A father demands repayment of a ransom he paid for his kidnapped son. Will the son draw the line at committing murder?
Ransomed from ruthless kidnappers, fourteen-year-old Michael Romanov can't believe his father expects him to repay the money for his release.
The elder Romanov shanghais his son to South America, where three months of brainwashing adjust Michael's 'tude.
The illegal activities and risks he takes don't bother Michael. In fact, he sees them as fun. But he can't stand the cocky bodyguard who never misses a chance to poke Michael.
A showdown is inevitable, but Michael's father unaccountably whisks him back to Denmark. There, he takes his South American experiences and puts them to good use. He starts a lucrative porn business.
That mistake soon knocks his life off the rails. He claims innocence, but how can a psychopath be innocent?
Excerpt
My father sank into one fireside chair and pointed at the other one. Taking my time, I eased down onto the dense feather cushion, fighting the picture of being swallowed by the thickness. My feet barely skimmed the carpet. Mentally, I regressed to a small child whose legs stuck straight out in a chair belonging to a giant.
My father gave me no time to rearrange the pillow at my back. He barked, “Who is Simon Lund?”
My insides quivered, but I forced my facial muscles to relax. “Who?”
His eyes narrowed. “That clank you heard is the trap you stepped into.”
“Why do you want to trap me?”
“I don’t. I want to see if the past two hundred and sixteen days have taught you anything.”
“What should they have taught me?” Besides you’re a sadist?
“To accept I run your life.” He leaned into the space between us.
The contempt in his eyes should have scared me, but I returned his stare.
Nostrils flared, he leaned back. “You and Dimitri owe me fealty.”
Fealty? What century does he live in?
“You have heard of los desaparecidos and Argentina’s dirty war.”
“Thousands of Argentine political protestors disappeared under the current dicta—”
He waved his hand, dismissing my attempt to show off. “I can make you a desaparecido. No one will ever figure out what happened for certain. Kidnapped by militants. Tortured by insurgents. Drowned—or shot—or beaten to death—by thugs. Your body will never be found.”
My throat went dry—the only sign his scare tactics were working. I croaked, “I’m your son.”
“My son is dead.” His fingernails dug into the arms of his chair. “Your mother believed you killed Alexei. I think she was probably right. Now, who did you say Simon Lund is?”
“He . . .” I searched for the right word, found none, and said, “he works for me.”
“Doing what? Exactly. I’m in no mood to play games.”
“He sells magazines—”
“Illegal magazines.”
“No.” Technically, the truth.
“So what else do you sell?” His tone reflected no change, but his slitted eyes warned his patience was raveling.
With no time to think—except a second to wonder why I’d never imagined this scene before—I said, “A few select X-rated items. Sex toys. Unusual condoms. Specialized pictures.”
“And who is your clientele?”
“School boys, mostly. Some businessmen.”
“Perverts.”
“I don’t think so. Dimitri and I don’t meet any of the—”
“You and Dimitri. You’re the perverts. Freaks. Misfits.”
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Reviews for "The In-Between Years: The MisFit Series"
WOW! What an interesting and different kind of plot. I wasn't sure where this book was going, but I couldn't put it down. Read it in one day!
Michael is a young boy that considers himself an "entrepreneur" of a "porn business" with his best friend, Demetri, but all that is set aside when Michael's father packs them up and moves them to exile in Argentina. There they are groomed under intense security and strict rules and lessons in languages and manners of the rich. The reader is left in the dark about the motive behind all of this until the father is ready to use them in his own plans...
'The Misfit" is quiet the mystery with twist and turns in every chapter. The unexpected surprise of why the father has spent months grooming the boys will "knock you for a loop." At least, it did me!
AB Plum has an unique writing style that I truly enjoy. This book is a great stand alone, but I can't wait to read the other books in this series to get the background on Michael.
Check this one out...it's an easy read that I read through in one day. 'The Misfit' is a great mystery with a lot of drama and, quiet possibly, touches on our human nature! Thumbs up.......
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