Restart Again: Volume 1 by Adam Scott (pocket ebook reader TXT) 📕

advantage of a beautiful woman like her. My fists and jaw clenched at the thought. How long are they going to keep her down here? Locked away, obviously without any just cause…

“It’s not your fault. And it’s not your father’s fault, either.” I didn’t know what she was thinking, but my first impulse in a situation like this was always to blame myself. That’s not something you want to carry with you. “There’s always someone out there looking to take advantage of good, honest people. And there’s not always someone to stop them.”

The girl’s face flushed as she looked away. “Thanks for saying that...and for believing me.” She laughed softly. “You know, when I first saw you down here, I thought you looked scary. Your face is kinda...angry.”

I chuckled as I gave a forced smile, scratching the back of my head. “Yeah, so I’ve been told.” I motioned around my cell. “Well, I know it’s not home, but as far as prisons go, it's not the worst one I’ve been in. The cot isn’t bad, it’s got a toilet, and I’ve had two mediocre meals a day. I’m sure you won’t be here long, so you’ll be fine down here.” I forced another smile, doing my best not to show my worry for her potentially dangerous situation.

She laughed again. “I’ve never had people bring me meals before.” The girl paused for a moment and cocked her head to the side. “What’s your name? I hope you don’t think it’s too presumptuous of me, but we’ll probably be stuck down here together for a while, so I’ll need to call you...something.”

Careful now. “You can call me...Lux.” I gave a curt nod. “It’s nice to make your acquaintance, miss…?”

“Lia. Well, it’s Marlia, but everyone calls me Lia.” She walked to the cot and sat down, her legs hanging off the side. “So, you really think I’ll be out soon?”

I caught a grimace before it reached my face. “Well, you and your family haven’t done anything wrong, right? They can’t just keep you here forever for no reason.” They probably can. “Someone will figure it out soon and send you back to your parents.” They probably won’t. “You think you can deal with bland food and a small bed for a day or two?” Those are the least of your worries.

Lia nodded. “I can do it! Thanks, Lux. You’re making it...not so bad down here.” She looked away again, swinging her feet. We sat in silence for a while, until it was broken by a rather loud yawn from across the hall. “Wow. I guess I forgot it was the middle of the night.”

I nodded. “Kidnapping and adrenaline will do that. You might want to get some sleep; you have a long day of nothing ahead of you tomorrow.”

“Right!” She slid back up the cot and wrapped up under the thin sheet. “Goodnight, Lux!” Lia called out as she settled down to sleep.

“Oh, uh, goodnight Lia.” I responded awkwardly. Don’t hold it against her; her life’s been turned upside down and I’m the only friendly face available. Whatever gets her through this. After a few minutes her breathing settled into a sleeping rhythm, and I let out a breath of relief. I began to realize I was also tired, but my mind was still preoccupied with the matter at hand.

I have to do something to get her out of here. She probably doesn’t realize it, but being used as leverage like this, she’s in a lot more danger than just being bored and hungry. Hopefully they leave her be for the next day, at least. They probably want to make her sweat, get her all worked up...I cut the train of thought early. It won’t come to that. I will NOT let it come to that. But for now...sleep. I’m not thinking at one hundred percent. Slowly, I curled back up under the sheet and attempted to get comfortable. Sleep came quickly, but it was not the restful relief I had hoped for.

---

Rastor Ashedown slammed his fist down hard on the wooden dinner table. “You are NOT going to the castle, Elden! We talked about this yesterday, and my decision is still the same.” He grimaced at me, his huge bearded face a mask of anger and stubbornness.

I paced back and forth across the stone floor, my fingernails digging into my palm as my fists continued to clench. We had been arguing on and off all day, and it had finally come to a head after an uncomfortably quiet dinner. “How can you say that, knowing she’s in danger? You just let them walk in here and—”

“Don’t you DARE put that on me! The only reason any of this is happening is because of you.” Ashedown stood in a rage, his full six foot eight frame shadowing me. “You know as well as I do what would’ve happened if I had resisted those guards. Things would be a lot worse than they are now, for her and for us.”

“Oh, don’t give me that bullshit! We could’ve left town at any time and been out of their reach, but no, you couldn’t leave your precious forge.” I yelled up at him, unphased by his threatening presence. “It’s good to know where your priorities lie. The family business before the family.”

Ashedown poked a massive, callused finger into my chest. “You better watch your tongue, boy. I gave you everything you have, and I can damn well take it all away.”

I slapped the hand away, surprised by how much force it took. Ashedown’s arms were corded with muscle, gained through decades of swinging a blacksmith’s hammer. “Don’t you get it? They already took it away! I’m just trying to get it back!”

“You know why we can’t do that!” His face contorted, the mask of anger showing just 

a flash of regret and sadness. “If you give them what they want now, what’s stopping them from pulling this again down the line when they want something else? They’ll