5