《Marrying the Mob Prince》 Prologue Tony 2 oz bourbon 2 dashes Angostura bitters 1 sugar cube Garnish: orange twist Vinn went too far this time. My prick cousin bound my wrists. Threw me in a car. He dared to hood me, as though where we were headed was a big fucking mystery. He was probably taking me to his ce in the Quabbin Reservoir, where he buried his victims. Mywyer friend, Knox, would¡¯ve helped me, but Vinn had stolen my phone. Murdering little shit. Wheels crunched as the car slowed over bumpy terrain. Doors banged open, triggering images, sensations-snarling fangs, a crimson-soaked leash, my cheek hitting the curb. Hands wrenched me out. My feetnded hard on a shifting surface, probably gravel. The hold on my elbow yanked. Stumbling, I lost my bnce. My ass hit the ground as I made an undignified fall, sharp rocks cutting into my skin. They pulled me upright and shoved. ¡°At least buy me dinner before manhandling me. Is this because I won¡¯t go to your barbecues anymore?¡± ¡°Shut the fuck up.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me. It¡¯s another intervention?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out in ten seconds.¡± Vinn had no idea of the storm building within me, of the blind panic and the wrath he¡¯d provoked. If he didn¡¯t let me go, I would hurt someone. It might be him. I swung my boot, connecting with a leg. Vinn grunted. A hand crashed into my shoulder, right into my scar. The phantom pain pierced me like a white-hot poker. A vicious hatred burned my body before the wind¡¯s salted scent chased it away. ¡°You took me to your beach house?¡± A seagull cried as I faced the body dragging me. ¡°The one you bought for your wife?¡± No response. Iughed, even though I could¡¯ve killed him. ¡°Jesus, Vinny. Li won¡¯t like that. She¡¯ll never forgive you.¡± ¡°Pleading for your life?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saving your ass. When she finds out you murdered a family member at your vacation home, she¡¯ll divorce you. Get ready for bitter custody battles.¡± He marched me up awn, jerking me to his side. His fingers gouged my flesh-predictable, boring idiot. The hood was a stunt made to scare me straight, as if that ever worked. The bag was ripped off my head. Cold air stung my cheeks as the world exploded with light. Gradually, a seaside cottage melted into my vision. It stood on a watery shore. My guts clenched as wavespped the beach. Foam crawled up the sand. A body floated in the water, facedown. Secondster, it disappeared. rm rippled down my spine. Vinn jabbed me. ¡°Inside.¡± I tore my gaze from the ocean, heart pounding. I strolled through a door into a sprawling living room decorated in red, white, and blue. It resembled my zia Lena¡¯s house-lots of id. I stepped in as Vinn sliced the zip ties, freeing my wrists. Two men stood at the firece. Once, I¡¯d considered them brothers. My insides ckened from the grim-faced Alessio to Michael¡¯s softer eyes, ice freezing my stomach. It was an intervention. They thought I was high. Everything boiled down to the addiction that hadn¡¯t been a problem in two years, and they wondered why I couldn¡¯t stand them. Christian entered, blocking the door. My throat tightened. ¡°I don¡¯t need a goddamned intervention.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t about your sobriety. For once.¡± Vinny grabbed a chair and nted it in the middle of the room. ¡°Have a seat.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. Fucking. Staying.¡± Vinn didn¡¯t budge. ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice.¡± I hated those words. Forcing me to do anything provoked my more violent tendencies. I couldn¡¯t handle losing control. It made me unhinged. I stormed to the door, but Christian blocked me. Hesitation flickered in his hawklike gaze as he squared his shoulders. ¡°Move.¡± He shook his head. ¡°Sorry. I can¡¯t.¡± Trapped. The red haze shed over my vision, and my hands balled into white, trembling fists. Old-fashioned. I conjured an image of the drink and focused. Two ounces bourbon. Two dashes of Angostura- ¡°That¡¯s it, Tony. Have a seat.¡± Dimly, I registered a touch on my bicep. My fist whirled, mming into his jaw. Christian dropped, clutching himself. He moaned. I jumped on him and disappeared in the violence, my body on autopilot. Blood sttered over my numbed hand. A pounding grew in my ears like drumbeats. Hands tore at my wrist. I snapped their digits. An arm banded my neck, and I hurled him into the wall. A body mmed into my back. I jerked backward. My skull cracked a hard surface, and the body stumbled away. I wouldn¡¯t give up. I stopped smashing his face when Michael and Vinn tackled me. Three of them forced me into the chair, and then the fog cleared, revealing a scene of devastation. A vase had been smashed, showering the ground with ceramic shards. Pieces of furniturey on their sides. Michael cradled his fingers, cursing. They stuck out at odd angles. Christian peeled himself upright. Alessio massaged his eye. Only Vinn was unscathed. His usatory stare drilled into me. ¡°What did you fucking expect?¡± I wheeled on Michael, who had the grace to look ashamed. ¡°You deserve it, you bastard. I saved your wife¡¯s life. Now you¡¯re throwing me in vans?¡± ¡°He¡¯s right. This was a stupid idea, Vinn.¡± I smacked Vinn¡¯s touch from my shoulder. ¡°Why am I here?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve crossed the line too many times.¡± Vinn glowered like a storm cloud. ¡°I¡¯ve given you chance after chance. I told you what¡¯d happen if you defied me. I warned you.¡± ¡°I ignored you.¡± ¡°Honestly, Anthony. There are easier ways to kill yourself.¡± Vinn sank onto the coffee table, staring into his folded hands. ¡°But in case this isn¡¯t the desperate act of a broken man¡­I¡¯ll let you off. Once. No more second chances. But your conflict with the MCs is over.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t do it.¡± Vinn¡¯s jaw ckened. ¡°When will you be satisfied?¡± ¡°When they¡¯re all dead, and my dades back to life.¡± ¡°You never used to be so hateful.¡± I wiped the blood on my cks. ¡°I¡¯m not hateful. I¡¯m focused.¡± ¡°On what?¡± he shouted, the loudness ringing my ears. ¡°Killing everyone who¡¯s ever pissed you off?¡± ¡°I¡¯d have shot you in the ass already.¡± He gripped my cor and hit me, disying ack of self-control I¡¯d rarely seen in Vinn. The impact smarted, but my pulse barely picked up the pace. If he thought he could scare me with pain¡­he was more likely to kill me. Vinn leaned forward, glowering. ¡°I¡¯m going to level with you, Anthony. I think you¡¯vepletely lost it. You¡¯ve always been destructive, but this is crazy. You¡¯re taking us all down. I can¡¯t have it.¡± ¡°Just do it, you fucking pussy.¡± Vinn stood, raking his hair. ¡°Not today. You¡¯re lucky¡­You are so lucky I caught you before you didsting damage. I got you a lifeline.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need your goddamned help.¡± ¡°Refuse me, and you won¡¯t leave this house alive.¡± He was bluffing. My stomach tensed. ¡°You¡¯ll lose everything.¡± ¡°Not necessarily. I can make a good case to your mom when she inherits your estate. She¡¯ll hand it over. I¡¯ll tell her it¡¯s what you would¡¯ve wanted.¡± I bristled. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°You to stop fighting,¡± he barked. ¡°Stop antagonizing the people we¡¯re trying to make peace with. Marry a nice girl, and calm the fuck down.¡± ¡°You and my mother would get along.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not kidding. I negotiated a deal with Legion. You¡¯re off their backs, forever.¡± Vinn¡¯s mouth twisted wryly. ¡°In exchange, you¡¯re marrying one of them.¡± I froze, all decisions in limbo. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯re marrying a biker girl.¡± A vision of me at the altar with a girl in leather knocked the air from my lungs. I managed tough through stiff lips. ¡°Anthony, it¡¯s done.¡± This was an absurd prank. Gradually, the feeling returned to my limbs. I grinned at Alessio and Michael, who glowered at me. All of them wore identical grim expressions. They were serious. Holy shit, this was real.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Are you fucking insane?¡± I gaped at them, one by one. ¡°What made you think I¡¯d ever agree to this? I¡¯d rather eat a bullet than marry into that garbage family!¡± ¡°That can be arranged.¡± Vinn crossed his arms. ¡°Don¡¯t push me.¡± Heat scalded my face. There was a difference between fucking around and taking a wife. I had no interest in building a life with anyone, least of all a woman from that world. ¡°I¡¯m not getting married.¡± ¡°You will not let me down.¡± Vinn stabbed my rib cage with a finger. ¡°This is exactly what you need.¡± ¡°Now you sound like my father.¡± My shout tore my throat. ¡°Am I the only one with working brain cells? You know damned well I am not husband material. Tell them, Alessio.¡± My former college buddy fixed me with a potent stare. His dark eyes bored into me. ¡°I agree with Vinn,¡± he said, lounging on the firece. ¡°You¡¯re ready. You just had to put down the drugs, and you¡¯ve done that. You¡¯ll be fine.¡± My amusement at them ying matchmaker died. Everybody thought they knew what I needed. They had no idea. ¡°Are you speaking for your-fucking-self?¡± I burst, fed up with their bullshit. ¡°I¡¯m not marrying anyone.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll do it, or I¡¯ll have you killed.¡± Vinn stood in one fluid motion, sighing. ¡°We¡¯re staying here for a while. Lawyers areing by tomorrow to draft the prenup. Oh, and Anthony? I expect you to start a family. As in, right after you¡¯re married.¡± This had to be a bizarre dream. I¡¯d cracked on my sobriety and ingested a hit of LSD. Iughed so hard my voice broke. I felt delirious. ¡°You¡¯re a trip.¡± ¡°I¡¯m dead serious, Anthony.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve lost your marbles. You¡¯re nuts if you think I¡¯ll go for this white picket fence crap.¡± ¡°What you want has never been good for you.¡± My body stiffened. Then shock yielded to rage. ¡°You need a smack in the mouth. You don¡¯t tell me what to do!¡± My fury boiled over as Vinn faced the mantel, picking up a framed photo of his toddler. ¡°Wave the baby photos at me all you like. I don¡¯t give a shit. I have zero interest in settling down.¡± He smiled, and it softened his appearance. ¡°Once you¡¯re a father, that¡¯ll change.¡± Fucking moron. I shook my head, smoldering. ¡°I won¡¯t do this.¡± ¡°You will.¡± Vinn shoved a peg board of headshots under my nose. ¡°Pick one.¡± My sightnded on the third woman. She sat on concrete steps, legs crossed at the ankles like a princess. A leather headband pushed back her dark hair. She was like a firefly, lighting the gloom with her delicate beauty. I stared into her eyes, and something shifted in my chest. Something broke. No. Something threatened to ignite. 1 Evie I¡¯m grateful that my fiance has good hygiene. I¡¯m grateful that my fiance is tall. I¡¯m grateful that my fiance is handsome. The ink bled through the paper as I wracked my brain for a fourth virtue for my gratitude journal. Every day, I wrote five things for which I was grateful. The simple reason for this was that when the darkness inside me lightened so did the world outside. Not today. No amount of pretty thinking made this situation better because I was giving up on love. I¡¯d said my goodbyes to the man I¡¯d never meet or marry, the romance we wouldn¡¯t share, the butterflies that¡¯d never flutter, the passion that¡¯d never ignite, and the children we¡¯d never have. What I liked about my fiance, Tony Costa, was vanishingly small and mostly superficial. There wasn¡¯t a single-fucking-quality about his character that I admired. My soon-to-be husband did not inspire people. He put the fear of God into them. The hotel suite¡¯s door opened, admitting an older guy with an easygoing vibe. I liked his smile. It was warm without being too friendly. ¡°This came for you, Miss Craine. Tony sent it.¡± He appeared at my elbow, sliding a tall ss filled with a golden liquid into my hands. ¡°Proso from Italy.¡± How thoughtful. I had no clue about wines. The club gravitated toward beer and whiskey, and anything more than twenty dors was considered a waste. My throat pounded as I swiped the drink. I tipped it into my mouth, the bubbles snapping my tongue. I drank, unimpressed by the warmth fluttering my chest. Itcked the punch of straight vodka, my go-to this week when reality got too close forfort. ¡°He¡¯ll be along shortly to check on you.¡± ¡°Great.¡± Christian stood behind me, brows furrowed. Perhaps the tone in my voice concerned him. ¡°You have nothing to worry about, hon. Tony¡¯s a standup guy.¡± ¡°Really?¡± I murmured, ying with my new phone. ¡°Is that why he¡¯s forcing me to marry him?¡±Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°He¡¯s not as bad as you think.¡± ¡°Again, not veryforting.¡± Christian grabbed the empty flute. He studied the ss, a deep frown wrinkling his brow. His sympathy was wasted on me. I didn¡¯t trust Christian. I didn¡¯t trust any of them. Abination of emotional ckmail and threats had forced me to ept Tony¡¯s proposal. Dad stole my life¡¯s work and would¡¯ve sold it for a pittance if I hadn¡¯t said yes, which was how I ended up in front of a vanity wearing couture. A designer bag sat in myp, the pillowed leather gliding over me like silk. The finest essory I owned, apart from my jewelry. The pre-wedding gift held my phone programmed with one contact: T My thumb traced his number. I hadn¡¯t worked up the nerve to call him. I¡¯d treated thest week as a vacation, relishing the pampering I never could¡¯ve afforded on my own. My future husband¡¯s people had extensively prepped me. They¡¯d waxed every inch of me. They¡¯d thrust my hands into hot baths and trimmed my cuticles. They¡¯d conditioned my hair, exfoliated my skin, and painted my nails. I¡¯m grateful my fiance takes care of me. He¡¯d spared no expense to make me his possession. My engagement ring was a gaudy diamond solitaire on a tinum setting. I¡¯d studied it with my jeweler¡¯s loupe and appraised it at ny thousand dors. I hated the damned thing. It looked ridiculous on my petite hand, but Tony hadn¡¯t asked for feedback. He hadn¡¯t even proposed. His bodyguard had awkwardly shoved the velvet box in my direction. Tony seemed to be all about status, like all wealthy egomaniacs. The ring, the Vera Wang dress, and the spa treatments belonged to someone else, a trophy wife, not me. I still clipped coupons. I lived in a mobile home and probably couldn¡¯t name half the designers in his closet. Why the hell did he want me? Christian¡¯s pocket buzzed. He answered his phone, murmuring in Italian. He always switched to thenguage when Tony called. He wheeled toward the door, closing his cell. I clenched my jaw tighter. The door opened to Tony¡¯s powerful, Viking-like frame. His broad shoulders strained his suit. Normally, his hair was as untamed as the rest of him, but for the wedding he¡¯d slicked it back. Salt and pepper marked his ebony mane. Everything about him was bold, the deep tan, the boyish lips built for sin. The media had dubbed him Mob Prince for a reason. Tall, dark, and handsome didn¡¯t begin to describe his level of gorgeous. Heat stole into my face as my gaze raked over his devastating appeal. I drank in thezy seduction of his big eyes, the cutting jawline. He was in histe thirties, and it showed in how he carried himself. He stood as though steel made his spine. A short mustache and beard clung to his upper lip and jaw. Dark wisps peeked from the V neck of his shirt. Hot. Very masculine. It was like he¡¯d just left a vacation in the Amazon. I¡¯d lived in Boston my whole life, and I¡¯d never seen anyone like Tony. ¡°Looking good, T.¡± Christian pped his back, exploding with enthusiasm. ¡°Ready to get married?¡± A cloud settled over Tony¡¯s features. ¡°I need a moment alone with my bride.¡± ¡°Of course, buddy.¡± Tony glowered at Christian until the door swung behind him. Then his lightning rod starended on me. I fisted my clutch. It was very strange. He red at me as though I¡¯d condemned him to hell. As he crossed the room, my muscles tensed. He held out his hand. I took it, and a jolt passed from his skin to mine. My body stiffened as he boldly assessed me, his gaze traveling down my face, neck, and breasts. ¡°I¡¯m Tony Costa, and you belong to me now.¡± He beckoned me with a wave-a gesture for servants, not his fiancee. ¡°Let¡¯s see the rest of you.¡± I stayed put. ¡°Tony, I don¡¯t want to be your wife.¡± ¡°You pick an odd time toin.¡± ¡°I assumed you¡¯d back out.¡± I lifted my chin, whispering with desperate firmness. ¡°I¡¯ve tried to meet you for days. You weren¡¯t at the negotiation meetings. You didn¡¯te to the engagement supper.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a fan of chaperoned visits. My number is on your phone.¡± ¡°I only got it recently.¡± His t gaze held me still. ¡°And?¡± ¡°Why the fuck do you want this?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± he said, stunning me. ¡°I rank marrying into your family slightly higher than blowing out my brains, which is the only reason I¡¯m here.¡± My chest tightened. ¡°You¡¯re not my first choice either.¡± ¡°No doubt, but nothing you say will stop this wedding.¡± His deep-timbred voice rose somewhat. ¡°Are we clear?¡± ¡°Not one bit.¡± My mind reeled. If he didn¡¯t want to marry me, why were we doing this? He squinted at me. ¡°You are of age, right?¡± I frowned. ¡°I¡¯m twenty-two.¡± Relief smoothed his brows. Weird. He acted like he loathed me and had no idea of my age. I¡¯d spent hours researching him. I¡¯d read op-eds and articles. I¡¯d scoured thement sections for insight. Tony literally didn¡¯t know me. ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask questions about me?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t care about the details, considering you were all the same. They lined up photos of women and told me to pick. Yours happened to be the one that made my dick hard.¡± I stared at him, tongue-tied and frozen. Tony brushed lint off his jacket. ¡°Were you expecting something romantic?¡± My face heated at his mocking drawl. ¡°I had my blood drawn for fertility tests.¡± ¡°So?¡± A flicker of adrenaline surged through me. ¡°You could¡¯ve asked me. I would¡¯ve told you to go with someone else.¡± His mouth twisted into a cruel nt. ¡°Should I have picked from the club sluts with more STDs between them than Paris Hilton? I chose you, the virgin, knowing at least I wouldn¡¯t get the p.¡± This man couldn¡¯t be serious. ¡°You¡¯re lucky you got a choice,¡± I snarled, abandoning all attempts at civility. ¡°I¡¯m stuck with Public Enemy Number One for my old man.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me that,¡± he growled, the loudness piercing my ears. ¡°I¡¯m not one of you, thank God. Once you have my name, you¡¯ll drop the biker crap. I won¡¯t have it in my house or anywhere around me.¡± That settled it. I¡¯d stab my husband before the night ended. ¡°I¡¯ll wear ripped jeans and leather to all your family barbecues. And guess what¡¯s going on the wall? A giant Harley-Davidson poster.¡± Tony¡¯s dark eyes sparkled with the love of a challenge. ¡°I¡¯ll gag you with your panties. Force you to taste your pussy for hours. I¡¯ll drag you over myp and do things. Maybe in front of an audience.¡± An unwee flush burned my cheeks. He lightly fingered my chin, and the air vanished from my lungs. ¡°You have no idea what I¡¯m capable of.¡± No, I don¡¯t. My heart hammered. ¡°And you don¡¯t know it yet, but you chose the wrong girl.¡± 2 Evie I¡¯m grateful so many people support our marriage. Mom warned me. Dating in the MC was not for romantics who nned their wedding in the first two weeks of a new rtionship. She said I couldn¡¯t handle the club girls, the cheating, and the heartbreak. Now I¡¯d never know if she was right. Because Dad was forcing me to marry him. Tony stood at the altar, wearing an expression more appropriate for being stuck at the DMV, not celebrating his marriage. Nobody wanted to be here, least of all my fiance. He glowered like I was the bug crawling up his ass. Same to you, bastard. A tense silence enveloped us as the march¡¯sst notes faded, the droning of the priest not enough to slice the tension. My gaze wandered to my leather-d father in the front row, a grim set to his jaw. Behind him, rows of people shifted in their seats. Sympathy marked the women¡¯s faces, but the men mirrored Tony¡¯s put-upon boredom. My spirits sank even lower. I curled my hands into fists and shut them out. A woman¡¯s wild sobbing broke the quiet, and I gaped at Tony¡¯s side. His mother cried into a tissue. I bristled. Why was she crying? I was the wronged party in this situation. Her murdering son would be my husband, and he¡¯d made it clear that he nned to use me like a blow-up doll. Tony shot me a twisted smile full of lethal calm. Before long, his ¡°I do¡± echoed as though he stood in a tomb. Then the priest turned toward me. ¡°And do you, Evie, take Anthony to be your husband?¡± Grief tore at my heart, but my father¡¯s threats rang in my ears. I swallowed the ache in my throat. ¡°I do.¡± Tony¡¯s surly best man handed him the rings. My family¡¯s oldest enemy took my hand in his big, calloused one. Shock mmed into my ribs as he slid another ring I hated onto my finger. His resentment drilled holes into my skull. ¡°I now pronounce you man and wife,¡± said the distant voice of the priest. ¡°You may kiss the bride.¡± Our vulnerable gazes shed. Hatred zed in those tawny brown pools. They had a burning, faraway look, like he couldn¡¯t bear to share the same space. His arm banded my waist, pulling me roughly to him. He cradled my head. We stared at each other as though across an unfathomable distance. Married, but still strangers. I anchored my hands on his shoulders, my stomach twisting as our bodies pressed close. I tipped my head up to kiss my husband, stowing my rage forter. Then his lips caught mine, and my senses leaped to life. His kiss was punishing and angry, sending spirals of heat through me. His stubble raked my skin. He was a me eating the oxygen in the air, devouring my sustenance. Scattered apuse cleaved through my brain. Tony pulled away, stone-faced. I swayed, fingers digging into his jacket. At the base of my throat, my pulse beat and swelled. My lips tingled. I wanted more. Tony was zoned out-and bored. A fierce sting bit my cheeks. That was it. I officially belonged to a monster. Dad had spent a lifetime warning me against men like Tony. Despite that, he¡¯d permitted Tony to make my life hell forever. His only daughter, fed to Tony like a sacrificialmb. The betrayal sawed into my chest. After an hour of photos, we drove to our reception at a waterfront museum. A giant wall of ss overlooked the harbor, winking with a sea of yellow lights as the dark water reflected a cloudless sky. Seafood rested on ice, but I¡¯d yet to go anywhere near the buffet. I had a mild allergy to shellfish, but nobody thought to ask for my preferences. His mother had nned everything. Tony sat at our sweetheart table, brooding. He¡¯d skipped the five-course dinner, glowering when guests approached us. I grabbed a flute of champagne and offered it to him, but Tony waved off my peace offering. ¡°I don¡¯t drink.¡± ¡°Not even at your wedding?¡± He shot me a ck look but didn¡¯t borate. Then his gaze dropped to his ring. I red at him. ¡°Strong and silent, huh? Are you that way because you¡¯re too proud? Or are you not bright enough to string together words that aren¡¯t insults?¡± ¡°I think we¡¯ve had enough of each other.¡± ¡°Well, I have a lot to discuss, even if you¡¯d rather sit there and pout.¡± ¡°This is the most backwards day in my fucked up life. I have the right to be pissed off.¡± His eyes echoed the smolder in his voice. ¡°So do you. You¡¯re paying for sins that aren¡¯t yours. I enjoy tormenting my enemies, but this is cruel, even by my standards. And believe me, honey, I¡¯ve seen some shit.¡± I didn¡¯t doubt him. I¡¯d heard all kinds of rumors, but separating fact from fiction required research. Since my father refused to tell me anything at all, what I¡¯d read painted a billionaire yboy¡¯s fall from grace and hiseback as a ¡°human rights¡± activist. Hard to ept that candy-coated spin when it was rumored he gave out cash for dead bikers. I refilled the champagne and drank, hoping to dissolve the knot in my throat. I could deal with being his wife, but icy fingers seeped into my flesh at what was expected of me. The prenup had a list of requirements: Sex once a week, bare minimum. We were to start a family. If I didn¡¯t conceive in a year, Tony could file for divorce, and I would get nothing. Since my fertility was already established, Tony would also be penalized if he failed to make an heir. Most of his estate would be signed over to his cousin, including property, stocks, and overseas bank ounts. A pregnancy within six months would grant me a bonus. Any vition of the prenup would result in our marriage¡¯s immediate termination, and my assets would be split down the middle. My business would never recover. Not to mention, I¡¯d have to repay every cent toward it. I could be in debt to Costa forever, but he could lose half his worth and still be a rich bastard. ¡°Dream a Little Dream¡± by Pink Martini pulsed from speakers, the jaunty romantic tune stabbing my brain like a pitchfork. ¡°I guess we should dance.¡± Tony sounded like he¡¯d rather drown, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me upright. His touch syed over my exposed back, flooding my skin with heat. ¡°I¡¯m not a good dancer. I have absolutely no rhythm.¡± I took his shoulder, my skin flushing. ¡°You¡¯ll be embarrassed when I stumble over your shoes.¡± Tony¡¯s jaw clenched, but he nodded. Then he cradled me in a tight embrace, his chin hooking my shoulder. His warmth enveloped me in a musky vani scent. His arms banded my waist, pinning me to a wall of muscle. A current ran through me as we slowly revolved on the spot. It would¡¯ve been sweet if not for the poison falling from his lips. ¡°They would give me an uncoordinated girl.¡± I dug into him. ¡°I have many talents. Dancing just isn¡¯t one of them.¡± ¡°Like?¡± ¡°Jewelry design.¡± ¡°Jewelry design. stic beads, that sort of thing?¡± His voice boomed through my stomach. ¡°Do you have an Etsy? Do you go to makeup parties to sell your handmade bracelets? How adorable.¡± I rolled my eyes at his stupid assumptions and pictured his reaction when I moved in with a fully stocked jeweler¡¯s studio, which included a blowtorch. ¡°And what have you done with your life, except spend Daddy¡¯s money?¡± He leaned in, his whisper brushing my ear. ¡°Lately, I¡¯m all about activism. Cleaning up the city.¡± Killing bikers. Right. ¡°You should take a hard look at yourself.¡± ¡°I know what I am.¡± A monster. ¡°I don¡¯t have the luxury of waging crusades.¡± That was putting it lightly. ¡°I have bills. Endless bills.¡± ¡°Which I¡¯m inheriting, no doubt.¡± ¡°You bet your conceited ass.¡± I hadn¡¯t nned on milking him, but why not? ¡°I have bigger dreams than being your wife.¡± Something that resembled a smile touched his brutally handsome face. ¡°You could open your legs for me regrly. Might you a quarter of a million dors, if you¡¯re lucky.¡± ¡°Not sure I¡¯d call carrying your baby luck.¡± ¡°If not for me, where would you be?¡± His brows narrowed. ¡°Living a mediocre life with one of them, popping out three kids, only to be stuck alone when he gets jailed for drug trafficking.¡± A furnace zed up my neck, iming my ears. ¡°At least I wouldn¡¯t be married to a psychopath. And I¡¯d be able to work in peace.¡± ¡°Well, that won¡¯t be necessary anymore.¡± ¡°I am not quitting,¡± I ground out. ¡°It¡¯s not just my passion. It pays the bills.¡± ¡°You need me to pay them, so how sessful can you be?¡± The barbed insult sank deep, striking behind my ribs. I inhaled sharply, fighting to breathe around the wound he¡¯d caused. I ripped away. I needed a moment before I shattered the champagne ss fountain or threw him over the balcony. Unbearable heat flushed my arms. I crossed the glitzy reception hall to the wall of bearded men wearing leather cuts. A handsome prospect with chestnut brown hair waved. Ghost. A sh of loneliness stabbed my heart. I headed toward him, but a hand on my wrist stopped me. Glowering, I faced my husband.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What?¡± Tony¡¯s grip slid down my arm and tightened. ¡°My wife is not associated with bikers. Especially with the boy that¡¯s been eye-fucking you all night.¡± An ugly suspicion darkened his voice. ¡°Yes, I notice everything that concerns me or mine.¡± This was a bridge too far. ¡°I¡¯m part of that world. You can¡¯t pry it out of me!¡± ¡°I can and will.¡± I wrenched hard, but his hold was iron. ¡°Let me go.¡± ¡°I will not have him around you, Evie.¡± His tawny eyes zed, daring me to challenge him. ¡°I don¡¯t hurt anyone without reason, but if I find out you¡¯re still friends, I¡¯ll send you his hands in a box. Do yourself a favor and behave.¡± The threat plunged me into ice. ¡°You¡¯re every bit as horrible as they say. You¡¯re a sick bastard.¡± 3 Evie I¡¯m grateful that my husband doesn¡¯t mince words. I¡¯d married the monster. Soon I¡¯d have to sleep with him. It was a splinter in my mind, driving me mad. Until now, the activity at the reception had swept it from my head. There¡¯d been enough to upy me with the forced wedding, the endless receiving line, and my husband¡¯s strange hostility. Getting in the mood would be impossible, even if he hadn¡¯t threatened to dismember someone. Tony was certifiable, more jaded than a former convict. He stood on the harbor, his sharp silhouette illuminated by yellow lights. Apparently, he preferred standing outside in the miserable weather than talking to me. What the hell was wrong with him? And didn¡¯t he eat? My vision tunneled as I finished my Aperol spritz, a cocktail I¡¯d never tried before. There was so much I hadn¡¯t experienced because I¡¯d grown up in a clubhouse, and I loved the way the orange syrup cradled the bottom of the ss, the citrus tang, how the sparkling wine teased my tongue before sweetness rolled in. The drink went down easy, so I¡¯d had four. A blurry outline swam into focus. I ignored the bold frame. My mouth was papery, dry and dusty. I gulped the melted ice. The heavy presence lingered, heating the space between us like smoking coal. What did he want? I gave his immacte suit serious side-eye. Tony didn¡¯t take the hint. He leaned into my chair. Then a jacketed arm swung forward. He pried the cup from me and set it aside. He had beautiful hands-tapered, tanned, neat cuticles, with tattoos crawling from his sleeve. Small nicks and scrapes marked his knuckles, but I could¡¯ve used him as a model for my watch. ¡°You¡¯ve had enough. No more.¡± Drinking wasn¡¯t making it better, but his cold disapproval whipped me in a fury. ¡°If I¡¯m spending the night with my cheek stuck to the bathroom floor, that¡¯s my problem.¡± I raised my head, ring at him. ¡°Not yours.¡± ¡°By all means, make a fool of yourself. Peeling you off the ground would be the perfect ending to this wedding.¡± ¡°You realize you¡¯re the reason I¡¯m drinking, right?¡± I thought he¡¯d leave. Instead he slid into the seat beside mine. ¡°You¡¯re in for a rough eight hours unless you eat.¡± He turned, addressing the bodyguard. ¡°How many has she had?¡± Christian squinted. ¡°Five?¡± ¡°Get her some water.¡± He grabbed my empty ss and handed it to the man. ¡°And a te of food. Something heavy with meat. Don¡¯t skimp on the starch. She needs it to absorb all the cocktails.¡± A thin chill clung to Tony¡¯s words. Christian raked his hair. ¡°It¡¯s a wedding.¡± ¡°You trying to give my bride alcohol poisoning?¡± My cheeks warmed. ¡°Tony, I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Sorry, T.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let it happen again.¡± He gripped my arm. Then he leaned in, his body heat burning through his suit. The aggression didn¡¯t scare me, but the hand weighing me knotted my insides. ¡°I¡¯m not that drunk.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a lightweight, Evie.¡± Sparks in my chest erupted at my name rolling off his tongue. ¡°Evie. Is that French?¡± ¡°No idea. Mom probably heard it on TV.¡± ¡°Where is she?¡± I shrugged, ignoring the ache. ¡°Living her best life somewhere else.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re interested in my backstory? After biting my head off the whole fucking night? Give me the spritz back. Then make like a leaf, and split.¡± His grim expression broke with the ghost of a smile. ¡°You¡¯re so wasted that you¡¯re confusing your idioms.¡± ¡°Oh fuck off.¡± I rarely got this nasty, but he brought it out in me. He¡¯d trashed my every expectation and turned a celebration into a funeral. A Whitney Houston bad warbled through the air, breaking up the agony of another Italian folk song. Couples in the dark revolved, spinning effortlessly. That shot an arrow through my lingering euphoria. A pang burrowed in my heart. God, this sucked. ¡°Can we go?¡± ¡°Not yet. You¡¯re slurring and off-bnce.¡± He nted the water in my hands. ¡°Drink. Sober up.¡± ¡°Why do I have to sober up?¡± ¡°I need to make you mine, and I don¡¯t fuck drunk girls.¡± I squeezed the ss. The bodyguard returned, bncing a giant te of frites and poached salmon. The fat from the fish spiraled into my nostrils. Tony¡¯s stare bored into me until I seized the fork. Then I dug into the entree. Cajun spice hit my tongue, melting with the buttery meat. I ate until the heaviness dissipated from my mind, leaving me in a frazzled panic. What would I do when Tony got me alone? ¡°Feel better?¡± I nodded, staring at his tie. I waited, torn apart by nerves. He took my elbow. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡± The hotel room was smaller than I liked. A king-sized bed sat in the middle, swallowing the space. My dress trailed the carpet as I approached the windows overlooking the Boston Common, showcasing a flurry against the midnight sky. Snowkes danced, weightless and free. I pressed my palm against the cold, willing it to enter my body and freeze my heart. The door shut. I swallowed hard. My cousin coached me for tonight. She¡¯d held my hand through the gory details of violent sex. Guys in the clubhouse could be rough, borderline abusive. There was always gossip about one or two members. The worst had been Crash, who¡¯d died several years ago. He was a biker with an unblinking re that reminded me of Tony. Something was¡­wrong with him. I turned, unable to bear the silence. Tony stood nearby as though he expected me to run. He lifted his square jaw, his dark eyes growing with a wildness. A hunger. He¡¯d already unbuttoned his cor. His rolled up sleeves revealed hairy, tatted forearms. Taut muscle peeked through his shirt, the bronzed skin enting the shadows. My gaze panned down his golden neck and the savagely virile, perfectly sculpted body. Every fiber in me urged me to escape, but his beauty sucked the air from my lungs. He¡¯d take my virginity. And the bastard wouldn¡¯t be gentle. A furnace-like heat consumed me, but I didn¡¯t fight when he peeled his coat from my back. He¡¯d wrapped me in it as we¡¯d left the reception, the gesture warming me more than the wool. I flexed my hands. ¡°I guess we¡¯re doing this.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He dropped the coat. Itnded, the sound making me jump. I gathered his coat. Shaking, I smoothed the fabric and draped it over a chair. ¡°It¡¯s too nice to leave on the floor.¡± He studied me, head cocked. ¡°Nervous?¡± His velvet-edged tone sounded curious, and my pulse raced ufortably. I inhaled a ragged breath as I paced the narrow space between the bed and the dresser. I itched for something to do and glimpsed the mini-fridge. I opened it and grabbed a bottle. Tony seized my wrist. ¡°I said, you¡¯ve had enough.¡± His growl mangled my nerves, but I daringly met his eyes. ¡°Who the fuck asked you?¡± ¡°Your liver.¡± He twisted the vodka from my grasp and shoved it away. ¡°Your heart. Your brain. Every organ gets damaged from alcohol.¡± ¡°Is that why you¡¯re such a nutcase?¡± Doubt and fear congested my mind as Tony refused to take the bait. He kicked the fridge shut. ¡°You¡¯ll thank me in the morning when you¡¯re not dry heaving.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t even be here,¡± I shot back. ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Thank God. I sagged as a weight lifted from my shoulders. Then my spirit ckened as I pictured waking up alone, every single day. His tone confirmed a lifetime of lonely mornings. What a depressing start for our marriage. My throat thickened. None of this was what I wanted. Tony seemed to hate it, too. He ripped off his suit jacket and threw it in the door¡¯s direction. Rage spoke through the violence in which he undressed. It scoured my skin when his gaze fell on me. He moved fluidly to my side, a big cat stalking prey. He caught my neck like jaws on a kill. Dread pitted my stomach. My cousin had instructed me not to resist, and I wouldn¡¯t, but this was worse than I¡¯d imagined. I trembled at being taken by such a powerful man. My lungs tightened. I breathed in shallow gasps. His stare sent a tremor through me as he uced the buttons on my lower back. Snap. Snap. Snap. I swallowed hard. The roaring in my head drowned out my panic as his lean body molded into my curves. The wall of mouth-watering muscle reminded me there was no escape. He seemed to notice my torment. His burning palm briefly cupped my face. Then he stroked, the sensation warm and sweet. Heat webbed my skin as he slipped to my neck. I held my breath as he explored my curves. All my senses filled with Tony, the feelings he provoked. He made no sound, but his breathing vibrated through me. I could taste the musky, vani scent clinging to him. mes erupted everywhere he touched. I waited, my nerves shot. ¡°Are you always like this?¡± His eyes flicked at me with a silent question. ¡°You¡¯re very¡­intense.¡± That was putting it lightly. Tony sped me to him, roughly, like he¡¯d forgotten how to hold a woman without causing her pain. I couldn¡¯t swallow the rock in my throat. ¡°And you¡¯re jumpy for someone who grew up in a clubhouse.¡± Tony¡¯s stare sliced into my bones. ¡°You must¡¯ve seen all kinds of shit.¡± I shuddered. ¡°Nothing I want for myself.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that kind of girl.¡± A sadistic curve touched his full lips. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to believe you¡¯re as innocent as you look?¡± ¡°Believe whatever you want. It doesn¡¯t change who I really am.¡± He yanked the straps down my shoulders. Holy fuck. His violent movements fired my bare skin. He teased thece over my breasts, and a bolt of pleasure struck my core. I gasped at the unexpected passion flooding me. Shame bit my cheeks as my nipples hardened into stiff, aching points. Suddenly, he pulled the dress down, and just like that, I was topless. ¡°Fuck,¡± he cursed, hands on me. ¡°Jesus.¡± More soft curses heated me as his arm slid in between my breasts. He took one in hand. The sight of him fondling me was so tititing I clenched my thighs. A hot ache swelled in my throat as he yed with me. Warmth spiraled where he stroked. It felt so good. I was dipped in molten heat. He flicked my peaked nipple. I moaned. ¡°So responsive.¡± His cold gaze danced over my body, which had begun to tremble. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re not a liar.¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m not!¡± Tony seemed unconvinced. He looked at me through a fog. He was on autopilot-not remotely romantic. Even more disturbing, he didn¡¯t dial back the aggression. He turned me around and pushed me against the wall, hard. I didn¡¯t struggle. I never moved against him, but he ripped off my dress like a wolf tearing into a kill. mes chased the chill biting me as he jerked me close. A gasp escaped my lips. I had no time to feel embarrassed about being stripped to my thong. A growing hardness pushed into me with bruising pressure. Painful. Deliciously feral. One arm gripped my waist, keeping me still. My frantic breathing frosted the ss wall. Did he hate me that much? I studied his reflection, the grim set of his jaw. How could he be so cruel? He raked my hips, catching the cotton string. It caressed my thigh, and then my panties tumbled to my feet. I stared at them, legs sped, the space between them extremely hot. Theck of light meant nobody from the street could see us, but my mind ran wild with images of people at the ground floor, pointing at the groom pinning his naked bride against the window. The air thinned, and I made a choking sound. ¡°How can you be so afraid of sex?¡± His nails lightly brushed my curves, and the shock scorched through my body. ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen what happens to club girls?¡± I swallowed tightly. ¡°I-I¡¯m not a club girl. I¡¯m the president¡¯s daughter.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s all right for them to get fucked by everyone, but not you?¡± ¡°Your ideas about us are so warped,¡± I hissed, annoyed with his assumptions. ¡°They want to be there. Club girls like tattoos and Harleys. It¡¯s a trade-off for free food and shelter.¡± ¡°Sure. All they have to be is vige pussy and can never refuse sex.¡± ¡°You elitist prick. You think you¡¯re better than us.¡± I red as a muscle flicked in his stubborn face. ¡°Look at what you¡¯re doing!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t choose this.¡± ¡°But that won¡¯t stop you from taking my virginity.¡± Tony flipped me, and I winced as my shoulders kissed the freezing ss. ¡°Why the fuck would it?¡± His eyes zed, the fire in them growing as I prolonged the moment. ¡°Because,¡± I choked out, ¡°we hate each other. We don¡¯t even want each other.¡± ¡°Sounds like a typical marriage to me.¡± He thought bullying his wife was normal? Saliva pooled in my mouth. If he tried to kiss me-if he dared-I would spit at the motherfucker. His eyes, ck and dazzling, darkened like angry thunderclouds. Tony lifted a finger to my lips as I shook. The caress was amand, one I wouldn¡¯t have obeyed if I weren¡¯t so vulnerable. He hovered over me, his face kindled with a passionate beauty. He fingered a loose tendril on my cheek. Then he trailed down my temple, my skin tingling where he touched. His closeness was like a deadly drug, conjuring warmth in my belly. I couldn¡¯t move. I could barely squirm. Heat bubbled in my chest at being made weak. ¡°Don¡¯t talk. Just listen.¡± My breath burned in my throat. ¡°I know that you¡¯re scared and pissed off. You¡¯re here against your will, totally helpless, and you don¡¯t trust me. I¡¯m the opposite of what you wanted in a husband. You probably think I¡¯m up to no good, and you¡¯re absolutely right.¡± Did I hear that correctly? Pain shot through my jaw from my clenched teeth. ¡°You can still walk away unscathed. Say the word, and I¡¯ll let you go.¡± Tony¡¯s nostrils red as though he¡¯d scented my desperation. ¡°Then you¡¯ll be back in the clubhouse, catching all the dick. Is that what you want?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t scare me,¡± I snarled, sounding a lot braver than I felt. ¡°I¡¯ve heard it all, and you¡¯re nothingpared to my boys.¡± ¡°Your boys. The same guys who let an Italian marry one of their women?¡± I imagined throwing him off the balcony. ¡°Make your decision, Evie.¡± My jumbled thoughts collided like two fireworks exploding into each other. Dad would be furious if I screwed up this alliance. He¡¯d write me off, and then what? He¡¯d sell my jewelry and the gold, torch my studio, and kick me off the property. I couldn¡¯t risk that. His hand rolled over my shoulder, anchoring there. He branded me like a hot iron. It didn¡¯t ur to me to shake him off. He made his intentions clear with the massage he pressed into my lower back. I wouldn¡¯t allow him to y games with me. If I had to do this, we would have sex on my terms. Should I touch him? I was morbidly curious about that stony jaw but couldn¡¯t work up the nerve. Instead I stroked the sliver of chest peeking from his shirt. Hair brushed my palm before I pressed down to caress his warmth. He was so strong. His rock-like shoulders filled my hands. Tony seized me like I came at him with a knife. ¡°What?¡± I asked, rattled. ¡°Can¡¯t I touch you?¡± His nostrils red. Apparently not. Slowly, he released me. Then he turned his head, lips grazing my arm. Sparks danced where he kissed-my forearm, the inside of my elbow, gliding to my shoulder. His mouth fastened in the crook of my neck. He sucked, crumbling a mountain of tension. His teeth sank into me. I winced, but the pain tingled like warm feathers. The burn spread between my widening legs. Hepped at the sensitive skin. I arched my back. A thrill leaped in me when he ripped away from me. He pulled me from the wall. His hand found my waist, shoving me over the bed. I braced myself. It wasing-the rough sex my cousin warned me about. She told me to separate mind from body, but I didn¡¯t want to hide. I wanted to be present for every agonizing second. I didn¡¯t hate his hands on me, far from it. His fiery touch swept across my back, sliding lower, to my ass. He tapped it lightly. Then he struck. Stinging burst on my skin. Hended another smarting blow on my thighs, forcing my legs apart. ¡°Ow-what the fuck?¡± ¡°Hold still.¡± His detached voice chilled my blood as his palm rained hellfire. ¡°It¡¯ll hurt less if you don¡¯t struggle.¡± ¡°Why are you-ow!¡± He spanked me again. I gritted my teeth, hissing with the fierce ache. He hit me. Did he think I would allow him to-I gasped, distracted by him caressing my inner thigh. The sensual movements lit my body on fire. He stroked me as I clung to the bed, trembling. A bold strike pped my left cheek, and I jumped forward. ¡°You¡¯ll be a perfect wife. You¡¯ll greet me at the door with a kiss and a blowjob, in that order.¡± ¡°You picked the wrong girl for your 1950s cosy.¡± His hand whirled, snapping my skin. My legs tightened with the stinging ps, the blows erotic more than painful. He grasped a fistful of the fullest part of my ass and then-smack. I licked my lips, jaw clenched tight to prevent a hiss of pleasure. I couldn¡¯t take much more. It was amazing. He¡¯d thrown me into a pool of bliss, and I had no idea what to do with myself. The wicked burn flowed inward, stroking my pussy. He fisted my hair and yanked. My back arched, thrusting my hips closer.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Warm liquid dripped on my ass. Was it his cum-no-he¡¯d spat on me. Tony scooped his saliva andthered himself, slipping between my legs. Then he jammed his fingers inside me. The blunt force stole the breath from my lungs. I writhed at this forced submission. He fingered me with his saliva, coating my walls. He might¡¯ve been preparing me for him, but he was getting me off. Perfect. I sank into the bottomless ecstasy as a burning ramped in my chest. I leaned into his touch. His fingers shoved into me. His hands assaulted me, bringing me to the brink of pleasure. I bit my lip to kill my groan. Oh shit. I wasing. It built up before I could resist. A high-pitched moan exploded from my lips as the slick pressure fucked me. I weed him into my body. I couldn¡¯t grab him, so I bunched the nkets. His fingers stroked the bundle of nerves in my pussy. I reached behind to grab a handful of his steel ass and squeezed, relishing in his fitness. Damn it, but I needed to touch him. I turned my head and kissed his shoulder. He pulled his fingers out and pped my ass. The burn jolted my arousal. Fuck, that was amazing. My breathing hitched. I shuddered. Then he shoved his fingers back inside me. A wall inside me crashed, obliterated by Tony¡¯s thrusting. I screamed into the mattress. My thighs twitched as his strokes slowed, and then I shattered into a thousand glowing stars. The wave of bliss burned behind my eyes. Suddenly, I burst into tears, overwhelmed. The orgasm was like sunshine hitting my face, pure and joyful. Iy in a flood of liberation. I wanted to hold him. I groped the sheets, searching for him. Tony backed away. His warmth left me, dousing me in ice. What the hell? I flipped over. Tony¡¯s shirt still hung on his back. His bronze skin cast darker shadows over the lean muscle, and I could¡¯ve run my tongue over the valleys. A pang hit between my legs at the outline of his perfect cock. I imagined him taking it out and rutting me. I expected him to. But he didn¡¯t. Shock flew through me as Tony buttoned his shirt. He dressed like the room was on fire. What happened? I wiped my face, thrown by his behavior. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Tony threw the dress at me, his voice detached. ¡°Leaving.¡± Cold struck my belly. ¡°You are?¡± He¡¯d owned me. Made mee so hard I¡¯d cried. The space where he¡¯d filled me ached for more. He should finish what he started, not leave me wanting. ¡°I was never going to fuck you.¡± Tony zipped up his cks, his mocking drawl in full force. ¡°Just had to see how badly you wanted my cock.¡± Heat blistered my cheeks. He winked. Then he left. 4 Tony 3 oz proso 2 oz Aperol ssh of soda Garnish: orange wedge I thought about them. Every night, their faces pressed into the silk fabric of my mind. I relived the things I¡¯d done. Depraved acts that made my heart thump and the blood rush to my cock. I¡¯d escaped that ce, but I wasn¡¯t free. I opened my eyes. It was dark, the sort of pitch-ck heaviness that can¡¯t be prated, invading my lungs and devouring my being like smoke belched from a fire. I was a charred husk, angry and empty. My rage heated the bed as Iy there. No relief could be found in this darkness, only more torture. I tossed. I turned. I lost minutes¡­hours before my brain paused its war on itself. My head hit the pillow. I drifted, but there was nothing peaceful about my sleep. Wood creaked. Heavy boots scraped the floor. I rolled over, stomach tensing. A faint glow crawled into the room as the door swung. More footsteps, then a man¡¯s strong silhouette stood in the threshold. My heart skipped a beat. I froze at the familiar face-round cheeks framed with shaggy blond hair-the face of my enemy. What was he doing here? Shock yielded to the pounding in my ears. I shot upright, fists clenched. His lips curved. Iunched at him. He flew back, skull cracking into the wall. ster splintered. He shoved me. My feet slipped on the wood as he hammered blows into me. I gritted my teeth, holding him back. Then his fist mmed into my shoulder. Agony plunged into my flesh. The pain jarred me into consciousness. I bolted upright, blinded. I gasped for air as I groped for the curtains. I yanked them so hard they broke from the rod. My pulse galloped ahead as light spilled across the bed, illuminating tousled sheets. Thepression on my lungs eased. I rubbed the two-inch scar. Theforter poured onto the carpet of a room I didn¡¯t recognize. My feet hit a bundle of clothing. A hotel room. Right. I got married. Married. It still seemed unreal. The digital clock on the nightstand bled with red numbers-six a. m. She was probably asleep. My awareness drifted to an object that pressed into my palm. The metal bit into my skin before a ripple of shock zipped up my spine. A knife. Christ. Get it together. My breath stalled as the door trembled with a knock. I gripped the knob, hiding the de behind the door. The lock utched, the door swinging open to reveal my cousin. ¡°Morning.¡± I gritted my teeth. ¡°It¡¯s too early for me to deal with you.¡± Nevertheless, I stepped back. Vinn strolled inside, dressed down in jeans and a hoodie. He frowned at the knife in my hand. His gaze flicked to my face, to the weapon, to me again. Vinn might¡¯ve been boss of the Family, but I pulled the strings. Officially, I wasn¡¯t involved in the mafia. Dad had kept me out of the mob, but everything had changed when he died. He¡¯d left me the ounts and contacts. The whole empire was mine, locked in trust funds and real estate that made Vinn¡¯s position mostly symbolic. I owned it all, except Vinn had wanted me to stop funding the biker wars. My feud with Legion MC was terrible for Boston. I backed street gangs like Rage Machine financially and bought them weapons. In return, they hammered the shit out of Legion, who then retaliated by bombing Italian businesses, which forced the mayor to summon the National Guard. The mandated curfews and violence killed small businesses throughout Boston, which affected Vinn¡¯s bottom line, and the mafia was all about money. After I¡¯d funded a local politician¡¯s efforts to pass a heavy-handed drug traffickingw, I suddenly found myself tied up and thrown in a car. Legion was keen to get me off their ass forever. They were paying hand over fist just for peace. This marriage was supposed to end the feud between the groups, and having a baby with Evie would cement that alliance. The injustice wed at my insides. It demanded reprisal. This match was so ass-backward I couldn¡¯t see ussting more than a few months, during which I¡¯d lose my mind. We would never work. I couldn¡¯t ept this-the very idea disgusted me. Vinn had done this. It was his fault. My throat tightened, and I resisted the urge tosh out-Aperol cocktail recipe. I breathed in deeply. Three ounces of Proso. ¡°You should return to her hotel room,¡± he said in his low, deep voice. ¡°You don¡¯t want people to talk.¡± Two ounces of Aperol. Less, if you prefer a dry cocktail. I held out my hand. ¡°Give me my fucking phone.¡± ¡°No.¡± I could¡¯ve punched his throat. Allst night, I¡¯d endured his smug grins, his glibments, his pats on my back. A ssh of soda water. Garnished with- ¡°What more do you want?¡± I bellowed, blood rushing in my ears. ¡°I married the girl. She¡¯s moving into my apartment. She hates me, and I can¡¯t stand her, but we are together.¡± ¡°You both agreed to start a family.¡± He pulled the cell from his pants and pped it onto my palm. ¡°No more messing with bikers. You will embrace domestic life and focus on her.¡± I shoved the phone into my pocket, annoyed Vinn hadn¡¯t disappeared. ¡°Leave before my hair-trigger temper gets us both killed.¡± Vinn gave me an unfathomable look before he shook his head and left. As soon as he¡¯d gone, I swiped through my texts. I shot a message to mywyer friend. I¡¯d headed out the door before I remembered my wife. Damn it. Heaviness centered in my chest. An odd twinge nagged at me as I changed directions and strolled next door. Last night was a disaster.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. The rage had built in me as she drank Aperol spritzes, which happened to be my favorite summer cocktail. I hadn¡¯t touched a drop of alcohol in ages, but watching her drink them had triggered me. I could¡¯ve sucked her tongue dry. God, the way her cunt gripped my fingers. Evie was more tempting than a line of Colombian powder. I¡¯d almost held her down and fucked her. She¡¯d begged me to, but I took it way too far. She¡¯d made me lose control. I was off bnce. Fuck. A wing sensation gnawed my throat. I shut my eyes, inhaling through my nose. I had to master this crazed impulse. I slid my keycard in the lock. The door yawned. Wide-open curtains glowed with the faint light, washing her sleeping silhouette in blue. What I wouldn¡¯t give to be that blissfully unaware. Her cheek pressed into the pillow and her mouth was parted. Her brown mane fanned on the sheets, the perfect bun from the wedding undone. Without the makeup, she looked younger than her twenty-two years. I kicked the bedframe. ¡°Wake up.¡± She startled horribly, dragging the sheets to her mouth. I braced myself for pleading and begging, but Evie groaned like I woke her up for school. ¡°Get up. We¡¯re leaving.¡± Evie pulled theforter over her head. ¡°Too early.¡± ¡°We need to go.¡± She didn¡¯t move. I ripped the covers from her body. She hissed, legs curling under her satin slip. ¡°Fine. Jesus. I¡¯m getting up.¡± She rolled off the bed and stretched. Light kissed her, illuminating her bewitching face. Dark, mysterious eyes frowned, furrowing slender brows. Her plush pink lips offset the gentle slope of her chin. Her skinplemented the golden room. She seemed of the earth, pure, and desiring her felt like the most natural thing in the world. Evie¡¯s beauty was the devastating kind that hit a man in the chest, and if I didn¡¯t pull back, I would lose sight of my goal. I could never love her. So I set my heart on hating her. 5 3 mint leaves 12 oz simple syrup 2 oz white rum 34 oz lime juice club soda, to top Garnish: mint sprig I spied on my wife. Cameras ced around the house provided me with constant ess to the biker girl. I kept an eye on her, and it gave me an excuse to stay the hell away. Evie hardly seemed the type for espionage, but who the fuck knew. Her family was the sickest bunch of bastards. I could still feel the things they¡¯d done to me. I sat in my dad¡¯s office, watching Evie on my tablet. His spirit surrounded me, whispering from the dusty volumes that filled the shelves, the desk splotched with grappa stains, the framed photo of me at eight. Dad would roll over in his grave if he knew who I¡¯d married. Knox winked at me, spinning a pen in his tapered fingers. I¡¯d called him over to help me figure a way out of this mess. The twenty-five-year-old genius was night and day from me at his age. He¡¯d already achieved what most men couldn¡¯t in a lifetime. He¡¯d graduated from MIT at fifteen with a double major in engineering and political science. At eighteen, heunched some software that had consumed the tech world. By twenty, he was the CEO of a cybersecurity firm worth $2. 4 billion. Two yearster, ck Prism was under fire for hacking into phones of in foreign diplomats. When they dragged him to the Court of Appeals, he fired his defense team, represented hispany, and won. Then the asshole took the bar exam just for kicks. ¡°How¡¯s married life?¡± ¡°Exceptionally dull,¡± I muttered as Evie moved arge sketchpad over herp. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen her since the wedding.¡± It¡¯d been a couple of weeks since I¡¯d dropped her at my penthouse in Beacon Hill. Fourteen days of wearing my father¡¯s ring, dodging my mother¡¯s calls, and fantasizing about being single. ¡°Is that your wife?¡± Knox put down the pages ofwyerese and peered at the screen. ¡°She¡¯s attractive. Decent body, too.¡± My neck flushed. ¡°It¡¯s more than decent, you shit.¡± Today, she wore a ck leopard-patterned dress generous to her feminine contours. She was sitting on the rooftop garden, staring out into the city. Her dress rode the wind, floating, as though it could be blown off, and she could be undone. She bent over, disying her rack to the overhead camera. Big and natural, just how I liked them. Her nipples would fit nicely in my mouth. The breeze yed with the flyaway fabric, the top sliding way too high, and the strands slipping down her arms. My balls squeezed with a pang. Knox¡¯s whistle st was like sandpaper on my cock. ¡°She missed her calling as a porn star.¡± I punched his arm. ¡°Get the fuck away from the screen.¡± My eyes grew hot as she returned inside and stretched out on my couch. I burned with the need to kiss her soft lips, and it sickened me. Thest thing I needed was an obsession with my enemy¡¯s daughter. I had to do something productive and stop fantasizing about all the dirty ways I would fuck my wife. This marriage had screwed up everything. My professional and personal rtionships went up in smoke. I¡¯dpromised my reputation by marrying a woman from that family. For a year, I¡¯d been associated with like-minded wealthy businessmen. Three of us made The Dark Circle-Knox, Cainan, and myself. Our goal was dismantling the biggest biker gang in Boston. Harder than it looked. Even with our resources, a conglomerate like Legion hadn¡¯t folded under the pressure. When I¡¯d first joined, I thought it¡¯d take a matter of months. Try years. Legion MC had thousands of chapters nationwide. They had multiple revenue streams. They were involved in drugs, prostitution, murder for hire, loansharking-anything illegal. I wasmitted to the cause, but now my loyalty would be questioned. Vinn had forced me into an awkward position. ¡°I didn¡¯t choose this, Knox.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I know. I figured you were dead when you didn¡¯t answer your phone for three days,¡± Knox murmured. ¡°Cainan was super annoyed when he saw your wedding photos on social media. He thought you¡¯d rpsed.¡± ¡°You and half the fucking world. Help me get out of this marriage.¡± I threw the tablet on the desk and raked my hair. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever you want.¡± ¡°Familyw isn¡¯t my specialty, but it looks like Vinn went through great pains to stop you from exploiting any loopholes. Why on earth would you sign this?¡± ¡°I had a gun to my head. He kidnapped me.¡± ¡°Sounds right for a mafia family intervention.¡± Knox red at his phone, thumbing through a document. ¡°Why not just kill you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m too valuable to Vinn.¡± I didn¡¯t mistake it for familial affection. ¡°If I die, he loses sixty percent of his revenue.¡± Knox made an indistinct sound as he typed notes. ¡°We can say you were under duress, but they¡¯ll expect charges to be filed. That means a police report.¡± Against the boss of the Family? My stomach tightened. ¡°Out of the question.¡± ¡°Yeah, he probably figured you wouldn¡¯t do that.¡± Knox licked his thumb, swiping through the stack of papers. ¡°She gets a hundred grand per incident of you cheating on her. I¡¯ve heard of crazy prenups, but this is wild.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d my misery is entertaining you.¡± I rose from the chair, buttoning my jacket. He extended his leg, blocking my exit. ¡°Tony, hold on. I can get this thrown out. We can argue that you had reduced mental capacity. You rpsed on your sobriety. You have a history of substance abuse. It fits. I¡¯m not worried about that part. It¡¯s whates after. Your cousin.¡± I rubbed my face. ¡°Vinn is the least of my concerns.¡± ¡°Tony, your guards report straight to Vinn.¡± Knox¡¯s voice dropped as he leaned forward. ¡°Put this aside. It¡¯s not worth the trouble.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll hire private security.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be hard. You¡¯re the son of a notorious mob boss. They¡¯ll think you want them for illegal activity.¡± I did, which made my estrangement to Vinn so inconvenient. Still, there were other options. ¡°What about street gangs?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t. They¡¯re flocking to Legion now that they¡¯re patching in other clubs.¡± That was news to me. ¡°Since when?¡± ¡°They¡¯re allowing rival MCs the chance to defect to their side, no questions asked. It¡¯s a limited-time offer that expires in the summer.¡± ¡°Well, maybe I should get my hands dirty.¡± ¡°Tony, that¡¯s a bad idea.¡± I didn¡¯t care. I wasn¡¯t giving up. They stole everything from me. Ruined me. I had no intention of honoring a cease-fire. My cousin had overstepped in a big way, and I would punish him. First, I needed to wrangle in the new wife. I opened the tablet and found her rxing in the living room. I traced her silhouette. She swiped through the phone I¡¯d given her. She grinned, pressing the cell to her ear. That smile held secrets. I¡¯d find them out. 6 Evie I¡¯m grateful my husband gives me plenty of space. Tony disappeared for weeks. Good riddance. After he dumped me in a spacious penthouse downtown and gave me the rundown of his rules, which I wouldn¡¯t follow, Tony had vanished. He must¡¯ve owned another property because the front door never opened except for Christian, sometimes apanied by a younger man. I couldn¡¯tin about my new living situation. Tony¡¯s digs in Beacon Hill beat the hell out of my mobile home. A private elevator took me straight into an old-world penthouse with two floors, a deck with a pool and garden, and four bedrooms. I soaked in his wfoot tub overlooking cobblestone streets, sat on the rooftop until my teeth chattered with cold, and admired the brick and ck leather that dominated the decor. My gratitude for it all grew every day. My love for its owner did not. Tony ignored me. He didn¡¯t call. He refused to text. He acted like our goddamn wedding had never happened. I had questions about the house, but God forbid he answer the phone. I rolled over, head pounding from my caffeine withdrawal. I slipped from the king-sized bed, blinking from thete afternoon light. Tendrils of heat wrapped my limbs, and then a pair of male voices drifting under the door chased it away. ¡°-hooked up with this girlst night. She had the biggest tits I¡¯d ever seen. They were like basketballs. Not hot. I closed my eyes and powered through it.¡± ¡°Keep your voice down, for fuck¡¯s sake,¡± Christian growled. ¡°She¡¯s asleep.¡± Christian must¡¯ve shown up with his partner in crime, Rafael, who liked running his mouth. The younger bodyguard¡¯s harsh tones sted through the penthouse as I pulled on an A-line dress and kicked my feet through ballerina ts. Christian responded to something, which made Rafael burst through Christian¡¯s soft murmur. ¡°No, she wasn¡¯t! I met her at the fucking gas station.¡± Christian let out a low whistle,ughing. ¡°It¡¯s not where I usually pick up women, but she got in a fight with her boyfriend. He dumped her there, so I brought her to my apartment.¡± ¡°And then what?¡± ¡°Well, she wanted to pay me back.¡± The stockier Rafael leaned against the counter, grimacing. ¡°She kept insisting. I think she was a sweetbutt.¡± Christian clicked his tongue. ¡°I thought you knew better than to dip your stick in biker trash.¡± ¡°When¡¯s thest time you turned down a blowjob?¡± ¡°Yesterday, before I left your mother¡¯s.¡± I grew hot along my cor as Rafaelughed. I strolled into view, enjoying the spasms of panic across their faces. I smiled. ¡°Morning, boys.¡± ¡°Good morning,¡± said Christian without missing a beat, followed by Rafael a secondter. They exchanged worried nces. A tense silence filled the window-facing kitchen. I reached for the mugs, annoyed at the empty shelves. He couldn¡¯t have coffee lying around. It was part of Tony¡¯s strict no-drugs policy, which was probably a form of torture for the sadistic prick. I banged herbal tea on the ck marble and shoved the kettle onto the stove. ¡°Mrs. Costa, is everything okay?¡± ¡°Mrs. Costa?¡± I murmured, fiddling with the burners. ¡°Don¡¯t you mean biker trash?¡± Christian paled. ¡°Shit.¡± Shit was right. I forced a smile. ¡°Take me to the clubhouse, and I¡¯ll consider it ancient history.¡± Rafael grimaced. ¡°What?¡± I asked when they didn¡¯t move. ¡°You have something better to do?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t do that,¡± he mumbled. ¡°Tony wouldn¡¯t like it.¡± Air streamed through the kettle. I turned off the burner, my temper close to its breaking point. ¡°Then I¡¯ll tell him how disrespectful his guards were to me.¡± ¡°Evie, I know I fucked up, but I¡¯d appreciate it if you kept this quiet.¡± Christian¡¯s plea fell on deaf ears. I met his gaze, unsmiling. ¡°The clubhouse. Now.¡± ¡°How about a nicette?¡± ¡°I am not a toy,¡± I shouted, my patience snapping. ¡°I am his wife. If I say I¡¯m going to the clubhouse, that¡¯s where I¡¯m headed. I don¡¯t need your permission. Or-¡± I poured the hot water, missing the mug. ¡°Tony will find out what you said, and cut off your heads.¡± I was totally bluffing. Tony probably didn¡¯t give a damn. He had no interest in me. He¡¯d treated me like a cheap hooker on our wedding night, and he seemed to hate me on principle, so fuck him. Screw his rules. I strolled outside my dad¡¯s mobile home, which sat beside rows of neglectedwns and identical houses. The clubhouse loomed ahead, a brick building that used to be a school. It faced the street, surrounded by the fencing where prospects stood watch. Over the years, the MC had purchased homes to expand themunity into a giant neighborhood. A thunder of bikes trembled the ground, and then chrome zoomed past the gate. Rock music pulsed from someone¡¯s portable speaker. As I walked, people raised their hands in greeting. My lips pulled into ackluster smile. Ghost¡¯s patchover party was tonight, which meant the members would get shitfaced and fuck club girls. They lounged on stic chairs, sipping beer, sitting far from the women I considered my own, the olddies, wives, and mothers. Dad swung his leg over his Harley and headed to the drinks. He was a stern man, big, ck-bearded, and fearless. A worn leather cut wrapped his barrel chest. Ouw tattoos snarled over his arms and sshed on his neck. A knot formed in my throat. Was he drunk? Hard to tell with the rosacea tinting his cheeks like a sunburn. His heavy arm draped my shoulder. ¡°Hey, baby girl. How¡¯ve you been?¡± ¡°Well enough.¡± ¡°Costa treating you all right?¡± I shrugged. ¡°He¡¯s not bad.¡± He patted my back and turned toward the grilled hot dogs. ¡°Dad, it¡¯s been weeks. I need the jewelry and the title to the property. I have to start with renovations. I¡¯m way behind.¡± ¡°Your stuff is in safety deposit boxes.¡± ¡°I want them in my bank ount, not yours.¡± Dad¡¯s icy re stabbed my heart. He wasn¡¯t eager to give up his leverage. I forced down a frustrated scream begging for release. ¡°Something hase up. I need you to get close to Costa,¡± he murmured, lowering his voice. ¡°Gain his trust. Evie, this is really important. I have to know if I can depend on you.¡± ¡°Why?¡± His arm weighed on my shoulders. He offered me a thin smile that filled me with dread. ¡°Club business.¡± ¡°If I had a nickel for every time you used that as an excuse.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need the details, Evie. Just focus on your marriage with Costa. The more distracted he is with you, the better.¡± ¡°Dad, what are you nning? If you¡¯re going against them the second you make an alliance, why did I marry him?¡± ¡°Rx, honey. I want him busy, not dead.¡± Heat flushed my face as he poured a shot down his throat. ¡°I married the man, and now you want me to narc on him?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t say that.¡± ¡°Dad, he¡¯s my husband.¡± Dad deflected that with a warm hand cupping my cheek. ¡°You always want to do the right thing. How did I raise such a good girl?¡± My insides squirmed as he balled me into his chest. ¡°Well, that was probably more of Mom¡¯s doing.¡± He soured, pulling away from me. Mom was a jeweler, and so had been her mother. She¡¯d taught me how to use everything in a jeweler¡¯s studio. I¡¯d spent my childhood smithing while other kids yed outside. I¡¯d been adding to her collection when she¡¯d disappeared, forcing me to sell most of it to pay the mortgage. Two years gone. She¡¯d packed up and vanished without an exnation. One minute she was mixing alloys with gold. The next she¡¯d took off in the middle of the night. I had no idea where she¡¯d went. She¡¯d fled like she¡¯d always wanted, and I was stupid for thinking she¡¯d bring me along. There had been nothing but the punch to the gut from empty coat hangers swaying in her closet. She¡¯d been my best friend. She¡¯d abandoned me. It was why I couldn¡¯t sever ties with the club. Maybe she¡¯d return, and we¡¯d be a family again. I¡¯d show her mytest work. Once our jewelry was a nationwide brand, she¡¯d find me and apologize for disappearing. ¡°Dad, he doesn¡¯t want meing here anymore. He says you¡¯re a danger to me.¡± My words cracked with desperation. ¡°What if Mom shows up, and I¡¯m not here? She has no idea I¡¯m married.¡± ¡°Evie, she had every opportunity to pick up the goddamn phone. She didn¡¯t. You¡¯re out of your mind if you think she¡¯ll waltz back into your life. What do I keep telling you? Life¡¯s not all rainbows and sunshine.¡± He cupped my cheeks as pain welled in my throat. ¡°She fucked us over, baby. All we have is each other.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. I used to be grateful he¡¯d stuck around. Now I wasn¡¯t so sure. My attention swiveled to Ghost, who strolled in the courtyard like a peacock eager to show off his new feathers. His chestnut mane brushed his tanned shoulders. The leather cut stretched over his bare chest. Two girls attached to him as though summoned by magic. Grinning, he felt up a redhead with big, fake boobs. He crushed his mouth into hers. Another girl wrestled the beer from his hand and grabbed his cock through his jeans. Myposure must¡¯ve been as fragile as my thoughts because Dad dragged me into his arms. ¡°Evie, go home.¡± ¡°Why the hell should I?¡± ¡°A patchover party isn¡¯t the ce for a married woman.¡± His grip returned, the bite in my arm deepening. ¡°This is for the brothers and Ghost. Not for you. Go to your husband and stay there.¡± I stalked away from him, rebellion raging in my heart. As I headed into the brick building, my head pounded. I stomped past the ebony booths and the bar glistening with the ss bottles. Then I turned into the dorms echoing with female moans and harsher, male grunts. Gritting my teeth, I strode into my jeweler¡¯s studio. It was the only reason I came here. My storefront needed renovations before I installed my equipment. I couldn¡¯t fit it into Tony¡¯s penthouse. I dressed in an apron before I sat on the watchmaker¡¯s bench. I pulled on my welding goggles and a dust mask, then turned on the venttion hood. Metal winked from the shelf. I grabbed the wedding band I¡¯d made for Tony, long before I realized he¡¯d eat me alive, and dropped it into the crucible. I grabbed my blowtorch, sting the fucker. A yellow me haloed the circle, dissolving the jewelry into liquid. Gold poured out the spout, and the wheel turned, spinning the liquid into the mold. When it stopped, I seized the sk with tongs and quenched it. Bubbles hissed as I submerged the sk. The water clouded, and then I broke apart the wax, revealing the sp. I fished it out and dumped it into the maic bowl, which spun and spun. I¡¯d been refurbishing a busted Cartier watch for weeks-stripped everything but the leather, which needed treatment but was otherwise in excellent condition. I¡¯d removed the hands and reced them with blue stainless steel. All I had to do was fit the sapphire cabochon into the knob, and then I¡¯d have a twenty-four-thousand-dor product. Plenty of money to pay off my loans. I dried the freshly cast gold and ced it on my bench. I took off the goggles and dust mask, and then I flipped off the venttion. My senses tingled with awareness. ¡°You¡¯re hard to get alone.¡± I red at my unwee visitor. ¡°That¡¯s because I don¡¯t want to see you.¡± Ghost stood at the door, arms folded. His mussed hair stuck up in all directions. For a man who¡¯d just had sex, he looked sour. Most guys knew to stay away from me, but Ghost didn¡¯t share the same instincts for life preservation. Months ago, he¡¯d shoved his tongue down my throat while on guard duty. I¡¯d pped him. Since then, he¡¯d been after me. I¡¯d let him chase me because it was nice to be pursued. I just wanted to be good enough for someone. Apparently, that wasn¡¯t Ghost. He¡¯d never asked my father permission to date me. Ghost¡¯s smooth lips tugged into a mocking grin. ¡°Still mad at me?¡± I slid the blowtorch off the watchmaker¡¯s bench and fingered the trigger. ¡°Come any closer, and you¡¯ll find out how much.¡± Ghost¡¯s brow rose. His tall figure turned, heading toward me. ¡°You know your jealousy is a turn-on, right?¡± Ghost stopped an inch away, dropping his voice. ¡°How wet are you for me, baby?¡± ¡°Drier than Death Valley.¡± ¡°Savage.¡± I wasn¡¯t kidding. Nothing about him appealed to me, not even the leather stretched over his muscled chest. ¡°I can do worse.¡± ¡°Lay it on me, babe.¡± ¡°You smell like cheap perfume and sex. You¡¯re gross.¡± He wrestled the blowtorch from me and jabbed it under my jaw. ¡°What¡¯d you call me?¡± ¡°You want another adjective? Disgusting.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll burn your fucking mouth off.¡± I rolled my eyes. Ghost was on the mild end of the violence spectrum. Guys like him needed to posture. He was probably annoyed I hadn¡¯t begged for his cock. My nails bit into my fists as he pressed the nozzle into my throat. I struggled against his vise grip. ¡°Get off.¡± His palm glided to my waist and slipped down my ass. ¡°I said, quit!¡± I shoved him. He relented, smirking. He tossed the blowtorch on my desk, sneering as his gaze fell on my tools. ¡°Costa make you give up this shit?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s only a matter of time. That guy wants a house mouse, not a businesswoman.¡± I grabbed the Cartier watch and the sheets of metal, shoving them in my bag. ¡°Are you speaking for yourself?¡± Ghost winked at me. I had no idea what Tony wanted, but Ghost was probably right. Men never took my work seriously. My father disparaged my silly ¡°hobby,¡± never mind that fine jewelry was a multibillion-dor industry and with the materials, I could easily rake in a six-figure ie. I¡¯d floated the idea of supporting us more than once. Dad freaked out at the mere suggestion. His ego couldn¡¯t handle me providing for us, and he wouldn¡¯t know an honest way of living if it bit him in the ass. He¡¯d shot it down. Ghost shadowed my footsteps as we wandered out through the gate. Tony¡¯s men lingered around the Lexus, their arguing carrying up the road. At my approach, Christian smoothed his flyaway salt and pepper hair. ¡°This is where I stop.¡± Ghost hooked my arm, tugging me to a halt. ¡°Can¡¯t be too careful these days. That guinea¡¯s olive oilslicked hands are all over Chelsea.¡± I ripped his hand off me. ¡°You scared of him?¡± ¡°Give me a half hour-no-fifteen minutes alone in a room. I¡¯ll have him screaming like a bitch. By the way,¡± he purred, dropping the animosity. ¡°Did he take your virginity, or was he too small to get the job done? Rumor has it he left you on your wedding night.¡± How did he know that? My eyes widened before I waved him off. ¡°I guess he¡¯s not man enough for you.¡± ¡°If anything, he¡¯s too much man.¡± ¡°Standing by your husband, huh? I get it.¡± Ghost pounded my shoulder, his gaze lidded with admiration. ¡°I know you¡¯ll give this marriage everything you got. I¡¯m just not convinced Costa will.¡± My stomach churned. ¡°Evie, over here!¡± Christian beckoned me, his face stricken. I stormed toward him as he jogged to meet me. Christian ushered me in the armored car, his expression grim. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Tony found out.¡± Christian swung into the driver¡¯s seat, blowing out a tense breath. ¡°I¡¯m fucking dead. We shouldn¡¯t havee.¡± My mouth thinned. ¡°I¡¯ll call him and exin.¡± ¡°No need. You¡¯re meeting Tony for dinner right now.¡± 7 Evie I¡¯m grateful that my husband keeps our marriage fresh. Dinner was at a sex club. ck and gold dominated the dungeon-like atmosphere. Sanctum¡¯s 1920s prohibition vibe reminded me of the snootier bars in the city where you needed a password to enter, with several ring differences: Girls draped the leather couches in rhinestone-encrusted pantyhose. Nipple tassels dangled like ornaments. Women pleasured men on their knees, on the furniture, in rooms that echoed with high-pitched sighs, everywhere. After all his bashing of biker culture. Tony certainly had no problem with the models in pasties, or he wouldn¡¯t have dragged me here. Tony stood from the table in a fluid motion. He¡¯d slipped into a navy zer and cks with a patterned shirt. The dim lighting hid the details, but his debonair looks hadn¡¯t been my imagination. I hadn¡¯t seen him in weeks, but shock nudged my ribs at his breathtaking beauty. He strolled toward me, somehow more gorgeous than my memories. He¡¯d barely tamed his hair, and a cowlick curled near his temple. His shaven beard showcased the perfect anatomy given to him by his supermodel mother. Deep amber flickered in his dark eyes, the passion in them making me lightheaded. ¡°Evie,¡± he grumbled. He drew me in a gentle embrace until one breath stopped us from kissing. Then his lips caught mine in a perfunctory kiss, a show for the bodyguard behind me. I fell for it anyway. He swept his arm around my back, cupping my head. His lips touched mine, soft and searching, the electricity just as strong as I remembered. The air seemed to catch fire, and I couldn¡¯t breathe, stunned by this feather-light assault. He pulled away before I found my feet on solid ground. He could¡¯ve been in an elevator for all the emotion he showed, but I needed an ice bath. He gazed at me coolly, his attention narrowing on my bare thighs, my cutoffs, and the Harley-Davidson T-shirt. ¡°The dress code was upscale, but I slipped into somethingfortable,¡± I quipped, all sharine poison. ¡°Hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I want my wife¡¯s ass to hang out for everyone to see?¡± His graveled edge barely drowned out the violent thudding of my heart. ¡°You look like a club girl.¡± ¡°Yeah? You look like an olive oil salesman.¡± ¡°I could sell the shit out of some olive oil.¡± He hooked my waist and led me away from Christian. ¡°What are we doing here?¡± ¡°Celebrating,¡± he growled, shing me a nd smile. ¡°It¡¯s our one-month anniversary.¡± A cloud settled over Tony¡¯s features, and dread pitted my stomach. ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood for whatever sadism you have nned.¡± When we reached the table, he ripped back the chair. He pushed me down, glowering at me like I¡¯d maxed out his credit cards on lingerie. ¡°What is wrong with you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m stuck with you.¡± He sank into the seat beside mine. ¡°My hands are so tied they might as well be in cuffs. So my new purpose in life¡­is you. My wife.¡± He sounded thrilled. Did he think I wanted him around me? A pretty waitress in a ck blouse and cks bounced toward us. ¡°Are we ready to order, or do we still need a few minutes?¡± ¡°The bruschetta,¡± he barked. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Costa, but that¡¯s no longer on the menu.¡± Tony shot her a withering look until she caved, trotting off to do his bidding. Shortly after, six pieces of toasted bread slid in front of Tony. He dug into the appetizer. He offered me some, but I shook my head. ¡°How can you eat the food at a sex club?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not bad.¡± He motioned at the bruschetta. ¡°That¡¯s easily a five out of ten.¡± ¡°You¡¯re overselling it.¡± ¡°People don¡¯te here for the food.¡± ¡°Why do you?¡± ¡°The prenup includes mandated dates, so I chose this ce. I like the scenery.¡± He wiped his mouth with a napkin, shrugging. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d mind, given your background.¡± Asshole. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen worse?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not a bunch of savages,¡± I growled, forcing my tone to remain even. ¡°Savage is a good word for bikers. They¡¯re marauding, stupid, STD-swapping beasts.¡± His ignorance stunned me. ¡°You should hear what we say about you.¡± ¡°We? Who is that?¡± Darknessyered his sarcasm as he gripped his butter knife. ¡°Oh. You¡¯re referring to the club you no longer have any ties to?¡± We¡¯d arrived, finally. ¡°So I went home. Big deal.¡± ¡°I was very clear. Stay away from them. That chain-linked cage is off-limits. Forever.¡± My hand quivered with the need to p him, hard. ¡°Fuck off, Tony.¡± He shot across the table and seized my wrist, rattling the silverware. ¡°If you want to rebel, put some posters on the wall. Wear all the low-cut shorts you like. Do not go to the clubhouse. Are you rolling your eyes at me?¡± I rolled them again. ¡°Evie.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help it. You¡¯re being paranoid and unreasonable.¡± ¡°Paranoid,¡± he repeated hollowly. ¡°And unreasonable.¡± My hands clenched. ¡°Why do you have such a huge chip on your shoulder?¡± Tony stilled, scowling at the tablecloth. His grip dropped from my arm, but he didn¡¯t retreat. ¡°It¡¯s more like a scar.¡± I sucked in air when his thousand-yard stare scoured me. He ripped open his cor. Then he balled my fist in his and forced me into the hot tent of his clothing. He slipped my middle finger down the back of his neck beneath his hair line. A bumpy texture pressed into my skin. It was a mean-looking cut, long and jagged, and it raised a lump in my throat. I snatched my hand back. ¡°Who did that to you?¡± Tony slowly retied his shirt. ¡°One of your biker buddies.¡± ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± His lips twisted in a cynical smile. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. He¡¯s dead.¡± My stomach turned. ¡°You killed him?¡± ¡°I wish I¡¯d had the pleasure. Unfortunately, I was tied up with something else.¡± An ufortable silence stretched between us. Tony blinked, and the haunted look dissipated. He pushed back his chair and stood, offering his hand. I took it. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°To talk somewhere private.¡± I followed him, my mind in tumult as he gently pulled me through rooms with scantily d couples. We reached a dim hallway echoing with soft murmurs and harsh grunts. He grabbed a flute of champagne from a passing cocktail waitress. Tony opened a ss door with no frame and nudged me inside. My heart fluttered as I entered a bedroom illuminated by red lights. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± I stared at the bondage toys affixed to the brick wall. I trembled as I took in the bed and Tony¡¯s jacket, sliding down his muscled arms. He dropped the drink on an end table, taking an eternity to answer me. ¡°You know what beds are for, I¡¯m assuming.¡± ¡°Here?¡± A shiver ran up my leg. ¡°At a sex club?¡± Kinky, but not the end of the world. Movement behind him caught my eye, and I nced at the door. Two men stood outside. ¡°Holy fuck,¡± I shouted, grabbing Tony. ¡°Someone¡¯s there.¡± I thought he¡¯d yell, or at the very least, bang on the ss. Instead he turned around, smirking. ¡°They¡¯re watching us.¡± My mouth gaped. ¡°What?¡± I blurted, a thread of hysteria in my voice. ¡°No. I¡¯ve never done it before. How am I supposed to-why do we need an audience?¡± His eyes were like chips of stone. It was hard to tell what he felt, if anything. ¡°You disobeyed me.¡± ¡°So you dial it up to eleven thousand?¡± The pulsing knot in my throat suddenly burst. ¡°You didn¡¯t even warn me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t do half measures.¡± This was too much. It was tough to take off my clothes for one stranger. The humiliation at doing it for God knows how many tore at me. ¡°Are you sharing me with them?¡± His eyebrows jumped. He looked like he¡¯d never heard such a ridiculous question. ¡°I¡¯m not like your people, Evie. I don¡¯t share pussy.¡± A sheer ck fright swept through me as he slowly approached. Did I fear him¡­or my desires? ¡°Stop.¡± He did, but an eager darkness blended with his smoldering look. ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere.¡± A spasm of rm erupted inside me as his words sank in, siphoning the blood from my face. The victim of his re, I clenched my jaw. He provoked me in a way the men at home never had. He¡¯d lured me up here. I¡¯d known better than to follow, and yet I had. Curious. Terrified. Heated. I was supposed to trust him with my body, but he¡¯d blindsided me with this. Apprehension knotted my throat. What would he do afterward? Was he lying about sharing me? I didn¡¯t want to be touched by anyone except him. And the thought ruined me. My calm shattered. I lunged, ripping a crop from the wall. I held it like a baseball bat. My heart raced as he stepped forward. ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Tony stared at me, eyebrow raised. ¡°You making a move, or is this posturing?¡± I swung. Tony avoided the blow and ripped the toy from my fingers. My fist sank in his ribs, and the impact crushed my knuckles. He seized my hand in his giant palm. His touch burst everything within me. Rage. Frustration. Desire. How much damage could he do with those hands? How much pleasure could he give? I wouldn¡¯t find out the answer to either curiosity. I searched for another weapon, but nothing was in reach. His smile shot fire down my spine. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit. Make me work for it.¡± The bastard had no idea what he did to me or what I could do to him. Iunched at him with a roundhouse kick, the thud of my foot connecting with his abdomen like rocks on concrete. He caught my ankle, the bite of his grip deepening. I yanked my leg, but he wouldn¡¯t let go. I hit back, my fists swinging. The first one struck his jaw with a satisfying crack. He hissed, and the game was over. I grappled against him as we fell to the floor, but he had at least fifty pounds of lean muscle and years of brutality. His strength was unmatched, and I was nothing beneath his monstrous hands. His thighs pinned my knees, bringing him ufortably close. A grin carved into his face as I aimed for his kidneys. He shoved my arms over my head. ¡°Careful, honey. I like the struggle.¡± And so did I. Darkness reced his smoldering look, and my memory flickered withpelling images from our wedding night. A flood of unexpected warmth heated me. Nobody had ever dominated me. I¡¯d always hated how rough members were with their olddies, Crash in particr. I swore I¡¯d never get involved with them. Then my husband, who I despised, tossed me like a bup sack, and I soaked through my panties. The hypocrisy made me burn. Heat burrowed deep into my body. My hips twisted, and I fought myself. The instinct was there-the desire. He held me in the perfect position to bump my hips and wrap my legs around his waist. It¡¯d be so natural, too. The wife offering herself to her feral animal of a husband. Too bad I didn¡¯t have faith in traditional values. I spat hair from my mouth. ¡°Go to hell.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already there, and you¡¯re right with me.¡± His weight dug into my limbs, cutting off cirction. ¡°Giving up?¡± ¡°Why are you doing this? You know it¡¯s wrong!¡± The dead-eyed stare told me he didn¡¯t care. ¡°Are you religious, Evie?¡± The question threw me. I stilled beneath him. ¡°I am,¡± he answered. ¡°I believe in God and the devil. I know I¡¯m headed straight for hell. Despite that, I can¡¯t stop doing the things that condemn me.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this. I can¡¯t wait for my dad to show up. He¡¯ll eat you alive. He¡¯ll use your bones as a toothpick!¡± ¡°Sure he will, babe.¡± Tony seized me and wrenched, forcing me onto the bed. I struggled, mmed into the mattress. I bristled as he pinned my arms. So much for my fight. A shiver of pure excitement tore through my resistances. I tensed, but it was toote. He saw it. He felt it. And the same shudder of desire rolled through him. My inmed voice erupted to the ceiling. ¡°First you humiliate me on our wedding night, and now you do this? You¡¯re a fucking animal.¡± ¡°No better than a rutting dog.¡± He leaned in, his rough whisper brushing my ear. ¡°But that¡¯s what you want, isn¡¯t it? Don¡¯t worry. I can keep a secret. I¡¯ll never tell a soul how badly you wanted to get fucked.¡± I scrambled to push together my wild thoughts. Then he fisted my cor and gave it a violent jerk, ripping it halfway down to split the Harley-Davidson logo in half. The white fibers broke with his brute force, falling to the floor in wide pieces. He yanked me off the bed and shoved aside my mangled shirt. His mouth widened with a predatory smile, making my thighs clench on nothing. Then a warm shock touched my leg and glided up, cupping my ass. He squeezed. I bit my lip to stifle a gasp. Shaking, I unfastened the button at my waist. There was no point in resisting. I was getting fucked one way or another, and I didn¡¯t hate his hands on me. He knew it. So did I. I removed his hand and kicked off the shorts. ring at him, I ripped off my panties. He made a deep, appreciative sound. ¡°Jesus, your body. It shouldn¡¯t be allowed for one woman to be so fuckable.¡± The edge in his gravel tingled me with warmth. I stared at the remains of the shirt, intimidated by Tony and what he wanted from me. Tony¡¯s stare heated my skin as he undid his belt. He gripped the leather like a dead snake, wrapping it around his fist with rming swiftness. ¡°Have you ever given head?¡± I swallowed tightly. ¡°No.¡± ¡°How did you get this far without sucking cock?¡± ¡°When your father runs off men with a shotgun, your opportunities dwindle to the bold cashier at the Stop and Save or the fifty-year-old meth addict.¡± Or the prospect with a death wish. ¡°I see.¡± He unzipped his fly. My lips parted, but no sound escaped. I was taken aback by his long, well-muscled legs. A pair of ck briefs strained over his perfect cock. It pushed against the cotton as though fighting for release. He tossed the belt, and then his hand slipped to my neck, which he held loosely. ¡°Now. Kneel.¡± He pushed. My weakened knees buckled, and I sank to the floor. I nced at the door. A mistake, because more men crowded the door. My heart thundered, but I consoled myself with the facts. Nothing we did within the bounds of marriage was wrong. It still felt depraved, like I was sumbing to his darkness. Tony had positioned me in front of the ravenous men. They had a way of watching that was unfamiliar to me. I was used to the weight of lustful gazes, but not this cold curiosity. ¡°Open. I want you on disy.¡± Tony tapped my thighs, forcing me to widen them. Smiles flickered on the faces outside. Their gazes prowled up and down my body, stopping between my legs. Oh God. I needed to hide. My throat bobbed. ¡°They can see me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a sex club, Evie.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want this,¡± I burst, my cheeks heating from the lie. ¡°The agreement was to get me pregnant, not humiliate me in sex clubs.¡± Tony walked in front me. ¡°Do you feel humiliated?¡± I felt a lot of things-turned on, scared, heated. Ashamed. ¡°Why are you doing this in front of them?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t spare them a single nce, Evie.¡± His legs partially hid me from view as he approached. ¡°I¡¯m more interested in your reaction.¡± ¡°Shock? Disgust?¡± ¡°All of them.¡± Slowly, Tony pulled down his briefs. They did not want to budge. Inches of tanned waist dipped to a trimmed Adonis belt, where his cock jutted proudly. Huge. Cut. Perfect. My fingers curved around the dense column. I gave it an experimental jerk and a bead of moisture pebbled on the massive crown. This is so wrong. ¡°You like seeing me so hard for you?¡± His voice was crisp, and sensual. It sucked out the shame and pumped in heat. ¡°I already know the answer, but I want to hear you admit it.¡± I bit my cheek. Of course he did. ¡°Still defying me,¡± he tutted. ¡°Open.¡± Tony¡¯s thumb traced my mouth after I obeyed. A solid surface pressed into my lips-ss. Buttery wine flowed into my mouth. ¡°Try not to swallow it.¡± He put the ss aside and fisted his cock. The bulbous head stroked my cheek. He was silk stretched over steel, teasing my lips open. His thumb hooked my mouth, opening me to amodate him. Then he rolled over my tongue. He slid inside, filling me with a hardness I barely breathed around. As he eased himself all the way, the champagne fizzed around him. I sputtered. I¡¯d never done this before. He wasrger and harder than I expected, and it felt awkward. I had no idea what the hell I was doing, but I enjoyed the warmth gliding over my tongue. He uttered a soft sigh as he buried himself, and a thrill touched my pussy as though he¡¯d fucked me there. He cupped my cheek and stroked me. His fingertips left trails of fire, and the agony lingered like one of his steamy kisses. Tony¡¯s half-lidded gaze smoldered as his hips chased his pleasure. He groaned loudly. I took him deeper, running along his length. I glided back and forth, flicking his tip. I felt him jerk upward, hitting the roof of my mouth. I liked this. The heady taste of him swirled around me, his length easier and easier to take. It was hot as fuck. His hand made a fist in my hair. Then his hips chased my movements. He began a slow but torturous rhythm. I couldn¡¯t hold him and the drink. Bubbles frothed from my mouth. Alcohol spilled on the floor, but Tony seemed to relish the sight. A wicked smile staggered across his face as I struggled to close my mouth on him. I choked. Tony didn¡¯t let up on his ruthless strokes. He made deliciously raw, male sounds. Deep, keening grunts. ¡°Evie,¡± he groaned. I mped over him and sucked hard, juices running over my chin. His fingers curled into my hair before he yanked, forcing me to take him to the root. His cock hit the back of my throat. I gagged. ¡°Fuck, Evie.¡± He pulled out, leaving his tip buried. ¡°Christ, I just want to make you mine all night.¡± I suckled the head,shing at him, desperate for more of his moans. He rewarded me with another groan. My legs widened as I watched him sumb, his re melting to a lust-fueled craze. ¡°Have you had enough?¡± I took a break, gasping. ¡°Fuck me until I pass out.¡± ¡°You should rethink those words.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t have it in you?¡± I taunted, well aware I was ying with fire. ¡°Or are you afraid you won¡¯tst?¡± He grabbed the flute. He made me drink. It was barely a swallow, and then he fucked my mouth, shoving it all out. The alcohol burned. I was a dripping mess, clinging to him. His brutal thrusts stabbed my throat. He retreated to let me breathe, and then the relentless possession began anew. Tony cradled my face. His eyes fluttered as he fought against my gag reflex. He inched back and forth, so deep inside, I couldn¡¯t get air. He drilled me with practiced movements until I took the lead. His thumbs stroked my cheek as I sucked and licked the giant head. He uttered small grunts that I loved. ¡°Suck harder,¡± he rasped. I tried the best I could, knowing his climax wasing when a moan rumbled from his chest. He jerked me toward him. Liquid heat shot into my mouth, somehow also spraying my lips, my neck, and nestling into my cleavage. His grip on my hair went ck. His raking gaze danced over me. He gritted his teeth as spasms ripped through his thighs. He wavered on his feet. Staring at me, he wiped sweat from his brow. Watching him try to pull it together made me hot all over. Did he like it? His heartbeat hammered me through his cock. He dragged me upright, breathing hard. His scowl softened when his attention drifted to the cum on my breasts. His knuckle rolled it up the slope before catching everything on my lips, and then he pushed it into my mouth. He stepped closer, pinning me with a scious stare. He cradled my jaw, running his thumb over my lips. Sparks showered my cheek. His breath misted my lips before closing the distance to lick them. Then he fused his mouth with mine. He forced his tongue inside, pushing my head to ease his invasion. The kiss sang through my veins. Wet heat mingled with mine, licking, drawing my lip into his for him to suck, weakening my knees so that I clung to him to stay upright. I crushed into him, the space between my legs burning. We stumbled onto the bed, my back hitting the mattress. I squirmed, fighting the shiver of wanting as he kissed the shell of my ear. His lips grazed my cheek, kissing under my jaw. It was delicious. A five-story fire stroked my body as he dipped between my breasts. My wild pulse beat into his fingers as he pressed his lips into each globe, shoving my bra aside. Iced my fingers with the hand ttening my stomach. I squeezed hard as the slick warmth zed down my leg, where Tony spread me wide as though- Warm air touched my pussy. ¡°Oh my God, Tony.¡± Then he used his mouth in a way I¡¯d only been told about by other women. Tony¡¯s lips and tongue teased the tight bundle of nerves between my legs. He flicked and suckled and tortured, the ecstasy of his hot, amazing lips like shes of lightning. A jolt hit my pussy when he kissed me. Then a wet heat delved into me. He yanked my hips so I couldn¡¯t squirm. I grabbed his forearm in a halfhearted attempt to stop him, going ck. Tony sucked me in. He closed his eyes and licked, the unbridled joy giving me one immutable thought: Tony Costa was put on earth to ruthlessly fuck women. Fighting this insanely sexual man was useless. It only gave more torturous friction against his perfect mouth. I tore at the sheets since I couldn¡¯t grab him. Ripples, waves, and then a tsunami of pleasure loomed just over the horizon. A spasm ripped up my thighs, and a cry burst from my lips. ¡°Please.¡± He made a sympathetic sound. He circled my clit with my wetness, teasing, pinching. ¡°Please what?¡± ¡°Please make mee.¡± He mmed his fingers inside me, rewarding me with sweet, aching relief. Ecstasy sted through my cells, and I arched into his touch. I breathed hard into theforter as the wave crashed into my abdomen and ricocheted up, befuddling my senses. I copsed, gripping his arm. I was barely conscious when he leaned into the bed. He shifted his leg over mine, his cock lying on my thigh. It still throbbed as though he hadn¡¯t emptied his balls. His hand curled around my belly, blood rushing to the spots he touched. Tony patted me. Then he lifted me upright, and I limped to my clothes. He wordlessly handed me a Sanctum T-shirt to rece the one he¡¯d ruined. We dressed silently. Words seemed inadequate for what had just happened. His arm snaked my waist as we left the room, colliding with the group of voyeurs. They bantered with him. Blood pounded in my ears, drowning out their bawdyughter. My breathing still hadn¡¯t caught up with my rapid pulse. Once we got in the car, I expected him to pull my head toward the bulge straining his cks. Tony remained on his side, thumbing his cell, ignoring the sexual tension choking the air. Even the proudest men caved to desire. A sneaking suspicion dampened the glow from my orgasm. ¡°Did you like it?¡± ¡°Decent first effort,¡± he admitted an eternityter, reading his phone. ¡°What¡¯s not to like about a wife in her natural position?¡± ¡°And where¡¯s that?¡± ¡°On her knees and covered in my cum.¡± He might¡¯ve shoved me to the floor, but I¡¯d jumped at the chance to give him pleasure, hadn¡¯t I? I¡¯d done it willingly, and it made his insult more grating. ¡°And what¡¯s the husband¡¯s role?¡± I shot back, incensed. ¡°Acting like a bullying shit? Taunting the girl who rocked his world ten minutes ago? How many women can get you off like I did?¡± A muscle flicked in his jaw. ¡°A shocking amount.¡± ¡°Bullshit. You¡¯d be married by now.¡± That seemed to strike a nerve. ¡°Shut up, Evie.¡± The car stopped on a cobblestone road, but I didn¡¯t get out. ¡°You¡¯re notfortable around me, are you?¡± I gaped at Tony as his knuckles whitened. ¡°That¡¯s why you avoid me. You lose control around me, and that¡¯s scary. Because you had a bad experience. Maybe you ignored a safe word. Took things too far-¡± ¡°You need a reality check. I was forced into this marriage, and my world does not revolve around you.¡± Tony leaned over me and opened the door. ¡°Out.¡± The dismissal stung more than I¡¯d expected. A stupid part of me assumed he¡¯d make up for his behavior. Even more mortifying, I¡¯d hoped he¡¯d chase me.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I should¡¯ve known a monster like you only responds to blood or cum.¡± Color flushed his face, but his eyes were dead. The light in them had extinguished. The fire fueling his banter-that was gone, too. Disturbing. ¡°Hide your eyes, darling. I can see your heart through them.¡± Tony lifted his head, smirking. ¡°You will never win me over.¡± I stepped onto the pavement and mmed the door. My eyes welled as Tony disappeared behind the fogged ss, and then his car took off. The angry, red gleam of his taillights burned into the bleak night. My throat tightened, but I shelved the hurt to deal with another day. I would outmaneuver Tony. 8 Tony 1 14 oz gin 1 14 oz Campari 1 14 oz sweet vermouth Garnish: orange twist My biggest enemy was me. The bitter irony was that I¡¯d spent decades shooting up, snorting, and injecting my stupid problems away. Now that they were finally gone, I¡¯d give anything to have them back. I¡¯d trade this life to be that junkie again. At least he was harmless. I knew how to turn his life around. The man I was now? Hopeless. Sobriety had forced me to reckon with the worst monster in my life-the man in the mirror. After the fight with Evie, I went to the graveyard and stewed over my father¡¯s cold body. Once the chill turned my fingers into icicles, I returned to my apartment in Dorchester, a dump I¡¯d bought on impulse before my marriage. I¡¯d barely furnished it besides a sofa from a thrift store and the mattress that sat only on its box springs. I rarely slept, anyway. I¡¯d rather watch Jeopardy reruns than sumb to my nightmare-fueled sleep. I tossed my keys. They missed the counter and ttered to the linoleum. I strolled past them into the sparse living room papered with printed out articles, mugshots, old newspaper clippings. In the kitchen, the utter stillness cinched my throat like a belt. A jolt zipped down my spine. My senses tingled with awareness. I yanked open the fridge. ¡°Stop skulking ande out, you fucking creep.¡± A man-shaped shadow melted away from the wall, firelight flickering over his fair skin. Cainan had the preppy WASP look down pat. His uniform was a dark blue zer over a dress shirt and gray cks, his paleness magnified by the ckness of his tiger-nted gaze. A wave of slicked auburn curls rolled over his head. He looked like he¡¯d just left Sunday service, but he was probably bright-eyed from ruining someone¡¯s life. If I was a monster, Cainan was the devil incarnate. He was an even bigger disaster than I. Of course, he had no idea, the poor fuck.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. I had good reason to loathe him. But he¡¯d saved my life in exchange for a hefty price. Cainan bellied up to the solid ck counter as I drank seltzer like it was alcohol. Sometimes I poured club soda over ice just to have something that wasn¡¯t t and boring. The illusion unlocked a sliver of dopamine, rewarding me for a behavior that had ruined most of my twenties. His eyes lingered on my water before his mouth twitched into a smooth smile. Cainan always gave the impression that he could read my mind. I sipped my nd drink. ¡°Why the hell are you in my apartment?¡± ¡°We agreed on full transparency.¡± Yes, we did, along with a list of other things I¡¯d been forced to ept. Cainan was chairman of The Dark Circle. He was the arms dealer who helped supply Boston¡¯s gangs with guns, and his influence spiderwebbed the globe. He could kill me seven different ways in an hour, but he couldn¡¯t y chess with Boston¡¯s street gangs. I was supposed to be the bridge between them and our interests. Unfortunately, I¡¯d failed. Cainan sneered at his surroundings, feigning interest in a chipped mug. His boat shoes smacked the linoleum as he followed me, a persistent, aggravating shadow. ¡°Where were youst night?¡± ¡°Gettingid. You want the details?¡± He cocked his head. ¡°Was it a good time?¡± ¡°Very.¡± ¡°Then why so angry?¡± Cainan was a bloodhound for vulnerability, but I wouldn¡¯t spill. Evie was none of his business. I didn¡¯t care if it cost me. Every instinct screamed to keep her away from him. I cleared my throat. ¡°Upset I skipped you on the wedding invitations? My bad.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m upset. I leave town for a few months, and my protege is in bed with the enemy.¡± ¡°My cousin made me an offer I couldn¡¯t refuse.¡± I shrugged, wiping a crumb from the counter. ¡°Vinn got sick of me interfering with the Family. He kidnapped me. Held me at gunpoint. Mock execution.¡± Cainan¡¯s expression stilled and grew serious. ¡°So that¡¯s how he¡¯s ying it.¡± ¡°I warned you he wouldn¡¯t take it well. Vinn¡¯s waited his whole life to be the boss. He wasn¡¯t going to roll over and let me control things.¡± ¡°You could have subdued him,¡± he glowered, auburn eyes shing. ¡°Or killed him and inherited the Family.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your answer for everything.¡± ¡°We wouldn¡¯t be having this conversation! You wouldn¡¯t be married to a biker.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not associated with them anymore. I¡¯ve made sure of that.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Without your cousin¡¯s support, we¡¯re stalled. We need boots on the ground. Soldiers,¡± he barked, pacing my living room. ¡°Where will we get them?¡± ¡°Rage Machine.¡± ¡°Now they¡¯re in Legion¡¯s pocket, thanks to the president¡¯s new policy of patching in other gangs.¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± I leaned over the counter, grabbing a notepad with a list of names. ¡°I¡¯ll start targeting anyone who defects to Legion.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a giant hole in your master n. Your wife.¡± My insides prickled. ¡°My wife is none of your business.¡± ¡°You¡¯repromised.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not. They gave me a soft, pliable virgin. She won¡¯t be loyal to them much longer.¡± I thumped my ss onto the counter. ¡°Cainan, I¡¯m handling this.¡± Cainan stepped forward, his re drilling into me. He said nothing for a long while. ¡°Have it your way, T.¡± His grave tone grew agitated as he dragged a wool coat over his shoulders. ¡°But what about your cousin? What if he finds out you¡¯re not honoring the alliance?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll try to kill me.¡± I tipped the tumbler, clinking the ice. Cainan buttoned his jacket, his insolent stare raking my body. ¡°I have no idea why you don¡¯t get rid of him.¡± A man like him wouldn¡¯t understand. His overbearing presence slipped away, heading out. I waved him off as he opened the door. ¡°Oh, and T?¡± I nced at him. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I have no problem with you making that girl your new toy, but the moment you catch feelings is the moment you catch a bullet.¡± With that, he left, mming the door. My throat burned. 9 Tony 1 14 oz Jagermeister 6 oz Red Bull I needed my wife under control. I thought I¡¯d put the fear of God in Evie, but five days after taking her mouth, I woke to a notification that she¡¯d charged twenty thousand dors to my credit card. Evie¡¯s toddler tantrum bullshit tested my patience. What was wrong with her? Hadn¡¯t I scared the shit out of her? Dragging her to Sanctum was supposed to straighten her out, but she¡¯d brushed it off like rain rolling off her shoulders. What the hell had happened in that godforsaken clubhouse to make her impervious to men like me? It wasn¡¯t enough that I allowed her free room and board. She sucked down my oxygen, ate my food, now she blew through my cash, my father¡¯s legacy, with light-fingered contempt. Damn her. I wouldn¡¯t stand for this. The money meant nothing-it was the principle that mattered. I was not her personal ATM. I dialed her bodyguard. ¡°Christian,¡± I roared into the phone. ¡°What is going on?¡± ¡°Hey, T! Funny, we were just talking about you. I asked if she¡¯d been to Vinny¡¯s yet. She said she¡¯d rather sit on an uncovered gas station toilet seat than hang around Goliath.¡± He broke off,ughing hard. ¡°I guess that¡¯s what they call him at the MC.¡± Goliath was apt. ¡°Never mind that. Where the hell is Evie, and why are you letting her max out her credit card?¡± Christian¡¯s heavy sigh brushed my ear. ¡°Let her do what she wants. Your words, boss.¡± Did I say that? Fuck. I searched for my car keys. ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°At the store. You know, overseeing renovations. She wanted me to watch the contractors. Make sure they¡¯re doing a good job, but I¡¯m clueless about that shit. You?¡± Renovations? My mind reeled as he prattled on. ¡°I¡¯m impressed with your wife. She¡¯s got a lot of ambition for a young girl. When I was her age, I waited tables and chopped up table-side steak tartare at your dad¡¯s ce. Remember the ck Cat?¡± ¡°Focus. Tell me where you are.¡± ¡°We¡¯re at Newbury Street.¡± I hung up, seething. Newbury Street was a high-end outdoor mall in Boston. She¡¯d dragged Christian there to go on a shopping spree. I¡¯d done worse at her age, but it still boiled my blood. I spotted Christian leaning against the column of a storefront I¡¯d never noticed before. The grizzled mafioso threw his lit cigarette on the ground as I double-parked my Lexus. I unrolled the window. ¡°Where is she?¡± A grin jumped across his wrinkled face, and he rapped his knuckles against the wall. I nced up the tall ss windows and gaped at the serif letters etched into the building. What in the actual fuck? EVIE ¡°We¡¯ve been here all day.¡± Christian patted his wool coat and grabbed his phone. ¡°Working. Well, she¡¯s working. I¡¯m overseeing things. You married such a nice girl, T. She bought everyone lunch.¡± My stomach hardened. ¡°You had lunch with my wife?¡± ¡°Me and the contractors.¡± Christian¡¯s grin shed, wide and infectious. ¡°She ordered Hl Guys and beer. Never had it before. Pretty good.¡± The image of all those men around a table, breaking bread with my woman, sat in my gut like poison. The idea of Christian and Evie, cozy in a corner, digging into aluminum tes,ughing, set my blood to a low boil. I didn¡¯t care that it was crappy fast food. I hadn¡¯t so much as shared an olive with my wife. My throat burned. ¡°T, don¡¯t get upset,¡± Christian said bracingly. ¡°Everybody had one drink. That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°You know better.¡± ¡°T, it¡¯s Hl Guys. Not a fucking pic at the Common.¡± Christian frowned, his gaze dipping to the golden band he still wore. ¡°You know I¡¯d never let anything happen to her.¡± Evie had charmed the fuck out of him. Uneptable. I shoved my keys into his chest. ¡°Park my car and meet back here.¡± My shoulder bumped the handle-less ss door, swinging it into a gutted store. The walls had been stripped, and a tarpy on the floor. A chemical stench stung my nostrils as I stepped over power tools, hanging stic billowing with the stream of outdoor air as I headed into a workshop. Big windows poured light into the square room. I couldn¡¯t name half the things in the vast space. Several wooden benches ran along the wall, filled with instruments, pots, and other devices I¡¯d never seen before. A venttion hood hummed over Evie, who sat at a bench, bending over a concrete b. A leather apron wrapped her body. She fiddled with something, peering at a small object through safety goggles. What was she doing? She reced a tool on the shelf and picked up another, a dentist-like instrument connected to a hose. She held it to the tweezers. A blue me passed through it. The brightness pierced my eyes. I threw up an arm, shielding my eyes. Evie raised her welder¡¯s mask and whirled around. Her brown curls were windblown, tucked into a messy braid. Her bowed lips fell open. The memory of her champagne-and-cum-soaked tits grabbed my cock. So fucking hot. Hardly any of it had made it down her throat, but it¡¯d been worth it just to mark her curves. She must¡¯ve made men at the clubhouse insane. Part of the reason I didn¡¯t want her within five miles of that ce. So many filthy things I could do to her. God, it¡¯d taken everything inside me not to fuck her full of cum. The virgin-with-the-body-built-for-sin fantasy was at the top of my list. It¡¯d been weeks since I¡¯d touched her. She removed her helmet, frowning. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°You first.¡± ¡°I¡¯m working.¡± ¡°On what, bankrupting me?¡± I stalked to her side, fingering the crockpot on the bench. ¡°What is that?¡± She took my wrist. ¡°Don¡¯t touch. It¡¯s a pickling solution.¡± Heat from her gentle grip traveled up my arm. ¡°Pickling?¡± ¡°An acid bath for removing oxidation and residue left after soldering.¡± She moved my arm away from the bench and pped me on the back. ¡°You know, for my stic beads.¡± My lips tugged into a smirk at the memory of my careless words at the wedding. Evie was clearly on a different level thannyards and beaded bracelets, but her asshole father had hinted otherwise. Which was why I¡¯d poked at her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you set me straight?¡± ¡°Newssh. You¡¯re an unfeeling monster.¡± Evie stowed her tools and pushed my abdomen to move me out of the way, rippling warmth to my groin. ¡°None of this would be a surprise if you¡¯d bothered to get to know me.¡± ¡°What exactly are you?¡± ¡°A goldsmith,¡± she murmured. ¡°I appraise gems, refurbish watches, and cast rings and nes.¡± I stared. ¡°Show me.¡± Evie turned her head, sweeping her hair aside. I closed the distance between us and brushed the stray strands. Softly, my breath fanned her face. I traced her ear, and she inhaled slightly. My heart pounded as I fingered her earring. Three pearlescent spikes stuck out from a golden loop. I twisted it in all directions, the stones shifting from cream to green and blue. It was a yful design. Simple but pretty. ¡°What¡¯s it made of?¡± ¡°Fourteen karat gold with three opals.¡± A faint glow of pride warmed my chest. ¡°Where did you learn this?¡± Evie gazed at me as though judging whether my interest was genuine. ¡°Mom taught me, and her mother taught her. She started when I was little, setting stones and things like that.¡± I dropped her earring and thumbed her neck. ¡°Tell me more.¡± Her heartbeat throbbed against my finger. ¡°I design rings, cast metal into molds, and I buy old stuff to fix up. I began with jewelry people donated. I melted them down. Then I¡¯d add alloy and make them into belt buckles, rings, whatever.¡± Fucking cool. I was silent for a while, processing. Impressive as hell. No wonder Christian fawned over her. ¡°Go ahead. Get it over with.¡± Evie threw back her head, her nostrils ring. ¡°Tell me it¡¯s stupid and a waste of time. Insult me like you¡¯re dying to do.¡± I grasped her chin, and her startled gaze crashed into mine. ¡°I kind of love that you¡¯re secretly a badass who works with fire. Show me more.¡± Shaking, she swiped open her cell, flicking through a gallery of stunning images. I made her erge them. I gaped at a man¡¯s antique watch, studying the bright stone making the knob, the blue hands, the wless leather. Beautiful craftsmanship. It was something I would¡¯ve worn. ¡°I refurbished it,¡± she exined, flicking through photos. ¡°Here¡¯s a before and after picture.¡± I couldn¡¯t believe this. A war raged inside me. My mind refused tobine images of the woman in the leather apron with the biker girl I¡¯d married. She¡¯d blown me away. ¡°This is a seventy-thousand-dor watch.¡± Pink patches burned on her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m d you think so, but I¡¯ll probably sell it for twenty-four thousand. You know, to cover my end of the bills.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying not to dip into your savings. I want to make my way in the world without leaning on my rich husband.¡± ¡°You live in my house. You eat my food. You just charged twenty grand on my credit card, hon.¡± I cupped her burning face and stroked her frown. ¡°What part of you is independent?¡± ¡°The one that¡¯s going to p you.¡± I grinned, removing my hand. ¡°So I¡¯m not allowed to buy your jewelry?¡± She shook her head, and my chest prickled with heat. I wanted that watch. ¡°I¡¯m not an idiot, Tony.¡± She shoved the phone back in her pocket, sighing. ¡°This is temporary.¡± ¡°I¡¯m in no rush to set you free. Especially now that I know you¡¯ll be a hit at cocktail parties. Have you any idea what the average mob wife is like?¡± I slid off the bench, strolling to another workstation with a giant drill. ¡°High-maintenance, stupid, and useless for everything except fucking and breeding.¡±This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure that¡¯s why you were unmarried for so long. Because they¡¯re boring.¡± She had a point. I¡¯d never married because I was constantly in a drug-induced psychosis. I had too much noise in my head. Drugs were the only thing that made it stop. Frankly, it was a miracle I didn¡¯t stumble into a Vegas chapel with a showgirl. I pushed a switch, and the drill screamed to life. Tutting, Evie shut it off. ¡°My workshop isn¡¯t a yground. That¡¯ll rip off your thumb if you¡¯re not careful.¡± I was itching to poke around. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe this. I thought you¡¯d dropped twenty grand on a diamond.¡± ¡°I mean, not yet. Though diamonds are always my bestsellers.¡± Evie frowned at her ring, grimacing at the stone. ¡°But they¡¯re my least favorite gemstone.¡± ¡°In my defense, most women aren¡¯t jewelry designers.¡± ¡°I made you a ring. I had it ready weeks in advance. I wanted to size it, but you never showed up to the meetings. You were an ass at the wedding, so I torched it and used the gold for something else.¡± My jaw hardened. Her gaze flicked at me. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to apologize now.¡± ¡°Nobody ever said sorry for making me what I am.¡± ¡°A rude jerk with no self-awareness?¡± She¡¯d turned away from me, unting her perfect ass. ¡°A sadistic, murdering, jaded rich boy with too much free time?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a boy. I¡¯m a man. You should know that from when we werest together.¡± I snagged her by the loops in her jeans and tugged her into my arms. She let out a gasp as her back hit my body. I fisted her hair and wrenched hard. She yelped, her heartbeat hammering my palm. Crimson climbed up her neck as I traced her breast. ¡°What is with you?¡± she growled. ¡°You don¡¯t talk to me for days. Then you show up here, yapping about credit limits when you make a fortune every hour, and next thing I know you¡¯re copping a feel.¡± Yapping. She even made pping motions with her hand to mimic a mouth. I had to admire the sheer gall. ¡°I have the right to be concerned about my wife¡¯s moneyundering scheme.¡± Evie paled, saying nothing. ¡°Sorry, are you notundering diamonds for Jett?¡± Evie looked at me, her eyesrge and liquid, two pools of misery. Grim satisfaction seared my chest. I was right, but I hated her tears and I loathed her father for forcing her into this position. No wonder he¡¯d downyed her business as a ¡°hobby.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a criminal.¡± ¡°Of course not, sweetheart.¡± I kissed her temple, and she shuddered. ¡°You¡¯re a real artist when you¡¯re not helping Daddy with his illicit deals.¡± A blush ran like a shadow across her cheeks. ¡°What, no clevereback?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it.¡± ¡°Fine. I¡¯llb through your financial records. Your tax returns. They¡¯ll tell me everything.¡± Her arm spasmed. I let her go and headed for her office. ¡°Tony, hold on.¡± She seized my wrist, and blood rushed to the spot where she touched me. An unwee flush heated my cock as she fit her hand in mine. She squeezed, dragging my attention to her beseeching gaze. ¡°You¡¯re right, okay? Dad calls in favors, and I do my best to help him. Trust me, I¡¯ve wanted to break free for years. It¡¯s hard when your father is all you have left.¡± That sank in like jagged ws. Too familiar. ¡°I¡¯ll set you up with a business credit card. If you want to buy precious gems, equipment, whatever, that¡¯s great. Have at it.¡± I held up a threatening finger. ¡°But he is not in your life anymore.¡± Her re burned through me, but I refused to bend. She needed to stop visiting her ouw family. ¡°Evie, I expect you to test boundaries and act out. I¡¯ll be watching for it. Just know that I¡¯ve seen it all, and I¡¯ll be there every time to catch you. And then I¡¯ll put you in your ce. You won¡¯t like that, but I will.¡± 10 Evie I¡¯m grateful my husband respects my boundaries. Why should I let him win? I went to the clubhouse twice after snapping my credit card in half. Once, for my cousin. Jennesy turned twenty-four, so I zipped there on Wednesday for her birthday party. Then I went again two dayster, just to prove that I wouldn¡¯t be controlled. I stayed until Christian told me we had to go or Tony would kill us both, which was what brought me to Sanctum. My cutoffs did not go over well with the hostess, who red at them a full five seconds before the guard mentioned my name, after which she became ridiculously amodating. Christian made a sound of disgust. ¡°Cazzo.¡± ¡°What does that one mean?¡± I harassed him when he spoke Italian, determined to pick up thenguage. ¡°Cazzo?¡± Christian¡¯s hand flew in his hair. ¡°Dick, shit, damn, fuck. It can be a lot of things, depending on the situation.¡± ¡°Cats-oh,¡± I tried it out. ¡°I should practice before I see Tony.¡± Christian¡¯s face went up in mes as a woman in pasties waved at him. ¡°The girls here are so young.¡± Since we¡¯d gotten to Sanctum, he¡¯d done nothing but cringe. ¡°You don¡¯t like this ce, huh?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m a traditional guy.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯tst a week in a clubhouse.¡± Iughed, imagining the gangly mafioso at a patchover party. ¡°Actually, I know a girl who likes tall, modest guys like you.¡± He smiled. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°You¡¯d be right up her alley.¡± I grabbed my phone, scrolling to a picture of Jennesy and me at a dive bar. I thrust it under his nose. He bent to look at it, sping his hands around mine gently. ¡°She¡¯s hot.¡± ¡°Want her number?¡± He sucked in his lip as though tempted, and then shook his head. ¡°Can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°My wife passed away six months ago. Cancer. Too soon.¡± My heart ached as I took his arm. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I had no idea.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something I talk about, but I guess you bring it out in me.¡± His disinterested gaze passed over the women in the club, and he sighed heavily. ¡°I have to get out there someday.¡± ¡°Jennesy will probably still be single,¡± I said, opening my phone in an attempt to cheer him up. ¡°I already texted her your photo.¡± ¡°Did you really?¡± ¡°Yeah, check it out.¡± He leaned in, squinting at the screen. ¡°Ah, I see her reply. What do the eggnts and the drops mean?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Christian burst outughing, the full-hearted sound dipping me in a warm bath. His mirth died as a possessive arm snaked my waist, pinning me to a rock-hard body. It swelled with a huge breath. ¡°Are you done talking my wife¡¯s ear off?¡± A smile still hung on Christian¡¯s face as he melted away. I nced at my pissed off husband, who red in Christian¡¯s direction. His ferocious eyes flitted between me and my bodyguard. ¡°He likes you too much.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re holding out on winning a poprity contest against me, you might as well cash in your chips.¡± ¡°The cute act works on simple-minded fools like Christian, but not on me.¡± Tony moved in front of me, a panther that demanded my full attention. His stare trapped me in a battle of wills that we fought without moving. ¡°You¡¯ve been busy this week.¡± I would not be intimidated. ¡°Yeah, it was fun. Best two days I¡¯ve had in a long time.¡± Tony stiffened, his features thickening with rage. I palmed his cheek and smoothed his angry brow with my thumb. ¡°I already ripped up your credit card, hubby. What else can you do to me?¡± He grabbed my waist and jerked me toward him. I gasped as he bound my wrists in one hand and pinned them behind my back. Pain sliced up my arm. ¡°Plenty,¡± he purred, his breath scorching my lips. ¡°Rip off your clothes. Fuck your mouth until you pass out. Make your ass permanently red.¡± I tried to kill the whimper as he brushed his lips over mine, licking them open. He pushed his tongue inside, swallowing my protests. I squirmed, fighting him, until he shoved me against a wall, his thick erection grinding into my thigh. Oh my God. His demanding mouth nipped at my neck. I could¡¯ve shouted, but nothing escaped but his name. ¡°Tony.¡± I could¡¯ve fought harder. Kicked his legs, struck the hardness pressing into my hip, bitten his maddeningly sinful pout. Mixed feelings surged through me as our lips crashed. He was too big, too strong. My resistance weakened. His dominating presence had crushed it as I yielded to his powerful body. As his tongue flicked mine, an unexpected surge teased my pussy. Why does he do this to me? A small smile teased across his handsome face. He had me. He knew I ached for him. I writhed as he fucked my mouth with his tongue, closing his lips to suck and doing it again. The same movement he made with his head between my thighs. My shoulders rxed, and I went limp. His taste drugged me. His manly scent filled my lungs. He ravaged my mouth, heat circling my nipples with every delectable stroke. My pussy smoldered, and it was all I could do not to spread my legs and beg him to fuck me. ¡°You can¡¯t hide what I do to you,¡± he taunted, ripping away from me. ¡°Evie Costa.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. I trembled as he nudged me toward a table, my bnce off-kilter as he strode forward purposefully. ¡°What are we doing here?¡± ¡°My cousin wanted to see us. We¡¯ll have a quick chat, and then I will sort you out. I want you to think about your behavior while I¡¯m entertaining Vinn Costa.¡± My lips tingled. What would he do if I threw the apology in his face? Tony dragged me to a booth. The boss of the Family sat there with his very shell-shocked wife, who gaped at the surroundings. Tony¡¯s heavy arm draped my shoulders, the solid weight of itforting. Knowing how much he hated intimacy, I nuzzled his neck and hooked my hand over his thigh. Tony cleared his throat and waved over a waitress. ¡°A ss of the Dog Point Cab, and a gin and tonic for her.¡± The waiter disappeared to do his bidding. Momentster, a ss slid into my fingers. My nose wrinkled as I inhaled the sharp scent of my G&T, but I tried it anyway. Heat bloomed everywhere, though I wasn¡¯t sure if it was the alcohol or the anxiety from sitting next to him. I looked at Tony, who swirled a ss filled with purple liquid. ¡°Should I be worried about you?¡± Darknessced his tone. ¡°I can control myself, Evie. Most of the time.¡± Gooseflesh prickled across my arms as a vivid shback to our wedding night burned in my head. ¡°Nice to see you two together,¡± said the Costa boss, his re like a bolt of lightning. ¡°You are getting along?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± Tony turned his head and nted a wet kiss on my cheek. ¡°Can¡¯t get enough of this woman.¡± My gut clenched. A tinge of sarcasmyered Tony¡¯s words. Judging by Vinn¡¯s growing voice, he hadn¡¯t missed it. ¡°Our entire alliance hinges on you behaving yourself.¡± Tony¡¯s pitch-ck presence dwarfed the table, consuming everybody. He grabbed his wine ss. He swiveled its contents, sniffed, and sipped a small amount. His eyes lit in rapture. ¡°That¡¯s good. Vinny, would you like some?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Vinn, and no.¡± Tony drank more. He closed his eyes as though wrestling with the urge to have more. A chilled silence smothered the table. Vinn¡¯s cial stare followed Tony¡¯s movements. He reacted to Tony like a dog who¡¯d scented a rival male in a fighting ring. Tony¡¯s oblivious drinking seemed to be a direct provocation. Gunpowder choked the air. They were on the verge of blowing it up and beating the shit out of each other. I bit the inside of my cheek, wondering who would win. I sized up therger Vinn, but what my husbandcked in pounds he made up for in cruelty. His eyes were alive with it. ¡°I¡¯ll never forget the day Dad brought Vinny to my house,¡± blurted Tony. ¡°He¡¯d just murdered his father.¡± Liana rapidly turned bright red. ¡°Vinny was fourteen,¡± he continued, his mouth tight and grim. ¡°Crazy fuck stabbed his father seven times. Then he calls my dad for help. So my father goes over there. Cleans up the body while Mom makes Vinny a bed in the guest room.¡± A subzero chill swept my belly. What was he doing? I seized his knee. Tony sipped more wine, exchanging an unfathomable look with Vinn. His dark eyebrow rose in amused contempt. ¡°I begged Dad to let him stay longer. Always wanted a little brother, but Dad wouldn¡¯t have it. He thought Vinny was a total psycho,¡± Tony mused, ignoring my hard pinches on his thigh. ¡°But when I looked at Vinny, I saw a boy wearing my hand-me-downs. I still see that.¡± Please shut up. Shut up. A harrowing silence gripped the air, which Vinn didn¡¯t break with a denial. I took in his whitened lips and the vein throbbing in his forehead. Vinn shot upright, upsetting his ss. It spilled, but he didn¡¯t seem to notice. ¡°You¡¯re a waste of oxygen.¡± ¡°Careful, Vinny. You used to be the loser, in and out of rehab.¡± Tony¡¯s bewitching smile flickered in Liana¡¯s direction. ¡°Didn¡¯t you know that?¡± ¡°She knows everything about me, you piece of shit. What about her?¡± A muscle jumped in Tony¡¯s jaw. ¡°I¡¯m sure Evie has Googled me.¡± ¡°Not everything¡¯s online. Like where you were a year ago, and what you did.¡± Vinn wrenched his jacket over his shoulders, tugging Liana from the booth. ¡°Maybe you don¡¯t want her to know that about you. I wouldn¡¯t.¡± Wow. The effect that had on Tony was rming. ¡°Shut up.¡± His dead-eyed gaze speared Vinn. ¡°And get out. Or I¡¯ll jam this butter knife in your eye socket.¡± I grabbed Tony. ¡°Tony, please stop.¡± Tony swung toward me, his eyebrows raised. His attention danced over my face. I gritted my teeth. ¡°Stop.¡± He brushed aside my trembling fingers and balled them in his hand. Then he kissed my knuckles, and the pit of my stomach churned. He was such a chameleon. He could be maic, cruel when it suited his fancy, generous, charming, wicked, psychotic. Which was the real Tony? Liana linked hands with Vinn, muttering something about the baby. It seemed to be the magic word. Vinn let her steer him away from the table, and they left without a backward nce. Tony watched him go, seething. He drank. ¡°I think you¡¯ve had your fill.¡± I wrestled the ss from him and swigged, choking when an overly sweet, thin liquid welled in my mouth. Itcked the earthiness of wine and the sting of alcohol. ¡°Grape juice?¡± I whispered, bewildered. ¡°What the hell?¡± ¡°I told you. I don¡¯t drink.¡± ¡°So you did that just to piss him off?¡± ¡°If I wanted to do that, I¡¯d sign up his email for hardcore gay porn. No, I want to mess with his head. It drives him crazy when I break my sobriety because it reminds him of his weakness.¡± He swiveled his head, shrugging. ¡°Nobody is without ws, Evie. I find them. I exploit them.¡± Well that¡¯s dark. ¡°Do you enjoy being cruel?¡± ¡°Sure, when somebody annoys me enough.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re a bully with a death wish.¡± ¡°Not quite, darling. I just needed him to leave.¡± He turned to fully face me, pinning me with a hot re. ¡°I can¡¯t have him around while I fuck the insolence out of you.¡± A shudder ran up my leg as he slid from the booth. He stood, tall and angry. His eyes shed, reminding me that I wasn¡¯t leaving without getting owned, used, and fucked within an inch of my life. The air charged with his vtile energy. ¡°What makes you think I¡¯ll let you touch me?¡± ¡°One, you want me. Two, you¡¯re contractually obligated to fuck me.¡± His finger slid under my jaw. ¡°Three, I¡¯m not giving you a choice.¡± 11 I¡¯m grateful he hasn¡¯t fucked me. And that he doesn¡¯t know how much I want him. Shadows loved my husband. They made his eyes more dazzling, his cheeks hollowed, his lips more carved into the boyish pout. Tony would be breathtaking in a seedy hotel under a single light bulb, but the dark seemed to like him. My lunatic husband smiled as he took my wrist and marched me through Sanctum. So many naked girls stopped us, all of them gorgeous. Tony shot them down, but it bothered me that he was on a first-name basis with every hooker in sight. ¡°If another girl asks us for a threesome, I¡¯m going to hurl on your shoes.¡± I grabbed his arm and wrenched when a female voice called out his name. ¡°Have you fucked everyone in this ce?¡± ¡°That was before us.¡± His chastising tone burned my chest as he led me into a curious room with ss walls. A wingback chair sat in the middle like a throne, next to a cross and medieval-looking setups. Men in suits swarmed outside. They would watch us. A dark thrill rippled through my body at the malicious delight surrounding me. Tony paid them no mind as he grabbed a leather cor off an end table. His hands buried in my hair as he wrapped my neck with leather, sliding the strap through a metal sp. He kissed right under the cor. Heat sted where his lips touched me, and then he pped my thigh. The impact smarted. My muscle twitched. ¡°I¡¯ve taught a lot of girls like you, Evie. Headstrong. Independent. Feisty.¡± His stubble grazed my cheek as he stroked a sinful path up my abdomen. ¡°But none of them were my wife.¡± He kissed the dent under my ear. I shuddered. ¡°You can¡¯t treat your wife like that, I told myself. So I kept my distance. I assumed I was doing you a favor, but you need more hands-on¡­¡± he trailed off, teasing my breast, ¡°training.¡± He swatted me. A fierce sting hit me through the shirt, biting the nipple that he¡¯d teased into an aching point. I gasped, stunned when the pain melted into my skin like a sunburn. ¡°You¡¯re the rabid dog that needs a muzzle!¡± ¡°And you¡¯re a disobedient wife who¡¯s getting a shorter leash.¡± He clipped something to the ring dangling from the cor. A fucking leash. The strip looped Tony¡¯s hand. I followed it to the tightened jaw and eyes smoldering with disapproval. Wait till you let me go. ¡°Thought you might appreciate this.¡± He lifted it, showing me the rhinestone-encrusted handle. ¡°Since you¡¯re all about aesthetics.¡± ¡°Sure. I¡¯m just surprised you picked that. Leather and sterling silver is very¡­biker of you.¡± He forced a smile. Then he yanked. I stumbled backward, knocking into his chest. His arm banded my waist. A rock-hard column dug into my ass. ¡°As always, I enjoy your defiance,¡± he whispered roughly. ¡°You have no idea what it does to me, Evie.¡± He slid his hand down my taut stomach, removing my cutoffs with a brusque jerk. They fell down my shivering thighs, chased by my panties. Tony eased them over my hips, my throat closing. Then he dragged the tank top over my head, and cold stung my skin. I buried the impulse to cover myself as he undid my bra sp. My breasts tumbled free as he bared me to the men outside. Heat stole into my face as they crowded at the ss like flies blotting out light. Eager faces swam in front of me, their smiles stretched into the same horizontal blur. My mind was a crazy mixture of hope and fear. Would he fuck me here? Would I enjoy it? Tony grabbed my chin. My head thumped his chest, forcing my attention to his tiger-nted gaze. ¡°Eyes on me, Evie.¡± I should¡¯ve been terrified of the threat behind the ss, but it was easy to get lost in the way he looked at me. ¡°Jesus, you¡¯re beautiful.¡± Tony¡¯s gentle murmur filled me with fire as he freed my hair from the cor. ¡°All I want to do is break you, make you beg, and chain you so that all you can do is pleasure me.¡± His shirt kissed my back, and it heated me in indecent ces. Then the hand wrapping my throat moved downward, syed over my chest. His touch lightened as he followed my curves. Sparks showered my skin as he teased my nipple with the gentlest brush. A bolt of pleasure shot between my thighs. They clenched hard. A wicked grin carved dimples into his cheek. ¡°I like it when you blush for me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not blushing. The room is too warm.¡± I was full of shit, and the sadistic curve of his mouth suggested he was fully aware. He lightly grasped my nipple, and I breathed raggedly. He shrugged out of his jacket. It fell to the floor. Then his arm looped my waist. Far more intimate without the extra fabric. His heat melted through the thinyer of cotton, joining mine. I blocked out tantalizing images conjured by his perfect touch. Clothes or not, I would blush harder in a few minutes. A fact Tony seemed to revel in as he skimmed my shoulders, the nape of my neck, traveling over the body he hadn¡¯t touched in too long. He cupped my breasts, thumbs stroking until my nipples hardened into points. He tugged and pinched as I held my breath, and then he broke. A soft groan escaped his lips. ¡°These tits.¡± Tony stepped away, the loss of his warmth caving in my stomach. ¡°Your tight pussy. Your tiny waist. Hips. I can¡¯t look at you without my cock aching. It¡¯s making it difficult for me to do what I need to do to you.¡± ¡°Which is?¡± ¡°Punish you.¡± His hand slid up my thigh. He pressed down lightly, rubbing my wetness from side to side. He slowly dipped inside. I gasped, parting my legs. Lightning seared my clit as he kneaded me in front of everyone. Nothing hid us from view. I was exposed to the hungry eyes beyond the ss. My stomach tightened. ¡°What about them?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll watch. Nothing more.¡± ¡°This is fucking crazy,¡± I said in a rush of words, my cheeks burning. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be doing this. The prenup.¡± ¡°You keep bringing up that stupid piece of paper.¡± His wicked grin kept growing as he wiped his hand on my thighs. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re so hot for me that it¡¯s clouded your judgment. You¡¯re supposed to fuck me weekly.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re on the hook to knock me up.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°So, you can¡¯t cherry-pick which rules to follow.¡± Heat burrowed deep into my body. ¡°If you tell the judge I didn¡¯t hold up my end, I¡¯ll let Vinn Costa know you never fucked me. Then you¡¯ll lose everything.¡± Tony¡¯sughter shook through me. ¡°ckmailing me is a dumb strategy. It puts you in one position-on your back.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on my back anyway.¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± he taunted. I opened my mouth to protest, and then he massaged my pussy. He teased the opening. His tender touch explored my folds. He caressed, working me into a river of arousal. I looked down at the brawny arm wrapping my curves. I gripped his wrist to throw him off, but all I did was squeeze him. The soft bristle of hair, the muscle filling my grasp, the veins running into his hands felt so good. It was all of him I could hold. Suddenly, it wasn¡¯t enough. My back arched. I uttered indistinct sounds. He buried his face in my throat and breathed a kiss. Then his finger impaled me. Difort shot into me as my walls grasped him. He didn¡¯t m them home like I craved. Instead he fucked me with slow pulses, sucking on my neck like I was honey. Shudders ran up my leg as he nudged my clit. The pressure inside rotated and shoved. It was too much-too amazing. My thighs squeezed him. ¡°Tony, I¡¯m going-¡± He slid from me, and the ache for him screamed. No, no, no. He whirled me around. He sucked on his wet finger, and then his nose red. ¡°You taste like heaven, Evie. And your lips are perfectly made for my cock. I get so hard when your innocent eyes plead me. I spend half my days watching you, the other fantasizing about putting you in your ce-kneeling and your mouth open.¡± A thrill tingled my spine. The cameras weren¡¯t a state secret. I figured he was checking in on me, but the thought of those intense eyes taking notes on me made my heart thump wildly. ¡°Kneeling? Afraid I¡¯ll run?¡± ¡°You¡¯re my property. I¡¯ll do what I like with you.¡± Fuck, that¡¯s hot. ¡°Property of Tony Costa,¡± I mused, heart pounding. ¡°Just like the club.¡± That did it. Tony buried a hand in my hair and mmed his lips into mine. He stered me to the see-through wall surrounded by men. Our tongues danced. He trapped mine between his teeth and sucked me like I was nectar. His hand sailed up my thigh and held my ass. His savage kiss crushed me into the ss, and it stirred a crazed longing inside me. I tangled my fingers in his locks and dragged him to my mouth. I kissed him over and over, grinding on his leg shamelessly. His tongue forced my lips to part. I palmed his pecs and caressed him, hands rising to his neck, cupping his face. ¡°I want you.¡± Tony broke off, whispering. ¡°Do you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Say it louder.¡± ¡°I want you, Tony.¡± The deep thunder of his appreciation radiated through me, tingling between my legs. He teased over my mound, finding my wet pussy, gliding up and down the slick folds. ¡°Please.¡± He chuckled, detaching from me. A tug yanked me away. Tony held the leash, dragging me to the chair. I followed, burning. I bent when he attached my tether to a hook on the floor. All I could do was sit naked, knees syed. He leaned forward. ¡°Get on all fours. Stick that beautiful ass out.¡± He pressed my head, forcing me into a bow. My elbows struck the marble already pinching my flesh. I shuddered, imagining Tony¡¯s full weight bearing down on me, rubbing my joints into the marble. Tony sat in the leather chair, its frame adding ck wings to Tony¡¯s silhouette. He stretched out like a leopard. An impressive erection strained against his cks, but he didn¡¯t touch me. His arrogant smile teased heat into my cheeks. ¡°Not sure how I like you more.¡± His face glowed as he scooped my hanging breasts. ¡°On your knees or like this.¡± ¡°Tony.¡± ¡°I love it when you beg, but I¡¯m not done with you.¡± He shushed me and caressed my back. ¡°I¡¯m spanking you twenty times. You will count them, and thank me.¡± ¡°Thank you for hitting me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He yfully groped my ass. ¡°Lose count, and I¡¯ll start over.¡± He couldn¡¯t be serious. ¡°What for?¡± ¡°Visiting the clubhouse. Twice.¡± His arm whirled, and my skin bloomed with pain. It was shockingly painful. A gasp forced from my clenched lips. ¡°O-one.¡± He pinched my aching flesh. ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± I panted, nodding. ¡°Thanks.¡± These weren¡¯t love taps. I would have bruises. I winced as the bite sank in my thighs. ¡°Don¡¯t say thanks in that ungrateful tone,¡± he chastised, smacking my nk. ¡°Say it properly.¡± ¡°Thank you, you crazy bastard.¡± He hit me again, hard enough that I yelped. I jumped forward, trembling. Pain burst across my raw flesh. Hended another blow, knocking the insult from my mouth. ¡°O-one,¡± I gasped. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Evie, I need to hear the fucking word.¡± His cheek pressed against mine as he fisted my hair. ¡°Say it.¡± I shut my mouth. Tony needed to dominate me, but I wasn¡¯t ready to give him that. What piece of my independence would he take next? Holding onto my power was essential because submitting to Tony spelled disaster. So did resisting him. I wanted him to bend, but he had a steel of spine. He demanded my obedience, but I defied him. We were two forces of nature, butting heads, ill-matched. ¡°Sorry, Tony. You¡¯ll have to do worse to make me call you sir.¡± I heard the smile in his voice. ¡°Very well.¡± He moved behind me and kneeled. The sound of his zipper sliced the air. He grunted, and then heat touched my pussy. His arm wrapped my waist as a broad pressure glided between my folds.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Oh my God. My throat tightened. ¡°Tony! You can¡¯t.¡± The head of his cock nudged forward, threatening its invasion into the tight hole. ¡°Say it.¡± I gritted my teeth. ¡°I won¡¯t!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take your cunt right now.¡± I bit my lip against the ripple of arousal. Tony groped my ass, kneading the sore skin. He swatted me. The crack it made bloomed warmth everywhere. The fierce smack no longer felt punishing, especially with him holding me still, cock poised to thrust. God, I wanted it. I could feel him spreading me open. My craving for him ignoredmon sense. I was tempted to poke him. Just to see how deep his darkness ran. Would he do it? When he shoved inside me, would I groan with pleasure, or scream in pain? ¡°Jesus Christ, Evie,¡± he said hoarsely. ¡°Fucking say it.¡± I won¡¯t. I almost screamed it, but then I glimpsed myself in the ss. Hands and knees on the floor. Naked. About to be fucked with a dozen men watching. Just like the club girls in the MC. My pulse raced as I parsed it out. I enjoyed this. I¡¯d imagined being taken roughly, but it never made my heart pound, my legs widen, my tongue pool with saliva. An instinct urged me to chase his cock. A wave of shock mmed into my head. All he had to do was push, and then he¡¯d find out how badly I needed this. I couldn¡¯t. ¡°Hold on, Tony.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a pause button, sweetheart. You know what you have to say.¡± ¡°O-one. T-thank you,¡± I gasped. ¡°Sir.¡± He stroked my burning flesh. ¡°Good girl.¡± I bristled. Then a sharp blow knocked the defiance out of me. The burn spread over my cheeks as I counted and thanked him. My body was raw, desperately wanting. If he wanted to fuck me, I wouldn¡¯t resist. ¡°Twenty,¡± I burst, blinking away tears. ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± ¡°On your back, Evie.¡± I obeyed. Tony hovered over me like an angry god. He grabbed my underwear from the floor. Then he shoved them in my mouth, pushing the ball behind my teeth. I choked on the invading sensation. Then he smiled and kissed my cheek. Tony kneeled, fisting his cock. My tongue watered with an absurd urge to pull it into my mouth, to satisfy him the way he¡¯d pleasured me, but the movement of his hand moving up and down his cock was hot as hell. I was mesmerized by him. Enthralled by his touch. He¡¯d done something to release me from the worry clogging my brain. He jerked himself with soft, sensual movements. My skin flushed everywhere he touched. He bent over, his mouth fitted to my neck. His hand returned between my thighs. I clenched on his diving fingers. My wetness echoed obscenely as I battled the roaring fire inside me. I made pitiful noises as he worked methodically, curling his fingers to the tight bundle of nerves. Don¡¯te. I needed toe. The spiral of ecstasy became a whirlwind. Then I clenched hard, screaming into my panties. I couldn¡¯t control my frenzied yelling. I craved his hands, his mouth, his naked skin pressed to mine. Tony ripped the panties from my mouth. Lust red in his eyes as he caged me in his arms. I rose to meet him, and we crashed into each other. I pulled his hair. His mouth descended on mine as passion flooded my veins. He was devouring and harsh. Like he sought everyst drop of resistance and couldn¡¯t live without kissing me. It was possession. I¡¯d surrenderedpletely. My body shook with liquid fire, and an orgasm gripped me. I cried into his shoulder, soaring in the clouds. Then he came undone. Tony released his breath in a groan, and wet heat shot across my breasts. His body seized. Then it fell into an undting motion. His shoulders rolled, the tension melting from his brows, his clenched jaw, softening his eyes. Another wave seemed to hit him, and he scooped the seed into his palm. His semen coated the fingers he shoved inside me. ¡°There,¡± he said raggedly. ¡°I¡¯m no longerx in my duties as a husband.¡± It triggered another orgasm that made me clutch his arm as he fucked me with his cum. My head touched the floor as I panted from two orgasms seconds apart. Holy hell. He loosened the cor and picked me up. I was dead weight, useless for walking. I wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed with him. Tony lifted me on hisp, his expression still fiery. Good lord, the man could hold a grudge. ¡°Thank me for teaching you a lesson.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± His nostrils red. ¡°Come again?¡± ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± For some reason, that didn¡¯t satisfy him. Tony¡¯s hostility returned in a sh. ¡°Are you?¡± he challenged. ¡°Are you grateful for anything I¡¯ve done?¡± My cheeks warmed. ¡°Of course I am.¡± Holy shit. He hadn¡¯t meant for me to enjoy this. The spanking, the exhibition, any of it. The glow from my orgasm popped like a dirty soap bubble, and heat wrapped my throat. He was so screwed up. ¡°I watch you, Evie. I know your habits and your routine. You spend a lot of time sketching.¡± His raking gaze halted over my mouth, and then he pulled a book from his pocket. ¡°And you write in this every morning.¡± He waved it at me. My gratitude journal. That¡¯s private, you dick. He¡¯d waited for the perfect moment to humiliate me. He sneered as though expecting me to have a meltdown. When I didn¡¯t, he flipped it open and held it to his nose. ¡°I¡¯m grateful for fresh fruit. I¡¯m grateful my husband never speaks to me. I¡¯m grateful for Egyptian cotton sheets.¡± He paused, cringing. ¡°Evie, I¡¯m starting to feel sorry for you.¡± He was incapable of happiness, even with his vast wealth. It would¡¯ve been easy to throw that at him, but something had scarred him deeply, and it wasn¡¯t his silver-spooned upbringing. I was sick of not knowing. ¡°Don¡¯t pity me. I¡¯m happy to have all those things.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing about happiness in here.¡± He sounded perplexed and a little annoyed. ¡°It¡¯s stuff. A fire could take it all away tomorrow.¡± ¡°Or you could be ripped from it all and be forced to live somewhere horrible. Where you won¡¯t know if you¡¯ll survive or who to trust or where to go for help.¡± Tony flinched. His dark eyes shone with tortured dullness. He nced at me and the book, disoriented. Then he cleared his throat and scanned the pages. ¡°You mention me an awful lot.¡± His brows raised. ¡°I¡¯m grateful my husband is talented with his tongue. I¡¯m grateful my husband keeps our marriage fresh.¡± ¡°I have to make something good of this situation.¡± ¡°You have plenty to be thankful for,¡± he snapped. ¡°Other than my things. You should be grateful for me. I¡¯m your white knight. I¡¯m saving you from a shitty life. But you know that already. Don¡¯t you? I¡¯m grateful for my husband¡¯s money. I¡¯m grateful I have a house, afortable bed, and a husband with a giant cock who gives me everything I fucking need.¡± My pulse pounded in my throat. ¡°I didn¡¯t write that.¡± ¡°Why the fuck didn¡¯t you?¡± A beat of tense silence stretched between us. I scrambled to piece together my wild thoughts. ¡°Why would I? I don¡¯t know anything about you or what you¡¯ve saved me from.¡± ¡°Because you arepletely wrapped up in all this pointless navel-gazing.¡± He tossed the journal on the floor. ¡°How can you be so selfish?¡± His rudeness glided over my head. ¡°How can you be in such denial and not realize that¡¯s exactly what you need?¡± Tony¡¯s searing gaze flicked away, and back again. ¡°You¡¯re turning a blind eye to what¡¯s happening in your backyard. Honestly, I don¡¯t know how you live with yourself.¡± That struck me like a p to my face. What are you talking about? ¡°I thought I could save you,¡± he continued, his eyes alight with passion. ¡°You were the youngest. You had the most to lose, but it turns out you¡¯re just like the rest of them!¡± That shot my heart with adrenaline. ¡°Save me from what?¡± ¡°You know what¡¯s insane?¡± he thundered, blowing past my question. ¡°Everything I¡¯ve done to you is horrible, but you find the good in it. Why?¡± ¡°I-I have to. It¡¯s how I survive.¡± He gave me a pained look. ¡°You¡¯ve had a fucked up life, Evie. I feel sorry for you.¡± My cheeks burned so fiercely it hurt. That¡¯s it. I can¡¯t talk to this man anymore. I moved from hisp, but Tony held my arms. ¡°Growing up there must¡¯ve been hell.¡± I blinked, confused. I¡¯d had a decent twenty-two years. A mother who loved me. A father who strolled into school and threatened the principal when I told him one of the boys bullied me. No, my childhood was not perfect, but I doubted Tony¡¯s was either. Startled, I met his soft gaze. ¡°I didn¡¯t want for anything in the MC. That¡¯s probably hard for you to ept, but it¡¯s the truth.¡± ¡°Only because you don¡¯t know any better.¡± ¡°The fuck is that supposed to mean?¡± I burst, tired of his crap. ¡°Is this because I grew up poor?¡± ¡°No, Evie.¡± ¡°Then what is it? What makes us so terrible?¡± I watched him, waiting for him to spit it out. ¡°The MC does nothing worse than the mob. Your family is involved in the same shit-loansharking, drugs, construction scams. You¡¯re a goddamned hypocrite for judging us.¡± ¡°You have no idea what¡¯s going on.¡± He nced at the journal and rubbed his temples. ¡°If you¡¯re always looking at the sun, you¡¯ll never see the shadows.¡± 12 Evie I¡¯m grateful my husband makes life interesting. Tony had a 747¡¯s worth of baggage. While we were apart, Ibed the inte. Tabloids painted Tony as a rich boy with avish upbringing. Histe father was a mafia don, but his mother was a high-society snob, an Italian supermodel who¡¯d posed for Vogue. He had everything going for him-an Ivy League education, trust funds, real estate properties, a trail of brokenhearted women, and all the money he could ever want. He could¡¯ve been anything. He chose to be a thug. Why? It bewildered me. Nothing in my search pointed to a specific reason, except the year-long hunt for Tony Costa. He¡¯d gone missing, but apparently, he¡¯d been at a rehabilitation center in Switzend. Photos showed him leaving the facility. Did something happen to him there? Dwelling on my husband¡¯s strange behavior wouldn¡¯t finish my jewelry collection, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to ignore his suffering. I did, however, rip out all the cameras. If he wanted to know how I was doing, he¡¯d have to talk to me. It was the only way we¡¯d get anywhere. So I went on with my life. I ignored the persistent throb in my chest and visited the club whenever the mood struck me. Dad and I sped through the gate on his bike. Sunshine coated the property in golden warmth. The forget-me-not blue sky reminded me that beauty was everywhere. I waved at Hugh, a young prospect, smiling as he shouted a greeting. People rxed onwn chairs, drinking beer. Charcoal and savory scents saturated the air. Probably Patrick. The fifty-year-old grill master never spared an asion to barbecue. Every summer, he took part in contests that filled his living room with ribbons and trophies. I slid off the Harley as Dad stopped. He kept the engine running, one foot braced on the ground. ¡°I¡¯ll be backter. Won¡¯t be long.¡± Dad zipped up his leather cut. ¡°There¡¯s potato sd in the fridge. Take it to Pat. He¡¯ll trade you for a couple ribs.¡± ¡°All right.¡± He zoomed off, the bike kicking up a plume of dust. Emptiness gnawed at my stomach, but my jagged thoughts sawed through my appetite. I couldn¡¯t swallow the lump in my throat, let alone food, so I wandered toward Jennesy¡¯s. Jennesy wasn¡¯t rich, but she got by. The club stocked her fridge and chipped in for diapers when her baby daddy died. A moldering yhouse stood on a patch of overgrown grass. I passed it and knocked on her door. My leggy cousin swung open the door, baby hitched on her hip. Jennesy¡¯s apple-like cheeks bloomed with two bright patches of fuchsia. White and pink waves brushed her tanned, muscr shoulders. Army-camo patterned leggings stuck to her thick thighs. Benjamin clung to her tank top. Blond strands spilled over a sweet face. He shared her nose and her expressive eyes. ¡°Evie! What a surprise.¡± She tickled the fifteen-month-old¡¯s cheek. ¡°Lookit, Benji. It¡¯s Auntie Evie.¡± Ben smiled, his grin split by the cutest gap in his front teeth. ¡°Hot, hot, hot.¡± Iughed. ¡°That¡¯s his new favorite word.¡± Jennesy gave him a wry smile as she waved me inside. ¡°I came back from ss one day and he was saying it. My dad¡¯s fault. I guess that¡¯s the price you pay for free babysitting. Here, take him.¡± Jennesy pushed Ben into my arms. He gaped at me, his finger prodding my cheek. The weight of him felt nice. I kissed the top of his head, following Jennesy as she chatted up a storm, bemoaning the state of her house. ¡°What do you want to drink?¡± ¡°Whatever is fine.¡± She fished out Budweisers and used the bottle opener on the wall. The cap pinged to the floor as the beer hissed. Foam sprayed everywhere. She mopped her dripping shirt as Ben shrieked with pleasure. ¡°Happens all the time.¡± Jennesy caught Ben¡¯s eye, grinning. ¡°Can you say uh-oh? Uh-oh?¡± ¡°Ah¡­oh.¡± ¡°Good boy!¡± Ben¡¯s face broke with a ridiculous grin. I ced him in the high chair as Jennesy grabbed her beer and drank. She closed her eyes and swallowed. I held up my palm. ¡°High five?¡± Ben stuck out his hand, and I bumped mine against his. I pped, and Ben did the same. My heart thawed and squeezed. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe something this sweet came from Crash.¡± Jennesy retrieved a jar of applesauce from the fridge and scooped the golden sludge, waving a spoonful at Ben. ¡°Mmn. Num-nums.¡± They¡¯d had a brief fling that Crash ended dramatically by kidnapping his old me and getting murdered by her husband. It¡¯d been quite the relief for everyone involved, especially Jennesy. It made me wonder what Tony would do if I got pregnant. He¡¯d probably shove me into another penthouse, throw credit cards at me, and forget I exist. Depressing. ¡°So, what did Costa do?¡± I silenced my phone. ¡°What makes you think anything¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Come on, girl.¡± Jennesy wiped Ben¡¯s sauce-covered cheeks and addressed me with a businesslike tone. ¡°You show up here, unannounced, looking raw, ncing at your phone every two seconds.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t even know I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be pissed,¡± she warned, eyes shing. ¡°Better text him, or you¡¯ll be in for a beating.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not violent,¡± I blurted, unnerved by her suggestion. ¡°He¡¯s a snarky asshole, but he lets me do what I want. He raised my credit limit to fifty grand.¡± ¡°No kidding? Wow.¡± Jennesy¡¯s expression flickered from caution to outright disbelief to delight. She bumped her drink into mine. ¡°He¡¯s wrapped around your thumb, babe.¡± ¡°I cut the card in half.¡± ¡°Why the hell would you do that?¡± ¡°Because fuck his money. He only offered it so I¡¯d stoping here.¡± ¡°And yet here you are.¡± Jennesy sat back, lips curled into a mischievous nt. ¡°Something tells me that if push came to shove, you¡¯de out on top.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know how stubborn he is.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re not?¡± True. Jennesy put down her beer and coaxed Ben into eating more applesauce. ¡°What¡¯s his problem with the club?¡± ¡°No idea.¡± ¡°Did you ask your dad?¡± ¡°Yeah, but he wouldn¡¯t tell me much. Club business.¡± I stood up, sighing. ¡°Why is it such a big fucking mystery?¡± ¡°Speaking of mysterious Italian men, what about Christian?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too soon since his wife passed.¡± I grimaced, cing the empty bottle in the sink. ¡°Sorry. He got a kick out of your messages, though. He blushed when I told him what the eggnts meant.¡± Jennesy sighed. ¡°Bless his heart.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to take a walk. Get some fresh air.¡± I smoothed baby Ben¡¯s wayward curls before I headed for the door. ¡°Text me when you¡¯re free. I need to keep Tony on his toes.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°Thanks for the pep talk.¡± ¡°Anytime.¡± She waved at me, and Ben copied her. The sweet image of mother and son stayed with me, another nagging wound that pulsed with every step. I looked at Jennesy¡¯s mobile home, at the siding that was falling off. Would I be better off here? ording to Tony, stuff didn¡¯t make someone happier, and he was right. Ever since I was blessed with a credit card with sky-high limits, my worries had evolved from paying bills to my unfulfilling marriage. I wanted to fix it. So I strode to the brick clubhouse. Music throbbed from the windows. I pushed my hip into the doors, and they flew open. Empty bottles littered the bar and floor. A shirtless man bent over a pool table, nuzzling a pair of big fake tits. His back muscles rippled as he plowed into a squirming brte with koi fish tattoos wrapping her stomach. A blonde stood beside him, hand on his shoulder. He straightened, fisted her hair, and smashed his mouth into hers. Ghost. He angled his hips and pounded. The club girl¡¯s shouts echoed to the ceiling. I gritted my teeth and approached the half-naked Ghost, whose tattooed hands yed with her breasts. I ignored the girls. They didn¡¯t rank next to the president¡¯s daughter, and they knew it. ¡°Ghost.¡± I tapped him. ¡°Let¡¯s talk.¡± His sweat-streaked neck craned toward me. Bewilderment widened his scious gaze, which dove down my neckline. ¡°What about, sweetheart?¡± ¡°My husband.¡± Irritation flickered across his brow as he resumed thrusting. ¡°I have something to ask about Costa.¡± ¡°Are you trying to kill my boner?¡± Yes. Isn¡¯t that obvious? I crossed my arms. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize keeping it up was that hard.¡± ¡°You want to see hard?¡± He pulled out, and I nced down. Hisughter was low and throaty. A secondter, he was at it like I wasn¡¯t standing there. Such a pig. ¡°Ghost, I just need a few minutes!¡± ¡°So do I.¡± ¡°You fuck club sluts all day long. Put it away and talk to me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee to watch,¡± he said, punctuating every syble with a thrust. ¡°I find it hot-¡± ¡°Tony Costa,¡± I shot out, and he grunted. ¡°He¡¯s taller than you, olive-skinned, curly chest hair that goes to his cock, which is nice and thick, and circumcised, by the way.¡± Ghost squeezed his eyes shut, as though warding off that mental image. ¡°Goddamn you. This better be good.¡± He stepped away, tucking himself into his jeans. Then he pped the girl¡¯s breasts. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Ghost pushed me into the hallway. His jaw clicked as he opened a door and pointed inside. I strolled into his room, nose wrinkling. It reeked of sex and unwashed male. Ghost closed the door behind us. He sprawled on his messy bed. He spread his legs wide and swiped a pack of cigarettes off the nightstand. I shook my head when he offered me one. ¡°Who the hell do you think you are, interrupting me mid-fuck?¡± Ghost flicked his thumb on the lighter, igniting the cigarette. ¡°I might¡¯ve led you on, but there¡¯s no need to act like a jealous bitch.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t about you.¡± ¡°What. Do. You. Want?¡± Ghost took a drag, blinking. His raking gaze centered on my chest as I pulled a chair and sat beside him. ¡°I need to ask you about my husband.¡± He made a noise of disgust. I grabbed his wrist. ¡°Ghost, please. Dad won¡¯t say a word and none of the girls know what happened to Tony. He¡¯s raw about it, and refuses to tell me anything.¡± Ghost tipped his head, blowing the smoke to the ceiling. He chuckled. The sound raised my hackles. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± ¡°You had to be there,¡± he said, winking. ¡°Sadly, I wasn¡¯t a member at the time, but everybody knows.¡± ¡°Tell me.¡± His boyish smirk widened. ¡°What will you give me?¡± Heat stole into my face. ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Well, then you get nothing. It¡¯s club business. You want me to break the rules? Drop to your knees and put that mouth to work.¡± I curled my lip. ¡°I¡¯ll tell Dad you kissed me.¡± ¡°That was months ago.¡± ¡°Still. He wouldn¡¯t like it.¡± Ghost slowly stood, sucking on his cigarette. Smoke blew from his full pout. His body pushed me against the wall, all six feet of him trapping me. The finger holding the cigarette traced my lips. ¡°You¡¯re pissed I didn¡¯t ask you to be my olddy. After one stupid kiss. Wasn¡¯t even worth it.¡± He leaned in. His putrid whisper brushed my nose. ¡°You really want to know?¡± I nodded. Ghost detached from me and dug into his pants for his cell. He shoved the phone into my hands. ¡°Watch this. Just don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡± Needles prickled along my spine. ¡°What is it?¡± His head hung over my shoulder. ¡°Watch.¡± I pressed the y button, and the screen zed with a chilling image. A man sat on a basement floor. Harsh lighting bleached his wasted physique, throwing the cuts and bruises that marked him in crude gashes. A chain attached to a steel cor wrapped his throat. A thick beard covered his cheeks and jaw and his hollowed eyes were dead, but I recognized my husband. He didn¡¯t have the powerful body he did now. They¡¯d starved him. The sharp angles were softer, less defined. Still, I found him beautiful. My heart wrenched and tore in half. What did they do to you? I was about to find out. A sick foreboding gripped my insides as three bikers surrounded Tony, one of them holding a leash. A Rottweiler lunged at Tony, who kept his cheek turned. Its jaws snapped, spraying the air with flecks of spit, but the blond biker pulled him back. The view panned, and the blond man who¡¯d hurt Jennesy and so many other women winked at the camera. Holy shit-Crash. Tony¡¯s lips moved. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Crash mocked, his attention drawn toward Tony. ¡°Are you praying?¡± They burst withughter, the sound gut-punching. Crash¡¯s lip curled into a sneer. ¡°You are so pathetic.¡± His leather boot mmed into Tony¡¯s side. The chains rattled as Tony let out a gasping groan. He coughed, rolling over. ¡°My olddy can take a beating better than you.¡± ¡°Tell me-tell me what you want,¡± Tony rasped. ¡°My father will give you anything. Please.¡± ¡°I want you to die.¡± That was enough to rouse Tony, who groped to a sitting position. ¡°I have no idea who you are! My family-¡± ¡°Fuck them,¡± Crash roared, his shouts joining the dog¡¯s relentless noise. ¡°I offered you to them. Your cousins couldn¡¯t care less. They¡¯re refusing to pay the ransom.¡± Devastation flickered across Tony¡¯s wasted features before they hardened. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± ¡°You calling me a liar?¡± ¡°Yeah, among other things.¡± Tony¡¯s desperate gaze scanned the room. ¡°Anybody who calls themself Trash is a loser. It is Trash, right?¡± ¡°Crash.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I said. Trash.¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s Crash.¡± ¡°Must be the ringing in my head from all the beatings,¡± he muttered, shrugging. ¡°Consider changing it. Trash suits you.¡± Oh my God, Tony. I covered my face and peeked through my fingers. Crash shouted at the dog. ¡°Fassen.¡± Its crazed barking bounced off the cement walls, loud, horrendous. He loosed the leash. The animal lunged. Frenzied growling mingled with the nauseating sound of tearing flesh. Tony¡¯s agonized screaming stabbed my stomach. My thumb hit the pause button but the noises wouldn¡¯t stop. I hurled it from me. The phone smashed, prompting a howl of outrage from Ghost. ¡°You stupid bitch!¡± Ghost picked it off the ground, furious. ¡°You¡¯re getting me a new one.¡± Acid burned in my throat. Bitter and vile. I pictured that dog ripping into Tony¡¯s arm and wanted to purge everything in my gut. They¡¯d tortured him. No wonder he hated us. I wrung my hands as though I could shake off Tony huddled in the dark. How long had he been there? Why? God knows what else they¡¯d done to him. My teeth clenched. Horrific sounds yed from his cell. Ghost¡¯s lip curled as images flickered through his cracked screen. ¡°Haven¡¯t watched this in a while. He¡¯s such a pussy.¡± The callousness swept through me like wildfire.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°How can you find that funny?¡± His chuckling broke into full-heartedughter as he continued to watch. ¡°He is so pathetic. I¡¯d make them kill me before they did that to me.¡± My heart rate shot to the stratosphere. I stalked toward him. ¡°Talk about my old man like that again, you piece of shit!¡± He sneered. ¡°Costa is a limp-dicked crybaby.¡± My fist mmed into his jaw. Ghost staggered, hand on his chin. His features contorted, and then- WHAM! Pain shattered my eye socket. The impact knocked me into a dresser. ¡°Have you had enough, you dumb bitch?¡± he shouted, holding up his hand. ¡°Or do you need another one?¡± I clung to his furniture, dazed. Warmth trickled down my cheek. I wiped, and my fingers shined with red. My head pounded, but I grimaced through the ache. I straightened as Ghost took a drag from his cigarette. I imagined putting it out in his forehead. A pulse beat in my throat, threatening to burst. I wanted to fuck him up. I was soaked in kerosene. Primed to blow up. All I needed was the tiniest spark. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you.¡± He smiled and winked. ¡°I look forward to the forey.¡± That did it. 13 Tony 2 oz vodka 1 oz Kahlua ssh of heavy cream We finally made a move against Legion. We¡¯d acted on Knox¡¯s intelligence and hired Rage Machine to break into a warehouse in Chelsea, which would supposedly cripple their drug supplywork, but the small pyramid of cocaine taunted me. Street value was a measly twenty grand, at best. I stood on a rooftop. Cainan had his back against the cityscape, arms crossed. He pushed a dark curl from his forehead. His pale skin gleamed bone-white. He stood tall, unwavering. A ghost of a smile touched his lips when I approached. I hurled the duffel bag at Cainan¡¯s feet. ¡°This is what I¡¯m risking my life for?¡± The devil never got his hands dirty. He couldn¡¯t be seen disrupting Legion¡¯s affairs. I¡¯d always respected that. We needed someone on the inside, but more and more I wondered if I was just his attack dog. Fetch. Retrieve. Kill. Cainan raised his head, meeting my gaze without flinching. ¡°You agreed to do everything in your power to bring them down. This is what that looks like.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been at this for years, Cainan. I would¡¯ve thought after all this effort we would¡¯ve made some progress!¡± Cainan stepped away from the edge, his voice softening. ¡°Legion is a conglomerate. Did you think it¡¯d be easy? That they¡¯d fall overnight? They have chapters all over the country and around the world. It is working but it will be slow. I told you that in the beginning.¡± ¡°All I ever do is waste my fucking time for you.¡± He smirked, boiling my blood. ¡°Tony, what would you¡¯ve done otherwise? Where would you be, if it weren¡¯t for me?¡± Back in that prison. I was breathless with fury. I held up a finger in warning. ¡°Careful.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have to be anything. That¡¯s the difference between you and me.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a lot separating us, you sick fuck.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m sick, what does that make you?¡± A thin chill hung to his words, raking my skin. ¡°Maybe you need a reminder of what you did on the ind. The choices you made.¡± ¡°Yes, I did terrible things. And I¡¯ll have to live with them forever.¡± ¡°Tony, I¡¯m not trying to goad you.¡± His smile told a different story. He was a sadist, through and through. ¡°I respect you. I don¡¯t like most people, but I like you. That¡¯s why I invited you into the Circle.¡± ¡°I only care about destroying Legion.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to get them. We will. But you need to trust the process. And for God¡¯s sake, drop the self-torture already. You take this too seriously. You did what you had to. That¡¯s all any man can do.¡± Surviving wasn¡¯t enough. Not anymore. A chime echoed from my pocket. Thank God, a distraction. I grabbed my phone, stepping away from Cainan. I answered it. ¡°Yeah?¡± Christian rasped through the speaker. ¡°Evie¡¯s at the club.¡± * * * God was testing me. He gave me a biker wife to teach me something. Patience. Humility. Grace. Was I supposed to find any of that in this internment camp? Rows of dpidated mobile homes filled the east side of the MC¡¯s property. Children yed behind the huge brick building. A basketball thumped the pavement. A grill sizzled nearby. Families ate on pic tables under the setting sun. A group of kids streaked past us, one of them halting in his tracks. Harley-Davidson logos stered his small chest. A brown mark smudged his freckled nose. His widened gaze took in my suit. ¡°Who are you?¡± I knelt beside him. ¡°Tony. What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Um-Lincoln.¡± He held out his hand and I shook it, eerily reminded of the street kids in Dorchester. I scanned his body for bruises, finding none. ¡°Do you know Evie? She¡¯s my wife.¡± ¡°She¡¯s your wife?¡± ¡°Yes. I need to bring her home.¡± I smiled as the boy stuck his hands in his sandy-blond hair. ¡°Any idea where she is?¡± ¡°The clubhouse.¡± The child shifted from foot to foot. ¡°It¡¯s the big red building.¡± ¡°Thanks, Lincoln. I appreciate it.¡± I grabbed my wallet and slipped out a ten, tucking it in his palm. ¡°Here you go, kid. Buy yourself some candy.¡± ¡°Wow. Thanks!¡± I patted his head. Too bad I didn¡¯t have something better to give him. I followed Christian to the brick clubhouse, which pounded with a muffled rock beat. Staring at the ck doors roiled my stomach but Christian seemed at ease. The doors opened into a bar and game room. It was a dive. Stale beer and cigarette smoke choked the air, so not my scene. Club sluts mingled about in tube tops and cutoffs. They shot Christian and me incredulous looks. No doubt we looked ridiculous in cks, overdressed to the nth degree. A bottle rolled under my feet, and I kicked it aside. ¡°This ce is a sty.¡± Christian grunted. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you let here here.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve tried everything to discourage it short of chaining her to the goddamned penthouse, but I¡¯m nobody¡¯s jailer.¡± Christian scanned the row of arcades. His attention fell on a woman in leggings. She cradled a blond boy who wrapped his chubby fingers on a joystick. Christian¡¯s tanned face broke with augh. ¡°Jennesy?¡± The pink-haired girl whirled around. ¡°Christian! Ohmigod. What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Picking up Evie.¡± He leaned in, waving at her baby. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°My son, Benjamin.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Christian. Nice to meet you, buddy.¡± Christian tickled his cheek, and the baby grinned. ¡°Are you teaching him how to y Asteroids?¡± ¡°Hah-no. He just likes the music and lights.¡± Jennesy¡¯s grin widened at Christian, who seemed taken with her. ¡°Geez, you¡¯re tall. What are you, six-four?¡± ¡°Six-two.¡± She beamed at him. ¡°I bet you have girls climbing you all day long.¡± ¡°Yeah, sure. I¡¯m constantly beating them back.¡± ¡°So modest. I love it.¡± I could¡¯ve gagged. I grabbed Christian¡¯s arm. ¡°Get her number, and let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°You must be Costa.¡± Jennesy¡¯s unimpressed tone matched the disdain in her eyes. ¡°Evie¡¯s not happy with you.¡± Shocking. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°Somewhere.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this. Tell me where my wife is.¡± Christian¡¯s elbow jabbed my stomach as I stepped forward. He shot me a venomous look. Fantastic. My backup was white-knighting a chick he¡¯d talked to for three seconds. ¡°How about this?¡± Christian suggested warmly. ¡°Point us in her direction, and I¡¯ll take you and Benjamin out for dinner.¡± Jennesy perked up. ¡°When?¡± ¡°Whenever you want.¡± ¡°Tomorrow. But I¡¯ll get a sitter for Ben.¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Deal.¡± Christian offered his hand, and the baby grasped his pinkie. ¡°See you, little guy.¡± They exchanged numbers, and then Jennesy gestured down the hall. ¡°She¡¯s in Ghost¡¯s room. The sixth door on the left.¡± That name punctured my chest. She went to him? Why? What did that fucking kid have that I didn¡¯t? Regret pulsed through me in sickening waves, reminding me that my actions had consequences. When I pushed her away, she ran straight into the arms of a man who gave her more-the biker boy. I stormed the hallway, groping for my gun before realizing it wasn¡¯t there. Muffled raised voices echoed from inside. The hairs on my neck stood. I kicked the door in. The kid from my wedding grappled with my wife. Tears stained Evie¡¯s cheek as she screamed something incoherent. Red smeared Evie¡¯s chin like a zing g. Blood. My body throbbed. I ripped him off her and pounced on Ghost. He barely got his hands up. I seized his neck, shoving his head into the wall, smashing through ster. I dug into his soft flesh, squeezing. Lights popped in my head as though I were strangled. I clocked him in the jaw and sent him flying. Crimson sprayed from his nose. I bashed in his ear, his shit-eating grin. Every part of him I could reach. I stomped on his fingers. I introduced his head to the table and the floor. Screaming. Someone yelled. A nagging sensation registered in my knuckles. Shockwaves rippled up my arm, and then the world exploded into bright red. My hands were slippery and hot. The boy rolled on his back, leather cut syed open. He was shattered. It was like I¡¯d taken a meat tenderizer to him. He made gurgling sounds. I kicked him between his legs. ¡°Tony, let him go!¡± Christian shouted, grabbing me. ¡°You¡¯ll get us killed!¡± I hurled Christian off me, and then Evie took my wrists. The image of her battered face stabbed somewhere deep. I was angry-I was scared. My vision clouded with iplete scenes. Evie alone with this man. Him beating her into submission. Raping her. The agony cleaved into my skull. I closed my eyes and jerked on my hair, distracting myself from the pain. The memories. I yanked as tears stung my eyes. Tears I didn¡¯t want to cry. I didn¡¯t want to feel. Fuck it all. All I wanted was to save her. White Russian. A milky drink materialized. Two ounces vodka. One ounce Kahlua. A ssh of heavy cream- I couldn¡¯t stop seeing it. Ice gripped my throat. ¡°Tony.¡± Evie¡¯s tearful voice snapped me out of it. I met her gaze. She peered at me cautiously but said nothing. She didn¡¯t ask what was wrong. She didn¡¯t have to. She probably already knew. Evie gave me a bear hug that squeezed air from my lungs. I clung to her like a drowning man on a raft. Panic faded to overwhelming relief, and then her mouth brushed my cheek. Lips softer than feathers pressed into mine. Our mouths met in a sh of heat. It burned into my chest. She tasted clean. Intoxicating. Like a ss of top-shelf vodka straight from the freezer, smooth and deeply satisfying. She drew me closer and crushed my mouth, her kisses drugging me with every soft stroke. Evie¡¯s hands caressed my back, gliding over my scars to hook onto my shoulders. This felt different. She held me like a wife who¡¯d missed her husband after too many months apart. Her lips mmed into mine, the wave of passion knocking me backward. My mouth covered hers hungrily. She slipped her tongue inside, sending spirals of ecstasy through me. She was an OxyContin high, the pleasure swift and delirious. Too much. Not enough. I wanted more. Needed more. My greed demanded all of her, everything from her chocte-colored hair to her toes. I ached to fuck her ruthlessly, ravish her, kiss her, be inside her, hold her. My heart thrashed as I shoved her against the wall. Evie pushed me, hard enough so that I stopped. We gripped each other, breathing like we finished a marathon. She looked at me, and the storm in my head quieted. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± 14 Evie I¡¯m grateful for my husband. I hadn¡¯t written it down yet. Thanking the man responsible for the ache in my chest felt too strange. Once we got home, Tony pulled me into the bathroom to assess the damage. He¡¯d hissed epithets as he pressed an ice pack into my cheek and dabbed antiseptic on my wounds. After a long, cold shower I put on pajamas and headed to bed. My head pounded as moonlight sliced across Tony. My stomach dropped. He was in my bed. Technically, it was his, but I was possessive over this ce. He sat under the covers, shirtless. His glowing skin forced me to imagine him naked. Few women could picture the perfectly sculpted body under his clothes. The idea of sleeping next to him throttled my heart rate. I slipped under the sheets, and Tony scooped me in his embrace. His arms were like a warm tide, pulling me to safety. I collided with him as he syed me over hisp, his heat burning through my clothing. I lifted a hand to his sorrowful face, tracing his cheekbone. I stroked his stubbled skin, marveling at his harsh beauty, his unrelenting stare, and the current that zipped into my arm. I wanted to wipe his sadness away. ¡°Are you okay?¡± He didn¡¯t smile, but his stony expression softened. ¡°I should be asking you that. Evie, how the fuck did this happen?¡± I sucked in my lip. ¡°It¡¯s my fault.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make excuses for him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not, but¡­I hit him first. I punched him,¡± I blurted in a rush of words. ¡°Then he smacked me and I went after him.¡± ¡°You¡­went after him?¡± he echoed hollowly. ¡°After he hit you?¡± ¡°He said something rude.¡± His head knocked the headboard. ¡°Evie.¡± ¡°You had to be there. Believe me, he deserved it.¡± ¡°Of course he deserved it. That¡¯s not the fucking point. You could be in the hospital with a concussion. Or worse.¡± ¡°I-I know. It was reckless.¡± Beyond reckless. Stupid in the extreme. ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking straight.¡± ¡°You are so lucky I showed up when I did.¡± Luckily, Tony seemed to let it go. He scooped my hand in his and brushed his lips over my aching knuckles. ¡°These hands are too valuable to waste.¡± I smiled. His hot gaze flickered to me. ¡°How can you be in a good mood? Or is this from gratitude again? I¡¯m grateful he didn¡¯t split my skull open. I¡¯m grateful my obscenely attractive husband saved my ass.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you worried about me. For once.¡± ¡°For once.¡± Heughed bitterly. ¡°I pass out to the light of my phone watching you. Or I did, until you took out the cameras. Now I don¡¯t sleep until I¡¯m sure you¡¯re in the penthouse. The windows in your workshop give me a heart attack because they¡¯re not bulletproof, and I worry whenever you¡¯re at the clubhouse because I don¡¯t trust the men there.¡± ¡°You mean that? Or are you afraid someone will scratch your Porsche?¡± A muscle flicked in his jaw. ¡°If you were a car, darling, I would¡¯ve already traded you in. Expensive and I don¡¯t get to ride you.¡± ¡°How can such a beautiful man have so much ugliness inside him?¡± He raised a brow. ¡°That¡¯s quite the neg. Are you a pick-up artist?¡± ¡°I¡¯d p you but there¡¯s been enough of that today.¡± I grinned, but Tony gave me a forbidding look. ¡°Are you mad at me?¡± ¡°A little.¡± His arms circled my hip, and he kissed the top of my head. ¡°It¡¯s hard to stay pissed at you, though. Something about ck eyes on my woman kills all my rage for her.¡± ¡°Lucky me.¡± ¡°You are.¡± A hint of a growl throbbed from his lips. He turned, the force of his re and the threat of his half-naked body filling me with steam. He wanted to punish me. I could feel the urge in the hand gripping my waist. ¡°You think I¡¯m a reckless asshole, don¡¯t you? You think I went too far?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m just d I¡¯m not the only hothead.¡± He made a noise of assent. ¡°I had iting. Just say it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too cruel, even for me.¡± He paused for a moment, his mouth thinning, and then it burst out of him. ¡°Why do you keep going there? Are you visiting your ex?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not my ex.¡± ¡°Then why were you in his room?¡± ¡°Because I wanted a private conversation.¡± My chest swelled with nerves as we approached the topic I¡¯d been dying to bring up. ¡°We¡¯re married, but you tell me nothing about yourself. It frustrates me, Tony. I don¡¯t know what we¡¯re doing or where we stand as a couple. You ignore me most of the time and when you don¡¯t, we¡¯re either fighting or fucking. I thought I could fix things between us by learning more about you. Nobody would tell me why you hate the club, so I asked Ghost.¡± He blew a ragged sigh. ¡°You couldn¡¯t call me?¡± ¡°So you could say it¡¯s none of my business?¡± I struggled to find words, my voice thick with tears. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t me you for keeping it to yourself. I understand now. Ghost showed me something. There¡¯s a video¡­of you and-and a few bikers. In a basement.¡± The fist squeezing my heart clenched. An eternity seemed to pass before Tony finally spoke. ¡°They abducted me. They tortured me. The end.¡± ¡°Stop that. Stop deciding what I can and can¡¯t handle. I grew up surrounded by a bunch of jaded criminals. Nothing can scare me away.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not busy.¡± Again, he stayed silent for a full minute. His hands resumed their stroking of my back. ¡°It was a Sunday,¡± he forced out. ¡°I stepped outside for a jog with Comet, my husky. An Escde rolled up to the curb. The doors opened. Men in leather cuts spilled out and grabbed me. They shot my dog. Threw me into the car.¡± How horrible. I pictured a dog dying on the sidewalk, Tony pushed into the van, my insides clenching with every disturbing image. ¡°They brought me to Crash¡¯s house. You¡¯ve heard of him?¡± I stiffened. ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°Unfortunately.¡± ¡°You¡¯d rather him alive?¡± ¡°I¡¯d have liked to be the one to kill the bastard, but I can¡¯tin about how he went.¡± My throat bobbed. ¡°So¡­he took you captive. Then what?¡± ¡°Beat me. Starved me. Shoved me in a crawlspace.¡± He listed them as though he recited items from a shopping list. It blew my mind. ¡°Why you?¡± ¡°I asked myself that a lot. I didn¡¯t understand. At first, I thought Dad had overstepped with the club. I figured they¡¯d rough me up to send a message to my father, and release me. As weeks passed, I realized he had no intention of letting me go.¡± Tony¡¯s grip bit into my waist as he spoke. ¡°Crash had a vendetta against my cousin Michael, and I was easy pickings. The drug-addicted son of the mafia don.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Tony.¡± He said nothing. I was bursting with questions, but I couldn¡¯t overwhelm him. ¡°What happened next? Your family found you?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Did your dad pay him off or were you able to escape?¡± ¡°No to both.¡± I frowned, searching his nk face. ¡°Then¡­how did you get out?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± That swept through me with a biting chill. A bleak silence settled between us. Tony¡¯s hard-eyed re seemed to look through me, at some distant target in his past. Did he mean metaphorically? Before I asked more, a bell chimed. Fuck. I glowered at the wall. ¡°Who the hell¡¯s that?¡± Tony pushed me aside and leaped off the bed. He grabbed a robe. ¡°Evie, I want you to stay here.¡± ¡°Why-what¡¯s going on?¡± The relentless chiming became a banging that echoed through the apartment. He knotted the robe to his waist and zed out of the room. The door opened and then mmed shut, reverberating through the walls. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Tony¡¯s gritty tone sted inside, and an even darker voice answered him. ¡°We need to talk.¡± Dad! My throat closed. I ripped the sheets back and scrambled for pants, but couldn¡¯t find any. I seized a men¡¯s shirt from the walk-in closet, running out after I¡¯d buttoned it. Dad stood in the living room in full biker regalia, glowering at my husband. I rushed to greet him but stopped at the disgust curling his lip. His beetle-like eyes stripped me up and down. ¡°Dad, is this about Ghost? It¡¯s my fault. I hit him first. Tony doesn¡¯t deserve to be-¡± I broke off, thrown by Dad¡¯s usatory stare. ¡°What?¡± Tony¡¯s arm hooked my waist. His grim features rippled with sunshine. He offered me a sudden, arresting smile. ¡°Sweetheart, you missed a few buttons.¡± His teasing burned my cheeks before I noticed the breeze tickling my skin. I fastened the missing holes in a hurry, my fingers slipping.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Shoot. Sorry.¡± ¡°No apology necessary.¡± Tony rubbed my hip, my insides jangling. ¡°You wear the shit out of my shirts.¡± Really, Tony? In front of my dad? I clenched my mouth tighter. ¡°Costa.¡± Tony blinked, as though he¡¯d forgotten about my dad¡¯s presence. ¡°Evie, give us some privacy.¡± When I didn¡¯t move, Tony raised his voice. ¡°Back to bed, Evie. I¡¯ll be there in a minute.¡± Tony kissed my head. Once in the bedroom, I closed the door, but turned the handle and peeked through the crack. ¡°What do you want, Jett?¡± Tony pushed himself on the oak desk, the robe spilling across his bare chest. ¡°Can¡¯t you see I have my hands full with your daughter?¡± My stomach churned. Tony better be careful. My dad made it his life¡¯s mission to scare off any man who batted eyes in my direction, including Crash. ¡°You fucked up big time,¡± Dad hissed, squaring off against him. ¡°You put Ghost in the hospital.¡± ¡°He¡¯s lucky that¡¯s all I did to him.¡± ¡°That kid is connected the Mongols! Now I have to exin to his father why his son is in the ICU with a broken trachea.¡± ¡°Poor baby. Say your piece and get the fuck out.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? He¡¯s a member of my club!¡± I¡¯d never seen Dad lose control over his voice. He sounded hoarse. Tony was the opposite, his rich tones filling the office. ¡°Well, maybe you should keep a tighter leash on him. Seems to me like you should be more upset about him smacking around your girl, but you people don¡¯t give a shit about your own flesh and blood.¡± ¡°Where I¡¯m from, deals are honored. Not spat on at the first opportunity!¡± Flecks of spit flew through the air from his shouting. ¡°Your cousin wants peace, but you want to mess up what¡¯s mine!¡± ¡°I guess we¡¯re in the same position. I¡¯ve been through Evie¡¯s tax records, and boy. Even my grandma can hide assets. Are you stupid or just bad at being a criminal?¡± ¡°What does that have to do with you?¡± ¡°Everything,¡± he snarled. ¡°Don¡¯te into my house, uninvited, and lie to my face. You¡¯reundering diamonds through my wife¡¯s business. I¡¯m on the board of five different charities. I¡¯m fucked if the IRS decided to take a closer look.¡± ¡°No idea what you mean. Evie¡¯s taxes are her problem.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb. I want nothing to do with your business. Neither does Evie.¡± What were they talking about? ¡°And I know about the jewelry you stole from her.¡± Tony¡¯s voice dipped into a quiet, trembling snarl. ¡°You will give them back. Everyst ring. Or I¡¯ll put more bikers in the hospital. Lord knows, there¡¯s enough in this city to keep me busy for a while.¡± I gasped. He¡¯s crazy. ¡°Are you threatening this alliance over my daughter and a few pieces of gold?¡± ¡°Evie is my wife.¡± ¡°She started this mess with Ghost. She admitted it!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care if she tap-danced on his mother¡¯s grave. Nobody touches my wife. I have the right to kill anyone who does. In fact, every time one of you upsets her, I¡¯ll go after you, your businesses, your members. She¡¯s mine. Get that through your fucking head. I decide what to do with her, where she sleeps, what she eats, and how I will fuck her.¡± I ground my teeth together. I appreciated him backing me up, but he didn¡¯t have to throw our sex life in my dad¡¯s face. ¡°Vinn will kill you!¡± Dad stepped toward an unflinching Tony. ¡°I¡¯ll take Evie away!¡± I swallowed an outburst. How dare they treat me like an object? I had thoughts. Feelings. Dreams. None of which Dad seemed to acknowledge, considering he¡¯d sold me to Tony. ¡°She does not belong to you anymore.¡± ¡°If I ask, she¡¯lle back to me!¡± Tony chuckled nastily. ¡°Even if she misses your cage in Chelsea, I am never letting her go.¡± The door burst open. Dad flew from the office. His angry footsteps stomped to the front door, chased by Tony¡¯s condescending ¡°bye.¡± I huddled on the bed as Tony reentered the room. His feet strolled into my vision until he stopped, the robe hanging inches from me. He faced me with a somber expression. ¡°How much of that did you hear?¡± ¡°All of it.¡± He threaded fingers through my hair. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± I pushed his hand aside. I was more than a little pissed with him, but that was nothing new. ¡°You can¡¯t talk about me like I¡¯m a piece of meat. Especially to my father.¡± Tony raked his dark locks, the sleeves riding up his muscled forearms. ¡°It¡¯s just an act, Evie.¡± I don¡¯t care. ¡°If you ever want in my pants, you¡¯ll stop being an arrogant prick.¡± ¡°You sure you don¡¯t enjoy my arrogant prick?¡± This fucking man. My contempt for him didn¡¯t prevent his ruggedly handsome face from sending a flicker of heat through my chest. My gaze wandered over his wicked mouth, to the soul-deep eyes that red with amber. He was so beautiful, so cruel and cunning, his body so strong. I weakened around him. I was curious about him. Every moment with Tony unpeeled a darkeryer, and I was desperate to uncover them all. He¡¯d risked his life for me. He supported my business. Threatened my father to defend me. He¡¯d done more for me than my own family, which was a bitter pill to swallow. What was going on with him? Tony swept past me to the kitchen, piling frozen peas on his purpled knuckles. A flicker of the insane adrenaline rush from earlier twinged my chest. I approached him like an animal in the wild, not wanting to give him a reason to bolt, but Tony wasn¡¯t in a hurry to leave. I reached inside his robe, palms gliding over his chest hair. I pressed down, over the broad panes of muscle. His eyes zed over in a fog, but he didn¡¯t pull away. His steady heartbeat bumped my skin. ¡°Did you mean what you said to my father?¡± He raised his head, unblinking. ¡°No half measures.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get yourself killed for a wife you don¡¯t even want.¡± ¡°You¡¯re mine.¡± He abandoned the ice to grasp my hand. A chill engulfed my swollen knuckles. ¡°I¡¯ll always protect what¡¯s mine.¡± A dark thrill rippled across my body at those untamed words. I¡¯d stopped craving the man. I wanted the monster. 15 Tony 2 oz blended scotch 1/4 oz amaretto How can I get rid of this feeling? That was how my addiction started. Smoke a joint, and the difort disappears. I didn¡¯t take the easy way out anymore. I wasmitted to experiencing everything. The restrictions I ced on myself staved back the cravings. When someone cracked open a bottle of my favorite proso, I imposed an iron will on myself. I would not bend. I would never be that guy again. It was hard. Fuck, I struggled. Some days were harder than others. Today, my thoughts warred against me. They urged me to buy things I didn¡¯t need for the agony wing my chest. Outside a 7-Eleven, a man wearing a hoodie pushed off the wall. His eyes lit up in vague recognition. He waved. I floored the gas. The Godfather. My mind seized on the amber drink. Two ounces blended scotch or bourbon. One-fourth ounce amaretto. Poured over ice. I took random turns, diving into unfamiliar neighborhoods until what haunted me shed past my window. EVIE Jesus Christ. How did I get here? No, really. How? Iughed as I parked the car. My heart pounded as I pictured her inside the shop, toiling on another piece of jewelry. I felt alive. Addicted. Evie was the first spark of life since the night it¡¯d been stolen from me. She was like those early months of taking heroin, when happiness sat in my lungs for hours, and I could find beauty in a still frame of a crowded bus stuck in rush hour traffic. A tall man in a windbreaker strolled out of my wife¡¯s store. Christian¡¯sser-like gaze scanned the road until it found me like a bull¡¯s-eye. He walked across the street, hood drawn up under the smattering of rain. A bemused grin touched his lips as he leaned on my car and tapped the ss. I unrolled the window. He peeked in, shouting over the storm. ¡°You could walk in there instead of acting like a cliche in an eighties romanticedy.¡± ¡°Fuck you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re like the guy who stalks the girl he¡¯s interested in.¡± Christian chuckled as he reached for a cigarette, cupping his hands around the lighter. ¡°Except this is extra weird because you¡¯re married to her. You have problems, T.¡± I gave him a ck look. ¡°You¡¯re watching another man¡¯s wife. We¡¯ve all got issues.¡± ¡°Yeah, but this is on a new level.¡± ¡°You talk too much.¡± ¡°You ignore your wife.¡± His expression turned pitying as he blew smoke from the corner of his mouth. ¡°Anthony, go to her. What are you doing outside?¡± ¡°Being around Evie is like doing heroin ¡®only on the weekends.''¡± ¡°Right. There¡¯s a word for that.¡± Christian¡¯s knowing smile stirred my chest. I knew what he was getting at. She provoked dangerous impulses inside me. They had put a man in the hospital with a breathing tube. Zero regrets, but I hated losing control. I had a bad feeling that she could make me do anything. Hell, I¡¯d already let so many things slide. I could¡¯ve chained her to my penthouse and forced her to stop defying me. Despite my worst instincts, I just couldn¡¯t do that to her. Christian tapped the hood. ¡°Tony, you¡¯re obsessed with Evie for a reason. You¡¯re obviously in love with her.¡± Ice twisted through my heart. ¡°I don¡¯t love her.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m bending the biker girl to my will.¡± ¡°You give her more freedom than I would.¡± ¡°I¡¯m her husband. I know what¡¯s best for her. Not you.¡± It had nothing to do with catching feelings, and Christian needed to back off. ¡°Watch Lifetime if you need more rtionship drama, and stay out of my business.¡± ¡°I¡¯d love to, but I¡¯m around her all day,¡± he grunted, taking another drag from the cigarette. ¡°Guess who she wants to talk about?¡± Me? My mouth ckened. ¡°When is Tony¡¯s birthday? Where is he? Why does he ignore me?¡± Christian piped up in falsetto, his mirth gut punching me. ¡°There¡¯s only so much I can say.¡± I cringed. ¡°Look, T¡­you¡¯re going to do whatever you want. I don¡¯t expect you to listen to me, but you should go in there. You should¡¯ve seen her smile when she got your flowers. She wants you. She misses you. Take her out. Spend time with her before it¡¯s toote.¡± I had to stop listening to Christian. ¡°I¡¯m keeping a distance.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± he sighed, roughly. ¡°So you won¡¯t have a problem if I have dinner with her?¡± What the fuck? I shot him a poisonous re. Christian stepped back, hands raised. ¡°She asked if I wanted Thai food. Seemed pretty sad when I told her no.¡± I was out of the car and shoving the bastard aside before he¡¯d finished his sentence. Then I made a beeline for the store, my teeth clenched. I almost ripped the door off its hinges, earning a side-eye from the security guard. I headed into the workshop I hadn¡¯t seen in weeks. She¡¯d added shelving for her products. Her useless father had finallye through with the jewelry. Evie sat at the spinning wheel, polishing a gleaming object. A messy braid coiled her neck. She switched off the machine and faced me, glowing. ¡°I got your flowers. They¡¯re beautiful.¡± Evie bounced off the bench and slid her arms in my jacket, tightening around me. She squeezed hard, realigning the heat in my chest. ¡°Thanks.¡± My hands syed over her shoulders. Her warmth braced me for the first time in ten days. God, I¡¯d needed this. The nagging, annoying ache that¡¯d bothered me since I left her finally shut the hell up. I¡¯d missed her. I¡¯d checked on her from afar. The camera she¡¯d never found gave me snapshots of my wife, and I made a point of sending her something every day-flowers, meals, coffee. I needed her to be all right but I¡¯d ignored my needs for too long. Holding her soothed me. It loosed the tension knotting my muscles. She pulled away, beaming. ¡°So what brings you here?¡± It took a moment to remember why I¡¯d stormed in here. ¡°Did you really ask Christian out for dinner?¡± Evie snorted. Her smile slowly fell. ¡°Are you being serious?¡± ¡°He said you wanted to get Thai with him. I told you I¡¯m not okay with that.¡± ¡°Jesus, Tony. He¡¯s pulling your leg. I¡¯ve had Thai once. Food poisoning. I puked for twelve hours straight. To this day, I can¡¯t stand coconut.¡± Wait, he lied? I frowned, shaking my head. It made sense when I pictured the bastard¡¯s smug grin. I wouldn¡¯t visit her, so he made up a cock-and-bull story to light a fire under my ass. I¡¯d seized the bait like an idiot. ¡°What is your favorite food, then?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t have one. I¡¯ve always been obsessed with Japanese cuisine but it¡¯s so hard to convince bikers to eat anything that isn¡¯t fried or barbecued.¡± She returned to the bench and grabbed a microfiber cloth. ¡°It¡¯s like forcing you to put ketchup on pasta.¡± ¡°I did that as a kid to piss off my mom.¡± I sat next to Evie as she buffed out a ring, smirking. ¡°What are you making?¡± She shrugged. ¡°Nothing special.¡± ¡°Can I see?¡± Evie dropped the gold band onto my palm. It was in, except for the ws that cradled an empty socket. ¡°I¡¯m setting it with a gray sapphire. I¡¯ll sell it for two grand.¡± ¡°You need to jack up your prices.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve studied the market, Tony. I know how much that gem is worth.¡± ¡°Yeah, but you¡¯re not a jewel peddler. You¡¯re building a brand.¡± I held it close, studying the tiny, pointed nails on the hand. ¡°The price tag is for the design, not the materials, and everything you make is fucking cool.¡± I gave it to her. Evie¡¯s cheeks bloomed like a sunset on snow. ¡°Have you ever bought someone jewelry?¡± ¡°Another woman, you mean?¡± I smiled, catching on to her. ¡°I¡¯d pick up something whenever I was done with a girl. To soften the blow. Always the same heart-shaped ne with diamonds.¡± She looked pained. ¡°Oh, Tony.¡± ¡°What? Isn¡¯t that better than ghosting?¡± ¡°Heart-shaped jewelry is an insult. That definitely wouldn¡¯t work on me.¡± ¡°If I wanted you hurting for me, I¡¯d get you a pretty rock. An emerald. A yellow diamond.¡± I slipped it from my jacket. ¡°Maybe¡­an opal.¡± My palm opened around dark, jagged ss, the surface sparkling with swaths of green, red, orange, and blue. Evie ripped it from my hands and let out a strangled gasp. ¡°When did you get this?¡± I shrugged. Evie dashed to the bench. Shaking, she fitting the scope to her eye and peered at the gem. ¡°This is thergest uncut ck opal I¡¯ve ever seen. Do you have any idea¡­do you have any freaking clue how much this is worth?¡± ¡°It¡¯s expensive? I¡¯ve used it as a paperweight for years.¡± ¡°Funny guy,¡± she choked, not sounding amused. ¡°Where did you get it?¡± ¡°I bought it a long time ago. It was a stupid, impulsive thing.¡± I did it while high, but we¡¯ll leave that out of the story. ¡°It¡¯s collected dust in a safe ever since. I figured you¡¯d like it.¡± I didn¡¯t give a damn about rocks. What made them valuable to me was that she loved them. Evie fisted the gemstone. ¡°What do you want in return?¡± ¡°Make something beautiful with it.¡± Doubt flickered in her gaze. ¡°What else?¡± ¡°Make sure you tag me on social media.¡± ¡°Stop kidding around. This is worth millions.¡± ¡°When have I not been generous with you?¡± Evie seemed to cycle through a myriad of emotions-indignation, shock, awe, denial. ¡°You thought this would be the easiest way into my pants?¡± I clenched my mouth tighter. This was my fault. I was an asshole who only showed up to get off, so she assumed I was here to collect. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m here to get my dick greased and it¡¯s been a month since I fulfilled my obligation to you.¡± Evie took a step forward, her voice rising. ¡°You mean humiliating me in front of strangers?¡± ¡°Filling you with my cum.¡± Intensity red through her stare. Evie¡¯s lips pressed together in a wavering smile. She hesitated, shaking her head, and then her fingers flew down her blouse, unbuttoning. Her cleavage shed through, blinding me with arousal. My cock swelled. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Evie gave me a quizzical look, the white light from the giant windows framing her innocence with a beauty that stuck in my chest. She peeled the id shirt from her smooth shoulders. My thoughts stalled when it fell off her slim body. My heartbeat pulsed wildly. She reached behind, struggling with the bra sp. I strode closer and undid it. My palms moistened as they stroked her naked back. Stunned, I held her as she fumbled with her belt. I wasn¡¯t here for that but when she offered herself so freely¡­how could I resist? My lips parted. The words Evie, don¡¯t froze in my lungs. I didn¡¯t want her to stop. But I had to. ¡°Evie, I-¡± ¡°Fuck me,¡± she said, making my mouth water. ¡°But don¡¯t expect me to ever love you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about love.¡± ¡°I know.¡± The lie crumbled like ashes, the destion in her voice stinging me with regret. I almost told her the truth-that I admired her above everyone and I had no intention of divorcing her. Then she unzipped her pants. My hands were on her ass, helping her push the jeans down before I stopped myself. Drunk on her scent, the softness of her skin, I stepped back. ¡°Evie, you don¡¯t-we don¡¯t have to do this.¡± She either ignored me or t out wasn¡¯t listening. She shimmied from her panties, revealing her freshly shaved pussy and the rest of her gorgeous body. My dick throbbed so hard it hurt, and the frustration rushed to my jaw. I wasn¡¯t blind to my attraction to her. Giving her a million-dor rock was the sort of desperation I¡¯d mocked in other men, but it was a gift. I expected nothing. I just wanted her to shine as brilliantly as the gems she obsessed over. Evie red as ferociously as she could while naked. ¡°Get it over with so we can go back to ignoring each other.¡± My throat tightened. I ignored her? I spent hours poring over the cameras before she¡¯d disabled most of them. I visited the apartment when she was gone. Touched her things. Bought her more sketch pads when she ran low. I sent her pastries from my favorite bakery. ¡°Evie, for thest time,¡± I forced myself to meet her eyes and took her face, my thundering pulse drowning out my voice, ¡°I¡¯m not fucking you here.¡± Yet, confronted with her nakedness, I couldn¡¯t imagine doing anything else. She was the single most fuckable woman I¡¯d ever seen with those teardrop breasts. Her tanned skin extended all the way to her nipples. With that dark hair, she could¡¯ve been a girl from Sicily. She wasn¡¯t Italian, but the fact she resembled the girls denied to me my whole life hardened my cock into steel. My dad wanted me to date princesses. Debutantes. Blonde, high-maintenance trophy wives bred into high society, the pr opposite of my unrefined wife who drank Budweiser, wore cut-offs, and worked gold into masterpieces. She was better than all of thembined. She impressed me. She challenged me. She feared nothing. Evie¡¯s stare drilled me. I¡¯d never known a woman whose re could make me feel like a chump. ¡°Do what you came here to do, and then take your fucking rock when you leave.¡± Now you hate it? She confused the shit out of me, but I was too aware of her nakedness and the taste of her honeyed cunt. Evie pulled away, wearing that damnable smirk. I buried a hand in her hair and mmed my lips into hers. I stered her curvy body to the wall, swallowing her gasp. ¡°You¡¯re taking the opal.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want it.¡± Like hell. ¡°For Christ¡¯s sake. It¡¯s not a bribe. I knew you¡¯d like it. I wanted you to have it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You love everything about jewelry.¡± My hands fell from her face, and I backed off so that her enticing scent no longer assaulted my senses. ¡°What, the girl with the hard-on for gratitude has none for her husband?¡± Evie flinched, her steel mask flickering. Then she crossed her arms over her breasts. Unbelievable. What did this woman want from me? I let her get away with murder. I paid her bills. I kept her safe. I sacrificed my sanity to make her happy. None of it worked. Why wasn¡¯t she falling to her knees and thanking me? I¡¯m grateful he¡¯ll never love me. I¡¯m grateful he gives me plenty of space. I¡¯m grateful he doesn¡¯t hit me. Heaviness centered on my chest. Perhaps I¡¯d always be a monster to her-a man she¡¯d been forced to marry who only cared about getting his dick wet. Evie¡¯s touch wandered down my abdomen and across my belt. She made quick work of it, tossing it aside. She filled my belly with fire as she unbuttoned my cks. She grabbed my erection. My breathing hitched. I thickened in her gentle grip. I caught her by the hair and kissed her. We exchanged sloppy, hot kisses, our energy frenzied. I turned her around and shoved her over the desk. Stood between her legs. I fisted my cock, my heartbeat throbbing beneath my fingers. I could pull out. I wanted to p myself. I was going on thirty-eight but apparently, my cock still had the logic of a teenage boy. You will get her knocked up. With child. Pregnant. Fuck, but it felt so good. A jolt zapped into me as my cock touched her silken entrance. I slid my shaft along her folds. My head nudged her. I retreated then dipped into the molten heat, barely enough to call it inside. I almost seized her hips. Stop, you moron. Not like this. I pulled away. I pictured things that¡¯d kill my boner. None of them worked. My cock stabbed the air, glistening with the tease of pussy. ¡°Evie. Turn around, baby.¡± She did, her cheeks flushed. The sight of her natural, plump tits and her hips opening wide stole my breath. It took an effort to kneel, and then I grasped her panties. Slowly, I moved them up her legs. Her velvety skin tempted me something fierce, and I could not stop touching. My gaze snapped up, colliding with her pussy. Well, damn. A taste wouldn¡¯t hurt. My throat tightened as I leaned forward. I wedged my thumbs on either side of her cunt. Then I pulled her lips apart. Wet and wanting. So fucking hot. I kissed where she blushed. Evie whimpered, the delicious sound tightening my balls. Encouraged, I flicked my tongue into her wetness. Her body stiffened at first, but gradually she loosened and spread her thighs wider, allowing me deeper. As I fought against her tight pussy, my cks bulged with my erection. The thought of plunging my cock inside her tingled my balls. ¡°I didn¡¯te here to do this, but you¡¯re making me eat my goddamn words.¡± Iughed at my stupid joke and kissed her swollen clit. ¡°I can barely think straight. Everything is a roar in my head, except this one loud voice that¡¯s ordering me to fuck you. That doesn¡¯t make me a bastard, Evie. Especially when you rip off your clothes and taunt me with your perfect body.¡± My tongue delved into her, and Ipped up her sweet arousal. Her grip tightened on my hair. She stilled and seemed to hold her breath. The sounds of my eager mouth filled the air. Evie let out a raspy moan that twitched my cock. ¡°Ohmigod.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it. Lose yourself. Ride my face until youe.¡± Evie¡¯s breathing grew ragged. A whine burst from her lips when I stuck in my tongue as far as it¡¯d go. Her arousal slipped down my tongue, and I drank every drop, yanking apart her clenched thighs. Evie seemed to lose her strength. She held on to the wooden counter, eyes shut. ¡°F-fuck. You feel so amazing. I-¡± Evie trailed off, her fingers diving into my hair. ¡°No¡­no, I¡¯m supposed to be mad at you.¡± ¡°Then be mad, baby.¡± She moaned. ¡°Fuck you.¡± I cracked my palm over her ass. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± She dug into my scalp. ¡°I-I said, fuck you.¡± I lifted her by her ass cheeks, her stomach pressed to my face. I kissed the velvety-soft skin as Iid her over the table scattered with sketches, disying her to ss windows. I parted her legs and pushed my head between them, my tongue stroking her pussy before stabbing inside. I licked and sucked her clit, ramming into her tight bud. Evie writhed and utter sexy, female high-pitched groans. Her hips rocked as I ate her out. Her thighs tightened on my face. She sighed, abandoning herself to pleasure as she gave rush hour traffic quite the show. Her hips chased my tongue, her pebbled nipples gliding under my hands. I swirled and flicked her clit, stopping her from climaxing to nip her thigh when she was close. Five minutester, I decided she coulde. I closed my mouth on her and sucked. A spasm rippled through her leg. She burst with a cry. She clenched around my face as her orgasm ripped through her and dug her heel in my head. Once she slumped over, chest heaving, I helped her off the table. I knelt and grabbed her panties and jeans, yanking them over her hips. Then I dressed. I¡¯d have to jump into a freezing shower the second I got home. ¡°Let¡¯s get going.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Home, and then out to dinner.¡± ¡°Not Sanctum.¡± ¡°No. Somewhere nice.¡± I grasped her chin, and her grin curved into my fingers. ¡°Would you like that?¡± Her eyes gleamed. She seemed halfway between tears and joy. Maybe Evie wasn¡¯t crazy for listing every amenity-even hot water-in that journal. How would she react to the really good shit? Evie nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you outside.¡± Later, I hooked Evie¡¯s arm and we walked into the rain-free night. Christian grinned like he swallowed a flight of canaries. He gave me a thumbs-up. I flipped him off. Evie¡¯s smile made me feel like I¡¯d scaled Mt. Everest. ¡°It¡¯s hard to know when to stop fighting you.¡± ¡°Never.¡± ¡°Seems like a long time.¡± ¡°The moment you stop is when you lose-your life, your innocence, everything.¡± ¡°It¡¯s mine to lose,¡± she countered as we strolled to my car. ¡°And that¡¯s not what scares you.¡± I opened the door. ¡°I don¡¯t let myself get scared.¡± ¡°Then why do you fight me so hard?¡± She stood still, her soft eyes melting. ¡°What do you think might happen if I win?¡± ¡°Impossible.¡± ¡°You better hope so¡­because I don¡¯t think you¡¯re ready to face what you might gain if I win.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°A life. A family.¡± Her eyebrow arched. ¡°Forgiveness?¡± ¡°Nothing that I deserve.¡± Her hand touched mine gently, a soft flicker of hope in a cold night. ¡°But it¡¯s the only reason I keep fighting.¡± 16 Evie I¡¯m grateful my husband can wield chopsticks. Was this a date? It felt like one, with the dimmed lighting, the ce settings, and the jitters turning my stomach. Tony took me to a Michelin-star Japanese restaurant in the Leather District. I¡¯d been dying to go to ever since Christian showed me photos of the food. We rxed in a gracious room with a long counter topped with satiny wood. Behind the sushi bar, golden lights illuminated a warm brick wall. Small tables filled the other side. Everything was perfect, especially Tony, ridiculously sexy in a white shirt and pair of te dress pants that hugged his dense frame. His tousled ck hair caressed his forehead with a casual grace that should¡¯ve been made illegal. Slivers of meat sat on balls of rice. They didn¡¯t serve utensils, and I couldn¡¯t be the only person who was hopeless with chopsticks. My chopsticks scissored. Bits of rice and fish flew across the table, pping the floor. Mortified, I covered my mouth. ¡°Oh my God. I¡¯m awful.¡± ¡°Yeah, they ought to lock you up. Throwing four-dor sashimi on the ground is criminal.¡± ¡°You¡¯re making me feel bad!¡± Tony¡¯s smile teased warmth in my cheeks. He put another piece on my te. ¡°Try again.¡± I did, mauling the sushi. ¡°How do people eat with these?¡± ¡°The same way you use a fork. It¡¯s not hard.¡± ¡°Says you. The only chopsticks I¡¯ve ever used are the crappy wooden ones from takeout, and we always threw them out.¡± Using his, he seized a single grain of rice and ate it. Iughed. ¡°Showoff.¡± ¡°I have to. I don¡¯t have enough redeeming qualities.¡± He grasped my wrist, stopping me from mangling the sushi any further. ¡°Here. Let me do it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re feeding me?¡± ¡°No other choice.¡± He plucked the ball of rice and held it to my lips. ¡°Open.¡± Tingling swept up the back of my neck at the intimate gesture. I imagined him doing this at our wedding. The hope that¡¯d crashed and died on that night rekindled into a low, burning me. I schooled my thoughts, forcing myself to stay calm. It doesn¡¯t mean anything. ¡°Open up,¡± he prompted. Feeling foolish, I obeyed. Tony pushed the roll into my mouth, grinning. ¡°Look at that, I¡¯m feeding you. I guess we can get along.¡± I closed my lips around slightly vinegary rice, biting into the red meat. Surprisingly, it wasn¡¯t fishy. Salt rolled over my tongue, mingling with a buttery vor. Tony picked up another piece. ¡°You can¡¯t do this for the whole te.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever the hell I want.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you embarrassed?¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t even rank in my top one hundred most shameful things I¡¯ve ever done. If you¡¯d known me a few years ago, you¡¯d understand why. Do you like wasabi?¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Japanese horseradish.¡± He poked at a greenish lump beside the sushi. ¡°Very potent. I¡¯m not a huge fan. I think it overpowers the fish.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want it to?¡± ¡°If your fish smells bad, you should run in the opposite direction. In general, all you need is a kiss of soy sauce.¡± He dabbed the white meat with silvery scales in the dark liquid. ¡°This is yellowtail.¡± He fed it to me. I chewed, finding it milder than the tuna. Delicious. Savory and clean. The meat fell apart, dissolving just as easily as the rice. I grabbed another with my fingers and popped it in my mouth. I got too excited and sauce dripped down my lip. Tony leaned forward. His full mouth pressed into mine. Then he flicked his tongue across my lip, catching that wayward drop. We exchanged kisses over the table like two kids at prom. The hardness of his kiss, hispleteck of self-awareness, the utter abandonment of giving a fuck left me burning. I could¡¯ve jumped him right there. I closed my eyes, relishing in the vors of savory decadence and Tony¡¯s sweet mouth. ¡°This is the best damned restaurant I¡¯ve ever been to.¡± He made a deeply satisfied sound. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m enjoying myself, too.¡± My eyes flew open to Tony¡¯s gentle smile as more sashimi prodded my lips. I ate, trying to conceal my shock. The fact he was totally into this stunned me. I assumed a man like him wouldn¡¯t be caught dead hand-feeding his wife. ¡°I can eat on my own, you know.¡± ¡°And yet, you keep opening wide for me.¡± Tony quickly shoved a ball of rice in his mouth. ¡°Makes a man wonder what else you¡¯ll do in a crowded restaurant.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push it.¡± He scooted his chair back and patted his leg. He wanted me on hisp? I gaped at him. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± ¡°Are you that scared of PDA?¡± ¡°No, but¡­this is a nice ce. They¡¯ll kick us out if I sit on you.¡± I couldn¡¯t believe I was having this conversation with Tony Costa, scourge of the Boston underworld. ¡°Only if we do naughty things, and I don¡¯t n on it.¡± Tony gave me a half-cocked smirk I didn¡¯t entirely trust. ¡°Come on. Indulge me.¡± Fine. Jesus. My neck and face went up in mes as I stood. Tony grabbed my waist before I changed my mind and pulled me down. My ass hit his muscled thighs with a satisfying thump. ¡°What¡¯s your second best?¡± he demanded. I blinked. ¡°My what?¡± ¡°Your second favorite restaurant.¡± ¡°Oh. Um, my cousin and I went to P. F. Chang¡¯s a couple times.¡± Tony¡¯s gaze twinkled withughter. ¡°There¡¯s better out there.¡± No kidding. ¡°I¡¯ve always known that. I used to have this awful feeling in my chest. I knew I was being cheated with all the grocery store prepared crap, but I dealt with it. I was grateful.¡± ¡°We cope in different ways.¡± He grasped a ceramic carafe and poured hot liquid into a cup. ¡°I recite cocktail recipes in my head. The repetition helps snap me out of it.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that counterintuitive with your addiction?¡± ¡°Maybe, but it works.¡± He shrugged, nudging the cup toward me. ¡°Try this. You might like it.¡± Heat tingled my cheeks as I sipped the warm spirits. I scrunched my nose. ¡°It¡¯s¡­okay. Kind of like vodka.¡± Vague amusement lit up his face as I pushed it aside. ¡°It¡¯s sake. I guess it¡¯s not for everyone.¡± ¡°Is it difficult for you to resist alcohol?¡± ¡°Sometimes. But I¡¯ve learned the hard way that me and booze don¡¯t mix.¡± Tony¡¯s arms circled my waist and tightened. His attention flicked to the door, the windows, like a big cat scouting for prey. ¡°You seem on edge.¡± Tony swiped his ss and downed his seltzer. ¡°I don¡¯t go out much.¡± Since my club kidnapped and tortured you. Nausea twisted my stomach. ¡°Because of what they did to you?¡± ¡°Because I get nothing out of it. I¡¯ve been to every restaurant, club, or bar you can think of. I¡¯ve partied enough tost five lifetimes. I¡¯m done with it all.¡± He casually stroked my thigh, the contact white-hot, and kissed my neck. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Wining and dining my wife doesn¡¯t count.¡± Good. I sipped the sake even though I wasn¡¯t wild about the vor, just to settle my nerves. Sitting on Tony¡¯sp, being held, and his deep voice booming through my back had overloaded my system. I wracked my brains for a subject to talk about. ¡°Did your dad expect you to seed him as boss?¡± He snorted. ¡°He didn¡¯t want me involved in the mafia, period.¡± Really? That surprised me, considering he was the only son of thete Nico Costa. ¡°Even my father forces me tounder diamonds.¡± ¡°Not mine. He wanted more from me.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°So many things. I had to be perfect. I had to be the best. He filled me with so much hot air that I was so empty. I still am.¡± He released a sigh that sucked in my body. ¡°I wasn¡¯t always like this, Evie. My dad tried so hard. I went to dance sses, elocution lessons, luncheons with high society, riding lessons. He saw me as an Italian Jay Gatsby, a refined, white-cor criminal, a gentleman. He was hell bent on me marrying a princess.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t want a princess, I take it?¡± ¡°God no.¡± I pictured an adolescent Tony pouting in riding breeches and smiled. ¡°I could see you rebelling.¡± ¡°Yeah, I went overboard with that. Couldn¡¯t help it, though. Every second of my day was scheduled. By the time I got into an Ivy League, I was burnt out. Tired. I needed an escape, so I started smoking weed. You can guess how well that went.¡± Tony kissed the back of my neck, as though he sensed my sinking heart. ¡°I never liked myself, Evie,¡± he said after a moment of silence. ¡°I was an entitled bastard, a drug-addicted mess, a selfish jackass who screwed everybody over. Now I¡¯m sober. I pay my bills. I behave myself at social functions. My family thinks I¡¯m reformed, but they have no fucking idea¡­how ruined I am. I¡¯m worse. I¡¯m just trying to not be condemned to the hottest circle of hell.¡± He squeezed my palm, the fervor in his re growing. ¡°I won¡¯t let the MC do that to you, too.¡± rm rippled down my spine. Tony and I finished the meal without saying another word. He paid for dinner, and I slid off hisp, grateful to be free from his intoxicating warmth. Tony looped his arm around my waist and gently escorted me to the car. The secret, whatever it was, weighed the air. I didn¡¯t want to break the silence with changing the subject. I hoped he¡¯d confide in me once we got inside the penthouse. He still hadn¡¯t told me the whole story. It ate at me as we took the elevator together, but Tony seemed happier than I¡¯d ever seen him. He caught my eye and smiled. ¡°Want an espresso?¡± ¡°Sorry, what?¡± ¡°Coffee. Italians drink espressos after dinner.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t that keep you up all night?¡± ¡°Not if you make it right. There¡¯s not as much caffeine in an espresso as drip coffee.¡± The elevator doors opened into the penthouse. We stepped out, his palm at the small of my back. My face tingled with heat. ¡°I mean, sure. I¡¯d love that, but I thought it was a trigger for you.¡± ¡°Nah. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Tony rifled through the cupboards and wrestled a giant, stainless steel machine out, his biceps bulging as he heaved it over the counter. ¡°Geez, that thing makes coffee? It looks like a spaceship.¡± His grinned as he grabbed a microfiber towel and polished its surface. Then he seized a bag of beans and grinder from the shelf I couldn¡¯t reach. I gasped, scandalized. ¡°You had it up there the entire time?¡± ¡°Yeah. Couldn¡¯t get rid of it.¡± I swelled like a bullfrog. ¡°Mangiare un cazzeruole!¡± Trantion: Eat dick. I¡¯d been waiting all day to use it on him, but Google Trante must¡¯ve fucked me over. Surprise flickered across Tony¡¯s olive-skinned face. ¡°Sorry, what?¡± Crap. I butchered it. Was my ent that bad? ¡°Mangiare una cazzar!¡± I growled, as Tony began to smirk. ¡°Cazzar! Shit. I¡¯m not saying it right, am I?¡± A wide grin shattered his grim expression. Then he broke into full-heartedughter. It was marvelous, transformative. He was like apletely different person, decades younger. ¡°Eat a casserole?¡± he choked out. ¡°What the fuck. What are you trying to say?¡± Heat stole into my cheeks. ¡°Eat a dick?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how you say it,¡± he snorted, recovering slightly. ¡°Like not even close. Dick is cazzo, not cassero.¡± ¡°Mangia un cazzo?¡± ¡°No. God, no. That¡¯s still not-¡± His voice boomed to the ceiling as he lost it. ¡°Jesus. Stop before you kill me.¡± His levity shivered through my body, the sound so joyful and light I couldn¡¯t help but join him. He bit his lip, grinning hard. His eyes sparkled. There was a depth to his smile that had been missing for way too long. I had to hear himugh again. ¡°Well, I thought I was telling you off! Christian told me what cazzo meant, so I thought figuring it out on my own would be easy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous.¡± ¡°I prefer talented and witty.¡± He scooped me into his arms and kissed my head. ¡°You want to learn Italian? Why?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± My heart hammered foolishly. ¡°It¡¯s kind of beautiful, but mostly I just can¡¯t stand not understanding what Christian says when he¡¯s on the phone. He tells me things sometimes.¡± ¡°My dad would¡¯ve liked you.¡± Tony brushed hair from my cheek. I tried to ignore the strange aching in my limbs, struck dumb by his words. ¡°Look at me,¡± hemanded. I swallowed my anxiety and obeyed. It wasn¡¯t easy. Tony was the sort of man who could hold someone¡¯s gaze without flinching or looking away. ¡°Screw Christian. I¡¯ll teach you Italian.¡± My face flushed under his stare. ¡°How do you say ¡®fuck off¡¯?¡± ¡°Vaffanculo.¡± ¡°Vaffagool.¡± ¡°Close enough.¡± His gorgeous smile reappeared, and a knot rose in my throat. ¡°And if you hate someone and want them to tell them off real fucking good, you say this: Resta con me per sempre.¡± ¡°I sense a lie.¡± His devilish smirk widened. ¡°How did you learn Italian?¡± ¡°My parents spoke it at home. I learned English outside and tooknguage sses every Sunday until I was seventeen. That and Bible study.¡± He rolled his eyes hard. ¡°I hated it so much.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t imagine a less Godly person.¡± He made an amused sound. ¡°You and me both, babe.¡± I couldn¡¯t believe all the things he¡¯d told me tonight. Rare was the man who talked about his ws so openly. His raw honesty made me want to give something back, but Tony¡¯s soft voice yanked me out of my jumbled thoughts. ¡°It does something to me. Right here.¡± He tapped his chest. ¡°When you look at me with those innocent eyes and speak in broken Italian.¡± The pit of my stomach churned. Then he kissed my cheek, heat ring across my skin. Somehow, this chaste peck was more intense than anything he¡¯d done at Sanctum. The sparkling conversation and raging sexual tension had fired me up and the night could only end one way-in the bedroom. He still hadn¡¯t taken my virginity. Now was the perfect time. Tony rubbed my back and returned to the machine. He packed it with coffee grinds and flipped a switch. ¡°Why is the cup so tiny?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it¡¯s served.¡± ¡°Huh. Can you do a cappino instead?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± As the dark liquid poured from the spout, he grabbed a carton from the fridge. He steamed the milk, slowly adding it into the cup. He pushed the drink into my hands.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. I smiled at the floating heart pattern in my mug. I fought an impulse to take a photo, to guard the proof that Tony could be sweet when he wanted to be. ¡°Thank you.¡± I sipped, my toes curling with pleasure. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°My mother would disown me if I couldn¡¯t make decent coffee.¡± His pocket rang as he sat beside me on the living room couch. He pulled out his phone. His smile ttened to a grim line as he pocketed his cell. ¡°Listen, I had a great time but I have to go.¡± ¡°Did I say something?¡± Boy, I was hurt. ¡°No, hon.¡± His cup clinked against the dish as he set it down, and then he scooped my face in his hands. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to get upset over. It¡¯s just work. You believe me, don¡¯t you?¡± I guess. His forehead touched mine. He kissed my temple, cheek, and mouth, so soft he was barely there. I followed him to the door like a cloud, dancing in the air. I held onto that feeling like a shining soap bubble rising toward a nail-covered ceiling. 17 Evie I¡¯m grateful that my husband hates family gatherings. I stood in a suburban backyard packed with members of Tony¡¯s family. They seemed like warm, well-meaning people, fooled by Tony¡¯s put-together charade of a freshly pressed shirt, teased waves, and sardonic smile. A beautiful, statuesque woman in a flowing orange and pink skirt picked her way across thewn, her ebony hair piled on her head. My jaw dropped. Carm. ¡°Anthony, want something to drink?¡± her cheerful voice chimed as she pulled him into a tight hug. ¡°Seltzer?¡± ¡°No thanks.¡± She peered at me, frowning. ¡°Evie, would you like anything?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good, thank you.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but notice that her lips pursed. She did not like me. Tony forced a grin, but it dissolved as soon as Carm¡¯s back turned. ¡°You know her, don¡¯t you?¡± I nodded, flushing. It raised goosebumps on my neck to see Carm. Everybody knew about Crash¡¯s olddy, the Italian princess stolen from her mafioso fiance. She showed up on the back of his bike. At the time, I¡¯d thought it incredibly romantic. Star-crossed lovers, and all that. My stomach twisted. ¡°I-I saw her sometimes. She was Crash¡¯s olddy.¡± I grew hot under Tony¡¯s using re. ¡°I mean, he called her that, but who knows.¡± ¡°He took her against her fucking will.¡± ¡°I know. I mean, I heard he did terrible things but I never saw anything. I¡¯m d she¡¯s all right.¡± Hollowness gaped from his unspeaking eyes. Ice rolled down my spine. I wished I hadn¡¯t brought it up. Clearly, it was a sore subject for him. The ache in my chest pulsed angrily. A week had passed without my husband whispering sweet nothings in my ear. The distance bugged me. I was lonely. I was constantly frustrated. Jennesy came over to my house twice, but nothing made up for the fact that my husband avoided me. Was the date an act to cate the wife? Was he never going to hold me like he did that night? ¡°Tony, why are we here?¡± ¡°Sunday dinner.¡± I nced at my watch. ¡°But it¡¯s three-thirty.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an all-day thing.¡± He sighed heavily. ¡°A waste of my damned time.¡± ¡°Well, thanks.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that, hon.¡± He lightly grasped my hand, and the gesture jolted my heart. ¡°How have you been?¡± I met his gaze and shrugged. ¡°I know I haven¡¯t been around. I¡¯ve been busy. I would¡¯ve skipped this but Vinn is on my ass, and my mom¡¯sing over.¡± He gave me a meaningful look. ¡°She has a talent for reducing grown women to tears.¡± ¡°Ah. So that¡¯s where he gets it.¡± His chest expanded under his shirt. ¡°How do you brush off everything I do?¡± ¡°You need a crash course in what marriage in the twentieth century is like, but I¡¯m not losing sleep over you.¡± Because I¡¯m back in denial. He¡¯d filled my life with stuff, and I thought it¡¯d make me happy, but at the end of the day, I just wanted my husband to love me. Tony peeked into the house. ¡°My mother¡¯s here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised a guy like you can¡¯t blow off your mom.¡± ¡°Italian moms are not easily blown off.¡± Tony dragged me out of sight of the windows, his tone extremely tense. ¡°She¡¯s waited her whole life for me to marry, and now that I have? She expects kids. She¡¯ll grill you.¡± ¡°So? She seemed fine at the wedding.¡± ¡°She was faking it, darling. We¡¯ll leave as soon as we can.¡± ¡°First, do something for me.¡± I could practically hear his mind whirring as I linked my arm with his. ¡°Name five things you¡¯re grateful for.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Just give it a try.¡± Tony considered me, a storm brewing in his expression. ¡°I¡¯m grateful I¡¯m free, that I don¡¯t have to hurt people anymore, and that I have a family that fucks me over and forces me to marry. I¡¯m grateful for your tight virgin pussy. I¡¯m thankful that you don¡¯t know anything about what I did in the past or you¡¯d never get so fucking wet for me. And I¡¯m grateful that you are always trying to see the good in me. You¡¯re a much better person than I¡¯ll ever be.¡± ¡°See? That wasn¡¯t so hard.¡± Heat wed my skin as his hands skimmed my waist. He took my hip, sliding under the red shirt to stroke me. I swallowed hard, stunned by the impact of his gentle grip. As I let him escort us inside, electricity zipped up my elbow. He brought us into the giant living room filled with feminine furniture. Isabe Costa was tall and graceful. She had a wealth of dark hair, like shining ck ss, and it sat on her dainty shoulders. Her generous lips pulled over even teeth. She broadcast a regal beauty that seemed to shine through Tony¡¯s eyes, mouth, and nose because he resembled her so much. A beautiful smile hitched on Tony¡¯s face. She offered her cheek to him, and Tony kissed it dutifully. ¡°How are you, Mom?¡± ¡°Good, good. I finally get to see you.¡± She beamed. ¡°My handsome man. You look so happy.¡± ¡°Thanks, Mom. I am.¡± ¡°Why is this wrinkled?¡± she demanded, fingering a nonexistent crease on his shirt. ¡°Doesn¡¯t your wife know how to iron?¡± She does not. ¡°Yes, of course.¡± Tony flung a protective arm around me. ¡°Would¡¯ve seen you sooner, but¡­ newlywed bliss.¡± Tony¡¯s adoring gaze swept over me. Paired with his breathtaking grin, it was quite the gut-punch. ¡°You okay, baby? Cold?¡± I nodded, grateful for the excuse. His warmth had shattered my bnce and short-circuited my thoughts. Wool glided over my back as he slid his jacket over me. My hands dove into his pockets, fiddling with crumpled papers. ¡°Are you pregnant yet?¡± Isabe¡¯s demanding tone dragged my attention to the conversation. My heart pounded. I clearly wasn¡¯t her first, second, or third choice to marry her darling son. ¡°We¡¯re trying.¡± ¡°Anthony, you need to take this seriously.¡± A dangerous edge grew in her voice. ¡°I¡¯m not getting any younger, and I¡¯d like to meet my grandbabies.¡± Wow. Mother-inw was swinging with both fists in the baby argument, which seemed to thrill Tony. His reluctance to tell her off amused me. I promised I¡¯d behave, but the lure was too strong. ¡°She¡¯s right, honey.¡± I stered my hand on his chest and pouted. ¡°We should really see a fertility doctor. You don¡¯t want to be in your forties when the babyes. Or your sixties when the kid turns twenty.¡± ¡°I agree, Anthony.¡± A muscle jumped in his jaw. ¡°I¡¯ll get on that.¡± ¡°You will.¡± Isabe growled like he¡¯d ruined the party by pissing in the pool. ¡°You are not ruining this girl¡¯s chance to have children.¡± ¡°Ignore him,¡± I cut across Tony, grabbing her arm. ¡°The way we¡¯re going at it, it won¡¯t be a problem. You¡¯ll have a grandkid before next Easter.¡± The air echoed with Isabe¡¯s tinklingughter. Suddenly, her tigress energy zeroed in on me. Mother-inw officially scared me more than her son. ¡°Anthony, may I have a moment alone with Evie?¡± Here we go, said Tony¡¯s pained expression. He faced his mother, glowering. ¡°You will not upset my wife.¡± ¡°Yes, caro mio. I promise.¡± Her lips smoothed into an unconvincing harmless smile. ¡°I¡¯ll return Evie in one piece.¡± ¡°Be nice, Mom. I like her.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± He went outside, throwing me a ck look. Isabe evaluated me with an intensity that rivaled her son¡¯s, and then she smiled. ¡°Anthony should¡¯ve married ten years ago, but he¡¯s like his dad. Stubborn and independent. A marriage with him won¡¯t be easy.¡± She picked lint off my dress. ¡°You need to hold a gun to his head to get him to do anything.¡± Tell me about it. ¡°I¡¯ve seen that side of him.¡± ¡°So you know how difficult he is.¡± Psychotic, yes. ¡°I can handle him.¡± ¡°I think so, too,¡± she agreed, astonishing me. ¡°My boy has never had the patience for high-society women. Nico set him up with debutantes. Princesses. Soft girls. Anthony sent them home crying. He needs someone strong who won¡¯t put up with his nonsense.¡± She stared at me pointedly. My jaw dropped. A pep talk from my mother-inw seemed wrong. Wrong that it came from her, and that I¡¯d absorbed her encouragement like a flower desperate for water. ¡°I know he¡¯s challenging. Believe me. I spent most of his life trying to fix him. Therapy. Rehab. Nico and I did everything. You can¡¯t force him to do what you want, but you can convince him.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°By making him fall in love with you.¡± Tony? Augh broke through my clenched lips. ¡°That¡¯s not in the cards for us.¡± ¡°It is. You¡¯ll see.¡± I gave her a bleak smile. ¡°I don¡¯t think he likes me.¡± ¡°Honey, if he didn¡¯t he wouldn¡¯t work so hard to hide you from me.¡± She cupped my face, her expression solemn. ¡°And now I know why. I never cared for the girls Anthony brought over, but I like you.¡± I gaped at her, my insides frozen. ¡°He¡¯s told me all about you¡­about your business. He showed me your jewelry. I¡¯m not easily impressed, Evie. You¡¯re exactly what he needs, even if he can¡¯t admit that yet.¡± ¡°Wow, thank you. I¡¯m ttered, but¡­¡± I nced at Tony, who stood behind the door, frowning. ¡°I can¡¯t get him to open up to me.¡± ¡°He¡¯s still angry with your family. Right now, that¡¯s stronger than any feelings he has for you, but that will change. He¡¯s always had a big heart. It¡¯s just wounded. My son is not a monster.¡± The dying light in my heart flickered to life. ¡°Love him,¡± she urged me. ¡°ept him. And he¡¯ll return it to you tenfold. I promise.¡± I wanted to thank her, but my eyes welled as she stroked my hair. A memory of my mother¡¯s warmth assaulted me, and my body trembled. Don¡¯t fucking cry. She kissed my cheek. ¡°My son will pass you my number. Call me anytime.¡± ¡°I-I will.¡± She gave me a fierce hug. I clung to her shoulders, bewildered by her aggressive kindness. When she pulled away, my vision was ssy. I sank onto a couch and bit my tongue. The sliding door opened and closed. Cold wrapped my limbs. I held her words close to my chest, huddling around them like a candle, until Tony¡¯s presence melted itpletely. ¡°Jesus Christ.¡± Tony rolled his palm over my shoulder and squeezed. ¡°Mom¡¯s going for the Guinness Book World of records.¡± Heaviness centered on my chest. Tony sighed heavily, sinking into the seat beside mine. ¡°She promised she¡¯d be nice.¡± ¡°She was, actually.¡± ¡°Yeah, right. What the hell did she say?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you wish you knew?¡± Tony leaned in, his thick brows creased as he scanned my face. ¡°You probably shouldn¡¯t have egged her on about kids. You can expect her to call and text you for updates.¡± ¡°We should talk about it, Tony.¡± My hands fidgeted in myp. ¡°You haven¡¯t-we haven¡¯t tried for a baby.¡± Tony said nothing for a while. ¡°Is that what you want, a baby with a man you barely know?¡± No, but once I realized my fiance was hotter than ny percent of the male poption, I¡¯d fantasized about him. I pictured him throwing me over his shoulder and tossing me on the bed. I thought he¡¯d glimpsed me somewhere, and had to have me. It exined all the weird shit in the prenup, and there was something obscenely hot about a man determined to seed me with his DNA. I assumed he wanted a family with me. Reality had been a major disappointment. I stole a nce at Tony, who massaged his temples. ¡°We have to decide what we¡¯re doing.¡± ¡°You¡¯re Mrs. Costa until the day you die.¡± A flood of relief surged through my veins. ¡°Well¡­then we really should try for a baby. You don¡¯t have time, and I definitely want kids.¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t.¡± My insides froze. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Because,¡± he exhaled hoarsely. ¡°I¡¯m a drug addict who¡¯s never had his feet on solid ground. I have no interest in continuing my legacy. I can¡¯t take care of anyone.¡± ¡°You¡¯re taking care of me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the fucking same, and you know it.¡± He released a frustrated sigh. ¡°I¡¯m not a good father figure.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true. You¡¯replicated. Snarky. Tense, at times, but mostly, you¡¯re just a man. A wed man. So what? We¡¯re all carrying some kind of baggage.¡± ¡°Compared to the guys in the MC, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be father of the year.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to mock them to make your point,¡± I hissed, annoyed with him. ¡°And you were willing to go further at Sanctum. You shoved your cum inside me, remember? You realize I¡¯m not on birth control, right?¡± ¡°And that makes you think I¡¯m a sane, rational man? That I could shoulder responsibility? I can¡¯t even deny my instincts with you.¡± Tony shook his head, wearing a grim smile. ¡°We¡¯re never having kids, Evie.¡± ¡°But the prenup-¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what a piece of paper says. I would rather lose half my worth than be a parent. So if you had your heart set on having them with me, I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s not happening.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want kids, so I can¡¯t have them?¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee to find a donor at a sperm bank. I will set you up with enough money so you and the kid are taken care of. They¡¯ll have myst name, but I will not be involved in their life.¡± The hurt was swift and brutal. That ripped open something vulnerable I never knew I had. He never wanted children with me? Was my DNA not good enough for him? A nce at his hard mouth confirmed my suspicions. The blow crushed me. He rejected what my body could give him just because it came from me. I couldn¡¯t take any more heartache. My throat closed up. I rose from the couch, bristling. Tony¡¯s re softened. ¡°Evie, I¡¯m-¡± ¡°You¡¯re thest man I fucking wanted! I still said yes.¡± My shouting burst to the ceiling as Tony¡¯s offending hands gripped me. ¡°Dad made it sound like you picked me to be the mother of your kids. I thought it was disturbing but sweet. Like you couldn¡¯t get me out of your mind.¡± I trembled as people faced us, but the humiliation of his family listening in on my meltdown was second to his behavior. ¡°I said yes, you selfish bastard, because I assumed you were serious about building a life with me¡­but you¡¯re not interested in that. You would rather cut off your nose to spite your face.¡± Anguish shed across Tony. His pained stare dove into me. I¡¯m done. I ripped away from him and shot outside, running through the garden-side exit. My feet hurtled over the steps and down the street. Then I ducked into someone¡¯s open garage and cried until my chest caved in. I opened my phone and sent a message to Dad.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Come get me. I can¡¯t do this anymore. 18 Evie I¡¯m grateful for the wind wiping my tears. Dad asked no questions. He rolled up on his Harley and whisked me away. Climbing onto my father¡¯s bike was exactly what Tony warned me against, but he didn¡¯t get a vote anymore. Our marriage was a sham. Tony would never ept me. We shared nothing but the desire to fuck each other. I¡¯d deluded myself the entire time, thinking there was more. Hoping he¡¯de around. Pure desperation led me to believe Tony¡¯s acts of kindness were glimmers of affection. No. He was simply a giving person who had no feelings for me. Tony did what he could to keep me safe, happy, and fulfilled. He gave me everything I wanted but not what I needed. I wished the things in my gratitude journal filled the void in my chest. Hunger pangs stabbed my stomach as Dad parked in a shabby strip mall next to a motel. I slid my arms from his middle. My throat tightened when I took in the shipping truck and the Legion bikers surrounding it. Dad lugged a bag over his brawny shoulder and motioned that I should follow along. He¡¯d muttered about a favor as he pulled me onto his bike. He showed up with my old scale and scope but I was so depressed that I followed him without question. An incessant chime echoed from my purse. Iing Call: T I silenced the call. Answering him wouldn¡¯t do any good. I¡¯d already texted him with the excuse that I needed space, but that probably wasn¡¯t enough for my overbearing husband. As Legion bikers climbed the outdoor staircases to the second level, Dad waved me forward. I hung back. ¡°We really need to talk.¡± His bushy eyes narrowed. ¡°About?¡± ¡°Tony.¡± ¡°Now¡¯s really not the time.¡± ¡°Legion kidnapped Tony years ago. Tony said he was kept in a basement for weeks, beaten, starved, and God knows what else. Why would they do that to him? Did you know about this?¡± Dad scanned the parking lot. He only seemed to be half-listening. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why torture a man who wasn¡¯t in the mafia?¡± ¡°His dad was a don. He was in jail. The Costas were weak, and Crash wanted to kill them all. So he made a move.¡± His expression grew pitying as he patted my head. ¡°Oh, Evie. You¡¯re like your mother. Not cut out for this life.¡± ¡°So he deserved it. That¡¯s what you¡¯re saying?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t give a rat fuck. It¡¯s in the past.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not in his rearview mirror. I can promise you that.¡± I grabbed his arm when he twisted away. ¡°Why did you set me up with Tony? Did you think this marriage would go anywhere?¡± He stared at me nkly. ¡°I wanted you to keep Costa busy, and you have. If he¡¯s chasing you that¡¯s less time he¡¯s messing with my business.¡± So it was about his needs. Fury whipped up my chest. I strolled across the parking lot to the bus stop. Dad¡¯s heavy boots crunched concrete as he kept pace. ¡°Evie, I need this favor.¡± Suck it. ¡°Those tend toe with a high price tag. No thanks.¡± ¡°You ungrateful brat,¡± he snarled, shoving into my path. ¡°You have a good life. You¡¯re out of the club, just like you wanted. You¡¯re married to a rich man who gives you everything. All I¡¯m asking for is a diamond appraisal.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not breaking thew for you.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t have tounder them,¡± he grated. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything I know about Costa.¡± Temptation battled withmon sense. This was a chance to hear the whole story, rather than what I¡¯d gleaned from the video and whatever Tony was willing to divulge. My phone buzzed incessantly, reminding me there would be hell to pay no matter what. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t.¡± My hands stiffened from cold. Too bad I ran out and left my coat at the house. ¡°Tony doesn¡¯t want me involved with club business.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t take long.¡± As though that mattered. ¡°Ten minutes, tops.¡± Dad took my elbow, gently leading me to the motel. ¡°We¡¯ll talk. Promise.¡± My guts squirmed, and I nodded. I¡¯d barely stuffed the phone into my purse before Dad¡¯s cell blew up. He fished it from his pocket. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s right here.¡± Dad palmed the speaker. ¡°Evie, it¡¯s Costa.¡± ¡°Tell him I¡¯m busy.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this shit.¡± Dad handed me the cell, climbing the staircase. ¡°Don¡¯t let him know where we are.¡± rm rippled down my spine. Dad reached the top of the stairs and headed to a room with closed curtains, the battered red door etched with a ck eleven. He looked both ways and knocked as Gunner and Clyde stood sentry. I lifted the phone. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Finally. I¡¯ve been looking everywhere.¡± Tony¡¯s impatient gravel struck me deep, spreading dread through my body. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you pick up?¡± The concern sent a draft under my dying butterflies. I swallowed the ball of hurt and adjusted my tone. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I¡¯m talking to you at all.¡± ¡°Evie, let¡¯s do this in private.¡± ¡°No thanks. I¡¯ve hit my quota of being insulted by my husband.¡± He interrupted me with questions, but I plunged on. ¡°Dad needs a favor. I¡¯ll call youter.¡± ¡°Hold on-what kind of favor?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not at liberty to say.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like the sound of that. Where are you?¡± ¡°Next to a shipping truck. God only knows what¡¯s in there, but I¡¯ll survive.¡± Static crackled on the other end. ¡°Evie, listen to me very carefully. You¡¯re not taking part in this. Give the phone back to Jett and run out of there.¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m hanging up.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare. I¡¯m picking you up right now. Give me the address.¡± After a long moment of silence, he gave a rough sigh. ¡°Evie. Honey. You need to do what I¡¯m telling you. You have no idea what you¡¯re involved in.¡± My mind nked. Drugs or guns. Based on the truck, probably thetter. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ve done this before.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to fight. I just want you safe. Tell me where you are.¡± He sounded scared, and it dampened the urge to hang up on him. ¡°Evie, the address! Now!¡± A lump lodged in my throat. ¡°I¡¯m not even sure where we are.¡± ¡°Describe what¡¯s around you.¡± ¡°A sleazy motel beside a Five Guys.¡± ¡°Okay. Stay on the line. I¡¯ming to get you.¡± ¡°Why bother?¡± I wiped my eyes, struggling topose myself. ¡°You hate us. I understand why. I do, but this marriage isn¡¯t fair for either of us.¡± ¡°You think I hate you?¡± ¡°My world doesn¡¯t revolve around you,¡± I shot, throwing his cruelty back at him. ¡°Your words. Remember?¡± ¡°Evie, we¡¯d just fucking met. I had no idea what to make of you. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°What about what you said before I left? You know me now, but I¡¯m still not good enough for you. I¡¯m just a biker bitch to you. You don¡¯t want your DNA contaminated with mine, so you¡¯d rather I get knocked up with a stranger¡¯s baby. You have done nothing but hurt my feelings.¡± ¡°Evie¡­Evie, you¡¯ve got it all wrong.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t fucking care. I¡¯ve put in so much effort trying to understand you! Have you done the same for me? Of course not. You think a credit card is all I want in life. You think I¡¯m a gold-digging whore.¡± ¡°Jesus. I never thought that!¡± Not good enough. ¡°I¡¯ll call in a couple hours.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hang up!¡± he shouted, sting my ear. ¡°Evie, I¡¯m sorry. I am. I want you toe back. Let¡¯s talk about this. Please, Evie. You have to leave. I¡¯m begging you to walk away.¡± I was torn by the life I¡¯d left and the dream Tony had demolished. The white picket fence with a doting husband and two-point-five children seemed forever out of reach. He didn¡¯t want that with me, and who could me him? Keeping him tethered to me was selfish. Hurt squeezed, deep inside me. ¡°You¡¯re the one that needs to walk away. We¡¯re done.¡± ¡°No, Evie-¡± I hung up, and a hot tear rolled down my cheek. Better to end it now before I got even more involved with a man who couldn¡¯t love me. Who didn¡¯t want me. Who kept secrets from me. I breathed deeply, waiting for the wave of catharsis. Instead I battled a fierce urge to cry. Wasn¡¯t ending it supposed to make me feel better? Tears blurred my vision. My chest ached. I¡¯d fooled myself into thinking Tony and I would work. It was only a matter of time before he tossed me aside like my mother. Dad clung to the metal railing as I climbed to the second story. I wiped my eyes before I reached thest step, hanging behind Dad. My father chatted with man in his fifties, who wore a suit just like Tony¡¯s. My heart squeezed painfully. His unremarkable features would¡¯ve made him blend in a crowd. His smile was pleasant, almost self-effacing, but it failed to touch his gaze. I handed Dad¡¯s phone back, and winced as mine rang. The vibration buzzed into my purse like an angry insect. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Evie.¡± He and Creep strode inside the room. It took an age to move. My limbs refused to budge, and the knot in my throat swelled. I fiddled with my jeweler¡¯s loupe, sliding the lens in and out of the case. Gunner nudged me into the seedy hotel room with an en suite kitchte. Legion guys packed the right side. An assortment of hard-eyed men and bikers seemed to be with Creep. Dad gestured to the coffee table piled with aluminum bricks. Legion members counted cash as Dad motioned me toward the gems on a silk cloth. ¡°Go ahead, Evie. Take your time.¡± I lined up my scale, scope, tweezers, and loupe, taking them out of the bag my father brought. I¡¯d never felt a silence so thick with tension, broken only by the incessant buzzing in my purse. You¡¯re not safe. A biker wearing a strange patch sat in front of me, his legs spread. Jeans wrapped his thighs. Silver teeth winked from a wide mouth, his hawklike nose dominating his tanned face. Shaggy ck hair covered his head, as wild as a wig. His hollowed gaze drank me in like I was a treat he wanted to suck on. ¡°What¡¯s your name, sweetbutt?¡± Dad looked up, glowering. ¡°That¡¯s my daughter, and you¡¯ll keep your fucking eyes off her.¡± He lifted both hands in surrender, his grotesque smile stabbing my gut. ¡°Just making conversation.¡± I dug into my purse, brushing my vibrating phone. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I picked through diamonds. Still silence. I stabbed the call button and shoved it deep inside. Then I turned my attention to the gems, but the dim lighting made it impossible to analyze them. ¡°Dad, I need more light. I can¡¯t see.¡± ¡°There¡¯s amp in my room,¡± suggested Creep. ¡°It¡¯s next door.¡± I¡¯m not going anywhere with them. I beseeched him silently, but Dad never spared me a nce. He motioned toward Gunner. ¡°Go with her.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± I packed my things, fighting the urge to pull the hem of my leopard-print dress down my legs. The biker stood, six-something towering feet of formidable strength. Gunner wasn¡¯t tiny by any means, but next to him, he was a midget. My heart shrank. Creep wrapped the diamonds and crammed them into a box. I flinched when his possessive gaze met mine. It swelled a ball in my throat. I couldn¡¯t breathe without it aching. I followed Gunner and Creep next door. ¡°Sorry for the mess.¡± Creep cleared the table littered with drugs and flipped on themp. He slid the gems and their silk wrapping underneath it. He sank into the couch, his suit melting in the faded ck fabric. Creep patted the cushion beside him. ¡°Have a seat.¡± No thanks. I kneeled on the floor. ¡°You¡¯ve done this before,¡± hemented mildly. ¡°Many times, yeah?¡± I couldn¡¯t quite ce his muddled ent. ¡°Maybe.¡± His attention never wavered, as though I were the most valuable object in the room. He rubbed his chin and stared. I picked up a diamond with tweezers and held it under my loupe. I spun it in all directions, frowning at the feather breaking the surface. My mouth thinned as I spotted a broken culet. I moved it back and forth from the lens. Unpolished girdle. Facets that didn¡¯t ovep. Clouded. Worthless. I set it aside and examined another. Same thing.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. My hands trembled as I worked through the pile, praying to find one that wasn¡¯t shit. Sweat beaded on my upper lip as Ibed the stack of low-quality diamonds. A weight settled over my chest. Gunner tapped my shoulder. ¡°Evie, are we good?¡± Not even close. I exchanged a look with Gunner. Judging by his whispered ¡°fuck,¡± he got it loud and clear. ¡°I need to talk to Dad.¡± I bolted upright, jabbing through my purse¡¯s contents. Light from my cell red through the screen. Tony was still on the line. Angry voices erupted through the wall. Suddenly, Dad burst in, his face flushed. ¡°You¡¯re five grand short,¡± he snarled at Creep, who slowly stood. ¡°Evie, what¡¯s the appraisal?¡± ¡°The diamonds are crap. They¡¯re cloudy, the cut quality is horrible, and many of the stones aren¡¯t eye clean.¡± My ears pounded as Creep¡¯s stare drilled into me. ¡°So I¡¯m going with ten-ten thousand.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Dad bellowed, charging into the biker at Creep¡¯s side. ¡°You time-wasting piece of shit. I ought to blow your head off.¡± ¡°Rx, Jett. The coke I gave you makes up the difference.¡± ¡°The deal¡¯s off!¡± Creep¡¯s crooked smile stabbed my heart. ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d take the hit and move on.¡± ¡°You tried to rip me off. Fuck you. ¡± Dad yanked me into the other room, which was chaotic. Drugs and money were stuffed into bags. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Dad roared, shoving his way through. ¡°We¡¯re done here.¡± The door flew open. My back smacked the wall as Dad flung me aside. Bikers poured inside, shotguns pointed in our faces. They prodded Dad, Gunner, Clyde, everyone in the room. Outnumbered. Outgunned. ¡°The hell is this?¡± ¡°A robbery.¡± The silver-tongued devil stood behind Dad, ying with the cheap diamonds. ¡°Pro tip-bring more backup.¡± I opened my purse, hands shaking as I grasped my buried phone. It slipped from my fumbling fingers and smacked the carpet. Shit. Creep grabbed the phone. He ended the call, cutting off Tony¡¯s shouting. Then he pulled a knife and shed the phone¡¯s casing. He fished out the SIM card and threw it aside. I ran for the door. A thick arm banded my waist, pinning me to an iron chest. ¡°Ah-uh,¡± he chimed in a singsong voice. ¡°You¡¯reing with me, pet.¡± You¡¯re not safe. ¡°Dad!¡± My father lunged for me, but four of them tackled him. They stomped on his face and shoved him against the floor, hitting him with heavy thuds that numbed my body. Creep dragged me next door. I yelled for Gunner, I shouted for my husband. My breath jerked back and forth as though Creep had stabbed me, and then he smothered my mouth with his giant hand. ¡°Shhh. That¡¯s a good girl. Rx. I¡¯m not going to hurt you. Your dad¡­well, let¡¯s just say he had iting.¡± Hollowness gaped in my stomach. Terror filled the space where there was panic. The sounds of my dad¡¯s beating dwindled to static. The ringing in my head drowned it out. I¡¯ll never see Tony again. 19 Evie I¡¯m grateful that I had a good life. Tony warned me. Did I listen? Creep manhandled me onto the couch. He¡¯d imprisoned me in his iron grip and I was as limp as a rabbit in a wolf¡¯s jaws, unable to fight. My pale hands twitched with the need to punch this motherfucker. He tutted as he rolled a palm over my shoulder, rubbing me with an intimacy that I¡¯d only craved from one man. My gaze traveled along his crisp white shirt, stretched over bronzed skin to his hideously normal face. His brown eyes burned with a perverse intensity. Lead bottomed my stomach. ¡°Let go of me.¡± ¡°Shh. Be a nice girl.¡± My skin chilled where his unwanted touch skated up my arm in a nauseating caress. ¡°Do you like drugs?¡± I shook my head. He fished through a side pocket, producing a vial. ¡°What about fentanyl?¡± I clenched my mouth shut. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a taste. It¡¯ll help you rx.¡± Pain shot into my teeth from my clenched jaw. I shrank from him as he produced a knife. He dabbed something onto the de. The knife waved in the air as I shook with full-body tremors. The dull edge kissed my mouth. He slid the steel between my lips. I shoved his hand off me. The de went flying, and I sprung from hisp. He yanked my waist. I mmed into the man¡¯s bruising embrace. He cinched me to his chest, smothering my scream. His other arm pinned my elbow, and then a fierce pinch stabbed into my shoulder. I yelped as I nced at a syringe protruding from my flesh. Oh my God. ¡°Shut up and listen,¡± he began in a low, toneless voice. ¡°You¡¯ve been stolen to be used as a sex ve. As far as I¡¯m concerned, you¡¯re a pretty piece of meat. I don¡¯t give a fuck how you feel about it. You may be married, have a kid, a boyfriend, car payments-fuck it. I don¡¯t want to hear about it. I make a point to never like ves, and I sure as hell don¡¯t like you. Your only value to me is your body. I don¡¯t want to hurt it, if I can help it.¡± No, no, no. Please God, no. ¡°Fighting is pointless. It pisses me off and it disturbs the other girls. It upsets them when a new girl doesn¡¯t behave. So you have two choices. I drug you, or you act like the sweet girl I know you are.¡± He thumbed the plunger, his horrible voice vibrating through my back. ¡°What¡¯s it going to be?¡± Oh God. Oh God. He slowly uncovered my mouth. I swallowed hard, shaking so badly my teeth chattered. ¡°Tony Costa is my husband. He¡¯ll torture you for this!¡± ¡°Everybody has a brother or a husband or a father-inw who will cross the ocean and kill me, and I¡¯m still trucking along.¡± What do I do? He¡¯d hurt me. The only question was-how much? What could I do to survive? I scanned the room for an escape, but men bigger than my father blocked the doors, and I had no hope of overpowering them. ¡°Tell me, pet. How old are you?¡± Someone, help me. Tony. Anyone. His tone darkened. ¡°I don¡¯t like repeating myself.¡± ¡°Twenty-two.¡± He made a pleased sound. Warmth shot into my muscle, and then a flood of disorientation swung me sideways. I sank into his embrace. My pulse rocketed with the sickening realization that I couldn¡¯t move. ¡°You said you wouldn¡¯t!¡± ¡°I lied, pet. Better get used to that.¡± No. Panic rioted within me as I went limp, as though snapped by a marite. I plunged into an oblivious daze, sprawled over hisp. Such an unhindered feeling. My body had never been so rxed. All my senses dulled with euphoria. My breathing slowed and my mouth gaped. My skin tingled with a medicated calm. My eyelids were so heavy. All I wanted to do was drift into oblivion. ¡°All right. I only gave you a third of the full dose because I¡¯m going to make so much money off you. This won¡¯t mess you up too bad. If you¡¯re a good girl and do what I say, I won¡¯t drug you for the rest of the trip.¡± Trip? He lifted me. I sagged like a doll in his arms. He strolled through the room and into another with a bed and floormps. He dumped me on the mattress, where I rolled like a bag of oats, settling onto my back. I tried to stand. My leg responded with a feeble jerk. The dead-eyed monster loomed over me. He stole my wedding ring. He pulled my dress down my arms with a detached swiftness that recalled visits to the doctor. He dug at the sp of my bra. ¡°Please,¡± I begged in a hysterical voice I didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you want from me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you?¡± He removed my bra. He sighed, the sound stabbing my gut. Dimly, I felt the tugging on my dress. Nausea pitted my stomach. This was wrong. I had to stop it, but I couldn¡¯t move. ¡°I don¡¯t want to have sex with you.¡± The weight of that crashed into my chest. The man¡¯s smile widened, as though my fear was more intoxicating than the idea of fucking me. ¡°Whoever buys you gets to destroy your cunt. I don¡¯t sample the goods.¡± His cold fingers singed my flesh as he seized my panties. He slid them off my ankles, his appreciative groan poisoning me. A vague terror coursed through my veins, fighting the numbness coating my heart. He sat back and turned on a floormp, the white light bleaching the bed. He swiped his iPhone. ¡°I¡¯m taking some pictures of you. Then I¡¯ll upload them. I suspect we¡¯ll have a lot of interest.¡± What? He arranged my body in vulgar positions as he took photos, the clicking as degrading as hisments. He cupped my breasts and kneaded them, but I couldn¡¯t feel any horror. All of that was muted. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°No need for introductions. You won¡¯t see me for long.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± I growled, struggling to keep my eyes open. ¡°Because you¡¯re going to die.¡±This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Heughed, his hands gliding down my torso. ¡°Tell me your name. I want to know who I¡¯m killing.¡± He aimed a shot between my thighs. ¡°I go by K.¡± ¡°Where are you bringing me?¡± ¡°A ce where girls like you are sold.¡± K lowered his phone and cycled through photos. ¡°Perfect.¡± ¡°Sold? What the fuck-ow!¡± A sting pierced my arm. I met his gaze, pleading. ¡°No. I don¡¯t want it!¡± He sank the plunger. K blurred into flesh-toned colors as his arms looped under me and dropped me into something small, with sides. He shoved my head between my knees. The light zippered shut. My weight shifted as we swung upright, and then we rolled forward. Was I in a suitcase? 20 Evie I¡¯m grateful for sweet dreams. Where am I? Soft keys chimed from a piano. A harmonica yed somewhere, apanied by a ukulele. My eyes red open to a vast ballroom packed with morous guests. Creamy linen and florals decorated the space. My gaze followed the trail of petals to my table, where I sat in front of elegant china, a ss of wine, and a flute of champagne. Whitece wrapped myp. I wore a wedding dress. What the hell? A man stroked my palm under the tablecloth. Tony was beside me, clean-shaven and gorgeous in his tux, wearing a darkly seductive grin. He brought my hand to his lips and kissed, the heat ring across my knuckles. ¡°Nice of you to drop in, Mrs. Costa.¡± I don¡¯t get it. I stared at him, bewildered. ¡°But we¡¯re married already.¡± ¡°Well, obviously.¡± He rolled his thumb over my ring, a ck opal sitting on a tinum band. ¡°Oh my God. I fucking love this ring.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d, hon.¡± He leaned over and kissed me behind my ear. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you how intimidating it was to pick an engagement ring for a jewelry designer.¡± ¡°It¡¯s beautiful but¡­I thought it looked different. And we did this months ago.¡± I gaped at the fresco on the ceiling, mouth dropping open. ¡°Okay, this isn¡¯t right. Our wedding was nothing like this.¡± Tony grabbed my drink. ¡°I think you¡¯ve had enough of this.¡± He drank, making an appreciative sound. I couldn¡¯t get over his friendly vibe and the megawatt smile. He was older, but he sparkled with life and energy. Then Tony¡¯s arm slid across myp. He hovered close until I counted everysh hiding his nted gaze. ¡°You seem happy.¡± ¡°I am. I feel like I hit the jackpot with you. Can¡¯t wait until our honeymoon,¡± he whispered in the shell of my ear. ¡°I¡¯ve booked five-star hotels all over Italy. The Mediterranean. Amalfi Coast. Rome. Florence.¡± ¡°Shit, really? I¡¯ve never been out of the States.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll love it, Evie,¡± he promised, his eyes gleaming. ¡°Everything¡¯s better-the coffee, the prosciutto, the wine-¡± ¡°Pizza?¡± ¡°That, too.¡± My pulse raced. ¡°Can we sightsee?¡± ¡°We can do anything. As long as you¡¯re in my bed for most of it.¡± My heart thudded once, then settled into its natural rhythm. ¡°I hope I¡¯m noting on too strong, Evie. It¡¯s just that I feel so lucky to have you, and I¡¯ve been waiting for the right girl for years. I¡¯m excited. I can¡¯t wait to start a family with you. I hope you don¡¯t mind me saying that.¡± I almost fanned my cheeks. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know what to say.¡± ¡°We can change the subject.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I think it¡¯s sweet. It makes me feel special.¡± ¡°You are.¡± His raking gaze slid down my neckline. ¡°Everything inside me aches for you. I¡¯ve fantasized about you bing my wife and the night I get to fuck you in this dress when you¡¯re legally mine. I¡¯ve dreamed about knocking you up, what it¡¯ll be like when your body swells with my baby. I can¡¯t stop thinking about it.¡± I¡¯d heard Italian men were forward, but damn. This guy gave the bikers at home a run for their money. Heat stole across my face as he grasped my chin. ¡°Do you want kids with me, Evie?¡± ¡°I-I mean we just met, but yes. I¡¯d like that, someday.¡± ¡°Of course. I don¡¯t want to rush you.¡± He kissed my cheek and smiled. ¡°Tell me something about you.¡± I yed with a strand on my cor. ¡°My birthday is March fifteenth. I work in jewelry design. It¡¯s my passion. What about you?¡± ¡°I was born on Valentine¡¯s Day, which is the worst day to have a birthday for a man. My girlfriends always made it about them.¡± He pulled an ankle over his knee. ¡°What else? I graduated from Bourton¡¯s with a major in Psychology. I¡¯m on the board of several nonprofit charities. I¡¯m a decent piano yer and an amazing dancer.¡± ¡°Thank God one of us is.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know how to foxtrot?¡± ¡°No. Dancing wasn¡¯t exactly a priority, growing up.¡± Tony offered me a hand, beaming. ¡°We should open the floor anyway.¡± ¡°I¡¯m hopeless at dancing.¡± ¡°You just didn¡¯t have the right partner.¡± Tony gave me an affectionate squeeze, and my heart flipped. ¡°Come.¡± We stood. I floated on his arm like a puff of dandelion as he brought me closer to the music. This man could¡¯ve led me anywhere, and I would¡¯ve followed. A current zagged through me as he nuzzled my neck.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Try to avoid looking at your feet,¡± he said when I bumped into him,ughing. ¡°You¡¯re doing so great, hon.¡± Hon. ¡°You¡¯re a million times nicer than I¡¯d imagined.¡± ¡°Only because my bride blew my every expectation out of the water. I thought you¡¯d hate me. Most girls don¡¯t dream of marrying a man like me, in these circumstances.¡± I swallowed hard, revolving in his tight embrace. I was dizzy from all the dancing. ¡°All of this feels too good to be true.¡± ¡°That tends to happen when you find the right person.¡± ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not quite sure how I got here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay. We have plenty of time to figure it out.¡± His lips pressed into my neck, and I shivered. ¡°The rest of our lives, in fact.¡± My eyes burned. ¡°Thank you for being¡­so perfect.¡± ¡°You¡¯re easy to please, but I¡¯ll take thepliment.¡± Tony pulled me close, until I could feel his heartbeat pounding my palm. ¡°A man is measured by his actions. What he does and doesn¡¯t do, not the pretty things he says to his wife.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re married.¡± ¡°I know. Isn¡¯t it wonderful?¡± He was full of sunshine. We danced through the next song as a burning question fought to escape from my chest. I could ask. He wouldn¡¯t mock me. ¡°Tony? Do you think we¡¯ll fall in love?¡± He pulled back slightly, a slight frown furrowing his brows. ¡°I think that you¡¯re an amazing girl, and I can¡¯t wait to get to know you.¡± A warm glow flowed through me. ¡°I feel the same way about you.¡± ¡°Then we have nothing to worry about.¡± He took my cheeks and finally closed the distance between us. His mouth covered mine hungrily, breathing life into my lungs. My chest flooded with heat that zipped to my groin. I leaned into the passion of his kiss. I grabbed his head, grinding my body against his. He chuckled in my lips- Light shot into my gaze, blinding me. Ow. I pulled away, clinging to Tony. He still wore the tux but the room had darkened. I couldn¡¯t see anything beyond us and the glowing floor. Huh. Where are the guests? Shadows carved grim lines on his face. ¡°Sweetheart, you need to wake up. You know you¡¯re dreaming.¡± My smile faltered as he stilled, no longer dancing. ¡°This feels like what should have happened.¡± I caught his worried stare, my stomach sinking. ¡°You¡¯re nothing like this in real life.¡± ¡°Get out,¡± he said forcefully. ¡°Wake up.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m staying. I like this dream.¡± ¡°You have to go.¡± He grabbed my shoulders and shook me, yelling. ¡°Wake up. You have to get up!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to wake up.¡± ¡°You need to!¡± He fell away from me, pulled into the darkness. No! Light pierced my eyes. A hard surface dug into my back. The world tipped, and my lungs filled with air. The light blinded me. I was naked, lying on a rough surface. My body shivered. A man in dark blue scrubs hovered above me, flicking a penlight. ¡°What happened?¡± I didn¡¯t know where I was, or who this man was. ¡°Why am I on the floor?¡± ¡°Look at my light,¡± the man in scrubs murmured. ¡°Stay calm.¡± My body felt lifeless. ¡°I can¡¯t move. Tony.¡± He balled my hand in his, squeezing. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± My stomach lurched. The voice was wrong. A second face swam into my vision. K¡¯s brows furrowed as he leaned in, stroking my shoulder. ¡°Is she going to be all right?¡± ¡°Help me!¡± I tried to grab at the other man, but my hand was too heavy. ¡°He abducted me. Please help me.¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯ll be fine.¡± The man in the blue scrubs switched off his penlight and tucked it in his shirt pocket. ¡°You¡¯re lucky you had an EpiPen.¡± ¡°Otherwise, she¡¯s healthy?¡± ¡°Blood pressure¡¯s good. Heart and lungs sound normal-¡± The men talked over me like I didn¡¯t exist, rattling off a list of things as I slowly got my bearings. K gave a wad of cash to the man. ¡°Thanks, Doc.¡± The man turned away, ripping offtex gloves. He packed a small ck bag and disappeared. A distant door closed, and K unzipped his wool jacket. He shoved a thin cigar in his mouth. ¡°Close shave.¡± He lit the cigar and blew smoke from his nose. ¡°By the time I got you in the truck, you¡¯d stopped breathing. I stuck you with an EpiPen and hoped for the best. I thought I¡¯d have to spend the next four hours digging a grave, but you pulled through. Good for you.¡± He gave me a thumbs-up. There was no bigger piece of shit in the universe. I crawled to a seated position, trembling from the cold. I seemed to be in an upscale hotel room. He had to have a phone somewhere. My head swam as I climbed on the sofa, which strained my biceps. I was so weak, I could barely lift my legs. ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± He patted my head like I was a golden retriever. Acid burned my throat. ¡°Don¡¯t fucking touch me.¡± ¡°Remember that you¡¯re a ve,¡± he repeated, his mild voice rising. ¡°You will address me as master until tomorrow.¡± ¡°What¡¯s-what¡¯s tomorrow?¡± A bright re sprang into his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m selling you at the auction.¡± 21 Tony 2 lines 5 shots of tequ ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Gunner moaned, lifting his dirty, tear-stained face. ¡°Please, stop.¡± He hyperventted as I hogtied him between two other bikers. Gunner had pissed his pants after I¡¯d dragged him into the garage with an ominous, dark brown stain. A metallic tang hung in the air, not unlike the stench in ughterhouses. The smell of death drove men crazy. After I shed the throat of his buddy, Gunner turned on the waterworks. Crying. Loudly. Crimson pooled on the cement as Cloud-or was it Clydey facedown in a pool of blood, drowning. Gunner¡¯s eyes widened as the red tide touched his lip. Once, I¡¯d experienced the same terror. It was nothingpared to losing my wife. ¡°I hate you. All of you.¡± I pressed the knife into his cheek, and crimson welled around the de. ¡°I¡¯d happily spend the rest of my life kidnapping scumbags like you, tying you up, and gutting you. I tolerated your filth to spread over Boston, but you¡¯re incapable of behaving like decent human beings. And I¡¯m tired. I¡¯m sick of pretending you don¡¯t disgust me! You¡¯re a dog-shit-covered flea! You¡¯re going to tell me where my wife is, or I will make you suck your dying friend¡¯s cock!¡± He whined something, and I mmed my boot into his side. Then I ripped off his patch, threw it on the floor, and stomped it. I smashed Gunner¡¯s nose against the concrete, settling him right beside the corpse. He screamed, which made the other guy tied to him scream. The garage echoed with their crying, and I exchanged an exasperated look with Cainan. ¡°Can you believe this?¡± ¡°Yeah. You started off way too strong.¡± Cainan looked out of ce in his khakis and a crew sweater, but he was in his element. He cocked his head. ¡°Some guys don¡¯tst. You know?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth.¡± I choked Gunner¡¯s neck, and he gasped like anded fish. ¡°You might as well get used to this. You¡¯re not leaving until my wife is returned to me. Until then, you¡¯ll know nothing but pain. Humiliation. Degradation.¡± Cainan¡¯s hand weighed my shoulder. ¡°T, he needs air.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t give a fuck!¡± I lifted the pressure anyway. Color flooded into Gunner¡¯s face as he took deep, shuddering breaths. Letting him breathe battled against my instincts. I hated myself for losing my wife to these bastards. I swore I¡¯d stamp out the biker shit when I took her in for her own good, but all I did was grind her spirit to dust. Fuck me. I had no idea where she¡¯d gone. As soon as I¡¯d figured out what motel, I called Cainan. He got there faster than I did, avoiding most of the rush hour traffic, but she wasn¡¯t in any of rooms or the parking lot. All we found was her smashed cell phone and several unarmed stragglers. I offered them a ride to the club. Knocked them out. Brought them to an abandoned auto shop that had plenty of space and no neighbors. I didn¡¯t have time to waste. My chest tightened. Evie. Hold on, honey. The knot in my throat pulsed. ¡°Tell me what happened.¡± Tears streaked Gunner¡¯s cheeks. ¡°The deal went south. They robbed us.¡± ¡°They who? Another biker club? The Mongols?¡± ¡°This guy in a suit. Goes by K.¡± He squeezed his eyes shut and whimpered. ¡°He took your wife.¡± Him. A light-haired man with a warm smile burned in my mind. K was an opportunist who made his living on the flesh market. I¡¯d lost count of the women he¡¯d tricked, conned, drugged, and stolen so he could force them into very. Not her. Not my wife. This had to be a nightmare, but the stench of death reminded me that it wasn¡¯t. A horrific pain wrenched my heart in half. The heavy feeling in my gut doubled. I screamed. The agony wounded me from all angles. It was too much. The guilt, hopelessness, and grief-this was the worst torture. It tore out my insides. It would end me for good. There was no redemption for a man who failed his wife. I¡¯d tried to protect her. I¡¯d done everything in my power to stop this. Despite that, she was trafficked. And it was my fault because I¡¯d pushed her away. It shattered me. I kicked him onto his back and swung the knife. I don¡¯t know how many times I stabbed him. Only that when it was over, he was a pulpy, red mass. Myst captive bleated like a terrified sheep. I raised my hand. He would die, too. They all deserved to perish for losing my talented, bright, beautiful wife. Cainan caught my wrist. His soft look muzzled my rage. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Tony.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not nearly enough.¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t help Evie.¡± I stood on a canvas of red. Crimson sttered my arms, chest, and face. I must¡¯ve looked insane. I backed away, shaking. I needed to kill thest one. ¡°Where¡¯s your president?¡± ¡°H-hospital. Please don¡¯t.¡± As the twenty-something-year-old got to his feet, I pulled out my sidearm. He raised his hands. I aimed and fired. The bullet struck him between his pleading eyes. It blew out his skull, and then his body hit the ground. I stared at the pile of bodies. I¡¯d never killed three men at once. I disappeared into the office. Cainan joined me, his gaze sweeping the floor. My boots had tracked biker filth inside. I was messy with my prey. ¡°How do I save her?¡± ¡°Easy. You buy her back.¡± I ran a jerky hand through my hair. ¡°He¡¯ll recognize me.¡± ¡°Not necessarily. You know how K is. Coked up half the time. It¡¯s wonder he¡¯s still alive. He¡¯ll throw a party just to celebrate stealing the girls he stole from Jett. He¡¯ll probably auction them all. Including your wife.¡± I sank into a chair, pain building behind my chest. ¡°You can get me inside.¡± Cainan said nothing for a long moment. I could¡¯ve shed his throat. ¡°You¡¯re doing this.¡± ¡°Since when do I take your orders?¡± ¡°Do it, or we¡¯ll have a problem.¡± He raised his chin, meeting my re head-on. ¡°You go in there, you¡¯re one of them. You can¡¯t kill K.¡± ¡°Why the fuck not?¡± ¡°He¡¯s untouchable. Killing a trafficker is like murdering a prince. They¡¯ll never stop hunting you.¡± I rubbed my temples, breathing hard. ¡°Tony, let me do this for you. I¡¯ll buy the girl and get out.¡± ¡°No.¡± I didn¡¯t trust him within five hundred yards of Evie.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Then don¡¯t fuck this up,¡± he snarled. ¡°No heroics. Or you¡¯ll both be dead. I kept imagining my wife, whose sunny attitude toward life saw rainbows shooting out of mountains of shit. Where was she? What was K doing to her? My heart thrashed with a deranged fury, strangled by images of Evie suffering. She needed me. We belonged together, but I¡¯d been too stupid to see it. She wasn¡¯t penance. She was my redemption, and I¡¯d acted like the drowning man, fighting off my rescue. If I couldn¡¯t help her¡­I¡¯d always be a monster. This was myst chance. I had to save her. 22 Evie I¡¯m grateful that I¡¯ve learned the depths of my strength. Nobody would save me. Nobody knew I¡¯d been kidnapped and sold to a man with a tiger-nted gaze. His white card had shed among the sea of masked men after my captor paraded me onto the stage in lingerie. The bass from the annoying club music pulsed through me, masking my sluggish heartbeat. Run. Where would I go? Guards with guns slung over their backs lined the walls. They covered all the exits. Escape was impossible, and, even if it wasn¡¯t, the cocktail of drugs surging through my veins made action futile. I waded in a frustratinga of medicated calm. The mental paralysis was as thick as ice over a frozenke, and it wouldn¡¯t shatter no matter how violent the water underneath. Grasping onto a thought for more than a few seconds was too hard. I needed help. I let out a mournful sound. My plea was a candle in a squall, blown out immediately. I clutched at a waiter passing out drinks, but he shook from my grip. I begged for help, my voice swallowed by the EDM music. The ear-splitting apuse and fanfare threw me off-bnce. Icked the energy to scream. The men in the masks did nothing. Not one person looked me in the eye. Why not? What¡¯s happening? ¡°Congrattions again to the gentleman in the back!¡± The announcer, a dapper man in histe seventies, ceased pping and flipped his thumb on the iPad. The wall behind him shed with graphic images of a tied-up woman. ¡°Our next item is Chastity. Twenty-four years old. We¡¯ll start the bidding at ten thousand.¡± I stared at my shaking palms. This was a dark fantasy born from my very exhausted brain. This couldn¡¯t be allowed. Police would be here soon. I¡¯d be saved. I would be fine. I wiped my forehead as a girl stumbled across the stage, so dazed with drugs she had to be held upright. I tore my gaze from her and gaped at my topless body. A thong I¡¯d never seen before gripped my waist. I looked just like her, the woman for sale. Blood siphoned from my face. Rough fingers circled my biceps as my captor led me away from the auction. My head swirled as I struggled to string together the events that had brought me here. I wed desperately through the fog as K pulled me into an Eyes Wide Shut nightmare. Sleek ck floors dominated the penthouse, which pulsed with a nightclub-like atmosphere. It could¡¯ve been an LA party with the trays of appetizers piled on gold serving tes. I scanned the catered food with a morbid curiosity. Dungeness crab. Sturgeon caviar. Oysters on ice. Bottles sweating beside champagne flutes. Girls dangled everywhere, half-naked, vacant-eyed. Some wore evening gowns. One lounged over a coffee table, her flesh bone-white under the ring lights. Mounds of powder sat on her breasts. Men bent over her, snorting lines. They dipped fingers into the snow, wiped the dust between her legs, and licked her clean. They ate off her and drank belly shots. Warning spasms of rm twitched my face, squeezing my eyes shut. I opened and closed them, but the insanity remained. I¡¯d never seen anything like it. Naked girls. Devoured left and right, their bodies used as furniture or whipping posts. Everywhere I looked, women were groped, spanked, and fucked. The strangest part of it all-it could¡¯ve been a BDSM dungeon. Except many of them wore nipple piercings with symbols dangling from them, almost like tags. They¡¯re all ves. I fingered my cor. Even me. My stomach bottomed. No. This couldn¡¯t be happening. I couldn¡¯t ept the dull ache of foreboding, but nauseating despair wrenched at me, and it grew with every step.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. K took in the party with detached boredom. ¡°Your new owner is beyond those doors. Our time together hase to an end. It has been a pleasure.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t-I-¡± ¡°You were sold.¡± The effect of those words shattered me. Sold. I can¡¯t be sold. How did this happen? Does my Tony know? Will I see him again? Where am I? Somewhere hidden from the rest of the world. K had stuffed me in luggage and wheeled me into a truck. Up to that point, I¡¯d never felt like a thing, but I did then, struggling to breathe from the zippered hole. If he saw no issue with treating me like that, he was capable of worse. I trembled violently. ¡°Why are you doing this? Can¡¯t you see how wrong-how evil-¡± ¡°The world is filled with two kinds of people. Wolves and sheep. You and your father are sheep.¡± His hand palmed the small of my back. ¡°Word of advice? Keep your legs open. Years down the line, he¡¯ll find a new toy and set you free.¡± My chest tightened. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want this!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll grow to like it.¡± ¡°I have a life! A husband!¡± My heart hammered as his grip transferred to my bicep. ¡°You need to take me back. I have to go home.¡± ¡°Home is with your master.¡± K gestured to a kneeling woman. ¡°If you give him attitude, you¡¯ll be treated like this.¡± She crawled toward a man sitting with a whip bnced over his thighs. He yanked another girl¡¯s head off his throbbing erection and seized the blonde, and then he mashed their faces together. They exchanged tongue in a series of passionless kisses. He stabbed the leather under their chin and hissed something. God no. I shuddered at the thought of being forced to do that. I bit the inside of my cheek and dug in my heels as K pushed me forward, panic sinking into me atst. ck spots crept over my vision. My heartbeat thrashed. I was a bird, desperate for release, fluttering wildly. Can¡¯t do this. I whirled. I elbowed his abdomen and broke free. K slung me toward him. He waved the stun gun he¡¯d threatened me with. His thumb slid over a button, and a violent blue arc shot from a pronged tip, scorching the air. Fuck. Like everybody else, a mask shielded K¡¯s features. The only parts I made out were his eyes. Thickshes fanned out from pools of amber-brown, which fixed on my forehead. ¡°My husband is rich. He¡¯ll give you whatever you want.¡± ¡°I have all the money in the world.¡± I shouted, grief tearing my voice. ¡°Then why do you do this?¡± He seemed to look through me, not at me. ¡°Inside. Now.¡± ¡°Please. You don¡¯t understand.¡± K shoved the door open and jabbed my back with the cattle prod. ¡°Walk.¡± I jumped away from the metal scraping my skin, into a room with peacefulndscape photos, two white leather chairs, and a side table. A bowl of strawberries sat beside a bottle of champagne. A man stood beside it, drinking. The in ck mask still hid most of him. He had long, sturdy Viking legs. Unruly, dark wisps curled against the V of his open cor, where his chest hair blended into his deep tan. His massive shoulders strained the midnight-blue suit. He must¡¯ve been at least six feet tall, huge, and his limber movements hinted at youth. Details about him added together, forming an iplete picture-wild hair, a chiseled, defined jaw, a muscr physique, a full mouth that parted when he faced me. His re burned through me. The stubborn set of his jaw tingled the back of my head. The hairs on my arm stood on end. His aura threatened me more than K¡¯s oily smiles because this man had an air of authority and the appearance of one who demanded instant obedience. I stered myself against the wall. ¡°Lot thirty-nine. Here are her medical records.¡± K strolled toward the man, who didn¡¯t acknowledge him. ¡°She¡¯s clean. No drugs. No STDs. No birth control. A shiny, new toy. It wasn¡¯t easy, making her behave without leaving any marks.¡± K stroked my neck in a sensual caress that seemed to affect the man. His fists balled, his knuckles whitening. The power seemed to coil within him when he approached. K, who flicked through his cell, didn¡¯t notice. He inclined his head toward the man. ¡°I just sent you the documents.¡± A chime echoed from the man¡¯s phone, and he tore his eyes from me to cycle through them. He nodded stiffly and pocketed the cell. ¡°Great. That¡¯s all in order.¡± K shed a smile at the man, who still hadn¡¯t said a word. ¡°Ah. I almost forgot.¡± K reached into his zer and pulled out a syringe and small vial. ¡°You¡¯ll want this. Three months¡¯ worth of birth control.¡± The man snorted and made a dismissive wave. ¡°Not a fan of the shot?¡± K tucked it away and produced a packet. ¡°Fine. I have pills.¡± The taller, broader giant¡¯s mouth lifted with a contemptuous curl as K offered them. His hand whirled, pping the foil from K¡¯s fist. It skidded across the floor. K jumped back, scowling. ¡°I strongly suggest you get her on something. We don¡¯t run a daycare for your bastards.¡± The temperature seemed to drop a thousand degrees. The man wheeled on K. His hand shot out. He grabbed K by the neck. Cracked his skull on the wall. Bright red smeared the white paint. A dazed K staggered, clutching his head. The stranger pummeled him, knocking him t. His thick bicep curled around K¡¯s neck; K twisted and squirmed, but the man held on. He tightened his grip, squeezing with a calm, lethal determination until K¡¯s legs stopped iling. Then he took out a switchde and opened K¡¯s throat. Oh my God. I sucked in a breath as K¡¯s body hit the floor. Blood pulsed from the gash as I dashed for the door. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Tony¡¯s voice burst from the man, stunning me. It couldn¡¯t be. The drugs taunted me with the voice of my husband, but he wasn¡¯t here. K was dead and he¡¯d left me in thepany of a new monster. The man hesitated. He settled himself. His dimpled chin rose and fell as he inhaled deep, steadying breaths. Then he rushed forward. I backed away. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are or what you think you¡¯ve done, but if you bring me home-¡± ¡°Evie. It¡¯s me.¡± His graveled tone tugged sharply at my memory, and then he cupped my face. His big hand grazed my cheek as the other imed my waist, pulling me close. Vani musk breezed into my nose. He smelled sweet and crisp, like the linens in the apartment I¡¯d made my home. The images washed over me like a warm tidal wave. ¡°Tony?¡± My throat tightened, thick with the tears I¡¯d shed hours ago. The mouth trembled. Then he yanked the mask off, revealing a face wrecked with emotion. His forehead hit mine with a soft thump. ¡°Evie.¡± ¡°It¡¯s you. It¡¯s really you.¡± I gaped at him, crying. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re here. Thank God.¡± I was saved. 23 Evie I¡¯m grateful I¡¯m alive. Did I fall into another fantasy? I floated in a haze of euphoria, weakened and confused. My owner said little as he wrapped me in his coat and dragged me out the service exit of a luxury hotel, where a car waited for us. We drove to an underground parking garage and switched vehicles. My husband¡¯s face swam in front of me, taunting me like that bittersweet dream. I reached out, tracing his stubbled cheek. ¡°Wait,¡± he ordered the driver, a tall man with a wave of auburn hair. ¡°She needs a hospital.¡± A man wearing khakis and a polo kneeled. He gripped my head, his fingers like icicles. He thumbed my eyelid and forced it open. Light burst from his cell phone, blinding me. I flinched. ¡°Touch me again, you bastard!¡± ¡°I saved your life, you ingrate.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not ungrateful,¡± the vision of my husband muttered. ¡°She recognizes a devil when she sees one.¡± ¡°Both of you are ingrates.¡± The light dropped away, and the man¡¯s wholesome features came into focus. ¡°She¡¯s okay. Just has to sleep this off.¡± ¡°Cainan, I killed him.¡± My heart pounded at the confession. Cainan hardened. ¡°I gave you a direct order.¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t there,¡± Tony snarled. ¡°The piece of shit had his hands all over her.¡± ¡°Taking him out wasn¡¯t part of the n!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll deal with the fallout.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll deal with it? I¡¯m the one that got you in there. I vouched for you. Who do you think they¡¯ll me when they find his body?¡± Tony¡¯s soft hands fell away as he turned around, his drawl in full force. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time for you to make a sacrifice.¡± ¡°God, you are hopeless. Completely irresponsible. Reckless. A loose-fucking-cannon. Have you any notion of what you¡¯ve fucking done? Of the hell that¡¯s about to rain on our heads?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll survive.¡± ¡°Against one goliath, fine, but not two. Your cousin wille after you. I hope you realize that.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll exin everything. He¡¯ll understand.¡± Cainanughed bitterly. Headlights swept through the parking lot. They both startled. Tony backed into me and Cainan¡¯s haughty features froze as a car zoomed past. It seemed to spook him. ¡°I suggest you get out of Boston, and fast. I¡¯ll be in touch.¡± Cainan fished a set of keys from his pocket and clicked. A beep sounded nearby, and he strode into the darkness. Tony¡¯s face swam in front of me, concern knitting his brows. ¡°Evie, I¡¯m bringing you home.¡± ¡°Is this a dream?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not. I¡¯m here. I¡¯m real.¡± I tried to make sense of their conversation, and that my husband was the man who¡¯d lifted that white card and bought me. How did find me? I slid into the passenger-side seat as Tony¡¯s outline cleared into a solid shape. His presence seemed so unreal, though my mind sharpened by the second. The hour ride home was enough time to clear the drugged fog, but I was so confused. Who was that man? Once we parked the car, I felt nothing but a dim buzz snaring my senses. I strolled into the darkened penthouse. All of my things were undisturbed, a snapshot of my normal life before it¡¯d been violently taken away. I couldn¡¯t believe what¡¯d happened to me. Part of me wanted to think it was a strange dream, and nothing more. Tony mmed the lock. He stood in the dark, his shoulders curling forward. His keys dropped. So did his jacket, sliding from his loosened arms. The warmth from his rescue suddenly left me, like a cold tide of ocean water rolling over my feet. The sadness radiating from him stuck in my throat. I stroked his shoulder. Tony whirled. He crushed me in his embrace. He exhaled a ragged sigh and pinned me to his body. My hand found his chest, unbidden. I grasped his tie and slid my hand down, my pulse racing as he bowed his head. His full mouth touched mine. He was like silk and honey, so gentle my heart burst with pain. His lips imed me as he pushed me against the wall.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. I expected him to devour me like he usually did, but he held back. He sought every corner of my mouth, reassuring and healing. My fingers tangled in his locks as he tugged my hair, angling me to meet his mouth. Slowly, the kisses burned hotter. More urgent. He took my hip, brushing my naked skin under the coat. Tony¡¯s attention flicked to the cor wrapping my neck. ¡°K put that on you?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Wildness overtook him like a growing shadow, contorting his features, turning his eyes ck with greed. He nuzzled me, shaking. Trembling. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Tony. I¡¯m all right.¡± I was. But he wasn¡¯t. His fiery gaze told me he was barely tethered to the ground, but I¡¯d grown to like the monster inside him. I ignored the warning from his stiffening limbs and kissed his throat. I breathed him in. His scent steadied me. It set off an ache in my chest that demanded more. ¡°Tony, I need you.¡± ¡°Stay away. I can¡¯t hold back.¡± A thrill of anticipation touched my spine. I sucked on his full pout and nipped him. He growled into my lips. ¡°Evie.¡± ¡°The way you say my name is so beautiful.¡± ¡°Evie, this is not what you need.¡± ¡°I always need you.¡± I mmed my lips into his, and in one forward motion I was in his arms. He lifted me, and I buried my hands in his thick hair. Kissing, we stumbled into a console table. Something rocked violently and crashed, but Tony¡¯s lipsshed mine hungrily. He bumped his elbow on the doorway, cursing. He stroked me, gliding over my backside to cradle the fullest part of my ass. Perfect. He felt perfect. He groaned a tortured sigh. ¡°Evie, I¡¯m too fucked up. I¡¯m trying to be a gentleman but I don¡¯t-¡± I kissed him, shutting him up. He devoured me with a demanding possession before he yanked away, hissing. ¡°Evie, I¡¯m not in control. I rpsed. I couldn¡¯t help it, and I don¡¯t-¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. It was just one drink, but-¡± He made a deep, frustrated sound as I smothered his protest. ¡°Evie, for once, would you fucking listen to me? I can¡¯t. I¡¯ll hurt you and I¡¯ll hate myself and then-¡± I tore his shirt and curled into the curve of his body. I nuzzled his neck, seeking his warmth. I needed to forget thest twenty-four hours, and only my husband could make it better. I stroked his rock-hard pecs and the gorgeous wall of muscle, relishing the heat baking my skin. My fingers skated his back, bumping into rigid flesh. Shock wedged in my throat as I traced the unyielding tissue. Scars. shes marked him in angry strokes. He was ripped up everywhere. A shudder passed through me. I¡¯d never seen himpletely naked. Tony had avoided taking off his shirt. He¡¯d kept it on at Sanctum. Hell, he¡¯d stopped me from touching him on our wedding night. He¡¯d acted so strangely, refusing to fuck me even though I¡¯d begged him for it. This was why. He wasn¡¯t ready to share this with me. Oh, Tony. His tormented gaze found me as I took his face. For once, he didn¡¯t wipe it nk. To the world, he was Mob Prince-well-bred, elegant, beautiful, Boston¡¯s most eligible bachelor with a perfect body. At the club, he was the monster. Witnessing him like this, so raw and wounded, moved me. I wanted to take away his pain. I leaned forward but Tony got there first. He fingered my cor and jerked hard. ¡°I¡¯m done waiting.¡± ¡°Tony-¡± He mmed his lips onto mine. His tongue forcing my mouth open. Liquid heat delved in deep, flicking, fucking my mouth like a wanton beast. He wouldn¡¯t let me breathe, save for a quick inhale between ravishing me again. As his grip tightened, I slipped further under his spell. I slumped in his arms. I submitted to his frenzy, knowing that I wouldn¡¯t be the same after this. Once he pinned me down and finally fucked me. He promised he¡¯d hurt me. What kind of a woman gets off on that? He gathered me like a wolf snapping its jaws on squirming prey. He released a low hiss. His burning palms slid down my naked back, seizing me in a brutal, ass-grabbing pinch. So fucking hot. This possession was what I¡¯d ached for. He twisted the thong, breaking it on my skin. The ckce skimmed my legs. I shivered as it trailed my skin, jarred from the soft touch by Tony¡¯s unyielding grip. He dragged me toward the bed like I was a convict headed for execution. His legs struck the edge of the mattress. He fell, dragging me with him. My thighs straddled his muscled legs. Then he yanked me against his hair-roughened chest, the contact teasing my nipples into hardness. He lifted himself, easing his pants off to free his throbbing erection. His swollen head glided along my pussy, pushing at the aching entrance. The contact jolted my clit. A ray of pleasure touched me like sunlight, and then Tony pulled me onto him. He rammed his cock inside me. Too big. Too fast. He was too much to take. He was hot and thick, wedging me open. I winced as he reached the barrier inside me, but he didn¡¯t hesitate. He pushed against it, growling as he ripped through it. Oh God. I was stretched to the limit, biting my lip to kill a scream. Tony¡¯s mouth crushed mine, smothering my whimper. His demanding hips punched forward. Deep inside, I felt myself break. My back arched with his anchoring thrust. The full length of him was buried. I raked his back as he retreated and the agony returned. Pain. Swift and brutal. I released a choked gasp. Tony silenced me, kissing me hard. His hands curled over my shoulders. He dug in, forcing me to meet his upward thrusts. It was warm and very wet, the slick pressure ramming me. Pain ricocheted in my stomach, yet I didn¡¯t want it to stop. Passion radiated from Tony¡¯s body into mine. I¡¯d surrenderedpletely, abandoned myself to sensation. It clouded my brain the way it seemed to consume Tony, ordering me to stay still and let him drill me. Electricity arced through me as his arm banded my waist, shoving my breasts into his stubbled cheek. My nipple pebbled as he took it in his mouth. Ecstasyshed me, stroking a line from my tits to my aching pussy. I eased into his slow but deep rhythm. When he pushed himself as far as my body would allow, he uttered a satisfied sound. His stabbing cock almost made me beg for mercy, but I clung to his back. I reveled in the agony. Loved it. The warmth spreading across my thighs was ominous. I knew what I¡¯d see but it failed to horrify me. I felt shed open. Filled. Gloriously fucked. Taken. A second thought grabbed my throat. A stranger would¡¯ve done this to me. If not for Tony, my first time would¡¯ve been just as rough. Tears of relief stung my eyes. Only Tony could fuck me like this. Only he had my trust and affection. Because I¡¯d fallen for him. And I already loved the monster. My heart swelled. His feral grunts sted my ear as he fucked me with ruthless precision. The sharp pang faded to a dull ache as hevished attention on my breasts. He dipped his head,tching onto my nipple. He suckled as he drove inside me. A shockwave of heat rippled through me. Pain disappeared to a dim murmur as Tonypped my nipples. He tantalized the buds, swelling them into points. His hands slid down, squeezing before finding the swell of my hips. He seemed to be searching for pleasure. His thumb brushed my clit. I screamed. Thebination of tongue and cock-so hot. I was delirious with the wave of ecstasy. His perfect mouth worked magic on my tits, gliding from breast to breast to suck and bite. His tongue zed my corbone and neck before smothering my lips. He pressed on my clit. Sparks engulfed my pussy. My torso moved up and down, and he paused, letting me take the lead. I grabbed his shoulders for leverage and ground against his erection. We both exhaled. God, he felt good. Tony fisted my hair. His re pinned me as he resumed thrusting. His cock rammed into me, the friction dragging a moan from my clenched lips. ¡°You¡¯re mine.¡± Tony kissed me again, roughly. ¡°I¡¯m going to show you what that means.¡± He hovered above me, his athletic frame tensed and his expression strained. Tony lowered himself until his chest brushed my nipples. His teeth sank into my breasts, leaving shining marks. Not content with that, he nipped the other globe, his bites punctuated with his savage thrusts. Tony red at my curves, as though resenting them for bringing out the monster. Then he unleashed his frustration on me. He gripped my hair and wrenched. He smashed his mouth on mine, forcing his tongue inside as he gave me the violent fuck my cousin had warned me about. All I could do was take his pivoting hips. I was bound to him. Completely submitted. He took his pleasure, and I loved it. He marked me like prey, and I melted. He¡¯d taken my virginity with violence, and gratitude swelled in my throat. He tore me with his giant cock, and I widened my legs. I let him devour me. I would do anything he wanted. I was a willing vessel for his lust. Tony seized my face, his eyes wild. ¡°You¡¯ll never leave me again.¡± ¡°Never.¡± ¡°Tell me you belong to me.¡± The yearning in his voice clutched my heart. ¡°I do. I belong to you.¡± He kissed me until tears welled in my eyes. Then his tongueshed my lips, flooding my thoughts with sin. He rammed me, filling me to the hilt. He bit my ear as his fingers massaged my clit, building my climax to a lightning storm. My orgasm ramped up as he nipped my neck, the pounding of his slick cock the only noise in my head. His deep grunts softened as he drove his hips forward. He thrust harder, the pain almost blinding, and then he sighed. His back arched and a groan burst from him. Warm jets coated my insides with ecstasy. Tony furiously pumped, the thumb on my clit flicking hard. A tremor worked through my body. Joy swept me in glowing clouds as I sumbed to the need clenching my thighs. A wave of peace washed over me as Tony lowered himself. He breathed kisses into my throat, panting. I held him, in awe of the sensations running through me. Physically, I felt amazing. Sore as hell but satisfied. Immensely satisfying. I liked the sticky, hot feeling, the primal nature of it, and that I had no desire to separate from him. Especially when he rained sweet kisses on my cheek and temple. His tenderness invaded my soul, healing broken patches, awakening dormant needs. Tony¡¯s beautiful features flickered with apprehension. He pulled away and nced at the mess between our legs. His raw gaze shed with mine. ¡°Tony, I¡¯m fine.¡± I rubbed his bicep. ¡°Don¡¯t be sorry for this. I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Evie, I am so sorry. If I weren¡¯t such a bastard-¡± ¡°You made up for it by saving my ass.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t need saving until I made you run.¡± ¡°Couples fight. I never expected this would happen. And if you weren¡¯t in my life¡­I¡¯d be raped or dead.¡± I cupped his face, smoothing the frown creasing his forehead. ¡°Thanks for being there for me. And for not giving up.¡± ¡°Never, Evie.¡± He balled me in his arms and dragged me into his chest, and I nestled in his warmth. He kissed the top of my head and whispered into my hair. ¡°Evie, I¡¯m grateful you¡¯re okay.¡± My heart clenched. ¡°You need four more.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the only one I care about right now.¡± 24 Tony 2 fingers Glenlivet neat Evie¡¯s hot mouth lulled me out of an exhausted sleep. Warmth wrapped my cock as she sucked me into hardness, her tongue gliding up and down my shaft. My balls tightened with the need for release as Iy back, sinking into bliss. Quite the wake-up call. I nced at the clock. Three a. m. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re awake. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have taken it so easy on you.¡± I hadn¡¯t been remotely gentle. Still, she¡¯d enjoyed it, and she was at it again. She stared at me, the challenge in her eye stroking my cock as much as her blowjob. Her tongue swirled. Liquid heatshed the underside, and I bit my lip to kill the sigh. This woman was fearless. Was that given to her by her ruthless father, or did she learn it growing up in that hell hole? Evie¡¯s mouth made a wet pop as she lifted her head. Eyes zing, she climbed onto myp. She grabbed my face and kissed me. Long and hard. Passionate. The sort of kiss that pulled at the center of me. My mouth moved down her cheek, to her jawline, to the breasts crushing my chest. I nipped her skin until I brushed her nipple. I circled it with my tongue before closing on her, sucking. She shuddered, fisting my hair. ¡°Please, Tony.¡± Yes. I was addicted to that sound. Her sighs. Her full tits budded with pink as I gave the other nipple the same attention. I licked across her corbone, teasing the marks I¡¯d madest night up her graceful neck, and smothered her pleas. My body was on autopilot as I settled between her legs. I pushed inside her. Too perfect. The warmth gripping my shaft chased away all doubt. She was too fucking good wrapped around me. Nothing that felt this amazing could be bad. None of this was wrong, even if I was wrong for her. When she gasped like that, as though surprised that we fit together, it resonated in my soul-made me hopeful. ¡°Tell me how you want it, Evie. I was too selfish with youst night.¡± ¡°Make love to me.¡± I slowed down, our lips never parting as I fucked her. She rewarded me with hitched breaths that throbbed ecstasy through me. I made love to her until her breathing quickened, and she begged me with her dark eyes. ¡°Harder. Faster.¡± I made one quick jerk that ripped a groan from her throat. She raked the scars on my back, gliding down to grip my ass. She yanked, desperate for more friction. I gave it to her, shoving myself as far I could go. I nuzzled her sweat-streaked neck, tonguing her skin before sucking hard. My hips punched forward. She moaned. ¡°More.¡± Greedy woman. I pulled her in a tight embrace and pounded her. Her tits smashed my chest as she arched, letting out a strangled noise as I pumped in and out of her. Her face screwed up, and then a soft gasp escaped her. Her orgasm made her pussy grip my dick with convulsions, the tension knotting her body. Two thrusts. That was all I needed before I came. The details I¡¯d blocked out-her sweet taste, her curves pressing into me, her surrendering breaths-heated my thighs and cock. The fire consumed me as I filled her with cum. A flood of joy drowned me, and I stilled, relishing the moment. Iy on top of her, spent and breathless, using her breasts as a pillow. She buried her fingers in my hair, stroking. ¡°Jesus. I feel like I¡¯m high.¡± Pleasure tingled every patch of skin, even my lips. Suddenly, I had to reassure myself that this was real. I unstuck my face from her perfect tits and dragged my gaze to her sleepy smile. Then I kissed her. A jolt shot into me like a lightning strike. I was still inside her, hard as steel, and thickening fast. Minutester, I came with her riding myp and her nipple in my mouth. We copsed together, the buzz already fading from my ecstasy-soaked brain. I had things to do. ¡°Evie.¡± I rubbed her back, and her eyes flew open. ¡°Evie, we need to talk.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t it wait?¡± I wish. I had no desire to leave this bed. I wanted to stay, but I¡¯d killed four men. I couldn¡¯t pretend it didn¡¯t happen. ¡°Let¡¯s get washed.¡± I coaxed her to a seated position, but she groaned and rolled over. I slid the sheets off our bodies and switched on themp. Orange light red across Evie¡¯s soft curves. I helped her off the bed. Then I cupped her ass and nudged her into the bathroom. ¡°Come on, baby. I¡¯ll give you a massage. It¡¯ll be nice.¡± She grunted. Our feet pped the cool tile, and I flipped on the lights. Under the harsh lighting, Evie¡¯s facade crumbled. She turned ashen. She crossed her arms, shivering. Tendons stood out on her neck as she stared into the mirror. Shit. ¡°Evie?¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with me.¡± Evie wiped her face, her eyes widening at her tear-streaked palm. ¡°All of a sudden, I feel bad. I have this intense dread.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be like that for a while.¡± ¡°I will?¡± Nausea pitted my stomach as I curled my arm around her. I recognized the signs. The fear would worsen as the drugs faded from her system. What did that bastard do to my wife? I opened the shower door and wrenched the knob. She startled at the loud hiss, but the tension rippling her brow melted as water pelted her body, stroking her in tantalizing rivulets. ¡°God, that¡¯s amazing. He made me shower in cold water¡­¡± She trailed off, wearing that haunted look. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about itter. Okay?¡± She nodded. I soaped up her shoulders and massaged her back, my thumbs sinking into the tight muscles that refused to loosen. I washed her breasts, sliding down her taut abdomen to her womb. How many times did Ie inside her? I hadn¡¯t made that mistake in decades. A miracle, considering I used to dive into a mountain of cocaine every weekend. Somehow, I¡¯d always held it together long enough to wear a condom. One night with Evie, and my brain cells seemed to spontaneouslybust. A box of condoms sat in the nightstand. Hundreds of them. I hadn¡¯t reached for them. It didn¡¯t ur to me once. I got caught in the moment. How did that happen? ¡°How are you feeling?¡± She squirted shampoo into her hands andthered her hair. ¡°I¡¯m great. Just sore.¡± Avoiding the subject. Honestly, I couldn¡¯t me her. ¡°I¡¯ll get you Advil.¡± ¡°No.¡± She sounded tense, if a bit on guard. My stomach hardened as I put together iplete images. I¡¯d probably never know what happened in those twenty-four hours we were apart. I wouldn¡¯t force her to tell me, but it ate at me to watch her suffer. I rinsed myself and turned off the shower. I pulled her into a fierce hug and kissed her head, hating the devastation on her face when I disengaged. I grabbed a towel from the rack and cocooned her in cotton. ¡°From now on, things will be different between us.¡± ¡°Tony¡­you don¡¯t need to cate me.¡± ¡°Do I strike you as a people-pleaser?¡± I pinched her chin, dragging her wounded gaze to mine. ¡°You need to understand something, Evie. Yesterday was the worst day of my life. Losing you to a trafficker, not knowing if you were hurt¡­ it nearly killed me. Once I found out where you were, I had to wait. I spent that time obsessing over what I would¡¯ve done differently to keep you from running off.¡± ¡°Tony. You don¡¯t have to-¡± ¡°Let me finish. I never said I didn¡¯t want to build a life with you. I don¡¯t me you for thinking that because I¡¯ve been such an asshole, but I haven¡¯t been stable in so long. Marrying a woman and starting a family¡­ it¡¯s like a fantasy. It was hard for me to ept this. I resisted you. I pushed you away, but it didn¡¯t work because the truth is¡­You¡¯re everything I¡¯ve always wanted.¡± Tears squeezed from her shut lids. She swiped them away, choking out an apology. Then she threw her arms around me. I¡¯d been such a moron. In the beginning, I¡¯d suspected her business was connected. That she knew what her father was up to, but of course she didn¡¯t. She had no idea. Like most of the women in the club, she was trapped in the system. Exploited. ¡°I have to go.¡± A pang needled my stomach as she clung tighter to me. ¡°When I¡¯m back, I¡¯ll cook you breakfast. Or lunch. Whatever you like. I¡¯m yours for the rest of the day, but I have to do this first.¡± ¡°Which is?¡± ¡°Some misceneous errands.¡± ¡°Tony, I¡¯m not an idiot. What aren¡¯t you telling me?¡± Everything. ¡°We¡¯ll talkter. I¡¯m also sending over a doctor and my mom. She¡¯ll keep youpany while I¡¯m gone. It¡¯s not up for fucking discussion, so don¡¯t bother arguing.¡± Evie let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Why do you have to leave?¡± ¡°Because,¡± I said tightly, reminded of the four bodies. ¡°I was very clear to Jett. I did not want you involved in club business, and what did he do the second my back was turned? I need to send a message. Crossing me will not be tolerated.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± I didn¡¯t know yet. My body heated as I pictured my retribution. I cataloged all their crimes. Dragging her into a dangerous situation. Getting her kidnapped. Drugged. Stripped. The theft of her ring, clothes, her dignity and safety. K might¡¯ve sold her to be raped, but he wasn¡¯t the only lowlife on my list. Ghost. Her worthless father. Basically, every man in her life. I toweled myself dry and left her in the bathroom. I was itching to leave, and her broken pleas didn¡¯t make that easier. I strolled into the walk-in closet. Evie hung in the doorway, naked. Her soaking hair steadily dripped on her chest, rolling downward, temping me to catch them all with my tongue. ¡°They were robbed. What happened to me isn¡¯t the MC¡¯s fault.¡± She had to believe that, didn¡¯t she? ¡°Agree to disagree.¡± ¡°I was there. You weren¡¯t.¡± I pulled on ck cks and a shirt, unlocking the gun from my safe, not trusting myself to speak. ¡°This is your idea of justice? Maybe you¡¯ll shoot me for running away!¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather spank your ass bright red.¡± ¡°God forbid you¡¯re nice to me for longer than five minutes. Tony, you can¡¯t attack the clubhouse because of one stupid mistake!¡± That word infuriated me. It implied innocence. Wrong ce and the wrong time. Bullshit. Legion had made their bed. She still failed to grasp the enormity of the situation, and I was sick of handling her with kid gloves. ¡°I¡¯m not shooting up anything, all right? And I won¡¯t be at the MC.¡± I grabbed her chin and kissed her mouth roughly. ¡°Promise.¡± ¡°K drugged me,¡± she said, tearing into my chest. ¡°He ripped off my clothes. He took pictures of me while I was helpless. Then he shoved me in a suitcase. He made me feel like trash. Less than an animal. A thing. If you go on a rampage, you¡¯re making this about you.¡± My vision clouded with terrible fantasies. I couldn¡¯t hold this in me anymore. My self-control had frayed to an invisible thread, and it whittled with every confession. It happened to me, too. * * * I found her father at a bar. Typical. My fists tightened on the steering wheel. He should¡¯ve been razing the streets, looking for his daughter. Using his manpower to kick down doors, as my family had done for me. Jett drowned himself in Budweiser. Unbelievable. I sat in a van surrounded by street gang kids. Young and stupid. Hungry for action. Perfect for my purposes. I risked Vinn¡¯s wrath by grabbing his soldiers, but at the moment I couldn¡¯t look at someone in leather without the desire to kill them. It¡¯d been only too easy to drive by the neighborhoods and throw open a door, asking for help. They¡¯d piled in without a second¡¯s thought after I gave them each a thousand dors cash. The vibe in the car was silent reverence. Most of them were distant rtives, cousins of cousins, half-Italians, associates who couldn¡¯t be made into members. They worshipped guys like me with a direct line to the Costa throne. The one in the driver¡¯s seat was their leader, a gangly twenty-year-old who I¡¯d seen at a few weddings. A vape pen hung from his mouth. Steam blew from his crooked lips as he reached for a baseball bat. ¡°Mr. Costa. We doing this or what?¡± I nodded. ¡°I¡¯m going in first.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll kill the bouncer and the bartender. Don¡¯te inside until I¡¯ve fired.¡± ¡°Does Vinn know about this?¡± ¡°Nah.¡± I smirked at the kid, whose jaw went ck. ¡°This is dangerous, but I¡¯ll take full responsibility. I¡¯ll understand if you change your mind, but I¡¯d appreciate the backup, and I¡¯ll pay it forward in the future. For all of you.¡± He raised his brow. ¡°So you¡¯ll owe me a favor?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± He offered me his fist, and I knocked mine against it. Then I did the same for everybody in the van. Someone got the door for me. I jumped down and strolled across the street. I wouldn¡¯t me the kids for taking off. Picking a fight in a biker bar was stupid, but I had no hope of confronting Jett in the clubhouse and I needed to send a clear message. Five young faces gaped at me as I approached the grizzled prospect. He held out his hand. ¡°ID.¡± I opened my wallet. Cards slipped through my fingers and fluttered to the ground. ¡°Shit, sorry.¡± I kneeled, feigning drunkenness as I groped for the stic. ¡°Here we go.¡± I gave it to him. He bent as his penlight zoomed on my face. I took out my knife, and the de sank into his neck. He shouted, palming the gushing wound. Wide-eyed he stumbled backward. I threw him aside and wrenched the knife out. No blood on me. Good. I tucked the knife into my jacket and removed my gun, heart pounding. I bumped into the door. It swung into the dive. I headed for the counter, the barrel hidden in my sleeve. The bartender looked up as he cleaned a mug.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. I lifted my hand in a friendly wave, drawing his attention away from the gun. I aimed and fired. The ss he held shattered. Crimson blossomed from the hole in his chest. I squeezed the trigger, firing at the drunken members. A man at the pool table sprinted at me. I wheeled my arm. Fired. He crashed to his knees. I ducked behind the counter as top-shelf liquor exploded. My feet swam in ss and booze. I returned fire, and then the street kids burst inside, a perfectly timed whirlwind of chaos. They shattered neon signs, smashed the unbroken bottles, andid waste to the popr Legion bar. I stood, gun drawn. I locked gazes with a dark-haired biker, fists clenched and trembling. Evie¡¯s almond-shaped eyes stared at me, fear flickering in them. I hesitated. For all his faults and ws, he was her father. Jett reached into his holster. I whipped my Glock across his face. The blow knocked Jett off the stool. He sputtered, his beard running with beer and blood. ¡°Where¡¯s my daughter?¡± ¡°She¡¯s safe, not that you give a shit.¡± I lowered so that my lips hovered near his ear. ¡°The only reason your brains aren¡¯t decorating the floor is because of Evie. I suggest you remember that.¡± ¡°You think she¡¯ll want to be with you? After all this?¡± He pushed himself upright, grinning a crimson smile. ¡°You¡¯re crazy. You¡¯re fucking mental.¡± My ears pounded. Visions of Evie storming out the door clouded my head. The idea of her leaving rocketed my pulse and dried my mouth. ¡°She won¡¯t leave me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure of that?¡± Jett chuckled, spitting out blood. ¡°Keep my secret and I¡¯ll keep yours, Costa.¡± Fuck you. Fuck you, fuck you. I stood, my grip tightening on my Glock. ¡°I¡¯m not the same guy you chained up. Consider this a warning.¡± 25 Evie I¡¯m grateful that roses have thorns. Where was Tony? What was he doing? Hours ticked by with nothing from him. I sat in the living room, an afghan draping myp. The doctor had already examined me and left. Tony¡¯s mother never picked up the phone, so I was alone. My only light zed from my phone, which I checkedpulsively. Dad: Are you okay? Dad: Talk to me. Me: I¡¯m fine. I couldn¡¯t stand exchanging another sentence with my father. He¡¯d let me down so badly. I couldn¡¯t breathe without pain stabbing my ribs. I wrapped myself in nkets, as though the vivid images would disappear with enough heat. My mind buzzed as I pieced together my arrival into the hotel and the girls on stage. I¡¯d seen wild things at patchover parties. Public sex didn¡¯t offend me, but it was different with vacant-eyed women and the men with zero regard for them. My eyes fought to stay open but sleep was out of the question. So was tearing my gaze from the door. He had toe back. Tony had the answers. Minutes¡­hours passed as the golf ball in my throat swelled. The elevator pinged. I scrambled from the sofa. The doors opened. My disheveled husband stepped inside, carrying a takeout bag and a drink caddy. He tossed his keys and strode into the kitchen, setting everything on the counter. Tony¡¯s button-up was rather wrinkled and his expression pinched, but he seemed all right. Thank God. My body sagged, and the fatigue mmed into me atst. I dropped onto the tiles. Tony stooped, gripping my upper arms. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Didn¡¯t you sleep?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t until you got home.¡± Tony¡¯s brows furrowed, as though he couldn¡¯t imagine why I¡¯d sacrifice my health for him. ¡°Jesus, you must be dead on your feet. Let¡¯s get some food in you.¡± Orange light shot through the grim Boston cityscape as Tony led me into the living room with the wall-to-wall windows. He sank onto the couch, dragging me beside him. ¡°Want some?¡± He offered me a pastry, but I sprawled over the cushions and put my head in hisp. A mistake, because the position reminded me of what happened shortly after being drugged. I fisted his cks and fought against the urge to cry out. He stroked my hair. Then he broke off a piece of croissant and held it to my lips. ¡°Eat. You¡¯ll feel better.¡± ¡°No.¡± I nuzzled his thighs and kissed him. ¡°Only this helps.¡± The hand on my hip squeezed, and he let out a tense breath. His touch set off lightning strikes under my skin, even if he touched me with bread. ¡°Eat, baby.¡± I obeyed, the butter exploding over my tongue. ¡°Is this a thing now?¡± I murmured, adjusting myself on his leg. ¡°I never imagined you¡¯d have a feeding fetish.¡± ¡°Not my kink.¡± ¡°And yet I feel hardness under my cheek. Way to turn a sweet Hallmark moment into a something naughty.¡± I turned, facing him. ¡°What would your mother say?¡± His full mouth tugged into a bemused grin. ¡°She¡¯s Italian.¡± ¡°You keep throwing that out like it makes sense to anybody but you.¡± ¡°Family is important in our culture.¡± He said it pointedly, sending a ripple of heat through my chest. ¡°Mom is always in my corner, no matter what. So if you cry to her about me, she¡¯ll me you for not servicing your husband. She¡¯ll say I have a man¡¯s needs and you should do your duty.¡± Somehow, I doubted that. ¡°I think your mom is happier with me than with you.¡± ¡°She did threaten to disown me, so you may be right.¡± ¡°What for?¡± ¡°Being an asshole to my wife.¡± His palm cradled my cheek, the shock of him behaving this way running through my body. The touch upset my bnce even though Iy still. He stroked me, temple to the back of my head. ¡°Tony, why are you doing this?¡± ¡°I like taking care of you, and there¡¯s not much I enjoy anymore.¡± He kissed my temple lightly. The imprint of his lips and his bewitching smile warmed me, and then he scratched his nose. Blood smeared his shirt in a long gash. Holy shit. I struggled upright, seizing Tony¡¯s arm. ¡°Broken ss. Nothing to worry about.¡± ¡°Did you kill anyone?¡± He shrugged. ¡°Not that I¡¯m aware of.¡± Ice twisted my stomach. ¡°Where were you?¡± ¡°Running errands. No biggie.¡± ¡°Tony, I am not an idiot,¡± I burst, pushing from hisp. ¡°Please don¡¯t lie to me.¡± ¡°I went to see your dad. We had a disagreement.¡± ¡°You mean fight.¡± ¡°He¡¯s in one piece, hon. Swear to God. Call him if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± These days, Tony had more of my trust. My pulse raced. If I hadn¡¯t married Tony, where would I be? Who would I be forced to service after being sold into very? I nced at Tony. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like talking to him.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t me you.¡± He followed as I stormed into the bathroom, mming cupboards and drawers until I discovered a first-aid kit. Then I ripped his sleeve to the elbow. As a president¡¯s daughter in the club, you saw a lot of injuries. Fixing them wasn¡¯t my forte, but I preferred it to him bleeding everywhere. Tony sat on the closed toilet, quietly enduring it. He held out his arm when I asked. He let me dab on antiseptics. Bandage. I had the feeling his cooperation was directly rted to my close shave. ¡°Thank you.¡± He pressed his hot mouth into my cheek, lingering for a moment too long which urged me to catch his tempting pout. Tony took me to bed. He peeled the sheets and slid inside, his head hitting the pillow beside mine. He gripped my hand, brushing the spot where my wedding band used to be. ¡°K stole it,¡± I said bitterly. ¡°I was drugged. I couldn¡¯t stop him.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll rece it.¡± He sounded wooden, but his tawny eyes sparked with fury. ¡°It won¡¯t be the one you picked for me.¡± My chest tightened with the knowledge I¡¯d never get it back. ¡°I nned to make some changes to the band, but now I¡¯ll never¡­why does that piss me off so much?¡± He went silent for a while, his distant stare echoing his hollow voice. ¡°This never should¡¯ve happened to you. I¡¯m sorry.¡± The shadows darkening his features seemed to grow, and I felt along his stubbled jaw. His beard had thickened and sweat streaked his hair, and I wondered when thest time he¡¯d taken care of himself was. Tony leaned into my palm and grabbed my hip, gently stroking. ¡°Anything he did¡­it doesn¡¯t change the way I feel about you.¡± I looked up, and my heart lurched madly. He kissed my hand. Warmth burst across my cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry you¡¯re caught in the middle¡­Dad didn¡¯t mean for me to get kidnapped. I¡¯ve done this before and never-safety has never been a problem.¡± His eyes bored into me. His gaze reminded me of being wrapped in his arms and fucked. Losing my virginity had been the most intense experience of my life. My body still ached where he¡¯d filled me, and suddenly it pulsed with a yearning. He channeled so much sexual energy and it was beyond me to resist.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Your father sucks at being a criminal, Evie. Heunders money through your business but does it poorly. I don¡¯t think you¡¯re aware of how badly he¡¯s screwed you. If you ever got investigated, Evie¡­you can say goodbye to all your dreams because once the world associates Evie with the shit your dad is doing, you¡¯ll be canceled. You¡¯ll never be able to sell a bracelet.¡± Tony pushed himself to a seated position. ¡°He steals from you, he messes up your financials, he makes you do appraisals with violent men. He doesn¡¯t bring enough backup, giving slime like K a golden opportunity to rob him blind. So the fact that he didn¡¯t mean it? Who the fuck cares? He treats you like trash.¡± I shook my head, tears blinding my vision. ¡°I know he¡¯s bad. He does awful things, but he¡¯s been there since I was a baby.¡± I wiped my face, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. ¡°He cried with me when Mom walked out on us.¡± I used to stare at the doorway and imagine her strolling through, wrapping me in her lc-scented arms. In my mind, there was a perfect exnation for why she¡¯d gone, but a universal truth steered me toward a less sunny conclusion-people let me down. Repeatedly. Tony¡¯s palm fell on my shoulder. ¡°What happened to your mom?¡± I shrugged. ¡°She took off.¡± ¡°Just like that?¡± ¡°I woke up. She was gone.¡± I inhaled deeply and adjusted my smile. ¡°At least I had her for twenty years.¡± Tony raked his espresso waves and stared at me. ¡°Did anyone file a missing persons report?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not missing, Tony. She always talked about leaving the MC. I thought she¡¯d take me with her, but she was telling me what I wanted to hear. She abandoned me. My dad didn¡¯t but he hurts me, too. I love them but I can¡¯t rely on them, so I go inward for strength. Everybody has to look after themselves. People will let you down.¡± The hand caressing my back paused. ¡°Huh. I don¡¯t agree with that at all.¡± I blinked. ¡°You don¡¯t?¡± Tony shook his head, resuming his restless stroking. His hold glided to my shoulder. He pulled me until my head nestled in the crook of his neck. ¡°I¡¯ll die before I let you down.¡± 26 Evie I¡¯m grateful that my passion is my job. For a week, I woke up to my husband perched on a stool at the breakfast bar. A smile would tick across his rugged face, and he¡¯d push atte in my direction. We developed a routine. We ate breakfast together. Sometimes he wanted me on hisp as he sipped coffee and read the news. Other days, he scooped me in his arms and took me back to bed, fucking me before he took off to do God knows what. No matter what, Tony always delivered me lunch. I treasured these small gestures. Even the fact that he drew pictures in my coffee¡¯s foam made my eyes well with emotion. The thoughtfulness reminded me of my mom, the things she¡¯d done before she vanished. I never knew how much I needed this. I cherished every moment with Tony, but at the same time it freaked me out. How long would he stay before disappearing? He was only here out of guilt. As soon as I healed, he¡¯d vanish, and that¡¯d hurt like hell because I loved having him around. He was better than everyone else¡¯s husband. Nobody was as loyal or brave. I¡¯d never known a man so ruthlessly devoted to protecting his woman. He humbled me. He was trying to stop me from being a victim of the MC, just as he had been. It made me ache for his respect and admiration, which I¡¯d never sought from anyone. I dreaded the moment he¡¯d go back to wherever holdout he had before now, so I threw myself into distractions. I fielded my dad¡¯s calls. I sketched. I worked on Tony¡¯s gift when he took showers or went for a run, and I contemted my life, all the things I¡¯d done to support the club. Knuckles rapped the doorframe. I hid the object in my hands under a microfiber towel and straightened over my makeshift workbench, which Tony had set up so I could finish the pieces I¡¯d beenmissioned to do. It wasn¡¯t safe to visit the jeweler¡¯s studio, so Tony cleared his desk and let me use it. He wasn¡¯t supposed to be here so early. The sight of my husband¡¯s well-built frame stretched out in the doorway filled me with steam. He¡¯d tucked in a thick cotton T-shirt into navy dress pants. Brown leather, matching his loafers, cinched them tight.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Hi, honey.¡± Tony approached with a half-cocked smirk, amusement flickering in his deep eyes. He bent and kissed my cheek, setting off fireworks beneath my skin. I turned my head, my lips brushing his ear. ¡°My ass still has marks from your hand.¡± ¡°I know,¡± he said, his voice warming. ¡°You showed me during your striptease.¡± I bit my lip as Tony¡¯s face wrinkled with a small grin. It¡¯d been in the morning. The memory of Tony¡¯s cock from the night before got me so wet that I plugged in the camera facing the bed. I texted Tony. Then I sat right in front of it and¡­yed with myself. After I¡¯d finished, my phone pinged with an emoji from Tony. A me. ¡°I figured it¡¯d get your attention.¡± ¡°It got me through a tedious meeting. Thank God I turned off the sound.¡± His lowughter tingled across my face like tiny electrical shocks. ¡°You make the most delicious moans when youe. I might set them as my ringtone.¡± He heard me? I toyed with my hair, hot around my neck. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize the cameras picked up sound, too.¡± ¡°They sure do.¡± He pulled up a chair and sat behind me, his presence sucking the air from the room. My pulse mmed my throat as he leaned forward, his mouth finding the space between my neck and shoulder. ¡°What are you up to?¡± ¡°Working,¡± I whispered, finding it hard to concentrate with the lips pressing into me. ¡°Are you going to sit there?¡± ¡°Yeah, why not?¡± ¡°It makes me self-conscious.¡± He made a discontented sound. ¡°Why? I have no idea what I¡¯m looking at. It¡¯s not like a painting. I can¡¯t see iting together.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not ready to show you.¡± ¡°Intriguing.¡± He moved closer, his fingers encircling my wrist. The rough bite and my position reminded me of a few nights ago. I¡¯d unsessfully tried to block those hellish hours I spent naked, tied up, and drugged. I wheeled around in my chair, sorrow centering over my chest. ¡°Tony, I¡¯ve been thinking¡­I know I should let it go, but I can¡¯t stop thinking about them. There were so many girls.¡± I took his hand and traced his calluses. ¡°What¡¯s going to happen to them?¡± ¡°Nothing good.¡± The bluntness turned my stomach. ¡°Can¡¯t we save them?¡± ¡°Put it from your mind, Evie.¡± ¡°How can you say that?¡± ¡°This is what I do for a living. I¡¯ve worked for years to disrupt them and I¡¯ve barely dented their operations. Busting trafficking rings isn¡¯t as simple as calling the police. They have connections everywhere. The only reason I found you was because I know someone who knows someone.¡± He shot me a hard-eyed re, startling me. ¡°They¡¯re dangerous, and there¡¯s nothing a twenty-two-year-old can do about it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true. I could make a statement to the FBI.¡± Tony¡¯s mouth hardened. ¡°That won¡¯t get you anywhere. Trust me.¡± His stern attitude baffled me. ¡°Tony, I can¡¯t just do nothing!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not telling you to do nothing, but I want you to set realistic goals for yourself.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°y to your strengths.¡± He scooped my hand in his and pressed his lips to my knuckles. ¡°You¡¯re an amazing jewelry designer. Make a line of bracelets and give a percentage of the proceeds to an anti-trafficking charity. Cut the MC out of your life.¡± How would that help anything? I shook my head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Follow your heart, Evie. It¡¯ll never lead you wrong.¡± Tony rubbed my back as the gravity of that sank in my chest. My heart wanted me to do stupid things, like give my body to my husband whenever he wanted. It begged me to float into his arms, hold him tight, and never let him go. It was sick of fighting. I met his gaze. His eyes were like ck satin, beautiful and dark. ¡°What if it wants you?¡± I left my chair for hisp, winding my arms around his neck. ¡°I want you, raw and unfiltered. Rough sex. Romantic dates. You holding me when I sleep.¡± He smiled. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Model jewelry for me. My social media page needs content, and you have nice hands.¡± He let out an incredulousugh. He gave them a nce, and shrugged. ¡°Never heard that before.¡± ¡°It was one of the first things I noticed about you.¡± ¡°Not for me.¡± Tony¡¯s gaze fell to my neck and down my halter top, and his voice dipped to a sultry caress. ¡°I was preupied with your mouth and how badly I wanted to use my cock to shut it up.¡± ¡°Too bad you didn¡¯t. It would¡¯ve salvaged the night.¡± Heughed. ¡°I doubt that very much.¡± ¡°Who am I to criticize how a man makes love to his wife?¡± He grinned, shaking his head. ¡°God, I wish I had a pair of your rainbow-colored sses.¡± I mimed taking them off and setting them on his nose. ¡°Your turn. What do you want?¡± ¡°What do I want,¡± he mused, dragging his fingers through his hair. ¡°Besides taking out my wife and having her float on cloud nine all night, I can¡¯t think of anything.¡± A baby. A family. ¡°Tony, it¡¯s been five months. What happens in a year, when I¡¯m not pregnant?¡± ¡°We stay together.¡± ¡°What if I want kids with you?¡± My heart broke as his eyes shuttered. He didn¡¯t say anything, but he didn¡¯t have to. Doubt flickered in my mind as Tony¡¯s phone shattered the agonized silence. He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as he pulled away to answer. I imagined him leaving me in the same way as my mother. Mom hadn¡¯t stuck around. Dad was a lying sociopath. My husband was the only stable element in my life, and he was an unpredictable beast. He was forced into marriage. Sticking it out for me. For now. How long before his promises were broken? 27 Evie I¡¯m grateful that I am not hateful. Five men. Five broken families. Their faces sshed on the evening news as I finished my breakfast. The three bikers who¡¯d attended the ill-fated diamond appraisal were found dead with horrific injuries. Days before, a shooting killed two at f¡¯s, a Legion dive that served decent bar food. Articles sted Boston¡¯s endemic gang violence, pinning the me on motorcycle gangs and their territorial disputes. The mayor held a press release decrying the bloodbath, calling on Congress to pass a bill that gave harsher sentences for repeat felons. Months ago, I would¡¯ve turned off the TV to mourn with everyone else, but I was glued to the screen. This had Tony Costa written all over it. He had to be responsible for the flood of anti-biker propaganda on social media. ¡°Don¡¯t visit the club,¡± whispered Jennesy¡¯s voice from the phone¡¯s speaker. ¡°Seriously, Evie. You don¡¯t want to be here. Martha¡¯s old man is on life support. He was shot at f¡¯s. She¡¯ll kill you if you show up. Even my dad and I got into it because I went on one date with Christian.¡± I rubbed my head, hating that he¡¯d put me in this position. ¡°How was dinner with Christian?¡± ¡°Amazing. He was so nice. Just like you said, a total gentleman. He took me to an Italian restaurant on the waterfront. Everything was perfect. I¡¯ve never been spoiled like that.¡± She let out a heartbroken sigh that resonated in my chest. ¡°I¡¯m hoping this craziness dies down so we can go out again. I canceled our second date.¡± That was my husband¡¯s fault, too. ¡°Jennesy, I don¡¯t know what to say. I¡¯m so sorry. I feel horrible.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t me yourself, babe. There¡¯s nothing you could¡¯ve done to stop him. Guys like Costa can¡¯t be bargained with. He¡¯s damaged goods.¡± I opened my mouth, and then shut it. What was the point of defending my husband? Tony¡¯s reputation had taken a nosedive, and swearing to Jennesy that he¡¯d never hurt me didn¡¯t make him an angel. A baby¡¯s cry broke through the speaker. ¡°I should get going. Ben¡¯s getting fussy.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll talk to youter. Give Ben a kiss for me.¡± ¡°Will do. Bye.¡± A ringing sense of loss cut through me as I hung up. Visiting my cousin was out of the question, and would be for months. She sure as hell couldn¡¯t visit me. They were probably retaliating against Tony right now. Wasn¡¯t isting me from the club his n? A vein in my neck pulsed, but grief quickly swallowed my anger. My throat tightened as I imagined five coffins sinking into the ground. The club would never take me back. I¡¯d always felt like an outsider, and I¡¯d never gelled with biker culture, but they were my only family. Tony had ripped away that support forever. I was dependent on a man who didn¡¯t love me. This was proof. Tony still thought of us as rats that needed to be exterminated. I pictured the rage in the clubhouse, the drinking, the utter chaos that these deaths would cause. For hours, I was glued to the TV. My stomach roiled with nausea that¡¯d stuck with me all day, interrupted by a vicious craving for sweets. I was totally off-kilter. Stress-eating. A vicious headache pounded behind my temples. Light red from the television, filling the rooms with a pulsing glow. I sat in my chaise, facing the Boston skyline. The door opened. ¡°Baby, I¡¯m home.¡± His singsong voicended on my ears like a p. I winced, burrowing into Tony¡¯s faux-fur afghan. I had no energy to confront him, but a spike of adrenaline forced my spine to straighten. A man-shaped silhouette stepped inside, his beauty marred by a pinch in his elegant brows. He grabbed the remote and stabbed the button, shutting off the noise. Tony fingered balled up tissues littering the coffee table, prowling around until he found me. One look at me all bundled up, and he seemed to get it. ¡°It takes a monster to kill a monster, Evie.¡± ¡°Well, you definitely are one.¡± Pure acid bubbled from my throat as I fought the urge tounch at him. ¡°What you did was evil. How could you?¡± His lips curled in a contemptuous sneer. ¡°I¡¯ve done a lot worse, but this? This isn¡¯t even in the minor leagues of fucked up.¡± ¡°You¡¯re proud of that?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± I stumbled from the chair, clutching my stomach as though it¡¯d hold in the hurt. I couldn¡¯t believe I¡¯d admired him. I must¡¯ve been desperate, searching for virtue where there wasn¡¯t any, taken in by his charm, his support, his generosity, his willingness to go the extra mile, but he was deranged. The fire in his stare dimmed. He sighed. ¡°Evie, you don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°You have a vendetta against the club. I¡¯m your excuse to maim as many bikers as you can. It¡¯s disgusting, but pretty easy to figure out.¡± His nostrils red, and he tightened his fists. ¡°I honored my part of the deal. All they had to do was leave us the fuck alone, but Jett couldn¡¯t handle that. He just had to undermine me.¡± ¡°Tony, you murdered five people.¡± ¡°So what? Have you ever heard of Darfur? Hundreds of thousands men, women, and children ughtered. Did you bat an eye? Did you join Amnesty International? No. I off five piece of shit bikers, and you throw a fit. I feel zero remorse for taking out the trash.¡± ¡°So we should kill them all, shouldn¡¯t we?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a start,¡± he said without a hint of sarcasm. ¡°I¡¯ve seen how your people live, Evie. The chain-link fences. Nondscaping. Kids running around with no supervision. Nothing to entertain them but a rusted yground. There are prison yards with more charm. It¡¯s fucking sad.¡± I threw up my arms. ¡°God forbid weck the resources for Japanese maple trees on our frontwns!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about the goddamned aesthetics. You grew up in a violent ce that treats women worse than animals. I¡¯ll purge this city of every biker scumbag if I have to, because it needs to stop.¡± I faltered in the silence that engulfed us. Shock and disbelief rooted me to the ground. Hot tears slid down my cheek. I squeezed my eyes shut, warding off disturbing images of Tony slitting Patrick¡¯s throat. ¡°There is something seriously wrong with you, Tony.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a lot wrong with me. Has been ever since Legion kidnapped me.¡± ¡°I need to leave.¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t.¡± Tony grabbed my wrist before I stepped away. His arm looped my waist. He sped me to his body, his reassuring scent shing with his biting grip. ¡°You¡¯re staying here. You¡¯ll get over this, and it¡¯ll be all right.¡± ¡°How? Do you think my father will take this lying down? He¡¯ll hit you back. Hard. Did you even consider the consequences?¡± ¡°I was too busy saving you from being raped. I had no clue where you were or who took you. You screamed before the phone cut off. You can¡¯t imagine the fear. The utter fucking helplessness. There¡¯s nothing I wouldn¡¯t have done to rescue you.¡± ¡°What did shooting up a biker bar have to do with that?¡± ¡°That was a message to all those degenerates.¡± ¡°My point, you aggravating man, was that it waspletely unnecessary!¡± ¡°My God, Evie. What are you on? They let K grab you. I would¡¯ve given up my life to save yours, but no. They stood by and watched it happen!¡± I wavered on my feet, more uncertain than ever. ¡°We were outnumbered.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care! They could¡¯ve stared down a machine gun, and I¡¯d still be pissed off. They should¡¯ve fought for you!¡± ¡°Sometimes y-you have to live to fight another day.¡± ¡°Evie. They knew what K does for a living and didn¡¯t lift a finger to help-¡± His voice broke suddenly, and he squeezed his eyes shut. ¡°I busted my ass to find you. I did everything in my power to get you home. Where was Jett? In a bar. Getting his drink on.¡± I flinched, the energy leaving me like air from a ruptured balloon. Doubt hammered the ss walls surrounding my heart. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you,¡± I said brokenly. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t do that. I¡¯m his only daughter.¡± His dark eyes reflected glimmers of light that weakened my knees. He blew a shaky breath and set his jaw. ¡°Evie, I¡¯m so sorry.¡± A heartbreaking silence followed Tony¡¯s hushed words. They barely registered to my dizzied senses. I shook my head, weighing the structure of events against my husband, the only consistent force in my life. I was baffled. I shook off the pain and squared my shoulders. Tony didn¡¯t give a damn if he hurt me. ¡°You¡¯re making shit up. You want me upset so that I¡¯ll never see him again!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have to lie. I just have to tell you the truth.¡± Tony¡¯s pained expression darkened, and he rubbed his temples. ¡°Evie, do you remember what happened? After K took you?¡± ¡°Not-not really.¡± Difort flitted across Tony¡¯s brow before he melted into a multicolored blur. I wiped away tears as Tony grasped my hand and led me to the couch. I dropped onto the cushions, numb. ¡°On the phone, you mentioned a truck,¡± Tony murmured, ncing at hisp. ¡°What do you think was inside?¡± ¡°Guns or drugs.¡± Seconds ticked by. Tony sighed. ¡°You need to confront this, Evie. What was K buying?¡± I frowned. ¡°That¡¯s club business. Dad doesn¡¯t tell me anything.¡± ¡°Take a wild guess.¡± I blinked, my heart pounding. ¡°I don¡¯t know, cocaine?¡± ¡°Wrong. What else could it be?¡± Memories stirred under the ck fog obscuring those forty-eight hours. A giant door opening. Bare legs. I¡¯d seen the cargo-rows and rows of women. That hit me like a sledgehammer to my ribs. Oh my God. Tony¡¯s touch skimmed my arm and sped my shaking elbow. ¡°Girls. The MC sold him girls.¡± * * * The images mmed into my head like stills from a graphic crime scene. A dozen girls in varying states of undress, drugged out of their minds, crammed into tight quarters. K¡¯s frowning face hovering above mine. Hay littering the floor. I stared at aputer screen, immersed in the evidence connecting human trafficking with biker gangs. I connected the dots between Tony¡¯s strange obsession with my tax records. He didn¡¯t want diamonds from very linked to his name. No fucking kidding. I was culpable. I¡¯d aided my father¡¯s horrible acts. I could¡¯ve lived with a drug possession charge but this? I shut theptop and swallowed hard. ¡°I can¡¯t believe my dad did this.¡± Tony gave me a sad smile. ¡°He sold you to me, didn¡¯t he?¡± My heart wrenched. It was too much to take. My brain filled in the gaps with mounting horror. How many deals had I unintentionally helped? A pain fractured within me, stabbing deep like steel growing in my veins. The club girls-were they there by choice? Where did they go after they left? Where did the MC keep these captured women? How many had I condemned? I lost it, sobbing. I fell on my hands and knees, misery cleaving my body. Rotten feelings twisted up inside me. On some level, I¡¯d suspected this. It made no sense why Dad rubbed elbows with traffickers unless he did business with them. Tony dragged me into his embrace. I sagged into the wall of muscle. I shoved my face into the crook of his neck, making a mess of his shirt. My life was a lie. All of it. ¡°Evie, what can I do? Please¡­tell me what I can do.¡± He stroked my hair, the warmth from his gesture cutting me. ¡°I thought you were the monster. Turns out I am.¡± ¡°No, honey. You¡¯re not.¡± ¡°I am.¡± I pushed him away and staggered into the bedroom. A Harley-Davidson tank top draped the chair. I¡¯d put it there months ago to fuck with him. Now my stomach turned at the cruelty of that taunt. He must hate me. Tony stood at the threshold, pale-faced. I pressed my palms into my eyes, shaking. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Tony. God. I am such an idiot. I had no idea. It¡¯s like you said. I was wrapped up in my problems.¡± ¡°Evie, I was angry and jealous. I regret everything I said that night. It¡¯s not a crime to seek happiness.¡± Tony¡¯s voice tightened as he wiped my cheeks. ¡°You are nothing like your father. If you need any proof, look in the mirror. The fact that you feel this pain makes all the difference.¡± ¡°I should have known!¡± ¡°And I should¡¯ve been the CEO of a techpany. Instead I became-¡± ¡°A man who fights for others, never himself?¡± I caressed his bronzed cheek, tracing his jaw line. ¡°I wish you could see what I see.¡± Softness dulled his gaze like ck satin. My swell of agony was beyond tears. I felt sick and out of control. ¡°Why do you want me? I¡¯m one of them.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t care.¡± ¡°I¡¯m too biker to fit in at your high-society dinners. I¡¯ll never be able to tell between champagne and proso. I can¡¯t speak Italian.¡± ¡°Evie, look at me.¡± When I didn¡¯t, he lifted my chin. Concern furrowed his brows. ¡°I am crazy about my biker wife. I can¡¯t tell you why, because there are too many things I admire about you. You¡¯re talented, Evie. I don¡¯t think you hear that enough, but you are. One day, I¡¯ll be on the sidelines while you¡¯re designing jewelry for celebrities, and I can¡¯t wait for it. I like that you¡¯re sopassionate, even when it¡¯s inconvenient for me, because I know you¡¯ll go easy on me when I screw up. I love that you want me for me. You¡¯re perfect. I wouldn¡¯t change a damned thing.¡± Sunshine parted the clouds, his words chasing out the gloom. Perfect and talented. Coming from Tony, that was¡­huge. Not the I-love-you I needed, but close. I love him so much. My heart burst with sweet pain as Tony kissed my cheek. His mouth burned a trail down, pressing into my jaw, my chin, melting tension everywhere, and then he found my lips. I clutched him tighter. He was so insanely gorgeous that I caught myself leaning forward. His ruggedness was a vital power wetting my tongue. At first nce, indistinguishable from ouws, but was making this city a better ce. A lump stuck in my throat. Groaning, he licked the curve of my smile. Then he angled his head to deepen the kiss. My senses zed as his soft lips caught mine with an unbearable tenderness. Tony. I rose on my tiptoes, hungry for more. Every stroke dragged me from the cliff and submerged me into a warm pool. Euphoria tingled my skin at his closeness, never so strong. I dug into his back. I needed more assurance. I pulled away, eyes burning. ¡°Tony, do you forgive me?¡±Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to forgive.¡± ¡°I need you to say it.¡± ¡°Evie, I¡¯m the opposite of a priest. I can¡¯t offer you absolution.¡± Tony pushed me toward the bed, darkening. ¡°But I can give you a hell of a distraction.¡± The mattress hit my knees. I sank, dizzy. Tony climbed in after me. His body settled beside mine. We kissed, his fingers teasing my shirt over my body. My breasts tumbled free, and he let out an appreciative groan. He dragged the shirt up my arms, stopping short of freeing my wrists. Then he scooped one globe, thumb ying with the nipple while his grip tightened on my imprisoned hands. He kissed my neck, his mouth tracing a sinful path to the aching points demanding his attention. He lowered his head, licking. Heved them in velvet-heat, circling, sliding, flicking, each stroke more frenzied than thest. He suckled gently, forcing a tortured moan from my lips. Tony released my bound hands. He yed with the sensitive skin on my wrist before skimming my arm. Goosebumps rose where he touched me. An eager shiver trembled my belly when he syed his hand over my stomach, groping his way to my hip. He glided under my pajama pants and yanked them down. Cool air touched my pussy before his palm cupped my mound. He teased my clit. A tremor worked its way up my thigh. He delved inside, not quite prating, but gathering my wetness. He drew away, sucking his shining knuckles before finding the tight bundle of nerves between my legs. He pressed my clit, rubbing in gentle circles, the electricity creating a lightning storm. The intense bolt of pleasure derailed my thoughts. He slid his thumb up and down my pussy, stroking me into a frenzy, loosening my tense muscles. Tony showed no signs of relenting. His stare drilled into me. He sat up and unbuckled his cks, shedding his clothes in seconds before the tanned, sculpted god climbed over me. He flipped me over and hauled me to my knees. His erection jabbed my backside. I bent over the bed, submitting to the hand on my back. He grabbed my thighs with both hands and pushed, widening my hips. I braced for his cock. I wanted him to rut me. I needed the pain. His hair brushed my skin, and then heat engulfed my pussy. He swirled and sucked, leaving no part of me neglected by his tongue. I tightened as a quiver shot up my legs. Tony¡¯s firm pnded on my cheek, but I couldn¡¯t stop squeezing. His mouth on me dissolved all rational thought. I screamed, eyes shut, praying for release. ¡°I told myself I¡¯d act like a gentleman. You¡¯re making that difficult.¡± ¡°A gentleman can¡¯t fuck me the way I need.¡± Tonyzily pped my ass. ¡°Which is?¡± ¡°Your cum inside me.¡± My cheeks burned, but Tony didn¡¯t run away. He licked along my seam, diving into my wetness again. ¡°I want it.¡± He purred. ¡°Where do you want it, baby?¡± ¡°Where your mouth is.¡± ¡°I see. Well, you¡¯ll have to beg harder than that.¡± Then he went back to it, holding me still. I couldn¡¯t utter a word. I moaned at being tongue-fucked by such a powerful man. He applied pressure on my clit. Ecstasy shed like a thunderp, blinding and strong, and then gone in an instant. Because he¡¯d left me. I whined as he backed away, the building crescendo screaming for its climax. He flipped me onto my back. He lifted my leg over his trunk-like thigh and fitted his cock to my entrance. He seized my hair, releasing a feral growl. Then he shoved. He sighed with relief as he anchored himself, filling me. I bit my lip as my walls strained to amodate him. He withdrew and rammed me with his greedy cock again. Then he fucked me with the force I¡¯d craved. I whimpered from his brutal thrusts, but Tony made no sound. His forehead touched mine, his gaze boring into me with an unspoken promise: I belonged to him. He would protect me at whatever cost. He jerked his erection back and forth with a mad frenzy, just like the night he¡¯d taken my virginity. The sight of me helpless seemed to spark the deviant in him, the savage that took without asking and somehow fucked the pain away. I needed this. Needed him. I loved him so much it scared me. Tony stered his chest to mine, his mouth seeking my neck. sts of air scorched my skin as he panted, rolling his hips. ¡°I can¡¯t control myself when you look at me like that,¡± he whispered, his voice rumbling through my body. ¡°You¡¯re so fucking pure. It gets me so hard. It makes me want to dirty you up ande inside you, even though I know I shouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I want it, Tony. I really¡­I need it.¡± ¡°Beg for it.¡± ¡°Please, Tony. I¡¯ll be good. I¡¯ll do anything.¡± ¡°Hmm. Still not convinced.¡± ¡°Give me your fucking cum!¡± He stopped mid-thrust, ring. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°Please give me your cum, sir.¡± Tony pounded me roughly. When I screamed with my orgasm, he reached his climax. My walls contracted around his cock as he buried himself, holding me tight. A warm jet sted, in tandem with his thrusts. I glowed. Aching. Gloriously wet. Tony copsed. I grinned. He smiled and pulled me into his chest, tucking my head under his chin. His hand sought mine, intertwining with my fingers as he held it over his heart. It was the most intimate we¡¯ve ever been. Iy on my back, exposed, vulnerable, but he clutched me like I was his only means of survival. His grip made my knuckles ache but his eyes closed inzy contentment. He broke the kiss, sighing. I smoothed the cowlick teasing his forehead and kissed his stubbled cheek. He let me, lying there like a contented housecat. My heart squeezed as he gripped me harder. He was such aplicated man, but I was beginning to understand him. I loved his ws. I loved him. And I wanted him to be with me every day because when he was, I felt cherished and beautiful. Like I could conquer anything. Passion rose inside me like a me, clouding my brain, and then it burst out of me. ¡°Tony, I love you.¡± His eyes opened to half slits and he stared. He didn¡¯t react. He seemed to hold his breath. He red at me as though waiting for me to admit it was a joke. ¡°I love you.¡± His body stilled, and his expression sobered. My pulse raced. Seconds ticked by, his silence deafening. ¡°I said I love you. I fucking love-¡± Tony mmed his mouth into mine, shutting me up. Then he flipped me onto my stomach and forced me to my knees. He entered me with a painful thrust, startling me. His hands ground into my hair and he ripped my head back. My scalp stung as he traced my lips, easing his finger inside. ¡°Say it again,¡± he ordered. ¡°I love you.¡± He introduced a second digit. ¡°Again.¡± I repeated it, the sound muffled. He pped my cheek, the smack tingling my nipples with arousal. ¡°Again.¡± ¡°I love you.¡± His hand slipped around my throat. He held it loosely, pounding me until my knees shook, and I copsed on the bed. I inhaled, the air trapped by his fingers. My eyelids flitted from theck of oxygen, the act burning my body instead of filling it with fear. I loved him. I trusted him. ckness teased the edge of my vision as he fucked me, and then his hand left my mouth. I shattered. I floated on clouds,ing so hard my breath came in agonized gasps, and then I cried into the sheets. Tony bit my shoulder as he climaxed. We were two broken halves, trying to make ourselves whole, and God, it felt so good. He held me tight as he whispered, ¡°I love you, too.¡± 28 Tony 1 1/2 oz vodkaOwned by N?velDrama.Org. 1/2 oz lime juice 1/2 cup ginger beer Garnish: lime wedge We all have a monster inside us. He hates us. Conspires against us. Sabotages our rtionships. Destroys our dreams. Mine filled my head with doubt. You can¡¯t afford love. You¡¯ll die before you meet your firstborn. That voice held me hostage. It always dragged me deeper into the well the moment I¡¯d almost wed myself out. I couldn¡¯t count how many times I¡¯d rpsed because why prolong the agony? I would do it anyway. I wouldn¡¯t be a good father, but when she confessed her feelings after everything I¡¯d done to her, I wished we could have a family. Two kids. A dog. A house away from the city on a wooded property. My own little slice of heaven. The fantasy spun into images that tortured me for days. I pictured taking my kid to the cabin in the White Mountains, where my father and I had gone for hunting trips. I¡¯d even fantasized about Evie¡¯s pregnancy. What it would be like to fuck her while her belly swelled. Then reality kicked in my teeth. Everybody in Boston wanted to kill me. Even my cousin dodged my calls. Not a good sign. So I made my moves faster than he could keep up with. I met with street bosses of other gangs. I paid them to fuck up any douche bag on a bike. Knox¡¯s media contacts helped me deflect attention from the Family, but that did nothing for my rtionship with Vinn. So I stalked him. We were long overdue for a chat. The first hot weekend packed Salisbury Beach with families. Sunshine bleached the ribbons of kelp lying on the sand. I weaved through couples sitting under brightly colored umbres, the air thick with a salted scent I loathed. College kids yed strikeball. R&B beats pounded from a speaker wedged in the ground. People clinked beer bottles,ughed, and enjoyed themselves, and I floated among them like a joyless ghost. I hated the beach. I didn¡¯t always. I used to love sunbathing and swimming through the waves, but that required taking off my shirt, which would lead to shocked gasps and staring. It meant being assaulted by vivid shbacks. Bodies in the water. Floating hair. I scanned beachgoers until my gaze fell on a man¡¯s olive-skinned back. Vinn sat on a towel, soaking in the sunlight like a bronzed statue. His wife, Liana, lounged on a chair with their six-month-old, Christopher. Joshua, their firstborn, wore a sun bo. He tipped a stic bucket of sand over Vinn¡¯s shorts. An unfazed Vinn refilled it. I marveled at this domestic side of him. I wasn¡¯t lying when I said I still saw him as an innocent kid-the reason I couldn¡¯t bring myself to kill him. ¡°Hey, Vinny.¡± I parked my ass on his towel and stretched out my legs. Then I smiled and waved at his wife. Vinn bristled, but Liana perked up. ¡°Anthony! It¡¯s good to see you. Vinny didn¡¯t mention you wereing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ¡¯cause I didn¡¯t tell him. I apologize for dropping in. It¡¯s just so hard to get ahold of Vinny these days.¡± I grinned at the pint-sized version of Vinn, who offered me the shovel. ¡°Cute kid.¡± Vinn scooped up his baby and signaled his guards, two sunbathing soldiers who¡¯d let me approach Vinn. They stomped over, spraying me with sand. Liana shot him a disapproving re. ¡°Is that necessary?¡± ¡°Yeah, Vinny. We¡¯re supposed to be a family. I thought we could avoid an ugly scene in front of the missus and the children. Or I could scream about Costa business to the whole crowd. I¡¯ve done worse.¡± Vinn sighed. ¡°I stop taking your calls, so you ambush me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s called strategy.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll get your head caved in.¡± ¡°Unless you want your kids¡¯ first memory to be my corpse, I wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I¡¯m giving you ten seconds to fuck off,¡± he thundered, pointing down the beach. ¡°I figured you¡¯d rpse and do something stupid, but bribing my men to shoot up a bar?¡± I shrugged. ¡°You should be more worried that they¡¯re so easily swayed.¡± He seized my shirt cor and jerked me forward. ¡°You undermine me again, I¡¯ll kill you.¡± I fought a juvenile urge to throw sand at him. ¡°You made me marry her. You said she was my responsibility. Well, guess what? She was trafficked. Those biker assholes you want me to sing kumbaya with did that to her. You can judge me for retaliating, but you would¡¯ve done the same if it were your wife.¡± I yanked his hand from my throat. His marble-like features hardened. His mouth thinned as he turned away from Liana, whispering. ¡°Tell me about the three bikers in Chelsea.¡± ¡°They were holding out on me. I did what I had to.¡± I didn¡¯t like the way he looked at me. ¡°What, you¡¯re going to lecture me?¡± ¡°Anthony, you¡¯re with her because I wanted you distracted. I know you¡¯re troubled. It was a matter of time before you did something insane and got yourself killed. I figured the girl would keep you busy until I handled things.¡± Vinn ripped off his sunsses and massaged his temples. ¡°And then you did it anyway.¡± ¡°What do you mean handled things?¡± Hesitation narrowed his hawklike eyes. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one who¡¯s suffered at the hands of Legion. I wanted to pay the bastards back for what they did to us, and I needed you upied.¡± A pounding grew in my ears. ¡°For what?¡± ¡°To take them down,¡± he said, stunning me. ¡°The national president isn¡¯t happy with the Boston chapter. Jett isn¡¯t the brightest bulb. He mismanaged the club¡¯s money, and he¡¯s desperate for cash. I convinced him we¡¯d help with distribution. He¡¯d been giving me unfettered ess to everything until you screwed it up.¡± My vision clouded as I stared at Vinn, wondering if the bikers were savants for naming him Goliath. Big, dumb idiot. ¡°You forced me to marry some chick for an alliance you never intended on keeping?¡± I leaned forward, gaping at him. ¡°And it didn¡¯t cross your thick skull to tell me any of this?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not reliable, Anthony.¡± Once a junkie, always a junkie. That raked coals over my face. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I married her based on your whim.¡± ¡°I was sick of you lording your power over me. Worst case, you settle down. If you divorce the girl, I get control of the Family¡¯s assets. Either way, I win.¡± Vinn reced his sunsses, wearing a smile so smug it begged for a punch. If his wife weren¡¯t behind him, I would¡¯ve socked him in his lying mouth. Proving the fucker wrong yed into his hands, as did taking the high road. ¡°Or I take you to court, sue you, and rip that stupid fucking prenup into a thousand pieces.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t,¡± he deadpanned, his lips curving. ¡°You like the girl too much. Go home. You¡¯ll need my security if you want to stay alive.¡± ¡°So we¡¯re good?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± I stood and plodded through sand. A loud crack split the peaceful ocean air. I threw myself to the ground, jaw mming into a rock. A man in front of me screamed. Pockets of sand burst around me. Hysterical screams erupted with the hail of gunfire. I scrambled upright. Bodies smacked into me as people fled their nkets and chairs. Behind me, men in suits strolled down the bluffs. They aimed. Fired. Vinn¡¯s guards-dead. I stared, rooted to the spot. Then my hands clenched and I sprinted, drawing their fire away from Vinn and his family. The beach offered zero cover. Forward was my only way out. Nausea clenched my stomach as my knees crashed into cold water. I dove under a wave. The screaming and gunfire drowned out, I swam hard. The bullets had no chance of harming me as long as I stayed underwater. I poked my head above, sucking a lungful of air. I swam until I¡¯d exhausted myself. Then I treaded water as the sun beat on my face. I had few options. Eventually, I¡¯d have to return to shore. It was a golden strip in the distance. Scattered umbres and beach towels littered the sand, but everyone had gone. The shooting must¡¯ve been reported by now. Police had probably evacuated the area, but if these were traffickers, that wouldn¡¯t stop them. If I were them I¡¯d wait me out. Jesus Christ. Now what? ¡°Bro, you need help?¡± I whirled, facing a giant wall of a boat. I kicked onto my back as a group of shocked college kids clutching beer bottles gaped at me. ¡°Do you have room for one more?¡± A life preserver plunged into water. I grabbed the ring and floated to the boat. A blond kid hauled me aboard, and I copsed, heaving. A nket fell around my shoulders, and I patted the kid¡¯s arm in thanks. ¡°What are you doing all the way out here?¡± someone asked. ¡°Check the news.¡± A brte in a white bikini tapped through her phone, gasping. ¡°Shooter kills two at packed beach. What kind of psycho would do that?¡± * * * I holed up in my office, holding my skull as though I could yank out my muddled thoughts. Vinn texted me that he was okay, but those bastards had taken out his security and injured innocent people. Two were in critical condition. I¡¯d barely escaped with my life. I couldn¡¯t be sure who shot me, or why. Legion? Traffickers? Dimly, I listened to Evie walking through the penthouse, and the thought of never again hearing her footsteps pitted me with nausea. What if something happened to her? ¡°T, I need an answer.¡± I nced up from my hands. ¡°On what?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your decision?¡± Knox stood over the desk, waving a man folder at me. ¡°I¡¯ve drafted no-fault divorce papers because we can¡¯t get out of this another way. Courts don¡¯t like lifestyle uses. They¡¯re hard to enforce and unreasonable, and your prenup definitely falls under that.¡± My stomach clenched. We hadn¡¯t discussed this in months. In the beginning, I¡¯d nned to give them to her on our one-year anniversary. Six months into our marriage, I hated the sight of them. I ripped the folder from him and tore it to pieces. Then I dumped it in the wastebasket. If I¡¯d had a match, I would¡¯ve burned the fucker. ¡°Did I make myself clear?¡± ¡°Tony, think about you¡¯re doing.¡± Knox spoke slowly, as though I¡¯d suffered a concussion. ¡°Evie isn¡¯t pregnant, right? In six months, that¡¯ll be a problem. Those ounts disappear unless you take your cousin to court, which will put the nail in your coffin.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not divorcing Evie.¡± ¡°Abandoning your inheritance is not an option.¡± ¡°Says who?¡± ¡°Cainan. You might hate him, but he¡¯s keeping you alive.¡± I hadn¡¯t heard from him in weeks, and it made me uneasy. ¡°By letting them shoot me on a public beach?¡± ¡°Cainan doesn¡¯t have the power to sway the entire ring. They¡¯re under the impression that you just wanted your wife back. Emotions were running high. You snapped and killed him. Most of them are willing to overlook his death because K broke their rules. They¡¯re not supposed to take married women.¡± ¡°Because they¡¯re property of other men, and that¡¯s the only thing these dipshits respect.¡± ¡°Tony, not all of them agree. You¡¯ll have to look over your shoulder from now on. That¡¯s why I think we should proceed with the divorce early. You need leverage over Vinn. Lose that, and Cainan will write you off. There goes your protection from K¡¯s inner circle.¡± His mouth pulled in a contemptuous curl. ¡°If you¡¯re not willing to divorce her, get her pregnant.¡± Would giving Evie one baby be so terrible? My cousins seemed to manage. Their lives weren¡¯t miserable. Impregnating Evie would trap her with me. Forever. Even if we divorced, she could never cut me out of her lifepletely. That had massive appeal, but after days of self-reflection and considering it from all angles, I¡¯dnded on no. I¡¯d never be a good father. I couldn¡¯t protect anyone. Hell, I almost died just a few hours ago. ¡°She wants kids with me, Knox. Like actually wants them.¡± I raked my hair and downed the rest of my seltzer, wishing it were vodka. ¡°With me. Of all people. Doesn¡¯t she understand how insane that is?¡± ¡°Yeah, she should get knocked up by the mailman.¡± ¡°You know what I mean, you idiot. I can¡¯t raise a child.¡± ¡°How bad could you be?¡± I couldn¡¯t find out. ¡°What are the chances she¡¯ll drop this?¡± ¡°Unlikely. It¡¯s a biological drive for women, but the good news is that she¡¯ll have plenty of fertile years after you¡¯re murdered.¡± Fuck you. I¡¯d dig in my heels until the barrel was against my forehead. I wanted this marriage to work, but it was looking more likely that it wouldn¡¯t. Anguish knotted my stomach. ¡°Evie and I aren¡¯t breaking up.¡± Knox zipped his bomber jacket and red. As he left out the door, the monster¡¯s voice boomed in my head. You can want a happily-ever-after all you like. It won¡¯t happen. 29 Evie I¡¯m grateful that my husband is punctual. T: I¡¯ll be home in ten minutes. T: You better be kneeling. In the weeks since Tony moved in, hardly a day went by that he didn¡¯t fuck me senseless, and my work had suffered because he was all I wanted to do. I¡¯d never been in love before. I was unprepared for the desire blossoming within me, needing him every hour, the throttling arousal with his gentle touch, and putting his happiness first. I saw children in my future. I hoped someday he would change his mind. I loved him so much that I wanted the proof of our love carried from generation to generation, so that the man I¡¯d grown to admire never truly disappeared. I knelt several feet from the entrance, wearing a silk thong and nothing else. My body hummed as the door swung. Tony entered in te gray pants that hugged his athletic thighs and ass and a fitted white shirt that strained over a muscled chest. He reamed someone out on the phone. ¡°Che cazzo dici? Vai a prenderlo in culo.¡± He stabbed at the screen, ending the call. I recognized dick and asshole, which spoke volumes about my progress with learning Italian. He shuffled through the mail, stepping around me as he continued into the kitchen. He grabbed a ss from the dishwasher and filled it from the sink. After he set it down, he faced me. His greeting was a rough growl. ¡°Did I say you could move?¡± Tony¡¯s haughty disapproval tingled my skin like feathers. I sucked in my bottom lip as he approached. His hand skimmed my hair. Then it dipped. His coarse touch lit me like fireworks, even though it suggested he hated me. He grasped my chin. ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood for backtalk.¡± ¡°Sorry, sir.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pleased you followed my directions. It¡¯d be such a shame if I had to punish you for mouthing off.¡± I grinned. ¡°Well, then I wouldn¡¯t be me.¡± ¡°You like being my toy, don¡¯t you?¡± His sultry murmur stroked between my legs. ¡°You want to be tossed around, used for my pleasure, and fucked. You know it makes me crazy. You like it when I lose control. It turns you on.¡± ¡°It does.¡± Hunger gleamed in his gaze. ¡°Are you hoping that I¡¯lle inside you?¡± ¡°I want to give you everything.¡± ¡°I know. I see your beautiful heart.¡± His fingers tangled in my hair, caressing. ¡°I knew you were a good girl when I saw your photo. It was wrong¡­Fuck, it was so terrible of me to pick you. I thought I¡¯d y with you and get you out of my system, but I can¡¯t. You¡¯re mine.¡± ¡°I love you, too.¡± ¡°You better be sure, because I¡¯m not letting you go.¡± He cradled my jaw, his voice softening. ¡°You¡¯re one hell of a drug.¡± A hot ache grew in my throat. I wrapped my arm around his leg and leaned against his thigh. He brushed my hair until the sweet moment passed, and then his grip turned fierce. He pinned me over the coffee table. His seductive smile seemed to prate me before he wedged himself in my mouth. His head tilted back, rapturous. The sight made me ravenous for his attention between my legs. He granted my silent wish, pushing my thighs apart to lick me while he thrust in my mouth. When his breath hit my pussy, I surrendered. Later, I melted into a pool of bliss on our bed as Tony disappeared into the bathroom. His muscr frame slid in and out of view as he washed his face. He mopped his neck as he reentered the bedroom, the mouthwatering image of his briefs stretched over his glutes dragging me from the sheets. Still drunk on a post-orgasmic glow, I stumbled into his walk-in closet. ¡°Um-I was thinking we could go out tonight.¡± Tony zipped his pants. ¡°What did you have in mind?¡± ¡°There¡¯s this Thai restaurant downtown that looks awesome.¡± He frowned. ¡°I thought you hated Thai.¡± I shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve been having cravings.¡± Earlier today, I¡¯d scrolled through a social media post. I clicked on the link, and it brought me to the gallery of appetizing images. Suddenly, an intense yearning for condensed milk, ck tea, and coconut assaulted me. His brows pinched as he tucked in his shirt. ¡°I¡¯ll get a reservation under a fake name.¡± I crossed my fingers. ¡°It¡¯d be nice if Christian and Jennesy came, too.¡± ¡°Are they a thing now?¡± ¡°This would be their second date. She¡¯s actually sneaking out to see him.¡± ¡°Ah. Well, I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡± Tony¡¯sck of enthusiasm wilted me a little. He clearly had no interest, but at least he was trying. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed the skin above his unbuttoned cor. He endured it but didn¡¯t reciprocate. Then he disengaged from me. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know soon.¡± He pressed his lips into my cheek, the imprint of his mouth burning me. Then he left me in a breeze of vani musk. I returned to bed in a fog, texting Jennesy. Me: Double date is on. Jennesy: Yasss! Where? Me: I was thinking Thai. Jennesy: What? You hate Thai! Me: I know¡­but I have this craving for coconut and noodles. The other day I ate pickles and chocte cake. Together. LoL. Jennesy: Wow. Jennesy: Are you pregnant??! Shit. * * * I might be pregnant. The test I bought from Target shortly after that conversation sat on the counter, taunting me. If Jennesy¡¯s suspicions were right, it exined the bouts of nausea followed by an insatiable appetite, my missed period, and the strange cravings. I paced the bathroom, sweating. What if the result was positive? Excitement shot through my nerves because I¡¯d imagined this ever since Dad¡¯swyers shoved the prenup in my face. I had prepared for it before we¡¯d said ¡°I do,¡± but now I pictured our children¡¯s features and obsessed about the details. Would they have his hollowed gaze? Or my hooded eyes? No doubt, dark brown hair. Tall and wide, or more willowy, like me? Olive skinned or pale? I checked the test again. A faint line joined the solid one already etched in the window. Holy fuck, I was carrying Tony¡¯s child. An explosion took ce in the pit of my stomach. Isabe would be ecstatic. She¡¯d demand to be involved, and I¡¯d appreciate thepany. I didn¡¯t have a mom to bombard with questions. My heart fluttered as I pictured a whirlwind of events-ultrasounds, the baby shower, pushing a stroller in parks, Tony and I holding our newborn, Tony rocking her to sleep. My enthusiasm shorted out. Tony would be pissed. He didn¡¯t want kids and had told me so, repeatedly. He also said he loved me. That didn¡¯t mean he was willing to forgo his lifestyle to run to doctor appointments and change diapers. He might walk out on us. My mother had professed to love me before she vanished. In my world, people rarely stuck around. Men made promises and broke them. Jennesy was living proof. I liked to think Tony wouldn¡¯t abandon his child, but how could I be sure? He¡¯d shot down trying for a baby, and now it was happening, six months into our flimsy marriage. Devastation wracked my chest. I loved him. I loved his baby, but would our rtionship survive? * * * I quietly lost my marbles at dinner. I pretended to hate the Thai iced tea, which I could no longer drink, and avoided Jennesy¡¯s probing gaze. She¡¯d sent me several demanding texts after I ghosted that conversation-Holy fuck, you¡¯re pregnant?! I was kidding. If we locked eyes, I¡¯d start crying, or she would make an overture, and I¡¯d blurt the truth to a horrified Tony and Christian. Keep it together. I focused on our surroundings. ck-and-gold stenciled palm leaves red on the bar¡¯s backssh. Potted, leafy nts stood in every corner. We sat beside a purple wall glowing with Thai letters, shadowed in darkness. A single LED candle glowed in the middle of the rustic table, illuminating our faces and not much else. ¡°Good choice, T.¡± Christian flipped the menu, apparently impressed. ¡°This looks amazing.¡± Jennesy leaned into his side. She¡¯d pulled out all the stops tonight. She¡¯d tamed her messy curls into waves that brushed a ssy, ck cocktail dress. She kept batting her eyes at Christian, who shed a dimple in her direction. Tony had said little since we arrived, his fists clenched, watching the ss as though he expected an invasion. He tore his attention from it to peer at me. ¡°You couldn¡¯t wait toe here. Now you¡¯re picking at your food?¡± I set my fork down, trying to settle my nerves. In ny minutes or less, I¡¯d tell him he was a father. I avoided Tony¡¯s gaze and stared at myp. ¡°Sorry. I guess I¡¯m not feeling well.¡± His stare drilled into me. ¡°Do I need to hand-feed you? Because I don¡¯t mind giving our friends a show.¡± My cheeks zed. He red at me until I pushed a tiny ball of rice past my lips and chewed, grimacing. He gawked at me. ¡°You okay?¡± I forced my mouth to smile. It turned out that I hated Thai. Coconut still knotted my stomach and the nauseating smells from the kitchen didn¡¯t help. I¡¯d nibbled on the corner of the spring roll served with a peanut dipping sauce, but that was all I could stomach. I probably came off like a high-maintenance wife to everybody but Jennesy, who at least suspected the truth. ¡°nning anything for Mother¡¯s Day?¡± rm shot up my spine, but Christian¡¯s question was directed at Jennesy. ¡°I¡¯m sure the club is doing something. They¡¯re always good about keeping me involved.¡± Jennesy¡¯s smile glowed with happiness, and then it flickered out like a light. ¡°It sucks that you can¡¯te home,¡± she said to me. ¡°Ben misses his auntie. Maybe one day.¡± ¡°Evie will have to walk over my corpse on her way there because I¡¯m never allowing her to go to the MC again.¡± ¡°T, lighten up.¡± Tony swiveled his head at Christian, sneering. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it a few weeks ago that you mentioned I was too lenient on Evie?¡± Really? ¡°All right. Fine. I wouldn¡¯t like my wife visiting the club either. No offense, hon,¡± Christian added as he winced at Jennesy. ¡°I don¡¯t trust the MC.¡± ¡°They have no code,¡± interrupted Tony savagely. ¡°Or honor. They¡¯rewless beasts with no respect for themselves, their women, or their property.¡± Jennesy made a thoughtful sound. She didn¡¯t look put off, but it¡¯d lowered her spirits. Then Christian took her hand and whispered in her ear. Her googly-eyed stare returned. Jennesy¡¯s grabbed his tie and tugged him closer. Her saucy reply was lost to me, but Christianughed heartily. A wide grin cracked his handsome face. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± I felt terrible about suggesting this date. I was a voyeur to Jennesy¡¯s budding romance with Christian, especially since Tony didn¡¯t even want to be here. He tensed when people approached. After several failed starts at conversation, I gave up and eavesdropped on Christian. ¡°Four brothers. One girl,¡± exined Christian, digging into his Pad Thai. ¡°I¡¯m the oldest. I started working at fourteen to help provide.¡± ¡°Fourteen? Wow.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± His chest expanded in a gigantic sigh. ¡°Never finished high school.¡± ¡°I did, but I dropped out of college. And not to help out the family. I was naughty. Got pregnant out of wedlock.¡± ¡°Where is the dad, if that¡¯s not too private?¡± ¡°He died before Ben was born. His handle was Crash.¡± The name strangled me. Fuck-I¡¯d never told her about the circumstances involving Crash and Tony. I grimaced at Jennesy, and she stared at me, head-cocked, unaware she¡¯d crossed the line. Christian choked on his beer. Tony¡¯s attention snapped to Jennesy as though yanked by an invisible wire. ¡°Your boy¡¯s father is Crash?¡± ¡°Yeah. So?¡± Jennesy spooned her noodles as Christian shot Tony a ferocious stare. ¡°We had a brief fling.¡± Astonishment touched Tony¡¯s face, and then he bristled. ¡°You hooked up with that scumbag?¡± I sank my nails into his thigh. Christian growled a warning. Tony ignored us, eye-fucking Jennesy. Her brow was high and rounded as she returned his re. ¡°Not that it¡¯s any of your business, but he seemed like a decent guy. It¡¯s not like the club has a lot of variety.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll say.¡± I grabbed Tony¡¯s cor. ¡°Enough.¡± He ripped away from my touch before addressing Jennesy in a deadpan. ¡°I apologize. I¡¯m still raw from being kidnapped and tortured by your baby daddy. ¡®Scuse me.¡± He stood, bumping into the table. Drinks wobbled in his wake. Christian steadied his bottle, his cold eyes following Tony. I was mortified. ¡°Sorry, Jennesy. I should¡¯ve warned you.¡± Jennesy swallowed, nodding. I felt bad about leaving her, but Christian had already wrapped his arm around her. He murmured something that made her lean her head onto his shoulder and smile. I followed Tony to the men¡¯s bathroom. I slipped behind him and locked the door. Tony leaned over the sink, sshing his face. The water ran from the faucet but he didn¡¯t seem to notice. He stared into the mirror. I shut off the spigot. ¡°The man ruined my life.¡± Tony gripped the edges of the sink so hard, I worried it would break off. ¡°He¡¯s the reason I spent a year trapped in hell with no hope of surviving. Or escape.¡± ¡°I thought you said the MC kept you captive for a few weeks.¡± He ignored that, rubbing his arms. ¡°It sickens me that a piece of him is still alive.¡± ¡°Tony, that baby is the sweetest thing in the world. He¡¯s nothing like Crash. He¡¯ll never be like him.¡± ¡°He¡¯s growing up in a clubhouse, Evie.¡± ¡°Jennesy is an amazing mother. She¡¯ll be out of the MC before long.¡± My pulse hammered as I approached a subject close to my pregnancy. ¡°Two loving parents make all the difference.¡± ¡°You mean like we would be?¡± We will. My mouth opened, but I couldn¡¯t tell him that in a bathroom. Tony¡¯s faint smile suggested he was on to me, and he sighed. ¡°Evie, a baby is just a baby. It can¡¯t fix me.¡± ¡°When did I ever say you needed to be fixed?¡± Tony stepped away from the sink with an electrifying look that sent a jolt through me. He slipped his hands into my hair, undoing my curls as he smashed his mouth to mine. Heat rushed where he kissed me. He lingered, eyes closed as though savoring the moment. Wet heatshed the seam of my mouth, and I moaned. He pulled away with a growl. ¡°Let¡¯s leave before I bend you over the sink.¡± My heart pounded an erratic rhythm as we returned to a more cheerful Jennesy, who might¡¯ve beening on too strong. She pawed at Christian¡¯s chest and found every excuse to touch him. He was sweet about it but kept his hands to himself. We got through dinner without another outburst. Tony ordered a chocte mousse cake for us to share. When the check came, Tony thrust his credit card at the waiter, ignoring Christian¡¯s wallet. ¡°Thanks, T.¡± ¡°No worries.¡± Tony patted his arm. ¡°You¡¯ve put in many hours watching this one, and I know she¡¯s a handful.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Christian winked at me. ¡°I¡¯ve learned a lot about jewelry.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m no further in my Italian lessons. You should hear about the casserole incident.¡± ¡°What, did she screw up ziti?¡± ¡°Not exactly.¡± Tony grinned, giving my cheek an affectionate pinch. ¡°She tried to insult me in Italian and failed miserably.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Christian¡¯s smirk fell from his face. He pushed his chair back. Hairs on my neck rose with a tingling awareness as a man made a beeline through the restaurant. Christian reached into his jacket, whipping out his gun. A deafening bang rang out, cratering my eardrums. A powerful handnded on my spine and shoved, knocking my chin onto the ground. ¡°Stay down, Evie!¡± I did. I ttened my palms on the tiles as the stampede of feet pounded the floor. Gunfire cracked. Pained screams. Jennesy and I joined hands under the table until it flew away from over our heads. Wood crashed in front of our faces. Gunshots mmed into the booth. Dishes shattered. Gunpowder stung my nostrils. Then it was over. The smoke cleared as boots hammered the ground. A thunder of motorcycles fled as the sirens approached. A desperate gasp bottomed out my stomach. I scrambled out from cover. Two men sprawled on the floor, unmoving. Next to them, Christian. No. ¡°Christian?¡± Hey still, gasping. Red blossomed from a hole in his chest. I stared, my body stiffening as Tony knelt beside him, packing his wound with a tablecloth. Jennesy knocked me aside as she dove to him, jarring me awake. I sprinted to them and grasped Christian¡¯s hand as Jennesy helped Tony stanch the bleeding. My gut clenched as blood welled around their fingers. Shaking, I grabbed my phone and called 911. I choked on my words as crimson soaked through the fabric in seconds. ¡°Christian,¡± Tony pleaded, his bloody hand cupping his face. ¡°You¡¯ll be all right. Help ising. Don¡¯t die on me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll see my wife.¡± ¡°Fuck off with that shit! You¡¯re not going anywhere but the hospital.¡± The moment seemed suspended in time. With every half second, Christian faded. His lungs rose and fell slowly. His forehead smoothed. His skin paled. The fingers clutched in my grip ckened. ¡°Christian! Christian,¡± shouted Tony, his scream ripping through me. ¡°Don¡¯t give up. You saved my life.¡± Christian¡¯s lips twitched as he gasped for air. ¡°Don¡¯t waste it.¡± 30 Tony 2 oz bourbon 3/4 oz lemon juice 3/4 oz simple syrup Garnish: Angostura bitters Don¡¯t waste it. Christian¡¯s words haunted me as I sat beside Evie in the waiting room, removed from his inconsble family and Vinn, whose low, calm voice carried to our corner. ¡°Christian has the best doctors looking after him,¡± he assured a slender woman. ¡°He¡¯ll get the red nket treatment. Mrs. Bianchi, this is Alessio Salvatore. He¡¯s on the board of this hospital. He¡¯s here to make sure your son gets everything he needs.¡± My old college buddy stepped forward, shaking Mrs. Bianchi¡¯s hand. After a few minutes, Vinn bowed out of the conversation. His scalding gaze scanned the rows of chairs and struck me. Glowering, he headed to my side. His forbidding re seemed to have zero effect on Evie¡¯s biker friend, who shot upright, blocking Vinn¡¯s path. ¡°How is he?¡± demanded Jennesy. Vinn ignored her. ¡°We need to talk.¡± I nodded and stood, walking with him a short distance away. ¡°He¡¯s alive. In aa.¡± Vinn rubbed his stubbled jaw. ¡°Anthony, I don¡¯t want that biker bitch hanging around. She has to go.¡± I nced at Jennesy, who red at us. ¡°There¡¯s no harm in letting her sit here. Christian could use the support.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me what he needs, you selfish piece of shit. It¡¯s your fault he won¡¯t survive.¡± Vinn mmed his palm into my chest. ¡°I hope your dinner was worth it. Fucking junkie. This is a new low for you.¡± I¡¯d never be anything else to this asshole. ¡°I¡¯m tired of repeating myself, so I¡¯ll make myself clear. I am sober. I made the reservation under a fake name. Our guards were at the table beside us. They weren¡¯t paying attention. The shooter walked right up to us!¡± He shoved me again, dislodging thest of my patience. I sank my fist under his ribs. Vinn dropped, gasping. He was like Ozymandias, staring at me like he could hardly believe I had it in me. ¡°I¡¯m not an easy target anymore. Hit me, and I hit back.¡± He shot me a look full of bile as he staggered upright. ¡°Good. Gives me the perfect excuse to finally get rid of you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t scare me, Vincent. Everybody thinks you¡¯re a hardened criminal but you¡¯re just a sad, jealous little boy who hates me because I have the one thing you can¡¯t buy-a direct line to the throne.¡± Alessio grabbed Vinn as heunched at me. ¡°Anthony, that¡¯s enough!¡± ¡°Not nearly enough for this judgmental prick!¡± ¡°Anthony, for fuck¡¯s sake. Stop. He¡¯s the boss.¡± Eviscerating Vinn was effortless. He¡¯d had a hard-on for me ever since I could remember, because I had the good life and he had nothing. I had the girls, the money, the expensive cars, everything the dipshit wanted. Apparently, it didn¡¯t matter that I shared the wealth. It must¡¯ve killed him that I still had veto power over his business, which was ironic because I didn¡¯t want to be a don. ¡°If Christian dies that blood is on your hands.¡± Vinn¡¯s chest billowed under Alessio¡¯s outstretched arm. ¡°Get that girl out of here. Or I will.¡± Fine. I hated him, but his wintry disapproval sliced me to the bone. Without another word, he left and rejoined his captains. I ignored the hollow in my stomach and approached the girls. Jennesy had smudged her makeup with the same filthy tissue, and the sight of it somehow dissolved my anger. I took out the packet of tissues I¡¯d bought in the pharmacy for Evie and offered it to her. ¡°Thanks,¡± she whimpered, burying her sob in Kleenex. ¡°Is Christian-?¡± ¡°He¡¯s in aa. Might not make it through the night.¡± I grasped her forearm and she stood, blinking rapidly. ¡°I¡¯m sending you home with my associate, Rafael.¡± ¡°But I want to stay here.¡± ¡°The Family doesn¡¯t want you here, hon. I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s not up to me.¡± The anguish twisting her expression told me she understood. She nodded. ¡°You¡¯ll keep me updated?¡± she asked Evie. ¡°And tell him I was here. That they made me leave.¡± ¡°I will.¡± They hugged. Then I dragged her to Rafael, Christian¡¯s best friend. The stocky young man blinked when I shoved her into his arms. ¡°Get her out of here. Make sure she¡¯s all right, and take her wherever she wants.¡± His mouth thinned as he coaxed a weeping Jennesy into leaving. Christian was hanging onto life. I couldn¡¯t take it in. I walled off the agony. His sacrifice wouldn¡¯t be for nothing. I¡¯d forgotten my purpose during thest six months, but it reemerged in clear outlines. I had one goal-to disrupt human trafficking. I¡¯d aplished jack shit because I¡¯d been distracted by a glimmer of what-could-have-been. The bodies around me kept piling up, and if I didn¡¯t do something, Evie would be next. I strode to my wife¡¯s side and forbade my will to tremble. I stroked her hair. Her beautiful face tipped toward me, tears streaking her cheeks. Don¡¯t waste it. My throat tightened. ¡°Let¡¯s walk.¡± I motioned to the private security rmended by Cainan, two former Marines with torsos bigger than redwoods. They followed as we left the sanitized stench of hospital rooms and strolled outside. ¡°I did this to him,¡± she whispered, crumbling. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. You didn¡¯t even want to go. I dragged us there, and now he¡¯s in aa.¡± ¡°Evie, honey¡­you¡¯re not the one who pulled the trigger. If anything it¡¯s my fault. I knew it wasn¡¯t safe but I took you anyway. I want you to have everything, and it¡¯s fucking with my judgment.¡± ¡°I suggested it. I¡¯m-I¡¯m a monster.¡± ¡°I never want to hear you call yourself a monster again. I¡¯m the bastard. On our first date, I shoved you to the floor and fucked your mouth. I saved you from traffickers only to fuck you while you wore a cor they gave you. You don¡¯t know that I use arge amount of energy trying not to murder every biker Ie across. You don¡¯t know how many people I¡¯ve ckmailed and ruined to get what I want. I have to stop myself from doing terrible things to men who so much as look at you. Evie, you have no idea.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t do this.¡± ¡°Yes, I did. They¡¯re after me and they won¡¯t give up until I¡¯m dead. That¡¯s why we have to¡­ we can¡¯t be together anymore.¡± Hurty naked in her eyes. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sending you away,¡± I croaked, my chest caving in. ¡°You¡¯ll be free of this, just like you always wanted. I¡¯m setting you up at a ce where you¡¯ll be taken care of and safe.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not leaving!¡± ¡°Evie, how do you think I¡¯d feel if it were you in that hospital bed?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± she burst, her moods shifting so quickly I couldn¡¯t keep track. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere unless you¡¯reing, too.¡± ¡°I want to run away with you. I wish-God, Evie-I am not a man who wishes for things, but when I¡¯m around you¡­I wish I could have a normal life. I¡¯d leave all this to have that with you, but they¡¯ll find me wherever I go.¡± I had to see this through, no matter how badly it hurt. ¡°You¡¯ll start over without me.¡± My heart shrank as despair zed her voice. ¡°You made me fall in love with you. Now you¡¯re throwing me out?¡± ¡°Evie, this is the hardest thing I¡¯ve ever done. I hate this. Letting you go will kill me but I¡¯m being hunted by everyone in this city. And I have issues¡­stemming from my captivity that I¡¯ve never resolved. I can¡¯t have you around me when I lose control.¡± She still looked at me like I hung the moon in the sky. She stroked my head, thumb grazing my eyebrow, and I took a deep breath. She felt so good, and the joy sparked a vain hope. No. I doused it with ice and backed away from her intoxicating influence. ¡°Evie, it¡¯s done.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not giving you a choice.¡± Tears glistened on her pale cheeks as she began to cry. I couldn¡¯t handle the sound of her lungs, desperate to catch air. A vivid memory of Christian gasping tightened my throat. ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t understand unless you¡¯ve lived through it. And I don¡¯t want you to.¡± I cupped her tear-streaked face and kissed her cheek. ¡°I love you. I love you so much you would be scared to hear my thoughts.¡± I nodded at the men hanging in the peripherals. ¡°Go with them,¡± I ordered her, my voice hitching. ¡°You¡¯ll be all right.¡± ¡°Tony, this is stupid! My life is in Boston. I¡¯m not-stop it!¡± She pped their attempts to lead her to the car. ¡°Tony!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll return when it¡¯s safe.¡± But I wouldn¡¯t be around. ¡°Don¡¯t fucking touch me!¡± she bellowed as they peeled her off the wall. ¡°Let me go!¡± ¡°Sorry, Evie.¡± ¡°Tony, you can¡¯t! Please don¡¯t do this!¡± The guards restrained my wife, the sight stabbing my chest. I closed my eyes when she screamed, unable to watch as they dragged her into the waiting van. When I opened my eyes, a haze of tears obscured her from view. I blinked them away and sank on the curb, hollow and weakened. I¡¯d ripped her out of my life, but my heart would never stop loving her. I¡¯d wanted justice. All I got was heartbreak. They say that the best revenge is to have enough self-worth not to seek it. I tried, but the MC tested the monster in me. I¡¯d done too much damage. There was no way out. I dug my own hole too deep and I wouldn¡¯t drag the woman I loved down with me. Goodbye, Evie. * * * Jett was killing time at The Cuff. Time to put the fucker where he belonged-behind bars. Snitching on my enemies wasn¡¯t my style, but my love for Evie wouldn¡¯t let me kill him. I couldn¡¯t hurt her, even if she wasn¡¯t in my life anymore. My stomach hardened with a nauseating ache that¡¯d gripped me ever since the hospital. It was like withdrawing from heroin. The fix was right there. The need to go to her burned in my veins like fire, and no matter how often I told myself I¡¯d get through this-I wouldn¡¯t. I couldn¡¯t enjoy life without her. Hell, she was the reason I looked forward to waking up. I cased the ck building in Chinatown. In my youth, I¡¯d visited every strip club in Boston but steered clear of this spot because of the faded paint on the door marking it as a one-percenter hangout. I¡¯d listened to countless horror stories from the girls at Sanctum. Strippers invited who had made the mistake of epting that invitation to this bar by ouws worked without pay, were drugged, gang-raped, and often beaten. Those who stuck around were fed a steady diet of drugs and coerced into prostitution, just like the club girls. My phone buzzed. I answered it, holding my breath. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Is it done?¡± Cainan¡¯s voice, not Evie¡¯s husky whisper. My insides clenched with disappointment. ¡°They¡¯re on their way. Judge Gilstrap issued the warrant five minutes ago.¡± ¡°This will be a huge blow to their morale.¡± I didn¡¯t care. ¡°They¡¯ll have a new president in an hour.¡± ¡°Where are you right now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m there. Watching.¡± ¡°Tony,¡± he warned. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything.¡± ¡°I know you. Self-destruction is your favorite defense mechanism.¡± ¡°Thanks for the pep talk, Freud.¡± I hung up and got out of the car. I stood on the street. An edgy, twitchy feeling crept over my limbs. I let it overtake me as I strode to the bouncer. I showed him my license. His dull eyes barely flicked at it before he stepped aside. Faint shock rippled down my spine as I stepped into the club. shing lights illuminated feminine silhouettes, twirling on stage. Bikers drooled over the strippers, ignoring me as I climbed to the office. Nobody guarded the door. I shoved it open. A girl bobbed between a man¡¯s widespread legs, giving head. Jett leaned back on a sofa, his skin flushed. His fingers were knotted in her hair and her face was a mess of tears and mascara. I unholstered my Glock and pointed it at him. Jett¡¯s eyes slid into focus, as though wondering if I were really there and not a mirage. Then he shoved her aside and yanked his jeans over his cock. ¡°Costa. You¡¯re alive.¡± ¡°Disappointed?¡± I ripped off my coat and handed it to the girl crawling toward the door. ¡°Call yourself a cab and get out of here.¡± She wrapped herself in my jacket and took off. Jett stared. ¡°How the hell did you get in?¡± ¡°Bouncer didn¡¯t even recognize me. You must be scraping at the bottom of the barrel for prospects.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your fuckin¡¯ fault,¡± he said hoarsely. ¡°Where¡¯s my daughter?¡± ¡°Gone.¡± ¡°Gone where?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± I growled, my arm trembling from not squeezing the trigger. ¡°She¡¯s out of my life forever.¡± ¡°She¡¯s dead?¡± I remained silent, seething. I wanted him to know that he would never see Evie again, but clearly, Jett didn¡¯t give a flying fuck. A flicker of remorse wrinkled his brow as he hiked up his pants. He didn¡¯t care. I grappled with the urge to fire between his legs, but he¡¯d bleed out before I got anything useful out of him. I promised myself I wouldn¡¯t kill him, so Ipromised. I pistol-whipped his jaw. His bearded face twisted with agony, and he fell out of the chair. As he iled on the floor and cried, I stared through the blinds in the parking lot. Six Harleys rolled up. Six leather- and denim- d figures jumped off their bikes, running toward the entrance. I was numb to the danger, emotionally depleted. I had nothing left. I was tired. So fucking tired. I just wanted it to end. ¡°Guess they figured out that you¡¯re going to jail. I wonder how long it¡¯ll take for someone to shank you in the chow line? Oh well, not my problem.¡± Jett gaped at me, his neck flushing. ¡°You snitched on me?¡± I was well aware of the code of honor against talking to the police, but I¡¯d stopped caring about that bullshit years ago. I shrugged. ¡°What can I say? Dad raised me to be an upstanding citizen.¡± His lip curled. ¡°You won¡¯t outlive the weekend!¡± ¡°Well, you gave it your best effort, and I¡¯m still here.¡± ¡°Evie will never forgive you!¡± Would she? I wasn¡¯t sure. I had a hard time thinking at the moment. ¡°Cops will be here any minute, but first I have to rify a few things.¡± I backed away from the window and faced him. ¡°Where is Evie¡¯s mother?¡± Jett paled. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I know you trafficked her.¡± I¡¯d suspected it since Evie told me that story about her mother. Then I found out a week ago. One of Knox¡¯s genius innovations had been an algorithm used byw enforcement to match women¡¯s faces to images and videos online. I hadn¡¯t told Evie what I¡¯d found. Evie didn¡¯t need the guilt of her mother¡¯s disappearance on top of everything else. I knelt beside him, searching for regret in those fathomless ck eyes that reminded me so much of my wife. My stomach turned. ¡°Who did you sell her to? Please, God, tell me it wasn¡¯t K.¡± ¡°I never sold her. I gave her to him.¡± Rage rippled through me, and I swung my arm. My gun caught Jett¡¯s nose, shattering it. He spasmed, clutching his face as it streamed with blood. He rocked on the floor and moaned. ¡°Why?¡± I bellowed, my voice breaking. ¡°Is nothing sacred to you? How the fuck do you do that to your child?¡± ¡°I love my daughter,¡± he groaned. ¡°Vicky-she wanted to take off with my kid!¡± ¡°You made her a ve.¡± ¡°I had to get rid of her. He promised me he wouldn¡¯t kill her, and that I¡¯d never see her again.¡± He raised his palm as I aimed the gun at him. ¡°Don¡¯t. Please.¡± He¡¯d condemned her to very because she dared to dream of a better life. These fucking people. How long before Evie would¡¯ve pissed him off and he¡¯d done the same to her? ¡°Did you arrange to have Evie trafficked?¡± ¡°Are you crazy? She¡¯s my daughter!¡± ¡°Since when has that meant anything to you?¡± Kill him. I really wanted to, but it wouldn¡¯t do Evie any justice. Or her poor mother. Thinking of them shattered my rage. I holstered my gun as red and blue lights shed into the office. Numb, I left, descending into the club still pulsing with rock music. Cops swarmed the interior, tearing the ce apart. Detective Cobane, a man in histe forties with a wide jaw, nodded at me. I stood by my car as cops rounded up everyone in a leather cut. Evie would¡¯ve been grateful for theck of violence. She always brought joy to every moment. A sick yearning assaulted me. I missed her already. Why the hell had I sent her away? I should¡¯ve felt good about doing the right thing, but it made me physically ill. I couldn¡¯t breathe without my lungs aching. This was a mistake. I needed her more than ever. ¡°Tony.¡± Cainan sped my shoulder, peering at me. His tant otherness stalled me. He wore a polo and khakis, his auburn hair sparking under the dying sun. All the cars had vanished. The cops had disappeared, and I hadn¡¯t even noticed. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t answer your phone. I got worried.¡±Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. I shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look well, T.¡± I must¡¯ve looked like shit. ¡°I¡¯m all right.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not. Let me give you a lift home.¡± Cainan guided me to his BMW. He opened the passenger-side door, which struck me as strangely courteous until I slid into the seat. And stared into a loaded barrel. 31 Evie I¡¯m grateful that he underestimates how stubborn I can be. I would not leave my husband. Tony might¡¯ve convinced himself he was monstrous, but he had yet to prove it to me. He didn¡¯t even know about the baby. I could¡¯ve said something, but I worried he¡¯d push me away even more. He barely let me get a word in before he shoved me toward the guards. Why the fuck was he doing this? Did he think I was a shrinking violet after growing up in the MC? I shoved clothes into a bag I had no intention of bringing. I made coffee. I stalled, ignoring the guards¡¯ vicious side-eye as I flopped onto the couch and thumbed through TV reruns. Tony¡¯s hired security nted themselves in front of the door and wouldn¡¯t budge. Strangely, they didn¡¯t seem to give a shit that I¡¯d stopped ¡°packing¡± an hour ago. More frustrating were my unanswered texts. Me: Look. I¡¯m not going anywhere. I took a picture of myself sprawled on the cushions and sent it. Me: See? If you want me out of your life, you¡¯ll have toe here and do it yourself. Me: I have something very important to tell you. Me: I just found out I¡¯m A knock hammered the door. I abandoned the unfinished text as I sprang upright. The guard stepped aside and opened the door. I dashed across the floor, growling with relief. ¡°About freaking t-¡± A tall, pale-skinned man stepped into the foyer with an air of superiority that made me want to punch him, despite his great looks. He wore a dark zer over charcoal pants, immacte in a way that shouldn¡¯t be allowed. Not one strand strayed from his perfectly coiffed waves, which sparked like copper fire in the light. Two ck hooded eyes under a prominent eyebrow bridge. Shadows ran along the corner of his mouth to his high cheekbones, and they curved wildly when his full mouth tipped in a smile. ¡°Hello, Evie.¡± His musical voice pitted my stomach with nausea. Sweat broke over my body as he approached, close enough for me to count the freckles dotting his wrists. I frowned at the security guys, arms crossed. ¡°I didn¡¯t say you could let him in.¡± ¡°They actually follow my orders.¡± He offered me a disarming smile, so light and innocuous it raised my hackles. ¡°My name is Cainan. I¡¯m here to help you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want your help.¡± ¡°I think you do.¡± My stomach hardened as the click of a penlight echoed in my mind, dragging forth images of me bound, helpless, and shoved on an auction block. ¡°You were with Tony. That night.¡± Judging by his rapidly cooling demeanor, that was extremely unwee. ¡°You would do well to forget the events of that night,¡± he said, his gaze clinical. ¡°And my part in it.¡± ¡°Then why did youe?¡± ¡°I had to see what all the fuss was about. Meet the girl that ruined everything.¡± A chill skated down my spine. ¡°Ruined?¡± ¡°Yeah, you fucked up my ns. Ever since he met you, he¡¯s been distracted. Sloppy.¡± Cainan sighed heavily and strolled away from me. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. You¡¯re nothing special-no more than a pretty girl with a nice rack.¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Who was this man and why was he in my house? ¡°Go fuck yourself.¡± ¡°And not very good at banter, either.¡± ¡°Do you know where my husband is?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about him anymore. He¡¯s been captured. He¡¯s at the MC.¡± Oh my God. I grabbed my purse and shot toward the elevator. Cainan grabbed my shoulder and held me still. ¡°You¡¯re staying here.¡± ¡°Like fuck I am!¡± ¡°It¡¯s what Tony wants. Besides, it¡¯s not safe for you at the MC.¡± Shit. He was right. My pulse shot to the stratosphere. ¡°Can you help him?¡± Cainan shook his head slowly, pained. ¡°I tried. I did what I could, but¡­he¡¯s not getting out of this.¡± ¡°Then let me help him!¡± I shouted brokenly, trembling. ¡°He¡¯s my husband. I can¡¯t sit here and wait for him to die.¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t want me to put you at risk.¡± I seized his zer and yanked, but it was like pulling on a wall. ¡°I don¡¯t give a shit about what he wants! You¡¯ll take me to him right now!¡± A flicker of amusement danced in his ebony gaze before it hardened. ¡°I¡¯m trying to do right by him.¡± ¡°Please, Cainan. I love him. I¡¯ll do anything for him. Anything. Don¡¯t rip my family apart before it¡¯s barely started.¡± I sank to my knees as the tears burning my eyes burst free. ¡°I¡¯m having his baby! I can¡¯t do this on my own! I need him. God, I need him.¡± A benign smile staggered across his face as he drank in my kneeling position, his hand hovering over my head. He lightly brushed my hair. ¡°He does have a chance of surviving if you go¡­but you might not make it out alive.¡± * * * Something wasn¡¯t right. I called Vinn Costa before we left, locking myself in the bathroom and running the faucets so Cainan couldn¡¯t hear me beg him for help. Vinn¡¯s callous ¡°not my fucking problem¡± and the abrupt end of our phone call shattered my hope, until Cainan¡¯s ck Audi rolled up beside a familiar, chain-linked fence. The club has Tony. It was strangely deserted. The few men wearing leather cuts packed their SUVs. People¡¯s expressions seemed drawn and tight. I wed at my cheeks as I pictured the scene inside the clubhouse, trying like hell not to despair. If anybody could talk the club out of murdering Tony, it¡¯d be me. Cainan stepped out like a king in the desert, frowning. His guards followed at the rear as we stepped onto the dirt path. Steel chimes jangled from a mobile home. A dampening chill wrapped my limbs as people stepped outside their homes to gawk at me. Eyes fell on Cainan; nothing of his specter-like, immacte appearance belonged here. A chicken clucked, and Cainan stared at Martha¡¯s birds, their golden feathers ruffled as they preened themselves. ¡°Charming,¡± he noted, not sounding charmed at all. ¡°This reminds me of post-Soviet viges in Hungary.¡± I ignored him, making a beeline for the clubhouse. People stared as I headed for the brick building. A door flew open, and a blonde woman stepped out. Jennesy stood on her porch in rubber boots. Her cotton-candy hair streamed as she ran toward me. ¡°Evie! Evie, they have him. He¡¯s inside.¡± ¡°I know. Is he okay?¡± ¡°Nobody¡¯s allowed in.¡± Jennesy yanked me into a fierce hug. ¡°And I heard about your dad. I¡¯m so sorry.¡± My dad? I shoved that aside. ¡°I need to get Tony.¡± I disengaged from her and left her, concern written all over her features. I joined Cainan, whose hand suddenly sailed up my back. It seemed like a protective, if oddly possessive gesture. When we got to the clubhouse, I shrank from his touch, but Cainan didn¡¯t seem to take the hint. His fingers bit into the back of my neck. He squeezed, hard. ¡°You will do everything I say,¡± he seethed. ¡°You¡¯ll obey me without question, or you won¡¯te out alive.¡± I¡¯d never heard a voice darker than my husband¡¯s, until Cainan spoke with that awful gravel. My flesh crawled. ¡°The only man I obey is my old man, and you sure as shit aren¡¯t him.¡± ¡°Well, then. I guess hell is getting two souls tonight.¡± Cainan¡¯s fingers bit into my neck as he marched me into the clubhouse. We strode through the bar and into the back, where a prospect peeled back a rubber mat and revealed a trapdoor. Cold sank into my bones as we followed the stairs to a door with a keypad. The airpressed as we stepped through, or perhaps it just seemed that way because this wasn¡¯t the club I¡¯d grown up in. This had to be an entrance to another world. This couldn¡¯t be where I¡¯d celebrated a thousand birthdays. Rock music pulsed above a dark chamber rich with the scent of blood. Maleughter rebounded off cement whose wall sconces illuminated the space in an eerie glow. A straight-backed man with shoulder-length hair faced a hunched over figure. Chains dangling from the ceiling led to shackles at his wrists. He was shirtless and beautiful, ring like a vengeful God. He stood dazedly, reeling from a blow. He hissed like an animal. Crazed, he hurled himself at them but missed by several feet. Light bounced off his tanned skin, revealing the ruined flesh, the table of tools they¡¯d used on him. A lump wedged in my throat. I knew he would be hurt, but I wasn¡¯t prepared for how it¡¯d make me feel. My legs trembled as Tony transformed into a beast, thrashing at his restraints, throwing himself against the wall, spitting mad like a wildcat. He tore at the bindings with his fingers. Ghost gleamed from the back of a man¡¯s leather cut. He scratched his head, grinning. ¡°I think we broke his fucking brain.¡± Cainan marched me into the thick of the action, disgustyering his voice. ¡°You weren¡¯t supposed to mark his skin.¡± ¡°Rx, man. It¡¯s a couple scratches.¡± ¡°My buyers expect a nk canvas.¡± Ghost pointed at his misaligned nose. ¡°I had to pay him back for what he did to my fucking face.¡± I elbowed Cainan, whose grip loosened on my neck. ¡°Tony!¡± He stiffened as I ran to him. I collided with his chest and wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing his battered cheeks, his forehead, his mute lips. A st of air hit my lips with his surprised gasp. His ssy stare skipped over me. ¡°Evie¡­Evie, why are you here?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get you out of here. I promise.¡± ¡°No,¡± he moaned, his chest hitching. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want you here. Evie¡­You can¡¯t be here.¡± Tears choked my voice as I stroked the cowlick from his face. ¡°I love you.¡± His eyes were wild with terror, begging me to run-to save myself. I wouldn¡¯t. I couldn¡¯t. A rough grip ripped me from Tony, whose outstretched hands stopped short of grabbing me. He snarled, yanked back by the chains. A mouth whispered in my ear. ¡°Been waiting for you, Evie.¡± Ghost¡¯s ruined face broadened with a predatory grin as his hands curled around my stomach. ¡°So convenient of you to show up in a skirt. Let¡¯s see if you¡¯re wearing panties.¡± His touch syed over my thigh. Tony hurled himself against his restraints. I huddled against the wall, speechless. Ghost¡¯s thunderous expression and the menacing presence of the other bikers hinted they were beyond yful banter. I had one option. Fight. ¡°Stop it,¡± I demanded, my heart in my throat. ¡°My dad will destroy you.¡± ¡°Your dad is in jail. Along with half the fucking club. Nobody¡¯sing to the rescue.¡± His smile was without malice, almost apologetic. ¡°You have a debt to pay before I turn you into my wife-if I decide the money you¡¯ll inherit when Costa is dead is worth it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± the man behind me croaked. ¡°After Costa dipped his dick in that?¡± ¡°Hmm. You might be right, Diesel.¡± Ghost¡¯s head cocked as he peered at me. ¡°Let¡¯s rip off that shirt and see what¡¯s underneath.¡± My stomach clenched tight as they closed in, my only way out blocked by Cainan. Panic quaked through my limbs as he lifted my shirt, my fragile control cracked by one careless movement. I swallowed hard. ¡°I¡¯m already married.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be widowed before long, and rich as hell.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not marrying you.¡± ¡°So you¡¯ll be our ything?¡± Ghost shrugged, exchanging nces with the other men. ¡°Fine by me.¡± ¡°Let me out, now.¡± My gaze jumped from man to man, searching for a frailty, one weakness I could exploit. ¡°You can¡¯t do this to one of your own. I grew up in the club!¡± ¡°I gave you a chance. You sed Costa on me.¡± Ghost pressed his mouth to my neck, his voice smoothing like butter on toast. ¡°So now you¡¯ll put that sharp tongue to a sweeter use.¡± I couldn¡¯t push him off. Ghost¡¯s chest resisted my hands like an iron wall. My fists flew at him, and he absorbed every blow with a raised brow, revealing nothing but a vague amusement. He turned at the waist, shing a get-a-load-of-this grin at the others. Theyughed. Sons of bitches. Ished out like a cornered animal, beating him until acid ate my muscles and my fists were yed meat. A vivid heat shot up my third knuckle to my elbow. I gritted my teeth as Ghost balled my hands, pinning them over my head. His fingers were like zip ties. The utter dominance of my body gnawed at my sanity. I¡¯d never felt so out of control. Helpless. Tony thrashed at his restraints, bellowing a wounded sound over and over. A raw grief gripped my throat as Ghost stopped my escape with a fierce pinch of my injured wrist. There was nothing I could do-nothing against three adult men. ¡°Gentlemen,¡± growled Cainan in a low warning. ¡°Until my buyers arrive and we make the trade, the girl belongs to me. Hands off.¡± What was his angle? Would he save us? The ceiling rattled as Tony lunged at him, once again ripped back. Ghost¡¯s low chuckle filled the space as he addressed the others in a yful tone. ¡°What do you think, guys? Should I let her go?¡± The chorus of no bottomed my stomach. ¡°Three against one. Sorry.¡± He leaned in so close his breath gusted my cheek. ¡°You¡¯re going to be so much fun.¡± I kicked, aiming for his balls. He blocked me with a raised leg, tutting. His fingers gouged my flesh, shooting fire to my elbow. His brutal strength made my hands whiten, and his eyes shed with a warning. I clenched my teeth and squeezed my eyes shut. Block him out, my mind chanted. Hide. My head filled with pictures of a sunny day at the beach, tiny grains of sand sticking to my feet, kelp wrapping my ankles. The images doused water on the ze in my throat. ¡°My buyers are here.¡± ¡°Tell them toe on down.¡± Cainan opened the door, and three men in suits descended into the room. He shook hands with them and gestured to Tony. ¡°There he is, just as I promised. And the girl.¡± Ghost ignored their conversation, his fingers skating the edge of my waistband. ¡°I¡¯m holding back, Evie. I¡¯ve got no idea why. Maybe I¡¯m a greedy fucker and I don¡¯t want to share you, but that can¡¯t be it. I¡¯ve shared women with my brothers before. Never gave a fuck.¡± ¡°L-let us go. You¡¯ll never see us again.¡± ¡°Why would I want that?¡± he quipped, his nose trailing my cheek. ¡°You have no idea how often I fantasized about destroying your cunt. Your father cockblocked me at every turn.¡± My stomach sank even lower. I need to get out of here. He gripped my head and twisted so that my cheek ttened on the wall. Then his lips touched my ear. ¡°I¡¯m taking your pussy.¡± A flicker of potent terror shot my heart. Fear gripped my throat, slowly robbing me of air. I tried to inhale. My lungs wouldn¡¯t cooperate. Everything had retreated within the spiraling ck mass inside me. ¡°The devil inside me wants to do it now.¡± Ghost pressed his lower half into me, rolling his hardness onto my thigh. ¡°Unless you give me a reason to wait.¡± I sputtered around the lump in my throat, not missing the suggestion in his voice. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve beenid,¡± he drawled. ¡°Not much opportunity in the hospital. I guess I can wait a little longer.¡± I choked on air, my lungs seizing as I connected that hardness with the space between my legs. Then he held a finger to my face, stroking my cheek. I recoiled against the shiver of loathing, snapping away from his touch. He grabbed my jaw and twisted it around, away from Tony¡¯s mad attempts to reach me, to the bikers and the traffickers¡¯ eager staring. My teeth chattered, and then a ripple of fury swam underneath my panic. ¡°I am not yours,¡± I burst in a hoarse voice. ¡°I am not a fuck doll. I am not a receptacle for your dick or whatever insecurity makes you attack women. Fuck off.¡± Ghost shoved me. My knees struck the ground, and he fisted my hair. He ripped at his jeans. Down went the zipper, but I didn¡¯t see anything but the blue of his shirt. Dimly, I heard Tony¡¯s enraged roar. ¡°You¡¯re not going to bite me, are you?¡± ¡°W-what?¡± He grabbed my hair and tipped my head. ¡°You¡¯ll take it like a good girl. Everyone will get their turn, and then, angel, we¡¯ll share your pussy.¡± Just the thought of it shattered me. I recoiled violently. ¡°Please don¡¯t. Please-¡± ¡°There is no bargaining when you¡¯re a club whore.¡± He worked his thumb in my mouth, hooking it behind my teeth. ¡°Unless you want to be my olddy.¡± ¡°Why the fuck would you want that?¡± ¡°I want Costa¡¯s money. After he¡¯s dead, you and I are walking down the aisle. You¡¯ll sign everything over to me. Say yes, and this stops.¡± Ghost watched me, his smile deceptively warm. ¡°I won¡¯t let them touch you.¡± Biting him crossed my mind, but his closed fist nudged my chin, as though reminding me. I flinched as he opened his hand and pped me, the sting bursting over my cheeks. I barely kept it together. My mouth went dry as I pretended to consider his suggestion, searching for a way out. The ceiling rattled violently with Tony¡¯s desperation. Blood ran down his wrists in torrents-God, I couldn¡¯t look at him while this happened to me. My breath seemed to solidify in my throat, lodging like ice. I opened my mouth, but there was no sound. My ears filled with a violent buzzing. I turned my head as a plea wailed in my chest. I searched the other men for doubt, finding only ravenous hunger. ¡°Don¡¯t look at them. They¡¯re hoping you say no.¡± His smile twitched. ¡°So am I.¡± What should I do? No help wasing. Warmth trickled down my palms, blood swimming where my nails dug. I shook my head, tears blinding my vision. ¡°You sure pride is the hill you want to die on?¡± he said as he teased his finger in my mouth. ¡°You don¡¯t give me the answer I want in five seconds, and we¡¯re all taking you.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°Yes or no?¡± Ghost slipped from my mouth, his fingers gouging my arm as he hauled me upright. ¡°Marry me or get fucked by everybody in this room.¡± I squeezed my eyes shut. ¡°I-I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°All right.¡± His soft tone tricked me into believing I was safe, the momentary relief scoured by a tongue on my cheek. He licked me, from my jaw to my ear, which he bit hard. I was like a meat he savored. Disgust pitted my stomach, mingling horribly with a climbing dread. Acid shot up my throat. I swayed, fingers scraping his leather cut. Fingers. I had weapons, too. Ten of them. My thumbs shot into his eye sockets. I gouged them hard. He shouted, rearing back, teeth shing, but I gripped his skull like a barnacle, shoving my fingers as deep as they¡¯d go. Someone grabbed me in a chokehold. A fat, hairy bicep squeezed my throat, ripping me off Ghost. The room exploded with my voice as Ghost recovered, rubbing his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re not touching me ever again! I¡¯ll blind you before I let you fuck me. You hear me? You sick, disgusting, pervert.¡± My gaze bounced from Ghost¡¯s red-eyed menace to the dipshit beside him. ¡°Try it again, you fucking-¡± The arm pressing on my throat cut me off. ¡°Thanks,¡± said Ghost to Diesel. He lowered his tone as he faced me. ¡°So you have some fight in you. Good.¡± ¡°You all right?¡± Diesel asked. ¡°I¡¯m fucking fine, just surprised.¡± Ghost tossed his head, ring at me. ¡°Who taught you to fight like that, you little cunt? Was it your dad?¡± Being lectured on violence by this piece of shit was really rich. I wanted to call him out on it, but the arm crushing my windpipe prevented any speech. My lungs burned as I fought to grab him, sinking my nails into his flesh but barely gaining air. I gasped, wing his arm. Even if somebody outside heard the screaming, they¡¯d be slow to call the police. You didn¡¯t rat on Legion MC and expect to live. Ghost nced at the door. Shrugging, he turned back to me. ¡°There¡¯s no helping. None that I can¡¯t destroy, anyway-Diesel, ease up on her throat. I don¡¯t enjoy fucking cadavers.¡± Air streamed into my lungs as the pressure on my windpipe disappeared. I sucked in greedily, the world spinning back into focus as Diesel traced the underside of my breast. Heat red in my cheeks. I tried to contract, a vain attempt to shield my body from their roaming eyes, but Diesel¡¯s iron grip prevented even the slightest struggle. I closed my eyes, my shame unbearable. ¡°I like ¡¯em bigger,¡± quipped Diesel. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t marry a woman with no rack.¡± I imagined my face burning a vivid scarlet. My blood pounded as Diesel¡¯s hand slipped to my breast. He seized a handful and squeezed, the sensation nothing like my husband¡¯s touch. It was so viting I had to mp my lips shut. A rush of acid surged up my throat. ¡°But the plus side is they don¡¯t get in the way while you¡¯re fucking,¡± he said, tweezing my nipple. ¡°I¡¯m more interested in her pussy.¡± Ghost¡¯s condescending re dared me to object. Then he palmed my breast, and rolled his thumb over my nipple. He inhaled a deep breath and closed his eyes, as though drunk on the scent of my fear. ¡°I call dibs on her pussy.¡± ¡°You fuckers are forgetting me,¡± the man by the door chimed. ¡°Plenty of her to go around,¡± Ghost soothed, his blue eyes impaling me. ¡°She¡¯s got a mouth, doesn¡¯t she? You and Poison can share while I take her pussy. How does that sound, Evie?¡± How do I escape this? ¡°Let¡¯s put her on the table.¡± I dug my heels in the carpet, my mind a snarling mess of fear. I leaned back and kicked Ghost, my heel mming into his stomach. He grabbed my foot, apparently unfazed by the blow. He yanked hard, ripping me from Diesel straight into his arms. A malevolent gleam had reced the lust shining in Ghost¡¯s eyes. My pulse rocketed. ¡°Hold her still.¡± Terrified of the dark promise in thatmand, I cracked my head into his skull. I tore at his face, whirling, kicking, and screaming. I wouldn¡¯t stop until they killed me. ¡°I hope you¡¯re on the pill.¡± He nted a nauseating kiss under my jaw. ¡°Otherwise you¡¯ll never know who gave you the baby.¡± A shooting pain hit my chest, crumbling myst reserve of calm. It was like he¡¯d stabbed me. Then it burst out of me-¡°No! I¡¯m already pregnant!¡± Tony¡¯s inhuman snarling stabbed into my head. A gunshot-like crack sliced the air. 32 Tony 30 mg Oxycodone 5 mg cocaine 1 needle 1 prayer The chains fell from my wrists. I seized the machete they¡¯d taunted me with. My throat tore with an inhuman sound as I shed at Ghost¡¯s outstretched arm, severing him from the elbow. I ripped Evie from him and tossed her behind me. I¡¯d kill them. All of them. The whole fucking world. Three bangs erupted from the exit as Cainan fired at their backs. I exploded onto Diesel and stabbed his neck with the machete. He choked as I ripped it free. A man grabbed my shoulder. I whirled, shing his face. Another took it in the gut, the one who wanted to rape my pregnant wife, until he disappeared into a puddle of blood. Soft sobbing filled the space as Ghost crawled over the bodies. I strolled to him and relished the sight of him, bleeding out, terrified. Then I pointed the knife¡¯s edge on his back. My palm hit the butt of the de, sinking it through his leather cut slowly, until it struck the ground, pinning him there like a bug. I spat on his twitching body. Rage still blinded me to the horrifying scene, like a red filter over my eyes. She stood there in ck and white, stark against my rage. Then the veil lifted, and I took in the carnage, and Evie¡¯s whitened face, and my throat tightened. She¡¯s pregnant. Warmth glowed through me, extinguished by the cool draft of Cainan¡¯s sarcasm. He stepped forward, pping me on the back. ¡°Congrattions, Anthony. You¡¯re a daddy.¡± I grabbed his elbow, twisted it, and shoved him toward the floor, keeping my grip on him. ¡°Ten seconds to exin yourself or I rip off your arm, too.¡± ¡°I saved your lives. Took out two goliaths at once.¡± He turned his head, stony-faced. ¡°Once you locked up the president, his VP, and the sergeant of arms, I made a deal with the only biker left with any power. The road captain. I did the same with the traffickers I haven¡¯t been able to control. I promised Evie to the MC, and you to the traffickers. Then I got them to meet in the same room. Couldn¡¯t have worked out more perfectly.¡± ¡°And if I couldn¡¯t break free?¡± I increased pressure on the bone, but Cainan didn¡¯t react. He was as expressionless as a reptile. ¡°I would¡¯ve stopped it.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t see you lift a fucking finger!¡± ¡°Sometimes, you have to take a huge risk to reap an even bigger reward. You were right. Slow and steady wasn¡¯t working, and I saw a golden opportunity to get rid of them. I knew you could do it, Tony. I¡¯ve seen you fight so many times.¡± I ground into the precise spot where his arm would break. ¡°She¡¯s safe, isn¡¯t she?¡± Cainan roared, yanking out of my grip. ¡°Can¡¯t you see the good in what we¡¯ve aplished? We single-handedly took down the Legion chapter and three of the worst traffickers. You should be thanking me on bended knee!¡± He still didn¡¯t understand. None of that mattered next to my wife. My fist whirled, smashing into his jaw. His head mmed into the wall hard. He grunted, palm on the concrete. ¡°I never want to see you again.¡± ¡°What the hell is your problem?¡± ¡°You. I hate you. I can¡¯t stand the sight of you. You¡¯re a sick man. You need to have your head X-rayed or whatever the fuck it is to find out why you are so screwed up.¡± Cainan¡¯s lips thinned as he smoothed his hair, his flushed cheek the only sign I¡¯d knocked him off-kilter. ¡°You threatened my wife¡¯s safety to get what you wanted. As usual, at the expense of others.¡± I let out a humorlessugh at his nonplussed expression. ¡°There¡¯s so much you¡¯ll never understand.¡± Cainan shed me a hard smile. ¡°Fine. Find your own way out.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°My security can handle this riff-raff.¡± He turned his back on us and climbed the stairs, leaving us alone. Boots pounded the ceiling, their weight creaking the floorboards. I rushed at the door, locking it. Evie¡¯s soft body pressed into mine, her arms wrapping my stomach. ¡°I chose toe here. I can¡¯t live without you.¡± ¡°He manipted you.¡± ¡°He got us back together.¡± ¡°Yeah. For how long?¡± I eyed the ceiling as the floor creaked. I had no idea what the hell was going on, but at some point that door would open. My gaze dipped to the carnage. The knot in my throat refused to dissolve. ¡°Evie, I want to tell you everything¡­while I still can. You were almost killed because I haven¡¯t told you everything. Again.¡± I couldn¡¯t force out the words, my mind ravaged by the past. I took her face and gazed into her startled eyes. ¡°I was trafficked by the club. I wasn¡¯t at a rehab center. That was a lie I sold to the masses to hide where I¡¯d really been, because I¡¯m so ashamed of what I¡¯ve done.¡± It poured out of me as I stroked her cheek. ¡°Crash sold me to a man who brought me to¡­an ind. It¡¯s a ce off the Caribbean called Leda, a human trafficking hub where people fly in to party, towork, to do all kinds of shady business deals. I was drugged, shipped over there, and sold.¡± Weakness tingled in my legs, and I let go of her to sit against the wall. ¡°A psychopath named Att bought me. I lived in his vi. It was smack dab in the middle of a jungle. Hot as hell. Humid. Naked women everywhere, all of them trafficked. He used me as an enforcer. I protected the girls from clients that got too rough.¡± I pressed my hands into my eyes until stars exploded behind them. ¡°I saw things, Evie.¡± She sat beside me, slipping her hand around my bicep. ¡°Did you try to escape?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t leave them. I had to help. I tried, but the overseer caught me. Whipped my back. Then the bastard put me in cage matches where I had to fight other men. I butchered them for their amusement. That¡¯s how I met Cainan. He was one of the people watching me fight.¡± Her eyes zed with tears. ¡°I wasn¡¯t myself. They broke me on that ind. They made me so hateful it turned inward, killing me from the inside. Cainan saw that cruelty and knew he could hone it. He got me out when he found out how well-connected I was. I got to Boston. I was home for weeks, but I couldn¡¯t move on. I was stuck. I told nobody I was back. I didn¡¯t want them to know because I couldn¡¯t tell anyone what I¡¯d been through. Who the fuck would believe me? Who would understand?¡± Evie cupped my cheeks and kissed me. Heat sted across my lips, almost dissolving my urge to continue. Would this be thest time I tasted her kiss? ¡°I was spiraling. I needed something to do, so Cainan gave me a purpose. He would allow me to join him in fighting human trafficking, but I needed to pass a loyalty test.¡± This next part was the worst. I had to get it out of me. ¡°He told me to kill my father, so I did.¡± The tightness in my chest released as it spilled out of me. ¡°I shot my dad, who never stopped looking for me, never gave up on me once, then I med it on your MC to start a war. Hands down, the most evil thing I¡¯d ever done. I can¡¯t even exin why I did it. I just-I wasn¡¯t in my right mind and Cainan knew it.¡± My voice croaked, and I lost the energy to keep going. Evie¡¯s raspy whisper chased my echo. ¡°How did you do it?¡± ¡°I blocked it out. I don¡¯t have a memory of the actual murder. The only thing I remember is stepping onto my dad¡¯swn for the first time in over a year, and hourster, Dad¡¯s ne dangling in my hands after I¡¯d done it.¡± ¡°The same one you¡¯re wearing now?¡± She fingered the gold chain, finding the t oval pendant nestled in the hollow of my neck, zing with an image of St. Anthony. ¡°I keep it on as penance.¡± I couldn¡¯t believe I¡¯d told her. I¡¯d never admitted this to anyone. ¡°I did so many things I hated on that ind, and it turned me into a monster. A violent man with no self-control. I can barely look my mother in the eye anymore. It¡¯s why I told you I never wanted children, because I feel so tainted. And after what I did to Dad, I didn¡¯t think I deserved to father my own kids.¡± But I was a father, and the burden sank into my heart like golden light, warming me from the inside out. Relief flooded my veins. The fire inside me banked lower. Air came more smoothly in my lungs. I breathed. ¡°Now you know the man you married.¡± And she¡¯d leave me.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. I braced for it as Evie¡¯s gaze clouded with tears. Heaviness centered on my chest as I prepared for a stinging response. Then she smiled. ¡°I understand youpletely. And I love you even more.¡± Evie¡¯s trembling lips slowly broke into a sweet smile. ¡°I love you. All of you. Every w. Even the parts of you that you think are too dark.¡± I pinned her to my chest, overwhelmed. ¡°Are you really pregnant?¡± She lightly grasped my cheek, nodding. It struck home, finally. ¡°You don¡¯t know how fucking happy you¡¯ve made me.¡± My heart hammered as she wrapped her arms around my blood-soaked chest. She smashed her mouth into mine, gripping my hair. The pit of my stomach churned. I growled before I caught her lips. Her soft mouth demanded a harsher response, so I angled my head and deepened the kiss. Spirals of joy swept through me. I had my doubts, but fuck them. She loved me despite the graveyard of my victims. If she didn¡¯t leave me for them, she would never leave me. We would make it through anything. There wasn¡¯t enough darkness in the world to cken this shining moment. The door flew open. Vinn stepped out. His widened gaze took in the carnage and narrowed on me. ¡°Jesus Christ. What happened?¡± 33 Six Months Later I¡¯m grateful our baby is healthy. Tony rolled onto his stomach.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Hey beside me, out cold, his nakedness on full disy. Heat stole into my face as my eyes raked over his devastating appeal. A sliver of light peeked through the curtains, stroking his muscled shoulders, gorgeous back dimples, and steel thighs. His wild hair stuck out in all directions, untamed, just like the rest of him. Saturating the sheets and filling my lungs like a pleasant steam was vani scent mingled with pure masculinity. He was so close, the heat of his body burning mine. At the base of my throat, a pulse beat and swelled. I buried my face in his neck and breathed a kiss. My body ached in all the ces he¡¯d filledst night. My pulse skittered at the sight of my husband¡¯s strong, olive-skinned body. Even in sleep, the ghost of a Viking warrior clung to him. He flipped over with a deep sigh, his arm flopping over my waist. It flexed, anchoring over my baby bump. Then he pulled me into his steel embrace, burrowing me against his chest where his mouth found my shoulder in azy kiss. Since the clubhouse, I never woke up without him. He¡¯d changed so much in those six months, embracing the role of soon-to-be father so enthusiastically, it was hard to believe he¡¯d once told me he never wanted children. Shortly after the disaster at the clubhouse, we went to Italy for a bted honeymoon. I needed distance from the chaos. My father¡¯s imprisonment was the death knell on the Boston chapter. The national president shut down the club after it was raided by Vinn¡¯s soldiers. We bought a house blocks away from his cousins, Vinn and Michael. The area had good schools, an amazing park, and all the amenities I¡¯d wanted as a kid. My favorite part of those first weeks was breaking the news to Tony¡¯s mother. The baby was getting more and more real. I caught Tony staring at the sonogram, which he¡¯d taken a picture of and saved on his phone. He looked at it as though bewildered by its existence. ¡°Honey, wake up. I have a present for you.¡± Tony made a noise, his voice husky with sleep. ¡°I got you something for our one-year anniversary.¡± I rolled over and grabbed the box from the nightstand, pushing it into Tony¡¯s hands. He rubbed his eyes and yawned. A bemused grin tugged at his full lips as he unwrapped the silver paper. ¡°You got me jewelry?¡± He popped open the felt box and gasped. ¡°Holy shit. I remember this.¡± Tony gaped at the gleaming rose-gold watch he¡¯d offered to buy ages ago. He syed it on his olive skin and closed the sp, admiring it on his wrist. ¡°You can¡¯t give this to me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever I want,¡± I murmured, kissing his naked shoulder. ¡°Do you like it?¡± ¡°I fucking love it. It¡¯s awesome.¡± Tony leaned over and pressed his mouth to my temple. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Check the back.¡± He took it off and flipped it over, beaming. His thumb traced the words etched on the gold. Resta con me per sempre. ¨C Evie ¡°So you figured it out.¡± I pursed my lips. ¡°I said it to Christian while visiting him.¡± ¡°Oh really?¡± ¡°Yeah. I wanted to see how he¡¯d react. He got super quiet. Then he told me what it really meant.¡± I put my hands on my hips, my mouth thinning. ¡°Stay with me forever.¡± Tony chuckled. ¡°Awkward.¡± ¡°Tell me about it. I had to backpedal hard and convince him that I did not have a crush on him-with Jen in the room, so thanks for that.¡± Tony¡¯s boomingughter filled the bedroom. Christian had made a shaky recovery and Jennesy still visited him in rehab, and it filled my heart to watch them together. She¡¯d been forced to leave the club¡¯s property when the national president put it up for sale, but Tony and I set up a fund so that none of the women were homeless. ¡°I¡¯m hiring a new teacher,¡± I told Tony. ¡°You¡¯re a saboteur.¡± ¡°Oh,e on.¡± ¡°I am. Our kid will speak broken Italian if I don¡¯t get a handle on this.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be fine.¡± He wiped tears of mirth from his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him only in Italian. So will my mom. You can speak to him in English.¡± ¡°I want him to have Italian lessons, too.¡± ¡°No way, hon. He¡¯s going to public school. No extra sses. No dancing. He¡¯ll be so much happier for it.¡± ¡°Tony.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not budging on this.¡± I released a frustrated sigh, annoyed that we couldn¡¯t findmon ground. We couldn¡¯t decide on a name and had different visions for our son¡¯s future. I wanted to give him every opportunity to excel, but Tony was adamant that public schooling would keep him grounded. I slid off the bed and wrapped myself in a robe, grumbling all the way to the breakfast bar. Tony, following close behind, balled me in a fierce hug that squeezed the breath from my lungs. ¡°I have a present for you, too.¡± I looked for it, but he shook his head. ¡°Get dressed.¡± Half an hourter, we rode in an elevator of a luxury hotel. I yed with Tony¡¯spels and kissed his firm mouth, which barely yielded to my touch. He was fidgety. His eyes shifted from the door to me. If I didn¡¯t know any better, I¡¯d say he was nervous. ¡°Is everything okay?¡± He took my hand, his palm mmy. ¡°Evie, there¡¯s one thing I never told you. I found out something months ago and kept it to myself.¡± ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°Me? Nothing. It¡¯s what your father did.¡± I stared at him, bewildered. I hadn¡¯t seen my dad in months. Hiswyers tried to contact me for his defense, but I told them to fuck off. His human trafficking trial loomed over my head. He used me to help him, and it was possible the investigation could zero in on me. ¡°Do we have to talk about this right now?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he said, pulling me into the hallway. ¡°Trust me, you want to see what¡¯s behind this door.¡± My stomach fluttered as he stopped me in front of a room, more worried than I¡¯d ever seen him. His mouth whitened as he shed the card through the keypad. It beeped, unlocking the door. Then it swung inward. Grim-faced, Tony nudged me inside. I strolled onto the carpet and gaped at the woman on the queen-sized bed. She wore a beige cardigan over a light purple tank top. ¡°Mom?¡± She sprang off the mattress and we crashed into each other¡¯s arms. Wild sobbing burst from her as she clung to my shoulders, wrapping me in her lc scent. All the questions could wait. I had my family back. Epilogue Tony Four Years Later How did I get here? Tightness wed my throat as I folded my son¡¯s side-snap bodysuit and packed it in a suitcase. Tristan had grown out of it. So had Massimo. Neither of my boys would ever fit in them again, and that resonated inside me with a beautiful, awful pain. Wrapping up something that was my whole world was hard. Four years had gone by. We¡¯d spent the weekend at Vinn¡¯s beach house after a frenzied afternoon of celebrating his son¡¯s third birthday, and this was ourst night. Nostalgia made me pack Tristan¡¯s baby clothes, and now they didn¡¯t fit on either of my boys. The whole gang packed the house. I barely got a minute of shut-eye without Michael¡¯s children thundering the stairs, but I liked the noise. I¡¯d missed my dad¡¯s big family reunions. Our fifteen-month-old, Massimo, sat on the rug, banging the wrong end of a drumstick into the wooden toy. He was my mini-me, identical to me in every way. He offered the stick to Tristan, who shook his head. Massimo seized the edge of the couch and lifted himself. He headed toward me, grinning. This kid would crawl through a bed of nails to reach me. I set him on myp. ¡°Want to read a book?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Want num-nums?¡± He shook his head, pointing at someone¡¯s beer ss. I shoved it way out of reach. ¡°Kid, you scare me sometimes.¡± Actually, he gave me heart attacks on a regr basis. Probably because my world would end if anything bad ever happened to him. I took his hands, and his fists closed on my fingers as he walked forward purposely. I bent over and let him run toward Vinn¡¯s dog, a golden retriever with a saintlike patience with children. Evie took over watching Tristan as I expended Massimo¡¯s limitless energy on the beach. Massimo pped my cheeks with wet sand. His face lit up in fiendish delight when I groaned. I wiped it off as Evie softly chided him. ¡°Massimo, don¡¯t do that to Daddy.¡± ¡°Swear to God, I was not this much of a pain in the ass as a baby.¡± Evie chuckled softly. ¡°Your mom says you threw tantrums all the time. Sometimes, you¡¯d get so upset you¡¯d vomit and pass out.¡± ¡°Good Lord. Is that what we¡¯re in for?¡± Evie shrugged. I worried about the simrities constantly. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I loved my life as it was in the moment, but the weight of being a parent got worse as the kids grew older. Tristan had been an easy baby. Calm as hell. Always happy. A deceptive introduction to parenthood. Massimo was another story. My back ached from allowing my toddler to steer me around the beach, toward rushing waves that meant certain death for him. I picked him up and set him away. Massimo sprinted back to the water. ¡°You can¡¯t go in the ocean, buddy,¡± I growled as he let out an earsplitting cry. ¡°I said no. Why are you¡¯re so stubborn?¡± I lifted him to the sky and made airne noises, and then I let him plunge down. He squealed and pumped his fists as I did it again. When the sun made the water shimmer like orange ss, we strolled back to Vinn¡¯s beach house. It was packed with kids settling down for Sunday dinner. Mom and Zia Lenadled gravy onto tes. I squeezed past them. Massimo pointed at Mom, beaming. ¡°Vuoi andare da tua nonna?¡± He nodded. ¡°Ma, can you feed him for me?¡± I transferred him to Mom¡¯sp, and she wasted no time in coaxing my son into eating. At least he wasn¡¯t difficult about that. I waved to my mother-inw, who sat beside Mom. Then I passed the table and strolled into the kitchen, where Michael stood at the stove with his sister, Liana. ¡°That¡¯s not how you do it!¡± he shouted, banging the pot with the tongs. ¡°You need to salt the water. Then you add butter after you drain the pasta.¡± Liana rolled her eyes and pinched his stomach. ¡°You don¡¯t need more butter, old man. Your arteries can¡¯t take it.¡± Michael¡¯s dark scowl smoothed into delight as we locked eyes. ¡°Anthony. Settle a bet with me.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You add butter to the noodles before the gravy to make it stick.¡± ¡°Your brother¡¯s right.¡± I patted Liana¡¯s shoulder, grinning. ¡°But he always thins out the sauce with too many vegetables, so it doesn¡¯t fucking matter.¡± Liana chuckled. ¡°Shots fired.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my wife¡¯s recipe.¡± Michael waved the tongs at me. ¡°Take it back, you dick.¡± ¡°Sorry. It¡¯s the truth.¡± ¡°Never mind,¡± he smoldered, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯ll beat your asster.¡± ¡°Okay. Do you want to give me the twenty grand now? Orter when I clean you out?¡± I winked at him and headed out the kitchen. We had a poker tournament running all weekend. We yed every night after the kids were in bed. The fiercepetition had sparked a few heated moments. Trash talk was encouraged. None of the wives liked it except for mine, because I always won. It went without saying that I was the king. I walked the halls and stumbled on Alessio making out with Mia. She utched from him and hugged me. All was forgiven. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to eat with us?¡± I patted her back. ¡°In a little bit.¡± I made my excuses and went outside, where dark blue nketed the beach. No matter what I did or how hard I tried, I couldn¡¯t forget what I¡¯d been through. On nights like this, I grappled with guilt. I needed to get away from it all. I sat on the beach as waves touched the sand. I couldn¡¯t rx with the water so close to the house. I¡¯d probably sit outside for a few hours. ¡°Are you all right?¡± I was so absorbed in my task that the voice next to me caught me off guard. I turned on my phone, illuminating Alessio¡¯s face. ¡°Better than I¡¯ve ever been.¡± ¡°I keep waiting for you toe back to us. You¡¯re not like how you used to be. You were the life of the party back in the day.¡± I didn¡¯t do that anymore. ¡°This is as normal as I¡¯ll ever get, besides cleaning you all out at cards. You owe me fifty grand, by the way.¡± ¡°Mia will divorce me if we keep this shit up.¡± ¡°If you gamble away your kids¡¯ college tuition, I¡¯ll give you a ssic, six-for-five loan. Twenty percent a week. You can pay me every Thursday.¡± ¡°Thursdays are no good for me. What about Saturday?¡± ¡°Ah, I y golf on my yacht on Saturdays.¡± We shared augh that echoed down the beach. When it died, Alessio made a contemtive sound. ¡°Been meaning to talk to you for a while. For years, actually. You can¡¯t avoid me forever, Anthony.¡± Too bad. ¡°Is this about Mia?¡± He was referring to the time when I got so high I made out with his wife. I remembered the hospital visit after he beat the shit out of me, but nothing else. I shook my head. ¡°I don¡¯t even remember it, Alessio.¡± Alessio waited for me to borate as my stomach twisted in knots. Then he sighed, long and hard. ¡°Do you think your dad would be happy, if he was here with us? Would he be proud of us?¡± Considering I killed him, I doubt it. ¡°You? Sure. Not me.¡± I crossed my arms, my gaze flicking to the shore. ¡°Tell you the truth, I don¡¯t think of him.¡± Alessio¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Why?¡± A shadow moved in the dark, and I turned my shlight toward the waves. A child tottered down the beach. I got up and sprinted toward him, scooping him before his bare feet touched the water. Alessio¡¯s lightnded on the kid¡¯s face. One of Vinn¡¯s. I returned to the house, where a frantic Vinn tore apart the house. ¡°I¡¯ve got him. He was this close to the water.¡± Vinn took Chris from me, looking nauseated. ¡°Thanks. I owe you.¡± ¡°Guys, I think I¡¯m going to skip poker night. I¡¯m beat.¡± They pped my back and I headed into our room with the kids. Massimo bounced in Evie¡¯s arms, fussing. He whined as I walked in the room, his arms outstretched toward me. Evieughed. ¡°I love how he forgets I exist whenever you show up.¡± ¡°Vieni da papa.¡± I scooped him in my arms, his dark eyes glistening as he groped my beard and pinched my nose. I¡¯d hoped he¡¯d be like Tristan, sweet and easy to please, but more and more I realized we were watered down versions of our parents. Tristan was her shadow. Massimo was mine. I hiked him on my hip. ¡°This kid worries me. He¡¯s my mirror.¡± ¡°What the hell did you expect, honey? You¡¯re his dad. Of course he¡¯s going to be like you.¡± ¡°I hoped they¡¯d take after you.¡± ¡°He¡¯s just a baby, T.¡± I shook my head, sighing. ¡°What if he¡¯s just as troubled? What if he goes to college andes back with a drug addiction? What if-¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried. I quite like who you are and what you¡¯ve chosen to be.¡± Evie pressed her soft lips to my cheek, and I flushed like a teenage boy. With her I was the luckiest man in the world.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. I dragged Evie into my arms. The salted air from the beach had yed with her hair, teasing her chocte waves. Gorgeous. She kissed the top of Massimo¡¯s head, and my chest tightened. Her and him. My life. My redemption. For too long, I¡¯d lived in the devil¡¯s shadow. Now I had a reason to live. To defend. To channel my rage into something pure. Evie tucked a wayward curl behind her ear, her soft eyes crashing into mine. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°How much I love you. How I almost lost you. How I nearly ruined this.¡± She shushed me with a hand on my cheek. I used to push her away. Now I pulled her closer. ¡°Tony, there¡¯s no room for the past in our new lives together.¡± I stroked my son¡¯s head and cradled her belly. ¡°Is there room for one more?¡± ¡°Already?¡± ¡°Time flies. I don¡¯t want to waste another minute.¡± She leaned on my shoulder, smiling. ¡°I love you, Tony.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°For what?¡± ¡°Saving me. Loving me. Giving me this life.¡± A life that, for the first time, I nned to protect and cherish. Book 2 Chapter 1 INDIE ¡°I¡¯m here to interview Mr. Knox.¡± I forced a grin at the femme fatale blonde who collected me from the lobby of The Spheres. She nced up from her tablet, her gaze sliding up and down my pencil skirt and zer, apparently unimpressed. She held out a hand, palm up. ¡°Badge.¡± I lifted it over my head and handed it over. The Spheres were two giant ss domes in Boston¡¯s financial district. ck Prism¡¯s CEO, Bryan Knox, had built them years ago. The offices wereprised of conservatories only essible to employees and housed tens of thousands of tropical nts tended by a full-time horticulturalist. Knox declined interviews. I pointed out as much in my column-Nobody Has Ever Interviewed Bryan Knox. After its publication, I¡¯dnded the first-ever interview with him. He had asked for me. Any journalist worth their salt would kill for the opportunity to write this profile. Knox had quite the reputation. Boston locals loathed him for gentrifying Southie, building luxury housing, and discing the poor. He¡¯d ignored pleas from the Dorchestermunity to halt his construction ns. He was more than a real estate magnate, though. He¡¯d been a child prodigy who attended MIT at twelve. I couldn¡¯t wait to meet him and see for myself if the man matched the op-eds that trashed him regrly. Security waved me inside. The door opened with apression-like hiss, and I walked into a jungle. It was something out of Waikiki, with paved paths sweeping around lush greenery. Ferns and ck grass burst everywhere, shadowed by mossy trees. Employees wore T-shirts and shorts like tourists on vacation, theirptop bags slung over their shoulders. Water yed on a waterfall two stories tall, the mist sprinkling my cheeks.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Beautiful. Unreal. ¡°You can wait for Mr. Knox here. He should be along shortly.¡± The blonde gave me a tight-lipped smile and a nod before darting in another direction. My head buzzed as I drank in the green environment and the resort-like feel. I nced at the cafe, where employees lined up to grab food from a buffet-style banquet. I cupped the white petals of an orchid, stroking its velvety flesh. It must be a privilege to work here, especially during our brutal winters. What a sight it would be to sit among the tropical flora and watch snowkes drift outside. I craned my neck to observe the top of the dome, but a thick canopy of branches blocked most of the hexagonal steelttice. ¡°All that¡¯s missing are the birds.¡± ¡°I thought about it,¡± murmured a silky voice beside my ear. ¡°But I didn¡¯t want to deal with them dive-bombing software engineers during mating season.¡± I turned to face a man in a ck T-shirt that hugged his long torso, the ends tucked into dark blue denim. The jeans looked indecent on him, hanging low on his trim waist. My gaze skipped up the athletic form that channeled Brad Pitt circa Fight Club, my breath hitching as our gazes crashed. Ayer of stubble clung to his strong jaw, deepening the cleft in his chin. Thick eyebrows nted over espresso eyes. Bryan Knox didn¡¯t look like a CEO. Men that rugged and beautiful belonged on a mountain. I couldn¡¯t picture him bent over aptop eight hours a day. Drop dead handsome. There was no getting around his maism. His staremanded an unflinching authority, but such icy contempt. Holding it was overwhelming. I broke into an open, friendly smile. ¡°Mr. Knox. Indie Starling. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡± ¡°Likewise, Miss Starling.¡± He smiled, but it didn¡¯t soften his appearance. He offered me arge, veiny hand. Calluses caressed my palm as I took it, and a current zigzagged through me. ¡°Thanks for inviting me. I appreciate the opportunity and can¡¯t thank you enough.¡± I sucked in my lip before I realized I¡¯d gnawed on a freshly healed cut. ¡°This ce is gorgeous.¡± ¡°d you like it. Not everybody appreciates the humidity and seventy-two-degree temp.¡± His gaze traveled over me before settling on my eyes. He still hadn¡¯t let go of my hand. Slowly, his palm slipped from mine in a sensual caress that tingled up my arm. ¡°Shall I give you the tour?¡± I nodded. ¡°I¡¯d love that.¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± Warmth stole into my face at that low-timbred purr. Then he palmed my upper back, and a shudder heated my body. Get it together. Nailing this profile was critical for my career but I was off my game, taken aback by my attraction to him. I tuned out the distraction of his touch as I followed him up an open staircase. Knox led me through the buildings and pointed out factoids about their construction, his assistant trailing us. He showed me a tree so tall my neck hurt as I gaped at it. ¡°This is a sixty-year-old ficus from California. I had it uprooted and delivered by crane.¡± ¡°Wow. That¡¯s incredible.¡± I fanned myself. Was it too hot in here? Or was I burning up from his fingers on my back? ¡°Sorry, can I have a moment? I need to take off this jacket. I didn¡¯t expect to walk through a jungle for this interview.¡± I shifted my handbag from my shoulder. Knox held out his hand, and I gave it to him. Our fingers brushed each other in the briefest of moments, and a jolt shot up my arm. I ripped my jacket off and tied it around my waist, grateful for the sleeveless blouse underneath. ¡°That¡¯s a lot better. Thanks.¡± I reached for my bag, but Knox lifted it over my head. I stilled as this brought us within an unbearably close distance. He was truly stunning. He was such a man, not just because of his thick arms and broad shoulders, but because he carried himself with such unnerving confidence. He lowered the bag to my shoulder. I inhaled sharply as the strap slid between my breasts, the sensation erotic even though his hands barely touched me. It was a polite, somewhat intimate gesture, like a man taking a coat off his femalepanion¡¯s back. ¡°Better?¡± he whispered. ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± My cheeks burned as he stepped away, no longer hovering but still close. ¡°Did you have another question?¡± he prompted after a long pause. I removed a notepad from my purse, nking on the questions I¡¯d prepared. ¡°Why did you bring the tree here?¡± Who gives a fuck about the tree? ¡°Was it a statement for environmentalism?¡± ¡°I did it because I can,¡± he drawled, his gaze roaming over my bare arms. ¡°Sometimes a tree is just a tree, Indie.¡± Why did this feel like an awkward first date? I shook it off. ¡°Why do you have such a contentious rtionship with the press?¡± ¡°They pretend to be impartial but always have an agenda. They make sweeping judgments on my real estate purchases, my achievements in cybersecurity, my sess.¡± ¡°You take the negative articles personally.¡± He shrugged. ¡°They¡¯re businesses. They study click-through rates. If they publish content about me, they¡¯ll get more traffic. It¡¯s why there are thousands ofments on your op-ed.¡± ¡°That sounds right. I mean, your face is constantly on my newsfeed. Every time I open Facebook, there you are.¡± ¡°The amount doesn¡¯t matter. An algorithm decides what you read, Indie. Search engine AIs are ridiculously smart. If you click on stories about me, you¡¯ll find more of them on your newsfeed. Apparently, you can¡¯t get enough of me.¡± Was he flirting with me? Iughed a beat toote, overwhelmed by that possibility. ¡°It¡¯s hard not to consume everything about you.¡± ¡°Is it, now?¡± Ignoring his teasing, I charged on. ¡°You¡¯re a staple of everyday conversation. Most people have at least one friend or rtive who¡¯s employed at one of yourpanies. If not, they live in your luxury apartments, your affordable housing, or they¡¯re being evicted so you can build more high-rises. You sponsor popr events. You¡¯re the talk of the town, whether you like it or not.¡± ¡°Stop ttering me. It¡¯s a cheap interviewing tactic.¡± ¡°Is it working?¡± His smile contained an erotic spark. ¡°Why did you invite an obscure women¡¯s website to interview you?¡± ¡°If I give this opportunity to someone, it¡¯ll be to apany that hasn¡¯t published libelous trash about me.¡± ¡°Can you be more specific about what you consider libelous?¡± ¡°I¡¯m referring to the tabloid rags screaming about how I¡¯m destroying Boston. The moaning over disappearing Dor Trees. The bitching about rezoning single-family homes. Nobody mentions the positives. I¡¯m creating jobs. I¡¯m building housing. The sries at ck Prism are verypetitive. Doesn¡¯t that count for anything?¡± It does to me. ¡°Those aren¡¯t the most questionable things about you.¡± ¡°Enlighten me, then.¡± ¡°Well, some believe you work for the Mafia.¡± He snorted. ¡°That¡¯s absurd.¡± ¡°There are pictures of you with known Costa associates.¡± ¡°Alleged associates.¡± ¡°Anthony Costa, son of notorious gangster Nico, isn¡¯t involved with the Costa Crime Family?¡± I said, incredulous. ¡°Why are you meeting this guy?¡± ¡°Noment.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get back to gentrification.¡± ¡°My favorite topic.¡± I swallowed a bundle of nerves, forcing my breathing to slow. ¡°People don¡¯t react well to change. You¡¯re cleaning up Dorchester. It¡¯s ruffling feathers, but most people don¡¯t realize you grew up there. Did your experiencepel you to pave over that neighborhood and rebuild?¡± My voice drifted to a whisper as shock and anger lit up Knox¡¯s features. A flicker of apprehension coursed through me. He stepped into my personal space, his face a glowering mask. ¡°My past is off-limits.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true for anybody else. Why should you be the exception?¡± My guts clenched as he gripped the railing, closing off any escape. His warning growl and his posturing should have rmed me, but instead a deep thrill ran down my neck and teased my nipples. He gave me a sharp look that made me want to stammer an apology. ¡°I¡¯m not everybody.¡± ¡°You feel you deserve special treatment?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he said, his arrogance stunning me. ¡°I have a target on my back, and that extends to the people in my life. So I don¡¯t talk about where I lived, and neither will you.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t write a profile without including your background. Look, I went to Colonial Street. I even persuaded the current tenants to let me inside your triple-decker.¡± My insides squirmed as Knox¡¯s frown darkened. ¡°Rough neighborhood. What was it like growing up in an area infested by motorcycle gangs?¡± Knox red at me, the air choked with a blistering silence that stoked intorger mes. A vacancy slid over his gaze like shutters on windows. ¡°This interview is over.¡± My stomach dropped as he moved past me and headed across the catwalk. I struggled to keep up with his rapid pace, desperate to salvage this conversation. ¡°Mr. Knox, wait-¡± ¡°I need to contact mywyer.¡± ¡°Why?¡± He descended the stairs. ¡°Because this profile is taking on an entirely different shape.¡± ¡°The one where you¡¯re portrayed like a human being and not a cartoon viin? You don¡¯t want people to see the real you?¡± He rounded on me, his voice deadly. ¡°My childhood home is private information.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not exactly a secret.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my life. What gives you the right to publish that?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a public figure.¡± ¡°This was a mistake.¡± He waved at his assistant. ¡°Escort her out.¡± I grabbed his wrist. I don¡¯t know what insanity provoked me to restrain him, or why I thought he¡¯d respond, but I couldn¡¯t blow up this opportunity. He frowned at my hand, his expression so severe I almost let him go. ¡°Mr. Knox, I¡¯m not writing another piece trashing you. There are already plenty of those. If you don¡¯t believe me, take a look at my work history. I have never written a negative profile. I don¡¯t like to do that. It makes me feel bad, and it also burns bridges. I just want the truth, and I think that a man who builds a ce like this can¡¯t be the soulless tyrant everyone makes him out to be.¡± ¡°Send it to me for approval before your editors,¡± he said, this time with less gravel. ¡°Remove any details about my personal life. Then you¡¯ll thank your lucky stars that I¡¯m amused by your invasion of privacy and won¡¯t ruin your career.¡± And he could do it. ¡°You¡¯re not my boss,¡± I reminded him lightly. ¡°And there¡¯s no need to get nasty. I promise to be fair.¡± ¡°I might not be your boss, but my opinion is the only one that matters. You¡¯ll hear from mywyer soon.¡± I couldn¡¯t let him leave. I still held onto his wrist, and his apoplectic re sent my heart racing. ¡°What if we negotiate what goes in the profile?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Can you at least admit that the people who im you¡¯re from a privileged background are wrong?¡± Knox didn¡¯t seem to care about scoring brownie points with the public, but I soldiered on. ¡°People would love to read about your humble beginnings. Your teacher mentioned your family was on food stamps. Can you verify that?¡± His stony expression never flickered, but a sensual thread grew between us. He flexed his fingers in my grip, and my awareness of his skin touching mine zed like a torch. He rotated his palm so that he now held me. He didn¡¯t crush my wrist like I feared, but he was firm. ¡°You¡¯re very bold for a woman,¡± he murmured, the low timbre of his voice pulsing through me. ¡°That¡¯s new for me. Most can¡¯t even meet my gaze.¡± Sure as hell wasn¡¯t easy. Photos could never capture what it felt like to stand in this strange jungle and struggle with a mad impulse to flee. Peoplepared Knox to a Mafia don. ¡°Please answer the question.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true.¡± He pulled free of my grasp and balled his fist, trapping our heat in his palm. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry to hear that. You emancipated at sixteen, right?¡± I swallowed hard when he said nothing. ¡°What was your childhood like?¡± Knox¡¯s smile darkened. ¡°Not a fan of forey?¡± I didn¡¯t mean to blurt it out, but I couldn¡¯t shake my growing suspicion that he¡¯d been abused. After talking to his teacher, it seemed likely. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t mean to be rude.¡± ¡°And yet you ask wildly inappropriate questions for a reporter who is supposed to grill me on my workout routine.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in that. I don¡¯t write banal clickbait. I couldn¡¯t care less about your keto diet or how many girlfriends you have.¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Your article spected about my love life.¡± ¡°Only to chastise people for criticizing your Leonardo DiCaprio lifestyle. It¡¯s normal for a man to only date women under twenty-five. You know, up to a point. Do you have a girlfriend?¡± Knox worked his jaw as though fighting a grin. ¡°That¡¯s all the time I have for today. It was nice meeting you.¡± My mind fluttered as he shook my hand. ¡°Thank you so much.¡± An eternity passed between Knox releasing me and him pulling out his wallet. My mouth felt like sandpaper, and I didn¡¯t seem to know what to do with myself. The awkwardness of a first date hit me again as I stood in his dominating presence and tried not to tremble. I forced myself to turn, but his firm touch on my shoulder stopped me. I cleared my throat, pretending to not be affected. ¡°Indie, I¡¯m not currently in a rtionship, but I¡¯m always on the lookout for Mrs. Bryan Knox.¡± Knox pulled a business card out of his wallet, engraved with his initials and a number. He pushed it into my pocket. My face burned as he lightly stroked my leg, the action incongruous with his cold gaze. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re her,¡± he deadpanned. ¡°Call me.¡± 2-2 INDIE ¡°A billionairees along, asks you out, and you turn him down?¡± My sister facepalmed the table, groaning. ¡°You¡¯re killing me, Smalls!¡± ire and I sat in the Starbucks on the ground floor of the building where I worked, enjoying a quick lunch before I returned to my office. ire propped her rain boots on a chair, her tiny frame engulfed in arge, creamy sweater. She channeled our ball-busting mother in a pint-sized form, her pixie face working to conceal disappointment. ¡°It¡¯s hard to exin, ire.¡± ¡°Is he a fuckboy?¡± I shook my head, unable to put Knox¡¯s overwhelming presence into words. ¡°I¡¯m not sure there¡¯s abel for him.¡± ¡°A girl¡¯s got to have standards. But I can¡¯t imagine how Bryan Knox can¡¯t meet them,¡± she teased, bumping her elbow into mine. ¡°Getting his number must¡¯ve been a hugepliment.¡± I shrugged, sipping my lukewarmtte. ire leaned forward, brows furrowing as though concerned for my mental health. ¡°Indie, you won¡¯t get another chance with a man like this. If you don¡¯t call, he¡¯ll move on to the next babe.¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Well aware. Men like him rarely crossed my path, but I was a realist. How long would I hold his interest after sleeping with him? An hour? Five minutes? I had no guarantee I¡¯d enjoy myself. In my experience, cocky men disappointed in bed. And I didn¡¯t have the time to humor Bryan Knox. I had bills to pay. Ackluster career to ramp up. An imploding personal life because I worked day and night until my eyes couldn¡¯t stay open. My friendships hung by a thread. Romance could wait until I took care of myself. Isn¡¯t a hot date exactly that? I snatched Knox¡¯s business card thaty between us like a sacred object. Its stiff corners pricked my thumb as I assessed its worth. Thick and textured. Expensive. I traced the raised print of ¡°Knox,¡± my finger catching on the K. He didn¡¯t bother including his first name. He wasn¡¯t worried about people forgetting him. I sure as hell wasn¡¯t going to. All weekend, I¡¯d thought of little else. As I finished my profile, his hand seemed to warm my back. His hunter stare sought me out in the darkness during thosete hours. I heard his voice, rumbling in that deep baritone with a trace of Southie that he¡¯d almost eradicated. Sometimes-often-I imagined opening his shirt and uncovering his muscled physique. I snapped out of the whirlwind of inappropriate thoughts as my sister gloated with a knowing grin. ¡°He¡¯s a distraction,¡± I told her. ¡°He said you could be his future wife.¡± That¡¯s right. Heat tingled my cheeks at his bold words. I¡¯d been too shocked to do anything but stammer a goodbye before Knox¡¯s assistant shooed me away. Since then, I¡¯d blocked it out. I was a romantic and got attached too easily, so I¡¯dughed it off, even though my heart begged me to take him seriously. What if he was? A hot flush imed my neck at that intimidating prospect. ¡°It was a pick-up line. We barely talked to each other.¡± ¡°So? He feels a connection with you.¡± I snorted. ¡°No, he doesn¡¯t. He says that to every girl.¡± ¡°Oh,e on. Give the man a chance!¡± Easy for her to say. She didn¡¯t know what it was like to meet his indecent re and try not to squirm. I¡¯d seen that predatory look on men¡¯s faces dozens of times before, and it never boded well. ¡°It would make a heck of a story,¡± she egged on, grabbing my forearm. ¡°Think about the experiences you could have.¡± ¡°But you hate him.¡± She waved a flippant hand. ¡°I¡¯d overlook that for one, maybe two dates. And then I¡¯d bring upposting.¡± I smiled, imagining Knox and my assertive sister heading off. Before ire went to college, she spent her free time heckling city council members to mandatepost bins throughout Boston. She was a humanitarian with a fervor for recycling. She¡¯d already chewed out the poor Starbucks cashier for using stic straws. I admired her passion, but I couldn¡¯t worry about the on top of everything else. ¡°He seems like an interesting guy, but I don¡¯t know. He¡¯s intense.¡± ¡°You can hold your own.¡± ¡°Sure, until I do something he doesn¡¯t like, and he ruins my career.¡± I slid his card inside my wallet. ¡°Anyway, how long is your break from school?¡± ire¡¯s smile fell as she picked up her fork and stabbed into her sd. ¡°A couple of months.¡± ¡°A couple of months?¡± ¡°I¡¯m withdrawing for this semester,¡± she admitted, pink staining her cheeks. ¡°I nearly flunked out.¡± Shock flew through me. The idea of my type-A sister falling behind seemed absurd. ¡°Geez, ire. What happened?¡± ¡°I got involved with people I shouldn¡¯t have.¡± Her gaze dipped to herp and she shook her head. ¡°Stoners. Party animals. Turns out it¡¯s a lot more fun to smoke pot and hit the slopes than to go to your sses.¡± ¡°You busted your ass to get epted there!¡± ¡°I know. I feel like a jerk.¡± ire twisted a strand of her blond hair, which contrasted wlessly with her tanned skin. ¡°But I¡¯m not sure if Colorado is for me. They don¡¯t have a decent environmental studies program. I was thinking of transferring to Bourton.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be tough, ire.¡± I checked my phone, wincing. ¡°I have to get back to work. Do you want me to call you an Uber?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll catch my own ride.¡± We stood from the table and hugged. ¡°Well, it¡¯ll be nice to have you around again. I¡¯ve missed you, ire Bear.¡± ¡°You, too.¡± Her dainty hands cinched my waist as her voice dropped. ¡°Don¡¯t tell Mom and Dad, okay?¡± ¡°All right.¡± ire disengaged from me and gathered our sds, dumping the containers in the wrong bin. Then she seemed to realize her mistake and reached into the trash. I shook my head and left Starbucks. I took the elevator upstairs. I worked at Vanity, a website featuring news and culturalmentary geared toward women. It paid little, but it was my first writing job out of college. The interview with Knox would be a featured article, and it had to be perfect. I strolled to the end of the hallway. The ss doors stamped with a fading white Vanity opened with a loud groan as I pushed hard, stumbling into a small office. I¡¯d barely sat at my desk when Eliot swooped over, a mug dangling from his long fingers. Eliot, my managing editor, was a string bean of a man. Tall and lean with milky skin and strawberry blond hair. His bowed lips softened his masculine features. He kept his hair buzzed short except for the top of his head, which hebed to the side. Despite the gold wrapping his left ring finger, he was a huge flirt. ¡°Morning, Indie.¡± Eliot shot me an indecent smile. ¡°I read your profile. Good stuff. Christine sent it back with edits.¡± I¡¯d already turned on myptop and clicked the email. I opened the document, frowning at the red lines. ¡°Why is so much of it crossed out?¡± ¡°Yeah, uh, Knox got in touch. He wanted to go over it before it went live.¡± The soft creases on his face tensed, as though building himself up to deliver bad news. ¡°He wasn¡¯t happy with it.¡± I bristled. ¡°Since when do we care?¡± ¡°Bryan Knox is a big deal.¡± ¡°So? He¡¯s not my boss.¡± ¡°With his connections, he might as well be.¡± Horror bottomed out my stomach as I peeled my eyes from theputer. ¡°Did he threaten you?¡± ¡°Not quite.¡± Eliot grimaced, rolling the pink Ralph Lauren polo to his elbows. ¡°Hiswyers were on the call, but Knox was polite. Said it would be in my best interest and that he¡¯d return the favor.¡± ¡°Why wasn¡¯t I at this meeting?¡± I scanned the document, scowling at the changes. ¡°He removed every detail of his background, even the description of his old apartment!¡± ¡°Trust me, nothing would¡¯ve changed his mind.¡± Perhaps my presence might¡¯ve stopped Eliot from epting Knox¡¯s offer. I glowered at the screen instead of Eliot, my palms sweating as I clicked through the profile. ¡°There¡¯s no substance to this piece. It reads like a fawning mess!¡± I whirled around, facing Eliot. ¡°We can¡¯t let him do this!¡± Eliot shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t need that tyrant¡¯s wrath hanging over my head. The man¡¯s vicious. If I don¡¯t do what he wants, he¡¯ll bury us in legal fees for years.¡± ¡°Maliciouswsuits should be a crime.¡± Eliot¡¯s hand rolled over my shoulder. The unwee touch sent a shudder through me. ¡°You¡¯re a talented writer, Indie. There will be other opportunities.¡± Sourness pitted my stomach as his patronizing tone lifted with excitement. ¡°Anyway, Knox invited you to his g. It¡¯s this Wednesday. I¡¯d like you to attend.¡± ¡°Why the hell should I?¡± ¡°Ask him follow-up questions for the profile¡¯s new direction. We could go together,¡± he suggested, lifting one of his shoulders. ¡°Deborah isn¡¯t in town, so she can¡¯t make it.¡± ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll ask him to exin why he overruled my judgment like an overgrown child.¡± Eliot¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up at seven.¡± He left, leaving his empty mug on my desk. My guts clenched. I turned back to the document littered with Knox¡¯sments, seething. Pretentious dick. I¡¯d give the tyrant a piece of my mind. He wasn¡¯t getting away with this. * * * Knox sponsored the annual Boston Art Show, an over-the-top party on a boat where tickets cost thousands of dors. He¡¯d hired a celebrity to host the art auction. I couldn¡¯t think of anything more obnoxious than drunk rich people bidding on overpriced paintings while aboard a yacht, and yet, it attracted every socialite and techbro on the East Coast. The rumors didn¡¯t quite do the barrels of Dom Perignon justice, or the staff wearing rhinestone-encrusted bodysuits, or that The Weeknd rapped into a microphone. I stood next to my boss in a ck, plunging neckline gown with tiered ruffles over ace skirt. I¡¯d rented a designer dress just to fit in, but I looked like a joke beside the star-studded guest list. My toes curled from the cold. They¡¯d made everyone remove their shoes-something about not scratching the teak deck. ¡°Eliot, I wanted to talk to you about a potential story.¡± He sucked on his vape pen before answering. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to pitch ideas to the team.¡± ¡°They voted against it.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s the end of it.¡± ¡°I interviewed five girls from the old MCpound in Chelsea iming they were fed drugs and coerced into prostitution at an underground club in Boston. One of them went missing. This needs to be in Vanity. This is the sort of groundbreaking journalism I live for, not ¡®Ten Health Benefits of Quinoa.''¡± Eliot made a nomittal sound as he drifted toward the table of hors d¡¯oeuvres, picking up a te of caviar. ¡°This is important to me,¡± I persisted. ¡°I appreciate that, but we¡¯re a women¡¯s news website. Our target demographic is white suburban moms who self-medicate with Percocet and rose. They¡¯re looking for directions to the strawberry festival or thetest Kanye gossip. An escape. Thest thing they want to read is a human trafficking story.¡± ¡°Trafficking is relevant to women!¡± ¡°Yes, but we get revenue through clicks. Depressing stories are off-brand.¡± He patted my back, his brown eyes crinkling with amusement. ¡°Leave the heavy stuff to the New York Times, eh?¡± Condescending ass. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll shop the story somewhere else.¡± ¡°You signed a nonpete use.¡± I glowered as he turned his attention to the food, dreaming of the day I¡¯d be able to write what I wanted without a man¡¯s input. This exchange reminded me of when I¡¯d first been hired. Vanity¡¯s tagline-Stories by women, for women-gave me an iplete picture. Written by women, chosen by men was more urate. The managing editor, our CEO, and senior staff editors all had penises. I would quit, but the nonpete agreement prevented me from getting another job for twelve months. Not working for a year would bankrupt me, so I was stuck at this ce. ¡°You¡¯re mad at me for saying no, aren¡¯t you?¡± My jaw tensed before I forced myself to smile. ¡°Of course not.¡± Eliot chuckled, exhaling vapor from his perfect, almost too pretty lips. ¡°You sound just like my wife when she¡¯s giving me the cold shoulder.¡± Ugh. Not again. Iughed, ying it off like a joke. ¡°I¡¯m going to mingle.¡± ¡°Go for it.¡± I seized my ss and shot for the bar. Drinks were eighteen dors and Vanity¡¯s expense budget didn¡¯t allow for more than two, but I¡¯d need at least three more to get through rejecting my married boss¡¯s advances. Where the hell was Knox? He wasn¡¯t among the champagne-swilling techbros and I couldn¡¯t imagine him on the dance floor, which begged the question-why did he throw this party in the first ce? I searched for him everywhere. Either he¡¯d found a superb hiding spot or someone had thrown him overboard. I needed to get away from the club beats shaking the deck. I drifted to the stern, which was roped off and unlit, and gazed into the violent churn of water. ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to be out here.¡± That voice. Low and deeply masculine. I wanted to drown in that velvety growl. I turned and gasped as a tall, beautiful, dark-haired man towered above me. Knox. 2-3 INDIE Heat stole into my face as I took in his gorgeous appearance. He wore a fitted suit, thepels and shirt blowing open, revealing tanned skin. I drank in the glimpse of his strong, golden body, the cutting jawline. His bare feet and windswept hair gave him a wildness that contrasted with his poise. I hated him so much. But the sight of him strolling the yacht like an ethereal vision swept the rage from my heart. Our eyes shed, and his firm mouth softened. ¡°Indie. I was hoping to see you sooner. And alone.¡± I stiffened as his stare riveted on my neck. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be here at all if it weren¡¯t for my boss.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not your boyfriend?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t date married men, not that it¡¯s any of your business.¡± My back touched the railing as he took a bold step toward me. ¡°I only care if you¡¯re avable.¡± ¡°To you? Never.¡± Amusement glinted through his gaze. ¡°Then what are you doing here?¡± The lilt in his voice sent a ripple of excitement through me. ¡°I¡¯m here to chew you out. You wrecked my profile,¡± I seethed, heat climbing to my cheeks. ¡°Going to my boss was very underhanded of you.¡± He blinked slowly. ¡°I warned you.¡± ¡°You butchered my words.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to. But you left me little choice. You wouldn¡¯t feel slighted if you hadn¡¯t ignored my instructions.¡± I waved my arm at the partygoers behind us. ¡°I¡¯m not a sycophant like everyone else in your life!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mock them for having the good sense to obey me.¡± The sheer arrogance. I could¡¯ve strangled him. He was so sure of himself and his rightful ce in the universe. He couldn¡¯t conceive of a world without his subjects. Everyone bent the knee to the tyrant. Not me. I swallowed hard and stepped away from his suffocating presence. ¡°I¡¯m not my boss. I won¡¯t allow you to do this to me.¡± ¡°Go on. Amuse me with your threats.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell everybody you coerced me into editing my story!¡± ¡°You could do that. I guess it depends on how attached you are to your career.¡± The corner of his mouth twisted as his light eyes scanned my face. ¡°It would only take a few calls to destroy it.¡± My stomach churned. ¡°You¡¯re bluffing!¡± ¡°Nobody will work with you. Even if you set up an independent website, I have ways of undermining that as well. It¡¯d be a shame for a such gifted writer.¡± I lifted my head, doing my best to appear fierce and not tongue-tied and shaken. ¡°This is why people hate you.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a battle worth fighting, Indie.¡± ¡°To you,¡± I growled. ¡°But to me it matters. You¡¯re not a writer, Knox. And it shows!¡± ¡°Oh, absolutely,¡± he murmured, his grim expression breaking with the ghost of a smile. ¡°I could nevere up with the phrases in your article. So many adjectives. ¡®Men that beautiful and rugged belong on a mountain.''¡± My reckless anger deted to humiliation. I burned from my roots to my toes. ¡°It was intentionally over-the-top!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not chastising you. Most don¡¯t bother trying to humanize me, let alone write about me like I¡¯m some kind of heartthrob.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a conceited ass, and I¡¯m sorry I gave you the wrong idea.¡± I turned to the water, so angry I envisioned myself jumping overboard and swimming to shore. Anything to avoid being stuck with this asshole. A strong breeze swept the deck, and my teeth chattered. Knox¡¯srge hand cupped my shoulder. His touch was like a hot iron. It sent a me rippling through me, and I inhaled sharply. ¡°You¡¯re freezing. Let¡¯s continue this inside.¡± ¡°Risking hypothermia is less painful than a conversation with you.¡± I bristled as he dragged me closer to him. ¡°Knox!¡± He crushed me to his chest. He was so warm. I shuddered as heat engulfed me, my trembling limbs refusing to leave his embrace. ¡°Knox, I¡¯m not interested.¡± ¡°Are you seeing someone else?¡± I tipped my head, staring at his frown. ¡°Oh, Knox. Jealousy doesn¡¯t suit a powerful man like you.¡± ¡°True, but most men are selfish with their women. And I¡¯m no exception.¡± His woman? Why did that set me on fire? A secondter, the confusing glow vanished. ¡°Arrogance isn¡¯t a good look, either. I don¡¯t belong to you.¡± ¡°And yet, when I take you in my arms, you let me hold you. Do you want to know why?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m cold.¡± ¡°No, Indie.¡± He fingered my cheek, setting off fierce sparks. ¡°Because you¡¯re aching to fuck me, but you¡¯re afraid of what that says about you, so you allow me to do this instead.¡± I trembled, and he clutched me tighter. ¡°You don¡¯t know what the hell you¡¯re talking about.¡± I pried myself off him and shivered. Knoxughed as his fingers rose to the buttons on his jacket, undoing them. Then he shrugged out of the arms and draped his coat over me. The warmth of his body touched my shoulders and engulfed me in a bergamot and citrus scent. God, he smelled amazing. Like decadence. His experienced hand wandered up my back, teasing me through the thick fabric. Electricity from his touch hardened my nipples into points. I swallowed, intimidated by the power he possessed over me. ¡°Why do you want me? You must have women throwing themselves at you.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not as poetic as you are.¡± A shiver rippled through me. ¡°Like most men care about that.¡± ¡°Well, I enjoy beingpared to a rugged mountaineer, even if I¡¯m a nerd who never goes outside. For the record, I use a stand-up desk. I don¡¯t bend over myptop. It¡¯s bad for posture.¡± ¡°I guess I should issue a retraction.¡± ¡°You should.¡± ¡°Will you ept a written apology instead?¡± ¡°Let me take you out to dinner, and we¡¯ll be square.¡± My tongue dried as I pictured sitting across this beautiful man. A gallery filled with Knox¡¯s dazzling features nearly seduced me before I regained my senses. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡±Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°But ording to you, I¡¯m a catch.¡± My heart thumped ufortably. Part of me was indignant. The other wanted to grab his hair and pull his mouth to mine. ¡°Knox, you¡¯re not half as amazing as you believe you are.¡± Judging by his smirk, I hadn¡¯t put a dent in his self-esteem. ¡°You spent the profile describing my looks in vivid detail.¡± ¡°I write for women,¡± I feebly protested as a pulse beat at the base of my throat. ¡°And your only redeeming quality is your face, so I had to embellish a little.¡± ¡°You talked about my body¡­my clothing. I¡¯ve never felt so scrutinized in my life.¡± ¡°Give it a rest, Knox.¡± ¡°So I imagined you flirting with me the entire interview?¡± ¡°Can you please stop?¡± I forced a smile and inhaled deeply. ¡°I have a couple of questions to round out that stupid article, and then I never want to see you again.¡± ¡°What do I get out it?¡± ¡°My attention for five minutes.¡± Knox¡¯s amusement seemed to grow as I worked myself into a fury. A sadistic curve touched his full lips. ¡°I demand to ask a question for every one you ask of me.¡± I clenched my teeth, hating him. ¡°Deal.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere private to talk.¡± He took my arm, the shock of him zinging through me. I protested feebly as his touch glided to my hand. Knox weaved through the party that probably bored him and led me up a flight of stairs. He unlocked a door and held it open, and I walked inside a very cozy suite. The sight of the bed lodged a rock in my throat. Knox closed the door. He lifted his square jaw, embers sparking in his blue gaze. Every fiber in my body urged me to leave, even though his beauty stole my breath. ¡°Who goes first?¡± ¡°You.¡± He strode to the chair next to the porthole and sat. Still wearing his jacket, I took the chair opposite him. The fabric bunched around my shoulders, insting his scent. ¡°I just have a few follow-up questions. You¡¯ll love them. They¡¯re vapid and ridiculous.¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your ideal date?¡± He shed me a debonair smirk. ¡°A long walk along the Charles River Esnade followed by a Bourton University football game.¡± I tutted. ¡°That¡¯s such a cookie-cutter response.¡± ¡°Well, I doubt your readers want the truth.¡± ¡°Which is?¡± ¡°I take women out to dinner. And if they¡¯re not too annoying and their picture matches their profile, I take them home to fuck.¡± ¡°Charming.¡± He dragged an ankle over his knee. ¡°I¡¯ll admit that hookups have lost their shine.¡± I cleared my throat. ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re looking for something permanent?¡± ¡°I am,¡± he purred. ¡°And my future wife is a woman strong enough to handle me. I need someone who likes ying with my demons and speaks frankly. Who grabs me without worrying if she¡¯ll get burned.¡± That provoked an image of me restraining Knox to stop him from cutting the interview short. I couldn¡¯t miss his obvious approval. His sapphire gaze was as soft as his hands had been, rubbing warmth into my skin. I should¡¯ve been annoyed, not ttered. I felt as though I was drifting on a cloud. His maddening confidence affected me. It resonated deep inside, made me clench my thighs together. I shook my head, my cheeks aze. ¡°You just want to getid.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s all I wanted, I¡¯d have moved on by now.¡± ¡°You ruined your chance with me.¡± ¡°By protecting myself?¡± ¡°No, by crossing every professional boundary that exists so you could save face. I take my work seriously. You made it impossible for me to write this profile.¡± ¡°I¡¯m confident we can move past a small hup.¡± We. I could¡¯veughed at the sheer gall. ¡°Why won¡¯t you let this go?¡± ¡°I want you,¡± he said roughly. ¡°I¡¯ve been clear about that.¡± ¡°Or you¡¯re intrigued by the one woman who says no to you.¡± He shot me a ck lookyered with cold curiosity, as though I were a statistical anomaly that needed to be studied. ¡°True. Everybody in my life submits except you.¡± ¡°So this is a game to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not motivated by cheap conquests.¡± Meaning, a marriage with me was his goal? That can¡¯t be right. My heart thrashed as I scanned his rigid frame. I imposed a steel will on myself. I couldn¡¯t allow his charm to blind me to his obvious attempt to get into my pants. Before I could continue grilling him, he spoke. ¡°You¡¯ve had enough questions. It¡¯s my turn.¡± He leaned forward, his knee knocking into mine. ¡°Do you like being spanked during sex?¡± ¡°What?¡± A slow, secretive smile staggered across Knox¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s a simple question, Indie.¡± I grew hot with the smoldering visual of me lying astride hisp, his hand cradling my backside. I imagined his other palm stroking me, curving around my thigh, his fingers sinking in my wetness. Would I enjoy that? I shifted in my seat and avoided looking at him. ¡°No-I don¡¯t-I¡¯ve never-¡± I broke off, flustered. ¡°It¡¯s never been brought up.¡± ¡°Nobody¡¯s ever smacked your ass while they fucked you from behind?¡± Another scintiting image seared into my brain. I waved it aside, bristling. ¡°That¡¯s none of your damned business.¡± ¡°Just trying to see if we¡¯d have fun together.¡± As I squirmed, he smiled. He seemed to revel in my struggle to regain myposure. And it would only get worse. My contempt for Knox didn¡¯t stop his boldly handsome face from swirling heat in the pit of my stomach. My gaze raked over his devious mouth and up to his hooded, ocean-colored eyes. He was so gorgeous, so perceptive and strong. I couldn¡¯t breathe around him. He stood, towering over me. ¡°I asked you out. Why didn¡¯t you call me?¡± My nails dug into the arms of the chair. ¡°I-Because you trashed the profile I spent days working on.¡± ¡°But you didn¡¯t find out about that right away.¡± ¡°Maybe I knew something was off about you.¡± Knox hovered over me like an angry god, the threat of his physical body palpable. He bent and gripped the chair, the tension in his grip squeaking the leather. He slid his fingers down my hair, sweeping it from my shoulders. His touch tingled my neck. His closeness was like a toxic cocktail, immobilizing me. I couldn¡¯t move. ¡°Why. Didn¡¯t. You. Call?¡± I stilled. ¡°I told you.¡± ¡°No, you didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you want from me.¡± His whisper brushed my ear. ¡°The truth. Isn¡¯t that your job?¡± ¡°I-I didn¡¯t call for a lot of reasons.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear them.¡± Knox returned to the chair across from mine. He sat like a king on his throne, and suddenly I felt like a supplicant serf before an ill-tempered monarch. ¡°One, you threatened my career. That¡¯s a huge red g.¡± I licked my lips. ¡°And two, I¡¯m just notfortable around you.¡± ¡°In what way? Be specific.¡± My palms slipped. ¡°I-what?¡± His shapely mouth pulled into a frown. ¡°Why do I make you ufortable?¡± ¡°For starters, you¡¯re interrogating me in a room with a bed!¡± I breathed in shallow gasps. My heart pounded, his gaze so galvanizing it sent a tremor through me. He brushed his knuckles against my cheek, stroking me like a man soothing his frightened pet. ¡°The door¡¯s right behind you. Nothing¡¯s stopping you from leaving.¡± ¡°Then why do I feel like I¡¯m at your mercy?¡± Warmth glowed through his smile. ¡°Not yet. But I hope someday.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s important to have dreams, Knox.¡± He caught my chin and squeezed. ¡°Did you mean what you said in that article?¡± He sounded curious, and my pulse raced. I sucked in a tight breath. ¡°Yes, of course I did.¡± ¡°So you believe that I¡¯m redeemable.¡± ¡°Honestly, Knox, I based that off a twenty-minute interview and a few conversations with your teacher. I don¡¯t know you.¡± ¡°Then why not get to know me?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s a good idea.¡± ¡°Give me a chance.¡± Themand scorched my body like melted wax rolling down my curves. Perhaps it was his blunt delivery, but the room was unbearably hot. I sensed the slightest of longing cracking his icy facade. It was subtle, but there. ¡°That¡¯s not a question.¡± ¡°Are you afraid of me? Or am I hard to endure because of your attraction to me?¡± ¡°I want to leave. Now.¡± For a moment, I suspected he¡¯d argue. Then he held out his hand. I took it, and a jolt mmed into my palm. Knox helped me to my feet and led me to the door. When he opened it, a frigid wind blew inside. He appraised my shivering frame and let out a grave whisper. ¡°You should reconsider while you still can.¡± rm shot up my spine. ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± He gave me a nd smile and his fingers swept under the jacket, removing it from my shoulders. Instantly, I missed its heat, but I wrapped my arms around myself and descended the staircase. Knox watched me leave, stony-faced. I could feel his eyes on my ass. A coterie of drunken revelers screamed at Knox¡¯s sudden appearance. They yelled for him to join them, chanting his name, toasting the air with champagne. His tall, lonely figure stood at the doorway. Wearing an expression of dignified boredom, he gave the partygoers a kingly wave. They were beside themselves. Knox¡¯s lightning rod stare beckoned me. No. If I dated Knox, he¡¯d destroy my boundaries. He¡¯d corrode my sense of self until I became his pill-popping mistress. Not a fucking chance. His ghost of a smile seemed to answer me. We¡¯ll see. 2-4 KNOX If I passed away, I would have one regret: Never having fucked Indie Starling. Weak rays of an icy November sunrise hit the frosted windows overlooking Boston¡¯s financial district. Iy on the bed, my frustration burning into my sheets. The French had a strange expression for orgasms petit mort-the little death. It was apt as hell. Because I died every time I came inside a woman who wasn¡¯t Indie. That girl drove me insane. Literally. I didn¡¯t recognize myself anymore. I spent every waking moment distracting myself from the desire to fuck her mouth. I wanted-no, I needed-to be inside her. Her face haunted me. Despite having no contact in two months, I simply couldn¡¯t get her out of my goddamn head. The only times I¡¯d interacted with her reyed in an endless loop. I pictured her ass in that pencil skirt. I heard her sultry voice telling me off on the yacht. At first, I found her reticence charming. Chasing a woman was new for me. Fun. I liked the challenge, and Indie was a worthy prize. She was the manic pixie trophy wife who nerds like me dreamed of owning. Beautiful, with her olive skin and exaggerated hourss curves, and the strip of bright pink weaving through her brown hair, framing her sweet face. But she wanted nothing to do with me. ¡°Oh my God, Knox,¡± a gritty feminine voice panted. ¡°You were so good. I can¡¯t believe-¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± I red at the Indie lookalike-I¡¯d already forgotten her name-as she writhed in a glow of postcoital bliss. Her lithe body shuddered and she sucked in a plump lip, moaning. Damp hair fluttered on her nose, but with her hands bound, she couldn¡¯t brush it aside. And I wouldn¡¯t do it for her. ¡°Knox?¡± I gritted my teeth. ¡°I told you what to call me.¡± ¡°Right. Sorry. Sir.¡± The disobedience should¡¯ve gotten her shoved to the floor and her ass brutalized by my hand, but her quickpliance stole all desire. Besides, I no longer felt an urge to dom these cum dumpsters. ¡°Did you like that, sir?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t do pillow talk.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she murmured, kissing my shoulder. ¡°Anything you want.¡± I averted my gaze to the ceiling, wishing she¡¯d disappear. I had no reason to kick her out. She was perfect, like every model, heiress, and actress I brought to my bed. They did whatever I wanted and treated me like a god. And they bored me to death. I felt nothing for them. Not even the satisfaction from emptying my balls. Having sex barely took the edge off my arousal, and it always left mecking. During it, I was fine. It was afterward-when the air reeked with destion-that the full weight of my apathy crushed me. I was miserable. I marveled at that as Iy there, resenting my chilled skin, the copse of my posture, my utter lifelessness. I was broken and hollow, my thoughts burning with wild, feminineughter and soft, dark brown waves- ¡°Sir? You all right?¡± I leaned over, yanking off the buckle fastened around her skinny wrists. Then I untied her ankles, flinging the restraints off her. She palmed my chest. I grimaced at her painted nails on my skin. The unwee heat zed into an intolerable furnace. I peeled her off and dropped her wrist on the mattress. ¡°Go.¡± ¡°In a minute. I don¡¯t want to forget this.¡± ¡°I said, leave.¡± The brte rolled onto her stomach in a tant disy of disobedience, unting curves marked with red patches. She fixed me with a prating re. ¡°You¡¯re not the only rich, hot guy in Boston, you know. Someday, you¡¯ll run out of girls willing to be defiled in your alternative¡­lifestyle.¡± ¡°I doubt it.¡± I could assemble a harem of women to fuck anytime I wanted. What stopped me was an extremeck of interest. Indie should be here, not the vessels I used so I didn¡¯t masturbate all day. I slid to the edge of my bed. Then I seized the bundle of fabric and tossed it to the girl, but my aim was off, and the dress hit her neck. She yanked it over her head, a hostile tone edging in her voice. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± I grunted, pulling on my boxers. ¡°Do you treat every woman you¡¯re with like this?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been called a heartless jerk too many times to count.¡± She let out a catty snort. I picked up her shoes and dropped them by her feet. ¡°There¡¯s a car waiting downstairs to take you home. It leaves in ten minutes.¡± She red as she slipped on her heels. Her bristling indignation begged for punishment. I didn¡¯t tolerate defiance from my subs, but this Indie lookalike was a pale imitation of the real thing. The modelbed her hair with her fingers. ¡°Are you close to anyone?¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t allow myself to do that.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± I loved and trusted no one. I didn¡¯t have rtionships. People were trinkets that I used at my leisure. I surrounded myself with powerful friends that hardly knew me. Keeping them at a distance made them easier to deal with. I grabbed her purse and handed it to her. Then I gripped her by the elbow and escorted her to the door. I opened it, but she hesitated. ¡°Does anyone ever make you lose control?¡± Indie. I was quite taken with the reporter girl, and it drove me crazy. For my own sanity, I¡¯d backed off on pursuing her. The distance was supposed to make me forget her. Supposed to. I checked my phone every morning, thinking-today is the day. She¡¯ll call. I expected her toe to her senses. She hadn¡¯t. I¡¯d built up a fantasy in my head, and it was as big as a castle. I concocted new ways to make her mine. I envisioned fucking herpliant mouth as she knelt before me. I lusted after her with a caveman-like fervor. She¡¯d weakened me with this obsession. And no matter how many women I fucked, I couldn¡¯t get rid of her or shake the strange mncholy gripping my soul. ¡°That¡¯s a yes,¡± said the model with relish. ¡°What¡¯s her name?¡± ¡°If I tell you, will you leave?¡± She huffed. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Indie. Indie Starling.¡± The girl made a disparaging sound, and blood pounded in my ears. She bit her lip as though to bury her smile. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s just¡­I know her.¡± ¡°I have zero sense of humor where she¡¯s concerned.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not lying. I¡¯ve worked with her.¡± ¡°Indie isn¡¯t a model.¡± ¡°No kidding.¡± Her lips tugged in a yful nt. ¡°I work with all kinds of people: fashion moguls, photographers, and reporters. And she¡¯s far from hot. Honestly, Knox. You can do better. You have.¡± My fingertips dug into the doorframe. ¡°I hope you¡¯re not referring to yourself.¡±Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You¡¯re settling for someone way below your league. I¡¯ve posed for Vogue. She writes health columns for a tacky magazine. I¡¯m just saying. What do you see in a girl with no ass?¡± ¡°For one, she¡¯s not a gold-digging whore.¡± ¡°Watch who you¡¯re calling a whore!¡± she shouted as I shoved her outside. I mmed the door. My hand shook. I balled it into a fist, and the tremors stopped. I stared at my whitened knuckles, bewildered. I needed to get Indie out of my system. I knew exactly where to go. Sanctum. 2-5 INDIE Sis: Indie, this is insane. Sis: Don¡¯t do it. I stared at my phone, hoping my sister¡¯s plea would shake this overwhelming need to do the right thing, this insanity gripping my skull. Getting involved was risky, but I had to do this. I studied the ominous brick building that used to be an armory for the National Guard in 1912. It was square, with a castle-like appearance, constructed in the Moorish Revival style. I¡¯d done my research on the ultra-exclusive gentleman¡¯s club Sanctum, whose website revealed very little. They advertised themselves as an alternative lifestyle society, and other than a short, soft-core porn video shot inside, the site offered no pictures of the interior. They didn¡¯t even list their membership prices. Admission was free for women, but getting an invite took months. Hopefuls applied to be a Sanctum regr by sending six fully frontal nude shots. Weeks after I¡¯d passed the preliminary round, an email arrived in my inbox demanding more information-aplete STI panel, signed consent forms, scans of my driver¡¯s license. After which I¡¯d been approved for a social mixer. My phone buzzed and I checked the screen. Sis: You¡¯re ying with fire. I powered off my phone and slipped it into my clutch. I couldn¡¯t afford the distraction. I almost didn¡¯te after I did a background check on the former owner. Michael Costa was a known associate of the Costa Crime Family. The new owners hid themselves under a limited liability corporation. The girls I¡¯d interviewed ages ago said they were trafficked at Sanctum. Days after they confided in me, they went missing. Two candlelight vigils and a halfhearted local press releaseter, and efforts to find them had fizzled out. My guilt over their disappearance was excruciating. I blew out a tense breath, my head echoing with Justine¡¯s and Ronnie¡¯s horrifying confessions. Those poor, discarded girls. I¡¯d talked to them for hours and despite my professionalism as a reporter, I always left in tears over the horror they¡¯d experienced. Sometimes, the utter powerlessness I felt on behalf of them imbibed me with a rage that made me pace my apartment. Police had failed them. Their families had given up on them. Nobody was fighting for them, so I would. I¡¯d save them by any means necessary. Even if it meant giving up a piece of my soul. I climbed the brick steps and waved my phone in front of the scanner attached to the wall. A red blinking dot turned green, and a lock utched from the iron door. I eased it open and entered a modern waiting room, where an attractive man in histe thirties lounged on an ebony desk. My breathing stalled as his powerful frame slid off the counter. He had a regal face, high cheekbones, and a princely nose. His streamlined, ssically handsome features and thick wave of auburn hair made him look like a fairy-talee to life. Perfectly proportioned muscles filled the white button-up short-sleeve shirt tucked into cks. He approached me with confident strides and shook my hand. ¡°Good evening. I¡¯m Cainan.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Cainan. I¡¯m Indie.¡± I sped his huge, calloused hand, trying not to cringe from his icy grip. His gaze dipped to my breasts. He circled me, staring at me like I was the deluxe model at a Lexus dealership. He touched my hair, my hips, my shoulders, and theparison to a car purchase intensified-he was kicking my tires. A knot formed in my throat as he prodded me, urging me forward. Guards opened the fogged ss doors to a dark hallway where club beats throbbed behind an oval door. Cainan strolled beside me. ¡°Any injuries I should know about?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Heat pricked my chest unpleasantly. He had a graveyard voice, low and grim. Some women might¡¯ve found him attractive, but he scared me. He handled me with a casual aggressiveness that reminded me of ill-fated dates during my college years. I smiled, desperate to ease the tension. ¡°Getting in was quite the audition.¡± Cainan made a deep sound and proceeded to lead me through another corridor. ¡°Unfortunately, we can¡¯t fit every woman wanting to join us into our schedule, so we have a rigorous gauntlet. And we had to wait for an opening.¡± I had so many questions. We? An opening? Who was involved? Was he the owner or a staff member? ¡°Oh. That¡¯s lucky. So does this mean I¡¯m in?¡± ¡°Maybe, if you¡¯re a good girl. You¡¯ll be tested. If everything goes well, we¡¯ll invite you back. If not¡­¡± He trailed off, his tiger-nted gaze colliding with mine. ¡°You won¡¯t hear from us again.¡± My heart pounded. Tested meant fucked, and the ¡°sex-positive¡± brochure failed to mention that I¡¯d be peddled out to some rando. I must¡¯ve overlooked that in the consent form preventing me from suing Sanctum for damages, including all sexually transmitted diseases. The stiff hold on my arm disappeared as Cainan released me near a women¡¯s locker room. ¡°Go inside. Take off your clothes.¡± ¡°I thought I could wear lingerie.¡± Cainan¡¯srge frame stiffened. ¡°I will tell you what you¡¯re wearing, sub. And the only response I want from you this evening is yes, sir or no, sir. Have I made myself clear?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Then get to it.¡± I swallowed tightly as I obeyed him. I didn¡¯t like him, and that was putting it lightly. If we were anywhere else, I¡¯d advise him to lose the stick up his ass. He erupted the moment I expressed difort and seemed to have no patience for nervous women. I strolled into the women¡¯s locker room, relieved to find it deserted. A ck pattern zigged and zagged through the white marble floors, which reflected the soft light from a crystal chandelier. I headed to a locker and flipped it open, slipping off my jacket. I folded it, trying not to picture the next hour and a half. How would I survive this? I¡¯d never been in a dungeon before. I had no idea how to behave. I felt rudderless. Everything I¡¯d pored over emphasized consent during the power exchange. Sanctum put on airs to convey that, but I shuddered at the thought of being vulnerable to men like Cainan. I undressed, staring at my terrified reflection. Justine and Ronnie need you. Their faces gave me the courage I needed. Slowly, I unhooked my bra and rolled off my panties. My arm moved to cover my breasts after I shoved the underwear in with the rest of my clothes. I inhaled deeply and tried to channel my sister¡¯s confidence, but I was naked. At a sex club. About to be fucked by a stranger. I trembled violently. ¡°You¡¯re taking too long,¡± Cainan barked. ¡°Outside. Now.¡± I had to obey, but my body wouldn¡¯t move. I inhaled deeply and forced my limbs to unfreeze. I covered myself as I rounded the corner. Cainan stood at the threshold, his massive, self-confident presence unsettling. He filled the space with a toxic malcontent that clung to my skin like a film of crude oil. He grabbed my arms roughly, moving them to my sides. ¡°Already breaking rules,¡± he murmured, his stony gazending on the patch of hair between my legs. ¡°You were supposed to shave.¡± ¡°Oh. I¡¯m sorry, sir. I forgot.¡± Cainan flourished a ck choker encrusted with diamonds. He balled my hair in a ponytail and sped the leather around my neck. He fitted the strap through the buckle and tugged, his stare boring into me as it tightened. ¡°How does that feel? Too tight?¡± It was, but I couldn¡¯t set off red gs. I shook my head, swallowing down my frenzied nerves. I¡¯d worn nothing like this before, and it was¡­intense. Especially with a stranger¡¯s breath fanning my face. ¡°You seem nervous.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m excited.¡± I couldn¡¯t breathe around the lump in my throat. ¡°Any-any advice for making the cut?¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t use your safe word.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± I shrank from the cold light of his gray eyes, his tone setting off my rm bells. ¡°I was going to meet a friend here. I¡¯m wondering if they¡¯re here yet.¡± I desperately wanted him to believe someone was expecting me, but it seemed to be the wrong thing to say. ¡°That¡¯s something we don¡¯t notice. You won¡¯t, either.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± I breathed, taken aback by his hostility. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°We take our clients¡¯ privacy very seriously. You will not know the identities of our members unless they disclose them. And once we¡¯re inside, you will address me as master or sir.¡± His princely features darkened as he transferred his grip to the hoops on my cor. ¡°Are we clear?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Yes, sir. No, sir. God, I hated being a sycophant. His hold tensed on the silver loop, jerking me toward his full mouth. He eye-fucked me from all directions before giving me a small nod. ¡°Do you remember your safe word?¡± he snapped. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Let me hear it.¡± ¡°Blueberry.¡± ¡°Good girl.¡± He patted my head like I was a Labrador. I wrestled with an urge to p him. He was overwhelming in a bad way, his arrogance grating. Cainan swiped his card through an electric e-reader and yanked me into a beautiful room. Its design was simr to that of the locker room, ultra-modern and ssy. White marble. ck chaises and sofas. Leather-padded walls. Crystal chandeliers glowed with warm light. Masked men in suits sat at the bar or on the couches. Topless girls dined at tables and served cocktails. Girls floated among them like ornaments, talking, drinking, andughing. I felt like an onlooker at a soft-core porn shoot. A woman in lingerie knelt between a man¡¯s legs, head bobbing as he fisted her hair. A lithe brte straddled a man¡¯s hips as he pped her ass with a looped belt. Moans echoed from distant corners. Cainan dragged me to a more subdued area. Speakers pulsed with a low hum that raised the hairs on my neck. This room had interesting furniture-sex wedges, a St. Andrew¡¯s cross, stocks for the head and arms, suspensions from the ceiling, whips and chains, and a massive bed with a cage underneath the mattress. Jesus fucking Christ. I spotted zero other women. We were alone, apart from a small group of masked men. With the masks, they looked like jackals, with horizontal slits for eyes. Cainan positioned me in front of them, and I tried not to wince from the displeasure his touch gave me. ¡°This is where you¡¯re spending the evening,¡± he said, pulling my shoulders back. ¡°Don¡¯t slouch. I want those tits on disy.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°So obedient,¡± he marveled, staring at me. ¡°It¡¯d fool me if I didn¡¯t know better. You are very defiant. I can see it. I¡¯m going to extinguish it. What do you think about that, sub?¡± Lead bottomed out my stomach. ¡°I just want to please my master.¡± His lips pulled into a malicious grin that hardened his features. I decided he probably didn¡¯t smile much, or at all. I wondered if he knew anything about the missing girls. Did the same hands stroking me end someone¡¯s life? ¡°Do you?¡± he taunted. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll find out how far you¡¯re willing to go. What¡¯s off limits to me?¡± ¡°Nothing, sir.¡± ¡°Good.¡± His hand skated across my corbone and grabbed my throat. Slowly, he squeezed. The swift pressure cut my oxygen. Blood pounded where his fingers sank into my flesh. The unrelenting force doubled. I panted, reaching for his hand. ¡°You have a safe word. Although it doesn¡¯t bode well for your future if you use it this soon.¡± He smirked, his face lit up with malevolence. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. You read the consent form. You know what you got yourself into.¡± I fought for gulps of air but he only allowed me sips, relieving the intensity when ck spots crept across my vision. All the blood in my head was trapped, and I couldn¡¯t kick him off me. His arms were like a steel cage, immobilizing me. I could¡¯ve screamed, but my lungs hurt. Blueberry. The world blotted out. I would pass out in a few seconds. A feral panic seized me. My nails dug into his wrist. ¡°Not going tost long, are you?¡± Disappointmentced his tone as he choked me. ¡°You looked like you could handle rough y.¡± He released me. I gasped like someone who¡¯d just kicked up to the surface of ake. Appreciative murmurs from onlookers rushed into my ears, battering me. My knees knocked the marble as he pressed into my shoulder. Cainan unbuckled his belt as I knelt, fighting to grasp onto consciousness. He looped the leather in his hand and slipped it under my chin. Then he raised it, forcing my neck to bend backward. My throat ached as my gaze centered on the bulge straining his cks. ¡°Touch my cock. Get me hard.¡± Fuck you. ¡°Do it.¡± ¡°No.¡± A sharp blow caught my cheek. The fierce sting burned my eyes. My chest billowed with deep breaths. Blueberry. My safe word curled on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed it down. A little pain wouldn¡¯t kill me. I had to stick this out, ingratiate myself to this asshole, and then I¡¯d find out what happened to Justine and Ronnie. I fondled his erection. He stiffened under my gentle grip. I slid up and down his shaft, the knot in my stomach growing. ¡°It¡¯s your responsibility to get me hard, sub.¡± Cainan nced at me. He looked barely into it-bored. ¡°Take my cock out.¡± My cheeks stung with humiliation. The thought that kept hammering me was that this might¡¯ve been arousing if Cainan was another man. Someone less frightening. I was out of my depth, my emotions disregarded, close to crying for mercy. The group closed in on us like hyenas on a fresh ughter. I searched their masked faces for sympathy. They had to notice my distress. But instead of helping me, they clinked sses and drank. Then theyughed. My trembling fingers undid the button on his cks, or tried to, before Cainan did it himself in a fit of annoyance. He wove his hand in my hair and pulled. My neck arched backward as he drilled me with his usatory stare. ¡°Are you a virgin?¡± ¡°N-no, sir.¡± ¡°No, sir,¡± he mocked in a higher pitch. ¡°Stop shivering. Men at Sanctum don¡¯t want a lifeless model. They want a hungry, cock-sucking ve, so I need you to harness the happy little whore inside you.¡± What about my inner bitch? It was wing at my ribs to get out and rip off his nuts. I fumed. ¡°I¡¯m trying, sir.¡± ¡°Enough. The next time you open your mouth, it better be to take a cock.¡± He loosened his grip on my hair to let me return to my task, but I¡¯d never been more repulsed by a man¡¯s penis. My loathing for Cainan and my stage fright had killed my libido, and my mouth was dry with the weight of their staring. I was failing. Any moment, he¡¯d see through my charade and toss me out. And I¡¯d have humiliated myself for nothing. Just as I¡¯d resigned myself to tucking my tail between my legs and uttering the safe word, a tall man in a demi-mask slid to my side. A storm of testosterone seemed to engulf him. His dense frame filled the fitted, ck suit, which blocked my vision as he approached me. My gaze traveled up the powerful thighs leading to a tapered waist. I couldn¡¯t make out much of him from this angle, but the recognizable voice bled with wrath. ¡°This one is mine for the evening.¡± My heartbeat stalled, and then continued its regr rhythm. Knox? Cainan red at him. ¡°Did you make a reservation?¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have to,¡± Knox seethed, his jaw tensing with rage. ¡°Hand her over. If my money isn¡¯t wee here, I can always take it elsewhere.¡± ¡°She¡¯s all yours,¡± Cainan drawled, releasing me. ¡°But don¡¯t be deceived. She¡¯s not aspliant as her looks led me to believe.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s because she¡¯s poorly trained.¡± ¡°We definitely agree on that.¡± Cainan¡¯s strong fingers glided under my jaw, holding it firmly. ¡°Sub, you are to do everything this man says. If he asks you to suck him off, you will open your mouth. If he wants to bite you, you will let him. If he¡¯s inclined to fill your holes with cum, you will spread your legs and say, please, sir.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Cainan stepped back. Knox took his ce, his nearness filling me with feelings of fire. I couldn¡¯t believe he was here to witness my humiliation. He grabbed me by the forearm and hauled me upright, hissing. ¡°I told you, Indie. One day, you¡¯ll find yourself at my mercy.¡± Something stirred in my chest, a deep pang. My nerves tingled. I could feel my muscles loosening, bing weak as my heart pounded. The hairs on my arms rose. I squirmed, trying to put myself at ease with being in his embrace. Knox clutched me tighter, his glower boring into me. ¡°I never gave you permission to touch anyone else.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± I blurted, seizing on the lifeline he offered. ¡°It won¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°Not good enough.¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir.¡± ¡°Are you? What will you do to make it up to me?¡± I bowed my head, too aware of Cainan to protest. ¡°Whatever you want, sir.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see if you mean that.¡± His feral growl burned my neck. I sensed the thrill of his lust. He shifted forward, prodding me with his thick erection. A rock-hard column dug into my ass. I sucked in a harsh gasp. He was huge, way bigger than any man I¡¯d ever been with. My mind was an insane mix of arousal and fear. What would he do to me? Would I enjoy it? His grip sailed up my belly, stopping short of cupping my breasts. I could feel him fighting the impulse. Wet heat scorched my skin as he licked my ear. He suckled the lobe and bit. A stinging pain shot through the glowing fog. Knox fisted my hair, making a ponytail. He pulled, jerking me onward, leading me by the hair as I stumbled to keep up with him. He kept the act up until we¡¯d entered a smaller room furnished only with a bed and chair, and the door shut behind us. As I heard the sound of it closing, my pulse galloped ahead. Being in a locked room with Knox was the opposite of safe. 2-6 INDIE Knox was not my savior. This dark knight intended to punish me. He seized my jaw, and I shuddered from a swell of unexpected heat. His biting grip forced my attention up his broad chest to the fabric obscuring most of his face. Pure malice shone through the eyeholes. He grabbed the stic and flung the mask off, unveiling his red-faced fury. ¡°What the fuck are you doing here?¡± ¡°Me?¡± I flinched, startled by his harsh tone. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I have a membership.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s okay for you toe here, but not me?¡± ¡°Do you want to be responsible for that man¡¯s death? I could kill him just for looking at you. What do you think I¡¯d do if he¡¯d fucked you?¡± My jaw dropped. It¡¯d been a couple of months since the yacht party. I hadn¡¯t seen him, other than in paparazzi photos with yet another leggy model, which annoyed me. Even though I figured he would have moved on. Men like Knox had the attention span of a gnat. I had no idea I was still on his radar. ¡°Knox. I don¡¯t owe you anything. I don¡¯t belong to you.¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± His deep voice simmered with barely restrained passion. I studied his fiery presence, the rapid rising and falling of his chest, the mad glint of his stare. This wasn¡¯t the cool, collected CEO I¡¯d met at The Spheres. ¡°Why are you acting like a jealous lover?¡± I demanded, more to cover my nerves than anything. ¡°We¡¯ve never kissed. We haven¡¯t so much as held hands. Heck, we haven¡¯t even gone on a date!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t tolerate other men touching what¡¯s rightfully mine.¡± Shock wedged the lump in my throat. I hadn¡¯t seen this guy in months. He had me convinced he¡¯d forgotten me. Where the hell did he get off acting possessive? I raised my chin, meeting his re. I would not bend for Knox. I was the only person in his life holding him ountable. He was so self-absorbed. He couldn¡¯t fathom a woman who didn¡¯t want him. He never failed to get his way, and it infuriated him that he couldn¡¯t win me over. ¡°Buddy, if a woman¡¯s rejection is enough to destroy your pride, perhaps you had none to begin with.¡± ¡°Says the girl who signed up to be gangbanged.¡± ¡°Nice.¡± My cheeks blistered as thatnded just as harshly as he¡¯d intended. ¡°Always a ss act, Knox.¡± ¡°What am I supposed to think?¡± Knox¡¯s muscled arm lifted as he raked his brown locks, a cruel smile twisting his mouth. ¡°You don¡¯t want me, but you¡¯ll let randos at Sanctum fuck you?¡± ¡°It has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re making a mistake. They¡¯ll eat you alive.¡± His gaze riveted on my body before centering on my face. ¡°Although the cor suits you very well.¡± The sight of it seemed to both turn him on and enrage him¡­probably because another man had gotten the privilege of putting it on me. A smirk curled his perfect lips as he yanked the ring on my cor, pulling me closer until a breath stopped us from kissing. ¡°Knox.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t expect me to behave when you show up naked in a ce that¡¯s very much my style,¡± he said in a mocking drawl. ¡°Am I going to read about my deviant lifestyle in one of your columns?¡± I sighed. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± ¡°Why not? Your readers would have a field day.¡± ¡°Because I¡¯d never vite your boundaries like that.¡± Bryan Knox¡¯s kinky sex life was the stuff of gossip blogs, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to participate in celebrity worship culture. I never wanted to be a tabloid journalist. ¡°And yet, you vite yours to benefit me. You edited my quotes to make me look better.¡± Knox stared at me, his head tilted to the side. ¡°That surprised me.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re predictably cruel.¡± ¡°Then why help me? Why defend the most hated man in Boston?¡± He was fishing for a confession, but I could never tell him the truth. He seemed to be the poster child of ¡°hurt people hurt people,¡± and writing him off as a soulless tyrant wasn¡¯t right. Staring into his guarded eyes always took away my desire for vengeance. The pain in them moved me. He disturbed me. But I couldn¡¯t hate him. And I would not drag him through the mud like everyone else. I couldn¡¯t build a career off his name. No way I¡¯d ever owe Bryan Knox a damned thing. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I take no pleasure in hurting others.¡± ¡°Even the man who threatened your job? That¡¯s a rare quality in a person, Indie. Though I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s a gift.¡± ¡°Why would it be bad?¡± ¡°Because it makes you a ma for predators.¡± ¡°Are you speaking for yourself?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t prey on women, Indie. Theye crawling to me. You will, too.¡± Heat came off him in waves. I stepped away from the furnace, but he dragged me closer. I cleared my throat, pretending not to be affected. He was too close. His suit rubbed my nipples into aching points, and I couldn¡¯t disguise how his touch hypnotized me. Everything about Knox felt good. His hand on my hip. His steel arms. His hot skin. I¡¯d tried to dismiss our connection. He¡¯d made me feel special, and the glow of his ttering interest stayed in my chest for weeks. And here he was. Saving me. Looking at him made my heart hammer foolishly. Touching him sparked a fierce ache in my chest. ¡°How did you know I¡¯d be here?¡± ¡°Lucky coincidence.¡± He cupped my chin, and unbidden warmth soared into my chest. ¡°In our time apart, have you thought of me?¡± Of course I had. I couldn¡¯t go anywhere without being reminded of him. His handsome face red from tabloids. Construction boards announced his developments throughout North Dorchester. Op-eds attacked him for exploiting Boston¡¯s most vulnerable citizens for profit. Even though I avoided the inte and had blocked his number, he dropped in my head constantly. I pictured going home with him in a montage of sensations and images-my hand sliding over his naked, muscr back, our mouths sealed against one another as we stumbled into bed. I licked my lips, unable to stop the ripple of excitement from shivering up my leg. ¡°I should go.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an excellent idea.¡± ¡°Can I wear your jacket so I can at least leave with some dignity intact?¡± He didn¡¯t react, but the arm around my waist tightened. ¡°Ask me properly.¡± ¡°Please give me your jacket.¡± ¡°You forgot something at the end of your sentence.¡± ¡°Please give me your goddamn jacket.¡± His cold eyes sniped at me. ¡°It¡¯s an effort not to pull you over my knee, spank you, and taste your glistening pussy.¡± ¡°Sir, I need your coat. Please.¡± Without tearing his gaze from me, he rolled the coat off his muscled shoulders and offered it to me. I took it and put it on. ¡°Thank you, Knox.¡± His mouth parted slightly. His deep blues searched me, the most brilliant swirls of aquamarine, navy, and teal morphing into suspicion. ¡°Don¡¯t evere here again.¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. 2-7 KNOX I could be obsessive. Some would say to a criminal degree. I headed the biggest cybersecurity firm in the country, buttely I¡¯d spent more hours dissecting Indie¡¯s online activity than on my actual work. I searched her emails for keywords. I dove through her social media page. Anything to exin her stubbornness. A day after I¡¯d found her at Sanctum, she was on my mind more than ever. Plus, my head pounded with a vicious tension headache. Like five hangovers stacked on each other. I couldn¡¯t believe she¡¯d gone there. The sight of her naked, her hand on Cainan¡¯s thigh, burned into my mind like a hot poker. My imagination ran wild with gruesome images. You¡¯re losing your mind. I sucked in air and blew it out, the sound cutting through the conversation. People seated around the conference table turned in their seats to stare. My heart slowed to a canter and I forced my attention to the tedious stakeholder meeting. I met the potent re of a white-haired fossil. I cleared my throat. ¡°Mr. Knox, you have less than four months to pull this off. Your team is notpleting its milestones.¡± The Secretary of Defense red through the projected screen. ¡°What is taking so long?¡± What the hell is wrong with her? Why can¡¯t she admit she wants me? I clenched my jaw so hard that pain shot into my teeth. ¡°Mr. Knox,¡± the man shouted. ¡°Why aren¡¯t we advancing?¡± ¡°Apologies, Mr. Secretary. We¡¯re waiting for the softwarepany to finish a required update to the firmware of theirwork firewalls, which is dying the project. Zenocorp is prioritizing other work due to a hack on their servers. Right now, it¡¯s all hands on deck to fix that before they canplete the changes we need for Vega. They are in the critical path, and there¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± He gave me a tight nod and sighed, swallowing that line of bullshit whole. The Department of Defense was our sponsor for the Vega project. They¡¯d contacted ck Prism to redesign router and VPN firmware to improve security. I¡¯d proposed an ambitious firmware that would detect viruses and hackers by allowing them in a blocked area of serverworks and trick them into thinking they¡¯d infiltrated thepany. Then we¡¯d analyze their tactics and discover where they were connecting from. First, we needed toplete the prototype. It was all very hush-hush. High stakes. Hundreds of millions hung in the bnce, but I was more excited about the ess to government data. That alone would make me the most powerful businessman in the free world, and yet I¡¯d almost tanked this deal. The meeting ended. I stered on a smile until the connection dropped, then I wheeled around, facing the three idiots who¡¯d put me in this position. I was in no mood for people who¡¯d let me down. ¡°What¡¯s your exnation for lying to me about the biggest contract in thispany¡¯s history?¡± The PM, a thirty-four-year-old divorce with liens on his property, drummed his fingers on the table. His white button-up stuck to his chest. ¡°It¡¯splicated. I have minimal resources and I need a firmware change on a Zenocorp router. The problem is I can¡¯t get proprietary details on a specific model the Pentagon uses in front of the database servers.¡± ¡°You told me we were on target.¡± ¡°I apologize, Mr. Knox. We were trying to deal with this ourselves with Zenocorp before we escted to this level.¡± I allowed that to hang in the air, suffocating the room. Everyone worked themselves into a frenzy-bouncing their knees, their pupils dting, and clearing their throats. I recognized the physical manifestations of fear despite the sensation escaping me. I took a giant step forward. ¡°It¡¯s not our f-fault,¡± the PM stammered, his palm sliding off the chair. ¡°The CEO of Zenocorp won¡¯t budge. Hamilton keeps saying he can¡¯t give that information out. He wants more details.¡± ¡°Make him sign an NDA.¡± ¡°He¡¯s refusing to do that, too. We¡¯re stonewalled.¡± ¡°The second Hamilton turned you down, you should¡¯ve run to my office. Not lie to your fucking CEO and wait until the stakeholder meeting to bring up a major problem.¡± ¡°I realize that-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t interrupt me. You¡¯re gambling with the most lucrative deal we have ever made. Our RSUs will take a nosedive if this falls through.¡± ¡°I thought I could handle it.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t. You¡¯re fired.¡± The PM¡¯s trembling chin lowered to his chest. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and then he rose to his feet. His watery gaze met mine, flinching. ¡°Please, sir. Give me another chance. I have to pay my mortgage this month.¡± ¡°Go fuck yourself!¡± He clenched his teeth, his breathing ragged. ¡°I¡¯ve been working twelve-hour days to make sure this project is up to speed.¡± ¡°And you failed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not my fault!¡± I red at my phone. ¡°I have no time for morons.¡± ¡°Screw you,¡± he shouted, stunning me. ¡°You¡¯re a drain on this city, and I hope they put you in jail. You¡¯re pathetic.¡± He hurled the words like stones, but they disintegrated on my red-hot chest. Pathetic? I finished four years at MIT before my balls dropped. I started ck Prism at eighteen. Who the fuck was this guy? What gave him the right to talk to me like this? My vision shed with crimson. Heat red to my wrist, which seized his neck. I smashed his head into the wall, opened the door, and shoved him out. His skinny ass bounced on the floor before hended in a crumpled heap, eyes widened and wet. I tossed his bag after him. ¡°Leave before you can¡¯t even find a job with the Geek Squad!¡± He scrambled to his feet, muttering something about awsuit before he disappeared into the path lined with azaleas. A man working on a bench peered at him before his attention riveted back to hisptop. Sheep. Useless sycophants. I gave zero shits what people thought of me. They called me Tyrant in the press, and Iughed because it was true. I was a domineering bastard. But it bothered me that the only woman who mattered to me had joined the ranks of everyone else who hated me. God, I wanted her. And the more she refused me, the more I craved her submission. I was so lost in the suffocating tension coiling in my chest that I didn¡¯t notice Valerie¡¯s hovering presence until she cleared her throat. ¡°Mr. Knox, the Herald keeps reaching out for ament on the St. Luke¡¯s demolition project. If you¡¯re reconsidering, this is yourst chance. The story¡¯s dropping on Friday.¡± ¡°Fuck them.¡± ¡°And I informed HR and the PMO of your decision to terminate Mr. Hastings.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Good.¡± ¡°Should I cancel your dinner reservation?¡± I nced at my petite assistant, a curvy blonde who wore her hair in a severe ponytail. The low-cut blouses and figure-hugging dresses distracted my clients, which was part of the reason I hired her. She¡¯d also made enough passes at me to warrant aint to HR, but I kept her around because she was loyal. I regarded her like I did most women-she was just tits and a mouth. I could¡¯ve bent her over my desk and gotten off, but loyalty was hard to find these days. ¡°Mr. Knox?¡± Valerie prodded gently. ¡°Should I tell them you¡¯ll bete?¡± ¡°Cancel it. Is there anything else?¡± ¡°No.¡± I rubbed my temples. ¡°If that¡¯s all, you can go.¡± Val¡¯s light eyes met mine, a question forming in her gaze. She opened and closed her mouth. Then she reached over and grasped my shoulder, flooding my muscles with tension. ¡°Are you okay?¡± My stare drilled into her hand until she removed it from my person, and then I shifted my re to her blushing face. ¡°Go home.¡± She sucked in a tight breath and did exactly as she was ordered, turning on her heel and trotting away like an obedient dog. She was nothing like Indie, who had to be told something five times before she did it, if she obeyed me at all. My throat constricted. I needed to find Cainan and tear him a new asshole. If he ever touched her again, I didn¡¯t know what I¡¯d do. He was better off in aa than in my hands. Because if he challenged me, I would destroy him. Indie needed to be where she belonged.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. My bed. 2-8 INDIE You¡¯ll be killed. The coward inside me begged to run. I nced at the iron kissing gate, back into the street where my beat-up Toyota was parked beside the curb. It didn¡¯t belong in this ritzy, white-cor suburb called Mob Row, nicknamed for the collection of mansions owned by Costa Family associates. One of those-Michael Costa. I red at the luxury vehicles in his driveway, including a tricked-up muscle car which, rumor had it, belonged to his daughter. She wasn¡¯t even old enough to drive. Clearly, he took care of his own. Michael Costa wouldn¡¯t react well to me showing up at his house, but I was out of options. He¡¯d ignored my calls and emails. I pounded the door. ¡°I¡¯ll get it!¡± a child¡¯s roar echoed from within. Secondster, it cracked open. A brown-haired boy in a blue T-shirt and dinosaur-patterned pants emerged, grinning. ¡°Hi! I¡¯m Matteo!¡± ¡°Why, hello there! I¡¯m Indie.¡± I stooped, waving at him. ¡°Is your daddy home? I¡¯d like to meet him.¡± ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s here.¡± Matteo roared over his shoulder. ¡°Daddy!¡± A much older, pissed off clone of the child rapidly descended the stairs. The thirtysomething Mafioso was a ticking bomb wrapped in a Versace suit. He had a lean, handsome face that radiated pure menace. Matteo yanked on his father¡¯s jacket. ¡°Daddy, this is Indie!¡± Michael stroked Matteo¡¯s hair as his nted gaze burned with a ferocity that contrasted the innocence in his son¡¯s identical eyes. ¡°Go find Mommy, hon. I need to talk to Indie alone.¡± ¡°But I wanna stay.¡± ¡°Teo. Do as I say.¡± His son blistered. ¡°Okay, but I¡¯m going to punch your cocktail!¡± Bewilderment rippled on Michael¡¯s brow as his son stomped away. Then he looked at me. A mixture of bemusement and rage zed in his expression. ¡°You came to my fucking house?¡± he growled, mming the door shut behind him. ¡°What part of noment do you not understand?¡± ¡°Mr. Costa, I just have a few questions about your former club-¡± ¡°Why are you harassing me?¡± I stiffened, biting my lip to kill the tremor in my voice. ¡°Mr. Costa, this is important. Two of your former employees are missing. People want answers.¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t see how that¡¯s my problem. I don¡¯t own Sanctum anymore. I haven¡¯t for years.¡± ¡°Who owns Opal Entertainment?¡± ¡°I¡¯m done talking to you.¡± Michael took arge step forward, the sudden movement startling me. ¡°Get off my property!¡± The world spun as I was roughly turned around and shoved. That could¡¯ve gone better. Coming here was a long shot, but I¡¯d hit a wall trying to find Justine and Ronnie. God only knew what had happened to them. Grinding my teeth, I strolled the pristinewn and pushed through the iron gate. I swallowed hard at the sight of a Lexus double parked next to my car. Its headlights shed, and an olive-skinned man stepped out of the driver-side door. ¡°Miss Starling?¡± A man in histe thirties approached me, hands deep into his cks. The sleeves of his cashmere sweater were rolled up to his elbows, revealing tanned, muscled arms. A rose gold watch wrapped his left wrist. There was a wildness about him that was incongruous with the designer clothes. A tortured dullness shone in his ck gaze. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± ¡°Tony Costa. To what do I owe the pleasure?¡± ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t say it¡¯s a pleasure.¡± He made no threatening moves, but the threat was implied by his mere presence. If I moved, he¡¯d grab me. Ice slipped down my spine. ¡°It¡¯s a free country. You might not believe in that, but I do. And I¡¯m allowed to ask your cousin questions.¡± ¡°People who mess with my family have a short shelf life. Leave him alone.¡± I forced myself to settle down and shrug it off. ¡°But I¡¯m not hurting anyone. I-I just want information.¡± ¡°This is your first andst warning. Stay away.¡± My insides rebelled, but I lifted my chin in defiance. ¡°I¡¯m surprised a man like you gives out warnings. Doesn¡¯t that take the edge off your reputation?¡± A smile carved dimples into his cheek. ¡°Perhaps, but a friend of mine has a thing for you.¡± Knox. I fought a ripple of excitement when Tony opened the passenger-side door and gestured to the seat. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to him.¡± * * * I never wanted to see Knox again. Unfortunately, it was unavoidable. But the adrenaline racing through my veins wasn¡¯t all fear. Thest time we¡¯d met, I was naked. Shame didn¡¯t quite cover myplicated feelings. I¡¯d reyed his tongue tickling my neck and his erection nudging my backside way too often. My fantasies took it one step further. I imagined him shoving his hand between my thighs. Sliding inside me. Working me into a pant. Touching him erased any doubts that he would be great in bed, because he felt amazing. Sadly, I couldn¡¯t get past his sociopathy or the many red gs urging me to run-like his Mafia buddy kidnapping me. I sat in the passenger seat, watching the grim-faced Italian effortlessly navigate Boston¡¯s streets. ¡°So he¡¯s sending henchmen after me now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing him a favor.¡± ¡°Does Knox have you on his payroll?¡± ¡°Payroll,¡± he mused,ughing. ¡°As if I need the money.¡± ¡°What¡¯s in it for you?¡± He flicked on the blinker and turned left. ¡°Knox helped my wife. I owe him. That¡¯s why I haven¡¯t resorted to more drastic measures to make you go away.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t appreciate threats.¡± ¡°Then perhaps you should stick to writing foot mask reviews.¡± Asshole. He caught my stare and returned it with interest. He shrugged, returning his attention to the road. He drove to the North End, squeezing into Hanover street. As he parallel parked, I searched the brick-lined block for Knox. I climbed out of the car, my legs shaky on the cobblestones. Tony waved me into Bro, a softly lit restaurant. Tables crammed the narrow space. As I squeezed past a group drinking at the bar, my gaze fell on a beautiful man. Knox sat across from a woman with overfilled lips and cheeks. He wore his signature uniform-a T-shirt and jeans. His army green bomber jacket hung on the chair behind him. He couldn¡¯t even be bothered to dress up for his date. Not that he needed it. His ruggedly masculine, down-to-earth vibe set him apart from the techbros. So hot. I could¡¯ve licked his stubbed jaw. Kissed his open pout. I could almost taste him as he sipped his cocktail. I pulled my head out of that sinful fantasy. What was wrong with me? The girl stabbed into her sd moodily. Knox carved his steak, looking bored. Then he lifted his head. As though a sixth sense beckoned him, his attention winged to me. Something intense sted through his eyes and burrowed into my heart. Slowly, his hand lowered his fork. It missed the te and hit the table, but he didn¡¯t seem to notice. Tony gave me a final push. My stomach tensed as I approached them. Knox beamed with a gentlemanly glow. ¡°Indie, good to see you again. I like your dress.¡± A secretive grin softened Knox¡¯s lips. ¡°Though I preferred you in the cor.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the intrusion.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Knox stood and offered his chair, then he seemed to remember he already had a date. ¡°We don¡¯t mind, do we, Amber?¡± The color drained from her beautiful face. ¡°Ashley.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Knox shot her a withering look. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone take you home.¡± I bit my lip savagely, boiling with Ashley¡¯s hurt and indignation. She bundled her napkin and threw it on the table. Then she gulped the rest of her wine and mmed the ss down. ¡°He¡¯s as fun as a UTI,¡± she shouted to me. ¡°You can have him!¡± She nearly struck a waiter with her purse as she hurled it over her shoulder. Then she zed out of the restaurant in a white blur. Knox barely flinched. I had the feeling he was used to women storming off in his presence. ¡°Indie.¡± He grasped my shoulders. Then he bent at the waist and kissed my cheek. ¡°Always a pleasure.¡± My skin stung from the impact of his gentle kiss as he peeled the coat from my back and folded it, staring at me like an unknown curiosity. Then he gged a man in a ck button-up. Secondster, Ashley¡¯s te and silverware were reced with new dishes. ¡°Knox, this isn¡¯t a date.¡± ¡°Says the girl who scared off my hookup.¡± Knox smiled broadly, somehow more gorgeous than my memories. He¡¯d shortened his messy waves and shaved the hair near his temples. Darkness flickered in his eyes, the passion in them making me dizzy. ¡°How did you even find me?¡± I nced at Tony, his rugged profile feet away. ¡°Your friend brought me here.¡± Knox looked up as Tony glided to the table, clearing his throat. ¡°We need to talk.¡± Knox¡¯s face darkened like the clouds outside, nodding. He stood, and they retreated to the bar. They faced each other, beginning what seemed to be a heated discourse. Tony gestured at me. They exchanged a few words. Then Tony patted Knox¡¯s back and left the restaurant. Knox¡¯s lightning rod starended on me. As he headed toward me, I seized his ss and took a mouthful. The harsh taste raked my tongue with fire. I coughed. ¡°What is this, paint thinner?¡± ¡°Whiskey.¡± Knox returned to his seat and picked up the ss, sipping from the same spot my lips had touched. ¡°Tony says you¡¯ve been a naughty girl.¡± ¡°Did he?¡± ¡°Stalking his cousin. Tsk, tsk.¡± Knox lifted a brow, swirling his drink. ¡°I¡¯m jealous. I thought we had a connection.¡± ¡°I¡¯m researching for a story.¡± ¡°I hope that exins why you showed up at Sanctum.¡± When I nodded, Knox dropped the levity like a sledgehammer. ¡°The Costas don¡¯t like it, Indie. I don¡¯t like it, either.¡± ¡°I care even less about your opinion.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve made that abundantly clear.¡± ¡°No shit. You interfered with my work once. I won¡¯t let you do it again.¡± He leaned forward, pinning me with his sapphire gaze. ¡°Do you think you¡¯ll win the Pulitzer-fucking-Prize if your legs are broken?¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯d give me extra points, if anything.¡± His eyes zed. ¡°Indie. Let it go.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me what to do.¡± ¡°Is your sry at Vanity so bad that you¡¯re taking desperate measures?¡± Such a prick. ¡°No. I just can¡¯t live with myself if I don¡¯t report on what¡¯s going on right in our backyard!¡± ¡°Sure you can. I do it every day. Care for a drink?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m not staying.¡± ¡°But we¡¯re not done talking,¡± he said in a voice that boded zero argument. ¡°Might as well have something to wrap your lips around.¡± My cheeks burned as he dragged out that sentence, conjuring an image of us kissing. Knox smirked. ¡°I enjoy our conversations, Indie. Most people are unbelievably dull.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know me.¡± ¡°Oh yes, I do,¡± he whispered. ¡°You can learn a lot about someone¡¯s mind by examining their prose, and I¡¯ve been reading your stuff all year.¡± Shock flew through me. I gaped at him. ¡°You have?¡± ¡°Every single article.¡± That ttered me, but for God¡¯s sake, why? I stared at him, tongue-tied. ¡°And what did you get from it?¡± ¡°You hate working at Vanity. You could have a seizure on your keyboard and type out more substance than the content they¡¯re forcing you to write.¡± What a backhandedpliment. I digested that, hurt by the casual dissection of my work. He wasn¡¯t wrong, but his self-satisfied expression mocked me. He brushed aside my trembling fingers and grasped my knee. ¡°What if I offered you any job in media you wanted?¡± he murmured fervently. ¡°Would you give yourself to me?¡± ¡°What would that involve?¡± ¡°It would mean being fucked by me. Constantly. Sucking me off whenever I please. You¡¯ll be my willing toy. In exchange, I¡¯ll pay all your expenses. Rent. Food. Doctors. Everything. You¡¯ll have ess to my professionalwork. You¡¯ll be my date at social functions. You¡¯ll be mine, Indie.¡± He squeezed me, and the hot ache in my throat grew. It didn¡¯t ur to me to shake him off. The audacity of him amazed me, and his silky baritone teased warmth between my thighs. But I had to resist. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in being your personal sex doll.¡± ¡°No? You can already imagine the pleasure I¡¯ll bring you. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re waiting for a man who can offer you more.¡± ¡°Like respect?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to be respected.¡± He pinned me with a scious re. Then his eyes dipped into my cleavage. His stare raked a line of fire to my cheeks. ¡°You¡¯d rather be dragged by your hair to bed and fucked. Hard. Often.¡± ¡°How often? ¡°Every time my cock is hard.¡± The crude words skittered my pulse rmingly. My jumbled thoughts collided like two fireworks exploding into each other. No more worrying about bills or sucking up to my idiotic boss. Dangerously tempting. But I would never be a vessel for this man¡¯s amusement. I shook my head, face burning. ¡°Is the world at your fingertips not enough for you?¡± ¡°Knox, I¡¯m not a prostitute!¡± I pulled my knee from his grip, but he¡¯d left me so little room that I bumped into his leg. Every collision with that dense frame ricocheted desire between my legs. But I managed to hold firm. ¡°I¡¯m not the girl you think I am. I won¡¯t sleep with you for a favor!¡± Knox rxed in his chair like a king on his throne, looking perplexed. ¡°How else will you get anywhere? Your job is holding you back. That nopete agreement you signed screwed you. Royally. Anything you work on while working at Vanity belongs to them. You realize that, right?¡± ¡°How do you know about that?¡± ¡°I know a lot of things, Indie.¡± His air of calm and self-confidence unnerved me. I swam hard against the doubt carrying me away from the shore. ¡°You¡¯re trying to manipte me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have to force anyone into my bed. I¡¯m just telling you the truth. You¡¯re a talented writer and a skilled interviewer. You deserve better.¡± I cleared my throat, pretending not to be affected. ¡°What do you really want from me?¡± ¡°Your submission. Your body.¡± ¡°Why do you need those from me?¡± I hissed, my heart hammering. ¡°To repair your damaged ego? Because I don¡¯t want you? Because nobody refuses Bryan Knox?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, Indie. I can¡¯t get you out of my head.¡± ¡°You should. I can destroy your reputation.¡± ¡°Your website isn¡¯t important enough to damage my name. Even if you wanted to hurt me.¡± ¡°What makes you think I don¡¯t?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve had plenty of opportunity. Instead you protect me and my interests.¡± Yes, I made the mistake of going easy on Knox in my profile. I humanized a tyrant before more troubling aspects of his personality came to light, but that didn¡¯t mean I was a pushover. Pain shot through my jaw from my clenched teeth. ¡°You have no idea what the hell you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Yes, I do. You¡¯re apassionate woman. You care about people. You give everybody a chance, even when the evidence is stacked against them. That¡¯s a rare, beautiful thing, but it¡¯s also what makes you so vulnerable.¡± Darknessyered hispliment as he drained thest of his drink. ¡°No, I¡¯m not worried about you. But I fear the trouble you¡¯ll get into without me.¡± ¡°Thanks for looking out for me, but I¡¯m fine.¡± Knox stilled, scowling at me. ¡°Only because I warned Tony what¡¯d happen if anyone touched you.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t have another man damaging your prize.¡± ¡°Meaning, you belong to me.¡± His graveled edge drowned out the violent thudding of my heart. ¡°I¡¯ll find you a position anywhere you like.¡± ¡°Thank you for the career advice.¡± ¡°Nature selected you for beauty. Why not use it to your advantage?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stick to not blowing men for jobs.¡± His lips twisted in a cynical smile. ¡°How else would you put that smart mouth to work?¡± My hand shook with the need to p him. He made sex in exchange for favors sound so reasonable-which was why I had to stay far away from him. ¡°You want this, Indie,¡± he persisted. I red at him. ¡°I don¡¯t. It¡¯s not right.¡± His nk stare told me he didn¡¯t care. ¡°Do you know how many people I hire because they¡¯re rted to someone? How is warming my bed any worse than nepotism?¡± I was starting to think hecked empathy, period. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. There is something wrong with me. Has been since I met you.¡± His soft murmur seemed to stroke my thighs. ¡°I have never questioned my sanity so much. I want you. Fucking random girls barely takes the edge off.¡± Acid burned at the back of my throat. ¡°What?¡± he taunted, his eyes hooded like a hawk. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± I smoldered. A momentter, a pang hit my chest. Was I? ¡°Screw all the women you like, Knox.¡± ¡°Oh I do, but it¡¯s not enough.¡± He caught a tendril of hair hanging by my cheek and tugged. ¡°It¡¯s hard to find a woman who doesn¡¯t bore me in five minutes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re like a child with a toy.¡± ¡°I need to be stimted. That¡¯s not a crime.¡± ¡°As soon as you¡¯re finished with a person, you throw them out.¡± ¡°But I wouldn¡¯t do that to you.¡± ¡°Yes, you would,¡± I ground out, refusing to let his words in my head. ¡°The only difference between me and the other girls is that I won¡¯t date you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re selling yourself short, Indie. I know I¡¯m not your first, but I want to be yourst.¡± My heart fluttered wildly. The reverence in his voice moved me. A strange tingling overcame my skin as he hovered over me, his face shadowed with a dark beauty. Knox¡¯s finger grazed my jaw as he grasped my chin, setting off a chain of electric impulses that didn¡¯t care about what this man had done. Then he stroked my bottom lip, burning me where he touched. His closeness was like a seductive spell, conjuring warmth in my belly. I couldn¡¯t speak or move. Heat bubbled in my chest at being made vulnerable. My thoughts raced as his raking gaze paused on my mouth. I denied the pulsing knot that grew in my stomach, but it throbbed when he leaned closer. ¡°Give me a chance.¡± The wisp of longing nearly broke me. I pulled away, tormented by confusing emotions. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± 2-9 INDIE Was someone following me? A shadow flickered behind themppost, and I cinched my purse tighter to my body. An unpleasant feeling urged me to return to the soup kitchen. I scanned the queue of homeless lining up to enter St. Luke¡¯s, the Episcopal church that sat beside a park. The kitchen cooked meals using produce grown in their garden, and it fed two hundred people every day. St. Luke¡¯s also housed vulnerable women-victims of domestic abuse with unstable homes-which made Knox¡¯s n to demolish it even more despicable.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. After a moment, my heartbeat slowed and I turned around. I could¡¯ve sworn I saw a man duck under an awning. I blew air from my tense lips. I was paranoid. I¡¯d just finished a disturbing interview with Lara, a woman who¡¯d escaped a motorcycle club and grappled with a heroin addiction. Ten days ago, several long texts from Justine popped into my phone. She imed they were fine and sent me pictures. I¡¯d received enough proof to at least know they were alive. It was supposed to give me room to breathe. Instead I constantly looked over my shoulder. They still needed my help. Warnings whispered in my head as I began my lonely trek home. I reached my apartment building and climbed the steep staircase. My ce was sandwiched between vtile neighbors on the third floor. I unlocked my door and stepped inside. Telltale thumps rattled the paper-thin walls. I grabbed earbuds out of my purse and shoved them in, picking a random ylist. The music drowned out the relentless pounding. I opened the fridge and dumped vegetables on my kitchen counter, sliding my chef¡¯s knife beside my cutting board. I washed and peeled the potatoes and leeks, throwing away most of the dark green leaves. I threw butter in a pot and dropped the leeks inside. As I stirred the pot¡¯s contents, a strange thud broke through an Ariana Grande bad. I popped out one earbud, listening hard. My neighbors were drug addicts, and I went through ridiculous lengths to avoid them. ¡°Bitch! You¡¯re a fucking bitch, Melissa!¡± her boyfriend hollered outside, mming his fist into her door. ¡°Why are you doing this to me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired of you,¡± she shouted back. ¡°I don¡¯t want you anymore.¡± ¡°Open the goddamn door.¡± Then his tone softened in a mollifying plea. ¡°Give me my phone. Melissa, please. I need my phone.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not letting you-¡± An acrid stench alerted my attention to the stove, where my leeks were burning. I lowered the heat and stirred, and then picked up the knife and diced the onion, the cut the potatoes into cubes. Melissa¡¯s boyfriend¡¯s persistent thuds crashed my space, coiling my insides with tension. I hated the noise. It made me feel like a hostage in my own home. A m reverberated through my apartment. The loudness of it made my spine zip straight. The echo bounced from my bedroom. Puzzled, I stared in its direction. A pulsing knot throbbed at the base of my throat as I faced the electric burners. My de slid over potato flesh. Bam! What the hell was that? My breathing stalled as a ck silence filled the air, broken only by the pop music streaming through my earbud. I took it out and gripped the knife. Was someone inside? I paused the music. The banging next door was like a drumbeat, spreading ice through my limbs. The floorboards groaned. Way too close. My hand shook. The de rattled the counter. I shuffled one leg in front of the other, swallowing the lump. Fisting the handle, I peered around the corner. I blinked, my eyes watering from cutting onions. The smoke rm started to re. I whirled, cursing. I groped for the stove and turned off the burner. Then I ran to the window and fiddled with the lock. I grabbed the edges and pulled, but it wouldn¡¯t budge. Locked. But I didn¡¯t remembertching it. I unlocked it. My fingers curved on the trim and pushed, heart galloping ahead with the sensation of another person¡¯s presence¡­right behind me. My senses zed just before a brutal force seized my ponytail¡­ ¡­and yanked. Agony burst from my head. The world tipped. I went flying. The arm holding my knife rounded as I caught my bnce, and then my back collided with a man. An intruder. A hand pped my mouth, smothering the scream. His other arm banded my abdomen. His heated breath billowed over my neck like a beast. Panic flooded me with adrenaline and I kicked out, my foot colliding painfully with my coffee table. He hauled me over the couch. I whimpered as he fisted my hair and tightened his grip, forcing me to bend. My head broke free of his touch. I screamed, my voice breaking, but the smoke rm still red. Nobody ever called the police in this neighborhood. Fight him. His weight crushed my arm. My free hand wed at his, dragging my nails into his skin. His growl rumbled through my body, and I yelled. Then he cracked my head into the arm of the couch. Pain shed my skull like fireworks. My ears rang as I struggled to get my bearings, and then I noticed a jerking motion on my waist. My bare stomach scraped on fabric. He¡¯s taking off my pants. I gritted my teeth and shoved. I squeezed through the gap in his arms and fell, crashing on the tile. The knife ttered beside me. I grasped the handle, whirled, and lunged. My strike hit his chest. He gasped. My gaze raced up past a swollen belly, meeting the shocked gaze of a man with light brows and flushed cheeks. Who is he? Was he hurt? My mind scrambled to put it together as warmth gushed over my knuckles. Details passed through me like swords-a fountain of crimson, him grasping at his wound, and a deep, gurgling breath. He dropped, knife embedded in his chest. ¡°Oh, my God! I¡¯m so sorry!¡± I knelt beside him, arms iling. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do!¡± He made horrific, bubbling gasps. I whimpered, wringing my hands. Then I pressed the dark stain over his T-shirt. Blood poured from his lips as hey there, gasping. I did nothing but gape, paralyzed, as life flooded out of him. Eventually, he stilled. Blue crawled through his veins, reaching his neck. Dead. What have I done? The enormity of it towered above me, a colossal wall, trembling. A blinding pressure assaulted my eyes, and I swallowed the urge to cry. I breathed heavily, palms t against the floor, desperate for the world to reorient itself. My mind was a frazzled mess. I killed a man. I¡¯d grabbed the knife and shoved it into him. A tidal wave of emotion smashed into me, and I released a hysterical whimper. I grabbed my phone, but the screen shook too violently to make sense of the letters. What should I do? Who could help me? Knox. God no. I palmed my mouth, recoiling from the warmth. I gathered my thoughts. I had to decide. Call the police or-him. Knox could make this go away. In my mind¡¯s eye, his hawk-eyed stare dove into me and stirred the pit of my stomach. Asking Bryan Knox for a favor terrified me more than dealing with the body alone. Fear shot through my swirling doubt. Yes, Knox scared me. But he was the only man with the means to help me. My bloody fingers mashed a series of buttons. Then I called him, praying he wasn¡¯t in a meeting. It connected, and Knox¡¯s dangerously silken voice stroked my ear. ¡°Indie.¡± I breathed a shaky sigh. My lip quivered, and what remained of my chill shattered. ¡°Knox, I need you.¡± 2-10 INDIE Blood. Everywhere. I tossed aforter over the body and mopped the growing pool around him. I plunged the mop into the bucket and shook stained water from the threads. Pink swirled in the bleached suds, the color too cheerful to be real. What had I done? I fought the scream begging for release and stuffed drenched rags in a garbage bag. My head was too clogged with traffic to make sense of the items I trashed. Towels-I¡¯d used them to soak up his blood. A hair-tie-he¡¯d ripped it off me. Kitchen knife-I¡¯d shoved it in his chest. Two impatient thuds hit the door. Thank God. I stood, my knees barely supporting my weight. I threw my gloves in the bucket. Dense foam swallowed the stic fingers, the sight forming an icy knot in my stomach. ¡°Indie. Open up.¡± Knox¡¯s deep baritone dragged my attention to the door. I stumbled toward it like a zombie. I palmed the wood but couldn¡¯t bring myself to utch the deadbolt. Did I really want to be at his mercy? Some doors should stay closed. This one stopped Knox from barging in and changing my life forever. I could tell him I¡¯d changed my mind and deal with the corpse myself. Or I could roll the dice with Knox and take whatever he offered. I clutched the doorknob tighter. I almost begged him to leave. Somehow, this man scared me more than the dead body. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Knox¡¯s voice broke with huskiness, and it sent a ripple of shock through me. ¡°Indie, say something.¡± ¡°Something.¡± My teeth mped on my lips to kill the sob. The knob twisted and wrenched as he tried to force his way inside. ¡°Indie, unlock the door!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I should.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± I cracked the door open. A sliver of a man peeked through the gap. Knox leaned toward the threshold with a James Dean-like arrogance. His fingers wedged through and he pushed. Knox shoved his thigh in, wrestling for control. His pupils contracted when he met my eyes. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I did a bad thing.¡± My throat thickened. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do. I-I think you¡¯re the only one who can help me, but I don¡¯t know. I have no idea who else to call.¡± ¡°What did you do? Is that blood?¡± He body mmed the door. It knocked me aside as it flung open. Suddenly, he stood beside me, his palms heating my cheek. ¡°Who did this to you?¡± My lip quivered. ¡°I made a mistake.¡± He pulled me into him, his perfect mouth angled to kiss me. He didn¡¯t. Instead his hands slid down my face and neck, gliding to my back. I buried my face in his bomber jacket and felt the rapid pulsing of his chest. ¡°Tell me, Indie.¡± ¡°It¡¯s over there.¡± He peeled himself from me and whirled around, pushing me behind him. Then he seemed to notice the bucket, the mess on the floor, and the arm peeking from under theforter. He ripped the cover off the dead man. The knifey beside him like a bloody exmation point. Knox nudged the man¡¯s ribs, his brow furrowing. ¡°He¡¯s dead,¡± I exined, as though it wasn¡¯t obvious. ¡°He¡¯s been that way for a while.¡± ¡°I see that. Are we alone?¡± ¡°I-I think so.¡± Knox stalked into the kitchen. He seized the filet knife from the chef¡¯s block and tore through my apartment. Once he finished, he stood over the corpse. He stared at his lifeless body, still gripping the de. ¡°It was an ident,¡± I whispered, facing the wall. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to do it.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t.¡± Knox spoke in a halting voice affected with disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re not capable of anything like this.¡± ¡°I had no choice.¡± My eyes shifted to his, silently begging him not to ask any more questions. Knox¡¯s gaze roamed over me, his cold curiosity taking in my distress. ¡°Tell me everything.¡± ¡°I-I had the knife. I hit him. He bled out. There was no time.¡± I choked with a sob and wrung my hands, turning from the awful sight of Knox¡¯s naked shock. ¡°I didn¡¯t have a choice. He attacked me.¡± ¡°Who is he to you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. He must¡¯ve broken in.¡± My mind whirled as I picked up the pieces of thest few hours. ¡°I-I walked home. I thought someone followed me, but I wasn¡¯t sure¡­and then I put my music on. I was cooking when I heard strange noises from my bedroom. The leeks were burning and my smoke rm went off. He grabbed me. Shoved me to the couch. Started to take off my pants. I got away and stabbed him.¡± Knox stilled as I finished my story. His beautiful face betrayed nothing, not so much as a flicker of concern, but heat baked from him. His jacket trembled with the quakes from his body as though fighting to hold in¡­something. ¡°Knox?¡± He exhaled a harsh breath and ran fingers through his hair. ¡°Your knees are covered in blood.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not-not mine.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Knox crossed the room and took my hand, warmth shooting up my arm. He led me to the couch and nudged me into its cushions. My heartbeat skyrocketed as he stood back, head cocked like a vulture inspecting its next meal. Despite his disturbingck ofpassion, I wanted him beside me. For some reason, this callous man made me feel safe. Perhaps because he was so strong and confident. I ached for him to hold me, to nuzzle me, to give me a shred of sympathy. But affection from Knox was as rare as turning over a rock and finding a diamond. ¡°So¡­why am I here, Indie?¡± His hands shoved deep in his pockets as I clung to the sofa. ¡°Am I the guy you call when you need someone to clean up your mess?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± A soft curve touched his lips. ¡°I¡¯m grateful to hear that, because I didn¡¯te here thinking this was what you needed me for.¡± The angles of him grew harsher, bitter disappointment shing through his sneer. Clearly, he¡¯d expected me to fall for him, and the fact that I hadn¡¯t grated his pride. ¡°You¡¯re being an asshole.¡± ¡°Indie, it¡¯s not just that you¡¯re using me. You¡¯ve dragged me into a verypromising situation.¡± I flushed, sinking into the cushions. ¡°You¡¯re asking me to get rid of a body. Correct?¡± ¡°No! I¡¯m not! Knox, I swear to God!¡± ¡°Really?¡± heughed, ncing over his shoulder. ¡°Then what¡¯s the bleach for, sweetheart?¡± ¡°Knox, I panicked. You don¡¯t know what that¡¯s like because you¡¯re never scared. I had no idea what to do. I called you for help. Not to use you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me. I tolerate deceit in the weak, not in you.¡± A deep pain struck my breast and my throat closed up. ¡°Fine. I was terrified and wanted you to make it go away. Does that satisfy you? Do you want me to admit that I¡¯m a horrible person? I killed someone, and I¡¯m trying to cover it up. I am horrible.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re not.¡± His softened tone blew me apart. A hot tear rolled down my cheek, and he grazed his knuckles over it. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to kill him, Knox.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we call the police?¡± He grasped my trembling chin, leaning in close. ¡°I¡¯ll handle that for you.¡± My insides ckened as I caught the unspoken but in his sentence. ¡°In exchange for what?¡± ¡°The way I see it, you owe me your life. If you want my help, you¡¯ll do what I say.¡± I had no other options, and I had zero room to negotiate. So I nodded, too upset to protest. ¡°It¡¯ll be all right. I¡¯ll take care of everything.¡± That¡¯s what I¡¯m afraid of. My eyes fluttered at the sensation of his fingers contracting on my cheek. Spirals of heat circled the pit of my stomach. Just as his security and warmth wrapped me like a nket, Knox detached from me. He apparently knew when to give me affection and when to take it away. Now he had me where he wanted-desperate. ¡°We need to get you cleaned up,¡± he murmured, coaxing me upright. ¡°Bathroom.¡± I obeyed, my limbs on autopilot. My guts wouldn¡¯t unclench, despite thefort of his solid, male body and the protection it offered. He guided me to the bathroom. ¡°Knox, am I in trouble?¡± ¡°No.¡± His chest flush against my back, he urged me toward the sink. ¡°Wash your hands.¡± I stumbled forward. The faucet and basin smeared with red as I washed myself. So much to clean. Fingerprints everywhere. The corpse would have to be moved-God, what would we do with it? I choked out a sob. Knox nudged a towel into my trembling hands. I balled my face in the fabric and sucked down shaky breaths. His index finger stroked under my waistband. ¡°I¡¯m going to take this off, Indie.¡± I nodded. His mouth pressed into my shoulder as he undressed me, his firm touch answering my unspoken plea. My eyes glossed over as he pulled off my pants, palm gliding down my backside. He palmed my naked back. My T-shirt followed his impatient movements, and then a twist of his fingers unsnapped my bra. I held my breath as he yanked off my panties. Then he turned me around like a mannequin on disy. I watched him dominate my body through the mirror. Damp spots sprinkled his white T-shirt. The sight of it clinging to his muscr chest and arms filled me with heat. Everything about Knox was primed to appeal to me, from his narrowed eyes to the hollows in his cheeks, the stubble under his sharp jaw, the denim wrapping his rock-hard thighs. All of him, really. A spark teased the space between my legs. I marveled at my body¡¯s reaction. How does he do this to me? ¡°Business first. Pleasureter,¡± he murmured, as though he had a window into my thoughts. ¡°Wash up and stay in the bedroom until Ie get you.¡± He slid the curtain open and turned on the water. I gripped the shower rod, rattling it with my shaking. ¡°Knox, what¡¯s this going to cost me?¡± A dark smile ticked across his face.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Everything.¡± 2-11 KNOX I¡¯ll never forgive myself. I foolishly thought I could leave her alone. That she would realize her mistake ande to me, but I never should¡¯ve given her freedom. I never should¡¯ve walked away, because look at what happened. What did he do to her? And why wasn¡¯t I here to protect her? My stomach churned as I leaned against the bathroom door, listening to her cry. She¡¯d killed a man. Wasted him. Ran him through with those same dainty, soft hands that I liked to imagine stroking my cock. I mean, fuck. My brain could barely wrap around that. I strolled into Indie¡¯s pitiful living room. I couldn¡¯t wait to get out of here, but I had a corpse to deal with and an angry Italian to appease. Tony stood beside the dead guy, his green button-up rolled to his biceps. When I got bored, I catfished scumbag politicians, celebrities, high-society douchebags, and broke into theirptops to sell their data to the Mafia. Tony was my direct line to them. His cousin Vinn Costa was the don of the Family. I didn¡¯t care for gangsters, but Tony¡¯s Ivy League upbringing made him less disagreeable than his rtives. I met Tony a couple of years ago when a client approached me with an intriguing request. The man who introduced us, Cainan, warned me to tread carefully around Tony, but I liked the shadow of fear he cast on others. Our friendship came in handy when I ran into problems with local municipalities. I owned this town and made sure they all knew it. Tony crouched beside the body, his gloved hands picking through a wallet. ¡°His name is Andrey Kozlov. Russian, I¡¯m guessing.¡± I dug into my pants for my cell. A quick twenty-dor background check yielded very interesting information. ¡°No former priors, no liens on his property¡­his tax records indicate he¡¯s very well off. A multimillionaire. His business email goes to an investment firm.¡± ¡°Why is a man like him skulking in this neighborhood?¡± I had no idea. ¡°Check his cell.¡± Tony held the phone next to the dead man¡¯s face, unlocking the screen. He thumbed through the messages. D: Found it. D: 435 Washington Street, Unit B.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. D: Text after it¡¯s done. A chill spider-crawled my spine as I stared at Indie¡¯s address, confirming my suspicions that this was nned. My pulse pounded in my ears. ¡°Were the Costas responsible for this?¡± ¡°Hell no. The Family doesn¡¯t touch civilians.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure about that?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure. Besides, he¡¯s Russian. That rules him out-only full-blooded Italians can join.¡± Tony stroked his throat, grimacing. ¡°I¡¯ll ask my cousin if he knows Kozlov.¡± What would a Russian multimillionaire want with a reporter whosetest headline was ¡°Ten Signs He¡¯s Not Into You¡±? He wouldn¡¯t. Which meant this was an attack on me. My round-the-clock security protected me, but others were vulnerable, and I¡¯d made no secret of my obsession with Indie. Jesus, this was my fault. The gaping hole in my chest widened. ¡°Do you recognize him?¡± Tony pointed at the corpse, brows furrowed. ¡°Who the hell is D? One of your associates?¡± A list of potential suspects scrolled in my head, but I couldn¡¯t imagine any of them doing something so cruel. ¡°Never seen him before in my fucking life.¡± I raked my hand through my hair. ¡°And I don¡¯t know. This is too extreme toe from a disgruntled businessman.¡± ¡°Is there any chance he knew her?¡± I shook my head. Crying echoed from the bedroom, and a shadow of rm touched Tony¡¯s face. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you take her to the hospital?¡± ¡°She wasn¡¯t injured.¡± Though that wasn¡¯t really the truth, was it? ¡°Thank God for that.¡± Tony rubbed his jaw, eyes zing. He picked through the contents of Andrey¡¯s wallet. ¡°Look at this. An Amex ck card. They only give these out to people with over a million dors of annual ie. This makes no sense.¡± ¡°Give me the phone.¡± He did, and I typed a message. Me: It¡¯s done. I waited until a little checkmark appeared, indicating the text had been read. My skin crawled. ¡°I need to find out what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here for you.¡± Tony¡¯s hand weighed my shoulder. ¡°That goes for her, too.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just get rid of the body.¡± He seized Andrey¡¯s wrists. I pulled on a pair of gloves and gripped the man¡¯s bicep. Lifting a b of meat weighing three hundred pounds took a lot more effort than I imagined. Heaving, we rolled him onto his back. The many beside my shoes, his thick eyebrows frozen with surprise. He was bald and otherwise unremarkable. His unassuming clothes would¡¯ve fooled me if I passed him on the street. He¡¯d taken great pains to make himself blend in, wearing dark jeans and a hoodie. I gazed into his sightless eyes, hating him. This man, no, this predator, had broken into Indie¡¯s home. He¡¯d attacked her, and because I wasn¡¯t there, inflicted a grievous injury on her soul. We wrapped him in bedsheets and carried him to the bathtub. The next few hours were as gruesome as the deli I¡¯d worked in a lifetime ago. All those big saws, slicing through carcasses like butter. The overwhelming stench. Blood-sttered aprons. We loaded him into Tony¡¯s truck, piece by piece. Then we returned to the apartment. ¡°I¡¯ll get rid of him,¡± Tony said. ¡°It¡¯s best if you don¡¯t know where I¡¯m going.¡± I waved at mess on the floor. ¡°What about this? And the bathroom?¡± ¡°I¡¯lle back with a crew.¡± Tony flung a garbage bag over his shoulder and headed out. He turned to me before leaving. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Vinny and see if he knows anything about this guy. Take care, Knox.¡± ¡°Thanks, friend. I appreciate it.¡± He mmed the door. As soon as he left, I shot into the bedroom. Indie sat on the bed, a sheet over her body. I could tell she was naked underneath it. Her seductive pose felt like a trap, but I floated to her like a fly on honey. I sank onto the mattress, gazing at her. ¡°Hey.¡± Indie stared ahead, unblinking. Torment ate my insides as I pulled up the sheets around her. I rubbed her neck but couldn¡¯t tell if it helped. Not by her thousand-yard stare. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve spent thest two hours listening to your colorfulmentary as you and a stranger cut up a man I¡¯m responsible for killing, so no. I¡¯m not. Not even close. I doubt I¡¯ll ever be.¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°I told you not to listen.¡± ¡°I tried. I covered my ears but-I-I still heard sounds.¡± She hugged herself, shivering. ¡°I can¡¯t take it, Knox.¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°You¡¯ll get through this. I promise.¡± I stroked her hair, grappling with unhinged thoughts. Then I stood, pulling her upright. She obliged, although unsteady on her feet. The linens whispered down her thighs, revealing her pussy. My eyes raked her supple curves with ack of self-control that made me want to punch myself. I grasped her shoulders, her soft skin inming the madness she stirred in me. Then I moved her to the closet. I rifled through her things and picked out a short cocktail dress. ¡°Wear this.¡± Indie grabbed the stic coat hanger. Her stony expression rippled with life. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°Out to dinner. A crew ising to clean up here.¡± ¡°Knox, I¡¯m exhausted. Can¡¯t we just go to your ce?¡± ¡°Not yet. We have a few loose ends to tie up.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t understand-¡± I gripped her jaw, my patience fraying. ¡°Indie, remember your deal. Put the damn dress on.¡± She shot me a re so hot that my hand tingled with the urge to spank her. I came here hoping she¡¯de to her senses. She was supposed to realize that rejecting me was a mistake. Now she¡¯d never get the chance. His death would always taint us because she hadn¡¯t chosen me. I never wanted to be her only option. I wanted her desperate in her yearning. I expected her to give me her body willingly. Someone had taken that opportunity away from me. D, whoever the fuck he was, would pay for this. I¡¯d rip him apart. He would be a fragment of a human being. For ruining Indie¡¯s purity, I would torture him for weeks. Her innocence andpassion for wicked people were the reasons I needed her. This murder had put a ck mark on her soul. Rage invaded my lungs like toxic smoke. I would break him. Shatter him into pieces that couldn¡¯t be glued back together. I¡¯dy waste to his friends and family. I¡¯d cut off his dick, feed it to him, and drink his tears. He would be my toy. And I couldn¡¯t wait. 2-12 INDIE Knox took me to dinner. He tore into a steak as I fought the urge to vomit. After tonight¡¯s horror show, I had zero appetite. As I sat in the private dining room, surrounded by white linen and dark red walls, I thought of the corpse. I pictured its cut-up state sitting in the trunk of the vehicle of whoever had helped Knox. The tearing of his limbs echoed in my head as Knox sawed off a piece of ribeye. I watched him with a morbid fascination. Dismembering a man couldn¡¯t have been easy¡­and yet he had done it withoutint. That didn¡¯t mean much, though. Guarded people often had the most sensitive hearts. How was he holding up? I tried to gauge his mood, but Knox wasn¡¯t the most animated guy. At first nce, he seemed fine, but his muted bodynguage revealed a stony indifference. He was like a hunter digging into his kill.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Knox, are you okay?¡± I reached beside the table and grasped his wrist. Knox froze, his knife hovering over the te. A y of emotions flickered on his face in minute details-a raised brow, a parting of his lips, his cold eyes lifting to meet mine. ¡°Of course I am.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right if you¡¯re not.¡± As I stroked his hand, his gaze smoldered. An invitation glowed in those blue depths. ¡°Something tells me you¡¯ll make it all better.¡± His mouth curled as he cut off another piece of steak. ¡°You should eat.¡± ¡°Between the murder and the dismemberment, I lost my appetite.¡± He took a quick nce around. ¡°Want to say that a little louder?¡± I bit back a retort. Talking to Knox aplished nothing. The man didn¡¯t do feelings, certainly not over dinner. Bringing me here was forey, setting the stage for whatever he nned for me. Obviously, he meant for me to indulge in this fantasy. My attention dipped to my risotto, the only vegetarian option on the menu. I grabbed my fork. It trembled as I speared a mound of rice and popped it in my mouth. I swallowed without tasting it, and Knox resumed eating. The waiter approached, clutching a pepper shaker to his chest. He seemed to recognize Knox and was intimidated by him, because he¡¯d stammered his way through the specials, and now he couldn¡¯t look him in the eye. ¡°Ma¡¯am?¡± I nodded, and then guilt socked me in the stomach. Was I going to season my food like everything was fine? The waiter held it out, shaking. He twisted the end and ck sprinkled the tablecloth. He did it again, this time showering the edge of my te. Scowling, Knox reached out and yanked it from his grasp. He gave it a few turns and shoved it back into the waiter¡¯s grip, who shot from the table. Knox paid him no mind. His watchful re seemed to judge me as I pushed grains of rice around. ¡°Is the meal not to your liking?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s great.¡± Knox¡¯s brows furrowed as he chewed a roasted carrot. His hand slid to myp and curled over my thigh. The audacity of that bold move seared my skin. ¡°We¡¯re not here for dinner and drinks. It¡¯s to keep up appearances.¡± Knox gently stroked my leg, kicking swells of warmth inside me. ¡°We¡¯re just a couple out on a date night, aren¡¯t we?¡± I nodded, distracted by his roaming touch and the heat spinning in my belly. He released me and picked up his knife. ¡°Want some steak?¡± ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯ll get sick.¡± ¡°Eat. For me.¡± My stomach churned as I spooned the risotto, shoving it between my lips. I ate. It was something to do. Focusing on it was better than swimming in my toxic thoughts. ¡°Where did Tony bury the body?¡± ¡°On a hill, overlooking a meadow,¡± Knox murmured, a yful smile curving his mouth. ¡°What do you care?¡± My eyes burned. ¡°Do you think he suffered?¡± ¡°I hope so.¡± Knox dipped a chunk of meat in juice and swirled it around the te. ¡°But I doubt it. It¡¯s possible you nicked his lung and he suffocated, but all signs point to extreme blood loss as cause of death.¡± I twisted the tablecloth, trying to shut out his words. You defended yourself. It¡¯s all right. ¡°How¡¯s everything tasting?¡± The nervous waiter reappeared and refilled our waters, adding a ssh to my full ss. ¡°Would you like more wine, or another cocktail?¡± ¡°Bring me another, and she¡¯d like a cocktail as well.¡± Knox pushed the menu into my hands. I could drown myself in liquor. The Chardonnay I¡¯d ordered wasn¡¯t strong enough. Which type of booze worked best to calm frazzled nerves from killing a man? ¡°Gin and creme de violette,¡± barked Knox when I didn¡¯t speak. ¡°She¡¯ll have the Saint Alice.¡± ¡°Excellent choice, sir.¡± I sank into a dull silence as the waiter disappeared. I had no measure of time as I sat there, reying the knife going into the intruder¡¯s chest, over and over. The waiter slid a coupe ss in front of me. Knox waved him off with an impatient hand as I gripped the ss and sipped thevender cocktail. Warmth filled my empty stomach, but it was artificial. In a few hours it would leave me, and then I¡¯d have nothing tofort me from this hellish disaster. Knox sure as hell wasn¡¯t the warm, cuddly type. ¡°I took care of your problem. Now you owe me,¡± he said, his voice so deep and intimate that all other sounds vanished. ¡°So here¡¯s the deal. You¡¯re moving in with me. Tonight, we¡¯ll go home and take it easy. Tomorrow, you¡¯ll follow your routine, but you¡¯ll work from home. If anybody asks, we had dinner and wild sex.¡± My breathing hitched. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll do that.¡± ¡°I expect obedience and submission, starting from the moment you wake to the second your head hits the pillow after I¡¯m done fucking you.¡± ¡°Obedience and submission?¡± ¡°Yes. I like my women subservient.¡± His firm eye contact teased heat around my nipples like apping tongue. ¡°That¡¯s not a word I¡¯d use to describe me,¡± I said tightly, fisting my dress. ¡°I¡¯ve never been good at following orders.¡± ¡°Yourplete submission is non-negotiable.¡± That dark threat pulsed between our bodies, an unspoken promise zing from his eyes that conjured an image of him shoving me to the ground. Fitting his cock to my mouth. Rutting me. What if I liked it? A mild pain ached in my breast as I studied Knox¡¯s sped hands. What if they grabbed my wrists as he fucked me? Would I scream for him to stop, or would I widen my legs when he slid up behind me? And if I took pleasure from the tyrant, what did that say about me? ¡°Knox, I¡¯m not a submissive.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll learn, Indie. It¡¯ll be a bumpy few weeks, but you¡¯ll take to this lifestyle.¡± ¡°But we¡¯re so different.¡± ¡°Differences can be solved in bed.¡± A slow smile built on his face as he reimed my thigh. ¡°Give it time.¡± I could take months. I¡¯d never get used to the way he touched me. He was passionate, but not warm. His burning palm cradled my leg, sliding upward. He stroked me in leisurely circles. I sucked in a ragged breath as the movement shot heat into my pussy. ¡°Knox,¡± I whispered with desperate firmness. ¡°I¡¯m an emotional wreck.¡± He hesitated, studying me like an owner inspecting his new racehorse. ¡°I¡¯m trying to help you.¡± ¡°By groping me under the table?¡± ¡°Sex makes me feel better.¡± Then it dawned on me. This was his go-to forfort. Why couldn¡¯t he just hold me like a normal person? What had made him so dead that he could carve up someone¡¯s body, eat a steak in the same evening, and think nothing of it? ¡°Let me help you. The sooner we address this, the sooner you can move on.¡± His hand met my upper thigh in a searing sp. ¡°There¡¯s no healing from this.¡± ¡°Not with that attitude.¡± ¡°How the hell would you know?¡± ¡°You think because of how I act, I don¡¯t understand suffering?¡± His hand slipped out from under my dress and took my hand, sliding it under his shirt. He ttened it on what felt like dozens of horizontal, slightly raised marks. ¡°I spent my childhood trying to get away from it.¡± Trembling from his re, I focused on the scars under my hand. So many of them marred the wall of mouthwatering muscle. Had he inflicted this on himself? Horror bottomed out my stomach. ¡°This is how you deal with it?¡± His eyes zed. ¡°It¡¯s in the past.¡± ¡°Then¡­what changed?¡± ¡°Control. Nobody will ever make me vulnerable again.¡± Pain flickered across his stony features, and for a moment, the same agony squeezed deep in my heart. I grieved the loss of innocence. My mind exploded with questions, but Knox¡¯s ice-cold mask mmed back into ce. ¡°Now. Where were we?¡± His hand went back under my dress. A hot ache grew in my throat as his wandering fingers traced a burning path to my panties. I bit my lip against the shiver of wanting. I couldn¡¯t make sense of my pounding heartbeat-was it fear or desire? ¡°Widen your legs.¡± ¡°Knox, we can¡¯t,¡± I pleaded with him as I did as I was told. ¡°Our waiter can walk in at any moment and see us. They¡¯ll throw us out.¡± He wedged my thighs apart and touched my clit. Slowly, he made circles. The pad of his finger pulled on my skin as another flicked my aching nub. Hard. A spasm jolted up my leg. Jesus Christ. I sank my nails into his muscled arm. He thumbed me again, sliding into my wet heat, revealing the futility of my resistance. A delicious shudder heated my pussy. The more he fingered me, the more it pulsated. ¡°Please, Knox.¡± Knox paid no attention to my pleas as he slipped in the river of my arousal. A pink flush rose to his cheeks. His breathing roughened. I panted as he curled into my body. ¡°You¡¯re so innocent,¡± he murmured as I struggled not to moan. ¡°So beautiful. And now that I have carte nche over your life, I will corrupt you.¡± My eyelids fluttered as he pushed inside me. Every inch of him was solid muscle, including his fingers. So much wider than I expected. Oblivious to my blushing face, our waiter returned and refilled my water ss. ¡°Can I get you another cocktail?¡± I made an indistinct sound. ¡°Indie,¡± Knox chastised, a smirk edging into his words. ¡°The waiter asked you a question.¡± ¡°N-no thanks.¡± Knox pulsed in as I blurted my response. He thrust, spreading wetness over my swollen clit. He might¡¯ve been conducting a business meeting for the coolness in his tone when he addressed the waiter. ¡°We¡¯ll just have the bill, thank you.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The young man pulled out an electronic device. Knox withdrew from me and grabbed his credit card from his wallet. He paid for the meal as his fingers mmed home, rewarding me with sweet relief. A spasm gripped my spine, and my thighs clenched his hand. I seized his arm, and the feeling of muscles under my palm intensified the ecstasy. Then he flicked my clit. A jolt traveled to my nipples, peaking them. This was so wrong. And yet I fantasized about licking his chiseled jaw and kissing the hollow under his ear. I ached to erase all distance between us. I brushed his leg with my hand. So much muscle under those jeans. All of him was hard and firm. I squeezed him as I wandered up, bumping into a rigid column. My thumb traced the head. I touched the impressive shaft, gaping at him. ¡°At least there¡¯s one thing you can¡¯t control. Luckily, I don¡¯t have that problem with men.¡± Knox didn¡¯t like that. He tensed. Then he moved my hand off him and shot me a cold look. ¡°Other men. Not only will you open your legs for me, you¡¯ll beg for the privilege.¡± ¡°Right.¡± His eyes sparkled with the love of a challenge. He scooped my legs and dragged me over the chair. My ass hit hisp with a solid thump. The dress crept up my thighs as he wrapped my abdomen and tugged. Just like that, I sat in the haven of his embrace. His breath warmed my cheek. My body melted into his, the closeness taking me off guard. My emotions whirled as he fed a raw ache crying for more. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, the gentleness shattering my defenses. I hugged the bit of him I could reach, the arm encircling my waist, but Knox was either unaware or didn¡¯t care. His palm heated my inner thigh. Then he was pushing inside me with two thick fingers. I gasped in sweet agony. ¡°I¡¯m going to show you what belonging to me means.¡± His wicked words showered my cheeks with sparks, the thrill explosive. I needed more. Knox obliged, pressing his mouth into the crook of my neck. He sucked me. I shivered. This erotic kiss belonged in the bedroom, but I weed the intimacy. My head turned. I sought his lips, pulse hammering. Knox red as he fucked me. I sank into the rapture, panting. The urge to chase his thrusting was overwhelming. Blocking him out was impossible. I was too wet. Too wanting. My back arched toward him. I writhed, powerless to stop him. My hand found his. I guided his movements, mming him against my clit. No. I gnawed my lip to kill my moan. My breath released in long, surrendering moans. I shuddered. Then he shoved inside me. Pleasure radiated from my core and deep inside, I broke. My being flooded with fire. I clutched his fingers as I came hard. My thighs twitched, and then I hurtled into a pool of ecstasy. I sagged into his chest as bliss shed with shame. He¡¯d freed me in a burst of sensation, but my body had betrayed me. The orgasm was a raw act of possession. I¡¯d just wanted to beforted. My eyes burned as he pulled out. Even if my face wasn¡¯t blushing, my uneven breaths gave me away. He wiped himself on the napkin and tossed it over the table. ¡°Good girl.¡± He cupped my burning cheek, his damp fingers tingling my skin. ¡°Very good girl.¡± ¡°That was so wrong.¡± He traced the soft lines of my curves, his touch upsetting my bnce. ¡°You knew I¡¯d ask for the moon and said yes.¡± ¡°There are limits.¡± ¡°And I look forward to exploring them with you.¡± By the time he was through with me, would I have any left? 2-13 INDIE My new life as Knox¡¯s toy started tonight. Emotionally, I felt nothing. I wondered what was in store for me as he whisked me to his Japanese-inspired penthouse. Sex, no doubt, and lots of it. He¡¯d made his desire for me very clear from day one, and I had weeks of his fantasies to fulfill. Smoky ck tiles nketed the hall. Soft-white walls. Unfinished cedar nks in the rooms. I took in everything, dazed by the details. Very Zen. Clean lines. A work of art more than a living space. Surprising.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. I never expected Bryan Knox¡¯s house to be so peaceful. I pictured it while writing the profile, but I thought it¡¯d be over-the-top, like The Spheres. Instead of grandeur, warmth touched every detail, from the honey-toned wood to the row of bonsai trees in the kitchen. It was beautiful, but it did little to ease the torment eating at my soul. My gaze froze on Knox¡¯s lean form as he eased the bomber jacket off his thick shoulders. He hung our coats as though we¡¯d had a normal date night. ¡°I¡¯ll get you keys tomorrow,¡± he boomed in his cold baritone. ¡°My assistant will drop them off with some clothes. I¡¯ll text her your measurements. What size are you?¡± ¡°Um-I¡¯ll write them all down.¡± He nodded and swept past me down the golden hallway. I scrambled to make sense of the conflicting imagery-the brutal man nestled in this oasis. I never had the guts to pick up the phone and ask for a more exclusive interview. I knew better. My pants would be off before the door closed, but now I no longer had the luxury of choice. Knox opened a sliding door, revealing a king-sized mattress beside a wall-to-wall window. The tform bed sat close to the floor. Neutral colors, like everything else in the house. My new bedroom. Knox¡¯smanding presence settled in front of me. He stood there like an imposing Greek statue. An eager darkness radiated from him. ¡°Take off your clothes.¡± A dart of panic shot into my heart. ¡°What for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not touching you again, Indie. You can rest easy.¡± He took a confident step forward, closing the distance between us. ¡°But I never got to check you for injuries.¡± His words echoed in my head, and then I lifted my hand to do his bidding. I reached my neck and hesitated, trembling. My brain wouldn¡¯t allow me to continue. ¡°I can¡¯t move.¡± His mouth softened. ¡°Do you want me to do it for you?¡± Did I? I couldn¡¯t make sense of the whirlwind inside me, only that my coping skills for murder were nonexistent. I needed his cold-blooded strength. His touch was the cure to this unbridled terror. He tethered me to solid ground. I managed a stiff nod. Gently, he brushed my hair from my shoulders. Then he traced the neckline of my dress, sping the zipper. An electric charge pulsed through me as he tugged. My limbs numbed as he undressed me, thumbs digging under my bra. His hands followed my curves, the loving strokes avoiding my intimate ces. I fought the hypnosis of his touch. A tremor heated my thighs while he yed with my panties. He eased the fabric down my backside until it slid down my legs. Then his hands rested on my hips, tingling my skin. Frowning, he lifted my hands and held them an inch from his face. He checked under my nails. He turned over my palms and smoothed my wrists, and a shudder passed through me. ¡°Did he hit you?¡± I shook my head, shaking. ¡°He yanked my hair and mmed me into the couch.¡± His fingers skimmed my head, his tiger-nted gaze conveying the rage within him. Then he massaged my scalp. ¡°Does that hurt?¡± ¡°No. It feels good.¡± My breathing hitched with his gentle movements. After a rxing few minutes, he untangled from my hair. ¡°Better?¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you.¡± Knox nodded in grim satisfaction and disappeared into his walk-in closet. He returned with a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, offering them to me. I pulled them on my much slimmer body. ¡°Won¡¯t your assistant wonder why a reporter is living in your apartment?¡± He loosened the strap of his belt and dragged it out of the loops. ¡°Unlike someone else I know, she¡¯d never pry into my personal life.¡± ¡°Do you have any family?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Really? Doesn¡¯t your mom live in an assisted living facility?¡± He ced the belt on his nightstand, the sharp sound jabbing my ears. ¡°Did Rita spill about that, too?¡± I shrugged, declining to confirm or deny his suspicions about Knox¡¯s former teacher, Margarita Rojas. She was a sweet seventy-year-old who lived with her husband in a condo owned by Knox. Perhaps she was his only real family. Knox went still, as though listening hard. ¡°What did she tell you about me?¡± ¡°Not much. Just a few details about how smart you were-how she rmended you for a gifted program. She told me you don¡¯t visit anymore.¡± I yed with my sleeve as I recalled that heartwarming conversation. ¡°She¡¯s very loyal to you.¡± He resumed undressing in brusque movements. ¡°She better be.¡± ¡°Especially since you¡¯re paying all her bills.¡± ¡°Why are so interested in my background?¡± ¡°It¡¯s what I do, Knox. I¡¯m curious by nature.¡± ¡°That makes two of us.¡± He pulled on sweatpants, peering at me curiously under a wave of brown hair. ¡°What was it like to kill someone?¡± The heaviness in his tone hit me like a p. ¡°Why would you ask me that?¡± ¡°The same reason you grilled me about my childhood. Morbid curiosity.¡± I closed my eyes, assaulted by distressing images. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what I¡¯d done until he was on the floor, bleeding. I tried to save him. I did. But there was nothing I could do. And after he¡­stopped breathing and turned blue, I started to panic. I threw aforter over his face. I had to cover it up and save myself.¡± I opened my eyes, meeting his through a haze of tears. ¡°And now I feel¡­unhinged and broken.¡± ¡°You have nothing to feel ashamed about.¡± Delicate lines wrinkled near his hooded gaze as his attention centered on my mouth. He had the most stunning eyes I¡¯d ever seen, the color stolen from the Mediterranean Sea. ¡°Knox, I¡¯m sorry for bringing you into my mess.¡± I palmed his chest. The movement made his eyes flicker to my hand before dragging to my face. ¡°I¡¯m not. I just wish you¡¯d said yes to me months ago.¡± My throat tightened. ¡°I didn¡¯t for a reason.¡± ¡°Indie, If you¡¯d given me a chance when I¡¯d asked for one, you wouldn¡¯t have been forced to kill that man. You wouldn¡¯t carry the pain you¡¯re feeling from taking a life. You wouldn¡¯t have had to beg me to save you. You wouldn¡¯t be fighting not to cry right now.¡± ¡°He broke in and attacked me,¡± I whispered, hurled back into the horror. ¡°Who does that?¡± ¡°A spineless coward.¡± My head bowed as a tear trickled down my cheek. I imagined myself years in the future, still hiding this hideous secret. ¡°Knox, do you think I¡¯m awful?¡± ¡°I thought you couldn¡¯t care less about my opinion.¡± His wintry tone bit my cheeks, and I flushed. ¡°You¡¯re a survivor,¡± he growled, his eyes widening as he tracked my tears. ¡°You did what was necessary. You fought him and won. That¡¯s what we do when we¡¯re cornered.¡± Why did it sound like he was talking about himself? I wiped my face, and Knox grimaced. ¡°You¡¯re still upset.¡± ¡°Of course I am! I just went through something traumatic. You¡¯re an aplice to murder. I don¡¯t understand how you¡¯re not panicking.¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Knox gripped my shoulder and kneaded it, shattering the tough shell I¡¯d built around myself. The hands on my hips squeezed. ¡°You¡¯ll heal from this. I¡¯ll help you.¡± He stroked me lower, his gentleness melting the tension in my body. ¡°I¡¯ll keep you distracted.¡± ¡°How can I rx when a man broke into my home?¡± ¡°Because I will not let anything happen to you,¡± he murmured into my hair. ¡°I n to hunt down and kill the men responsible.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to do that.¡± ¡°I want to, Indie.¡± My heart lurched madly. Dazed, my palms slid over his chest. I turned to him and kissed his open mouth. It was like a thunderbolt. His exhale heated me as I dragged my tongue across his unyielding mouth. The kiss stiffened him in all the wrong ways. His fingers tangled in my hair, clutching a handful in his massive fist. He wrenched me back as his hooded eyes red at me with indignant authority and unrepentant lust. I¡¯d made a mistake¡­but I had no idea what I¡¯d done wrong. ¡°You will not do that again.¡± Knox¡¯s icymand doused the heat building in my core. I frowned. ¡°Do what?¡± ¡°Your mouth is for my cock. Nothing else.¡± What was he talking about? I swallowed hard. ¡°You¡­don¡¯t want to kiss me?¡± ¡°No.¡± I flinched, shame heating my cheeks. ¡°But-¡± ¡°I don¡¯t kiss. I don¡¯t make love.¡± Knox¡¯s thumb toyed with my lip, sending a jolt of pure excitement through me. ¡°I fuck. I take. I destroy. Do you understand?¡± More than he realized. Sex was dominating and intense. But a kiss? A kiss revealed so much more. It was every intimacy he denied himself, a confessed touch of his deepest, darkest fear. ¡°Do you not think you¡¯re worthy of a kiss?¡± I whispered. ¡°Why waste a good of pair lips on a kiss when you can show me your gratitude in better ways?¡± His grip tightened in my hair. ¡°More pleasurable ways?¡± ¡°A kiss can be very enjoyable.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Only because you haven¡¯t tried.¡± Knox smirked. ¡°You seem to think this is some fairy tale, Indie. That I¡¯m your hero, and that kissing me will make the nightmare will go away. I¡¯m not Prince Charming. And the world isn¡¯t a fairy tale. It¡¯s a brutal, violent, unforgiving hellhole, and the only way you can escape is with your legs spread and eyes closed. No kissing. Just fucking. Just submission.¡± ¡°And yet you won¡¯t submit to a kiss.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t humiliate myself like that, but the more I degrade you, the wetter you get. So what is it, Indie? Tell me. Why are you so eager to shame yourself on my tongue? Will youe even harder if I kiss your pussy instead?¡± I shoved him off me, because he was right. ¡°Get into bed,¡± he ordered, ring at me until I¡¯d slipped under the covers. Then he went to the door and flipped the switch, drowning me in darkness. ¡°Go to sleep.¡± Instead of joining me, he left the room. Disgust pitted my stomach as I yanked off the sheets. I slid my legs over the bed, glowering. I was indebted to him, but I¡¯d never fuck him willingly. Even if we shared a twisted bond from this trauma. Everyone in Knox¡¯s life was a prop for his ego. They either paid him tribute or suffered his wrath. I¡¯d stupidly convinced myself there was more to him, that the man called Tyrant may have been ruthless with his businesses, but was not evil. I¡¯d been so naive, but I understood him now. He did not love people. He ruled them. 2-14 KNOX I believed in nothing-least of all people. Even the ones who are supposed to love you. If Indie thought I¡¯d soften, that I¡¯d one day fall for her, she was mistaken. She was only here because my unholy obsession demanded her and wouldn¡¯t allow me to move on. For some reason, the mental image of her kneeling naked had gripped my cock for months. I could scarcely breathe without a persistent ache behind my ribs. I needed her soft body to yield to mine. She would open her legs to me. She would willingly crawl under my desk to service me while I worked. Soon, she would wear my ring and she would present her tight, wet cunt when I told her I wanted children. I had to leave a legacy, and Indie was wife material. I¡¯d dreamed about this. She was mine. Finally. I could start nning for the future. Marriage. Kids. But not until I figured out what happened. I closed myptop and nced at the sleeping Indie. Then I slid off the armchair and approached my bed. She slept on her side, hugging the body pillow. I slipped into bed beside her. She¡¯d stripped off my clothes sometime during the night. Her pink-and-brown hair made a halo on the gray pillow. I pulled strands off her cheek, drinking in her curves, her breasts covered by the sheets. She¡¯d warmed the bed, and it invited me closer. I peeled back the covers, revealing silky, tanned skin flecked with moles. I traced them as though mapping stars in a constetion. My head sank into soft clouds, and I blinked. A vibrating hum startled me. My neck snapped as I jolted into alertness. I pushed myself into a sitting position and reached for my phone. Four in the morning. My thumb hovered over the reject button until the name on the screen echoed in my foggy brain-Tony. I answered in a hush. ¡°Knox.¡± His gruff voice crackled through the speaker. ¡°Hey, I took care of your girlfriend¡¯s victim.¡± The absurdity of that statement threw me off-center. I cleared my throat. ¡°Good.¡± ¡°How is she?¡± I nced at her. ¡°Still asleep. What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m heading home to my angry wife. She¡¯s not happy, but what am I supposed to say? ¡®Sorry, honey. I buried a dead guy instead of feeding our son.''¡± I pictured the pint-sized Evie waiting for Tony at their North End triple decker, a screaming newborn in her arms. A twinge of guilt nagged me. She was one of the few in Boston who didn¡¯t loathe me. I swung my legs out of bed, speaking in an undertone. ¡°There¡¯s a simple solution for that. Tell her who the favor is for.¡± Tony grunted. I headed into the hallway, closing the door behind me. Then I strolled into the kitchen. ¡°Did you find out anything?¡± ¡°Nothing. You?¡± ¡°His father, Alexei Kozlov, is a first-generation Russian who owns Leon Corporation, an investment and managementpany. And no, I¡¯ve never done business with them.¡± ¡°Did you get another text from the phone?¡± I hadn¡¯t checked yet. ¡°I took out the SIM card. I¡¯m assuming your cousin wasn¡¯t any help?¡± ¡°Vinny¡¯s never heard of Andrey. Apparently, he¡¯s not Bratva. Look, I have my suspicions, but I¡¯m just as confused as you are.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear them.¡± ¡°Well,¡± he began, his voice wavering, ¡°I¡¯m no expert, but this struck me as a gang initiation.¡± I pressed the phone to my ear, my blood pounding. ¡°There¡¯s no way an oligarch¡¯s son is in a street gang.¡± ¡°Then exin the texts.¡± I couldn¡¯t, which infuriated me. ¡°If my hunch is wrong, it was a crime of opportunity.¡± Tony released a heavy sigh. ¡°If I¡¯m right, someone else mighte by her apartment. To take care of things. You know what I mean?¡± Acid burned my throat. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Do not let her out of your sight.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t. Thanks again, T.¡± I ended the call, slipping the cell into my pocket. Fuck, I was so tired of thugs. Miserable pricks. I spent my childhood, what was left of it, anyway, living in a crime-ridden hell where screams lulled me to sleep. I gritted my teeth as my mind reyed images of bikers menacing my old neighborhood. They robbed us. Beat up elderly men. They pumped drugs into schools, spreading misery everywhere.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. I fucking hated them, and my wrath extended to all gangsters. I only tolerated Tony¡¯s cousin because I needed him for construction permits. Otherwise, he could burn in hell. I¡¯d find those responsible. I¡¯d raze the city if I had to. Thoughts of Kozlov vanished into wisps as Indie popped into the kitchen. She wore my white T-shirt with nothing else; her nipples peaking the translucent cotton redirected all the blood flow to my cock. Hard to maintain a semnce of control when my dick wouldn¡¯t stay down. ¡°You¡¯re up early. Sleep well?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± she muttered, rubbing her face. ¡°Who were you talking to?¡± ¡°None of your concern.¡± ¡°It was Tony, right?¡± She gave me a haughty, wide-eyed look, like a princess ring at the help. ¡°Tell me what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°Sit,¡± I ground out, pointing at the chair. ¡°Eat.¡± Indie pursed her lips, but she obeyed. She slid over the leather barstool, myrge T-shirt obscuring most of her redce panties. She grabbed a croissant from the box of pastries on the counter. She picked at it, glum-faced. ¡°My assistant needs a list of your measurements. If there¡¯s anything specific you¡¯d like her to pick up-¡± ¡°He closed the windows,¡± she blurted, her eyes sparkling. ¡°He made sure they were shut before attacking me. He didn¡¯t want anyone outside to hear me scream. I thought about that all night.¡± My stomach clenched with that disturbing detail. ¡°Don¡¯t dwell on that.¡± ¡°Knox, so much about yesterday makes no sense. What¡¯s a guy like him doing in my apartment? It¡¯s just so random. A rich guy¡¯s son doesn¡¯t need to stalk women for sex.¡± Indie ripped off a piece of croissant and put it in her mouth. ¡°Why not hire a prostitute?¡± ¡°Because it wasn¡¯t about sex.¡± Indie dropped the pastry and shoved it away. A shudder rippled through her back. ¡°What did you and Tony talk about?¡± I¡¯d assumed that giving her a few details would satiate her curiosity. Apparently, I was wrong. I grasped the skillet where I¡¯d scrambled eggs and tipped some onto her te. ¡°That¡¯s not something you need to concern yourself with. Eat.¡± ¡°I have to know what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t.¡± Indie got up and grabbed the freshly brewed pot. She set it down hard, and coffee dripped over the ss. ¡°God, does this have to do with you?¡± My skin heated as her tone raised with a steely edge. ¡°Eat your breakfast.¡± ¡°Oh my God. I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I? Are you in some kind of trouble with the Mafia?¡± What was this obsession with me and the Mafia? I had lunch with Tony one time in public. Ever since then, no one could talk about me without mentioning Tony Costa. Annoying as hell. ¡°When you¡¯re a man with my considerable talents, you don¡¯t waste your time ying chess with local gangs. Tony Costa and I are friends, nothing more.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have friends.¡± The audacity of this girl. She shouldn¡¯t be so willing to challenge me, but I kept forgetting that she¡¯d stabbed a man to death. I shook my head, forcing a grin. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± ¡°You¡¯re like a mouse taking on a pride of lions.¡± She seized my arm, and the contact hissed through me like hot steel. Electricity surged through me, mming into my fingertips. Everybody gave me several feet of personal space¡­except Indie. I clenched my fist. Control. ¡°Knox,¡± she began in a patronizing tone, ¡°I have the right to know who is involved and why. What are you doing?¡± I flipped her grip so that her soft skin glided under mine. My attention centered on her erect nipples peaking the T-shirt. I imaginedpping the buds until they were fully hard. ¡°Touching you soothes my desire to fuck your defiant mouth.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you talk to me like that!¡± ¡°Now that you¡¯re living in my house, we need toe to an understanding. You will obey me in everything. Satisfying me sexually is your purpose.¡± She turned a vivid red. ¡°You don¡¯t get to redefine that!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not redefining it, Indie. Just look at how you¡¯re designed. You don¡¯t fully appreciate how beautiful you are. Of the power you hold over men. Even me,¡± I admitted gravely, not blind to my attraction. ¡°You are the most fuckable woman I¡¯ve ever seen. We pretend we have a higher calling¡­that we¡¯re put on Earth for something other than breeding, but in reality, all I wonder when I look at you is how your pussy will feel around my cock. How many times can I make youe? What will our children be like?¡± She nched. ¡°That¡¯s because your dick does all your thinking.¡± ¡°Indie, bearing my son is your purpose. Nothing else matters.¡± ¡°What the fuck are you talking about?¡± She ripped from my grasp and stumbled backward. I nted my hands on my hips. ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll be remembered for our achievements a hundred years from now? No. Pretending otherwise is a waste our time.¡± ¡°Your son?¡± She poured a ss of water, spilling half of it on the counter. ¡°You are really getting ahead of yourself.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll happen.¡± She mmed the ss down, making even more of a mess. ¡°Assuming I can even get pregnant. That I¡¯ll still have the desire after your ridiculous speech.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get over it.¡± ¡°What if I don¡¯t want kids with you?¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re fucking crazy!¡± ¡°I disagree, Indie. I put a great deal of thought into this. It¡¯s the reason I couldn¡¯t let you go. We¡¯re supposed to do this.¡± An angry flush moved down her neck like a rash. ¡°You can¡¯t force me to have your kids!¡± ¡°When the momentes, I won¡¯t have to.¡± I fingered her trembling chin, watching her cheeks fill with color. My cock pulsed with the need to be buried inside her. It wasn¡¯t much of a conquest to overpower a woman. But to make her want me-that was a challenge. One day, she would be mypliant wife. Her body already wanted me. I just needed to align her mind with it. 2-15 INDIE Why did Knox want to father my babies? Muchter, Iy on the king-sized bed, too agitated to close my eyes. I¡¯d spent the whole day wrestling with the megaton bomb Knox had dropped early this morning. Did he have baby fever, or was it just sexual frustration? What will our children look like? The echo of his rumbling baritone conjured pleasant images. No doubt we¡¯d make beautiful brown-haired kids, but how could that man be a father? He couldn¡¯t show me affection, let alone a baby. Or would his icy exterior shatter once he gazed into the eyes of his newborn? The door opened. I held in a breath as Knox¡¯s tall frame glided into the room. He closed the door, his movements swift but noiseless as he shed his clothes. My heart fluttered as I took in his massive shoulders, his mouthwatering six pack, the shadows dimpling his lower back. ¡°Still awake?¡± ¡°You gave me a lot to think about.¡± ¡°Yeah? Warming up to the idea?¡± I shook my head. He made a noise of dissent as he stripped to his silk boxers. Then he slipped into bed, the mattress dipping with his weight. Hey on his side, his body heat burning the sheets. He rolled over. So serene. He was gorgeous, a Greek god at repose. What I wouldn¡¯t give to be that unppable. ¡°Have you found out anything new?¡± ¡°No.¡± His lips barely moved. ¡°That¡¯s the third time you¡¯ve asked that.¡± ¡°Someone attacked me in my homest night. I¡¯ll be jumpy for a while.¡± Since Knox filled me in on his suspicions, it¡¯d been an agonizing day of pacing his apartment, waiting for the police to arrest me, and locking myself in his giant bathroom for crying jags. I didn¡¯t eat. I called in sick to work. ¡°Who would do this to me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking the impossible of me.¡± Golden light red as Knox switched on amp. The softness highlighted his indifference with icy radiance. He pushed himself up on his elbows and assessed me. ¡°Trust the decision you made when you called me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not questioning you,¡± I muttered, growing hot from his intimate stare. ¡°I¡¯m used to doing things on my own. I don¡¯t sit tight and wait. It feels like giving up.¡± ¡°Think of me as a project manager hiding your victim.¡± An image of my attacker¡¯s lifeless body mmed into my mind. My pulse raced. My thoughts whirled out of control. I blinked but didn¡¯t see anything. The world was a confusing blur of colors and shapes.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Warmth bumped my thigh as Knox moved closer. He swept stray tendrils from my face, his fingers sliding to my neck as he caressed me. His thumb pressed in, relieving the tension knotting my muscles. My cheeks heated as I drank in his rugged beauty. ¡°You¡¯re safe,¡± he murmured, his promise reverberating through me. ¡°Unlike the slumlord who owns your apartment building, I take security very seriously. There are armed guards in the lobby, ex-military men. You can¡¯t reach my house without a room key, and I¡¯m the only one on this floor.¡± ¡°This was a mistake,¡± I croaked, lifting my head to meet his troubled gaze. ¡°I should¡¯ve done the right thing and called the police.¡± A hot tear rolled down my face as Iy back, aching. Knox inhaled a steadying breath. He fingered my cheek, and the shock of his gentle touch tingled my skin. ¡°Close your eyes and rest. You have an hour before you have to get up.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s five in the morning.¡± ¡°Well aware.¡± Knox grabbed a paper from his nightstand. ¡°Here. I made you a schedule.¡± I took the sheet. Indie¡¯s Schedule 6:00-8:00am: Wake up, Exercise, and Eat Breakfast 8:30am-5:00pm: Work 5:00-7:00pm: Dinner and Socializing 8:00-10:00pm: Leisure Activity 10:00pm: Bed He¡¯dminated it. Wow. I held it in my hands, gaping at the bold print outlining my new life. I had no words for this tant abuse of boundaries. Knox viewed me as a helpless animal. He controlled everything from when I¡¯d have breakfast to when I¡¯d go to sleep. Gradually, I found my voice. ¡°Why do I have to wake up at six?¡± ¡°I¡¯m an extremely busy man. I have phone calls with clients in Singapore. Shareholder meetings. Networking gs. I¡¯m running apany. I¡¯m in the middle of several construction projects, and I need you to be on the same schedule.¡± ¡°Knox,¡± I reasoned, the paper trembling in my grip, ¡°I get that, but you can¡¯t dictate when I socialize. I mean, you¡¯re treating me like property.¡± He yawned, ncing at the clock. His head hit the pillow. Was he ignoring me? I grabbed his shoulder and gave it a shake. ¡°When one person in a rtionship holds all the power, it¡¯s doomed to fail.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s a good thing I¡¯m not interested in the kind of rtionships you¡¯re used to. What I require from you is much deeper.¡± ¡°What do you want me to be, your pet?¡± I burst out, my arms smacking theforter. ¡°Are you going to teach me tricks? I¡¯m surprised you haven¡¯t scheduled my bowel movements, too.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be crass.¡± ¡°Why? Does it bother you when I remind you that I¡¯m a human being?¡± ¡°Your defiance does not amuse me.¡± Laughter floated up my throat, but his wild sapphire eyes hardened. ¡°Yeah, well, this schedule is a joke. If you knew me at all, you¡¯d realize there¡¯s no chance in hell I¡¯m exercising that early.¡± Knox considered me, a storm brewing in his expression. ¡°Then I¡¯ll throw you out on your ass, and you can take your chances with the people hunting you.¡± My chest tightened. ¡°You¡¯d do that to me?¡± I inwardly winced. The pain in my voice was loud enough for an emotionally stunted man like Knox to hear. Derision and sympathy swam in his gaze. ¡°You will follow my schedule and be happy about it. Everyone needs structure. It¡¯s the only way you¡¯ll stay sane after what happened. You have a tendency to overthink. You can get into all kinds of trouble when that happens.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a heartless jerk, Knox.¡± Swallowing my bitterness, I rolled away from him. The mattress bounced as Knox shifted his weight, and suddenly, his arm glided under the sheets. His hand anchored on my naked hip. A sickening warmth invaded my stomach, battling with my nausea. And a momentter, his breathingbored. I¡¯ll throw you out. That stabbed my flesh like knives made of ice. He was cruel. And cold. So much so that it hurt toy in his embrace, knowing that he¡¯d never share my feelings. He would never understand that I masked my turmoil with defiance. I had to face that harsh reality. I was stuck with an emotionless man. I had to stop asking myself how I¡¯d make it through the day without him. How the hell would I survive him? And why did I want him so badly? 2-16 INDIE ¡°Get up.¡± Themand pierced through my foggy state as I opened my eyes. The blurry form on the bed shifted into a scowling, handsome man. Knox sat on the mattress. His piercing stare burned through my clothes. I tugged on the sheets to cover my chest, even though I wore pajamas. ¡°We¡¯re behind schedule,¡± he seethed with all the gravity of a rocketunch coordinator. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Five extra minutes.¡± ¡°No.¡± I pulled a pillow over my head. It was ripped off me, along with the linens. Cold stung my calves and I moaned, groping for the covers. ¡°All right. Jesus. Were you a drill sergeant in a former life?¡± I scowled as he removed theforter off my feet, wondering how anyone could be so much of an asshole this early in the day. ¡°You know, you could try luring me out of bed. A kiss on the cheek and atte would go a long way.¡± Knox yanked the pillows out from under me and tossed them aside. ¡°That doesn¡¯t suit me.¡± ¡°Yeah, well, running this house like a boot camp is not how you¡¯ll win me over.¡± I swung my legs out and stood, yawning. ¡°Unless you don¡¯t care about that.¡± Knox brushed hair from my cheek. ¡°What would you have me do, Indie?¡± I tried to ignore the strange aching in my limbs and lifted my brow. ¡°I just want you to show your softer side.¡± ¡°Parts of me will always be hard around you.¡± He groped my ass and strolled into the walk-in closet. ¡°Come. We¡¯rete.¡± I followed him. The smell of him saturated the air, the sharp, earthy notes affecting me. He picked up leggings and a sports bra and offered them to me. I took them, stunned. ¡°When did you buy these?¡± ¡°Yesterday. I went for a run while you were¡­indisposed. I stopped at Lululemon beforeing home.¡± ¡°That was nice of you.¡± I rubbed the velvet-soft fabric, touched by the gesture. The only time a man bought me anything was dinner, right before we went to his ce. I pulled on the leggings, marveling at the smooth material. ¡°These feel amazing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you like them.¡± ¡°I do,¡± I admitted, pursing my lips. ¡°Maybe you should¡¯ve bribed me with these instead of threatening to throw me out, huh?¡± His mouth curved. ¡°You¡¯re not the type to respond to gifts.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not, but did you ever think of seducing me like a normal man? An apology with flowers? Hell, you didn¡¯t even have to mean it. I would¡¯ve eaten up a heartfelt speech. But you chose to threaten me. Then you wake me up at six and shove me on a treadmill. And you wonder why I¡¯m not falling on my knees to suck your cock.¡± His hand flew in his hair. Then he looked frustrated with himself. ¡°I¡¯m not doing this to make you want me.¡± ¡°There¡¯s your problem.¡± ¡°Who says I have one?¡± ¡°I do. You obviously want more, or you wouldn¡¯t be risking so much to keep me.¡± I dressed as Knox¡¯s presence poured heat into my body. ¡°Forcing me to adapt to your schedule can¡¯t be what you really want. Why can¡¯t you just tell me?¡± ¡°This is what I want.¡± ¡°A desperate grab for control?¡± I wondered, sliding the racerback top over my head. ¡°An attempt to mold me into your idea of a perfect woman?¡± ¡°When you¡¯re with me, you get the best of everything. You will be safe, healthy, and whole because that¡¯s what I desire.¡± ¡°What about my desires?¡± His smile sent a flicker of heat into my chest. ¡°I can¡¯t trust them. If I left you to your own devices, you¡¯d hide in my bedroom all day.¡± Harsh, but true. I¡¯d barely been able to function since the incident. Even now, the thought of returning to work and exining to my family why I¡¯d moved in with Knox tightened my throat. Knox gripped my bicep and marched me to the gym, a room with high ceilings and wall-to-wall mirrors. He maneuvered me to a treadmill and angled it at a steep incline. I strolled uphill while he sprinted, lifted weights, and used a weighted jump rope. After twenty-five minutes, I clung to the machine, panting. Knox finished his sprint and bounced off the treadmill, his chocte waves sticking to his square, handsome face. Sweat glistened on his forehead. A timer beeped from his phone. He closed it and wiped his shimmering brow. He reached over and ripped off the safety key, and the track slowed to a halt. Then he handed me a towel. ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to handcuff you to this and leave you here for days.¡± I panted, mopping my neck. ¡°Just so you know.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not an answer to my question.¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡± Knox made a sound of approval. ¡°Better than moping all day, isn¡¯t it?¡± As I debated rappelling off Knox¡¯s patio with knotted bedsheets, he sped my hand and led me into a wide bathroom with arge, rainfall shower separated by ss walls, rust-colored stone nketing the floor. Thin cedar panels nketed the walls and ceiling. I¡¯d never seen anything like it. The sliding door shut behind us. ¡°Take off your clothes.¡± His coldmand sent a flicker of heat between my legs. I pictured myself showering with him, the water blushing his skin. Perhaps he¡¯d make me wash first. Hard to imagine him engaging in something so intimate, but the possibility whirled the butterflies in my stomach. I obeyed him, somewhat awkwardly, removing my sports bra with a pained grimace and peeling off my leggings. Knox uncovered his athletic physique with a catlike leisure. Corded muscle bulged from his arms, the tanned skin enting the shadows. My gaze panned down his virile neck and his perfectly sculpted body. When his thumbs hooked under his ck briefs, I whirled away. The mirror reflected Knox¡¯s nude profile, the thick shadow of his cock hanging between his muscr thighs. My cheeks stained pink as I forced my attention ahead, away from the mirrors. My heart pounded. Judging by his erection, sex was on his mind. Was he going to fuck me right now? Or start something in the shower? Knox palmed my upper back. I jumped at the contact, then followed him into the shower. He pushed me to the side and flipped on the faucet. Cold water drenched him in seconds. I covered my breasts, gaping at him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you freezing?¡± He arched his neck like a cat leaning into touch. ¡°It helps.¡± ¡°With what?¡± ¡°Shocks my nervous system. Gives me a break from my overactive brain.¡± He raked his dark brown hair, eyes closed in apparent ecstasy. ¡°Ice baths are good, too.¡± ¡°That sounds like torture.¡± He turned the knob and pulled me toward him. I stumbled into the warming spray, wincing. ¡°You don¡¯t have to yank me.¡± ¡°Wash me.¡± Do this. Do that. My patience with him hit its breaking point, but his naked presence muted my rage. He was beautiful underwater, his hair darkened by the spray, contrasting with his natural tan. I wondered if he¡¯d inherited that from his dad. Had he even known his father? During my research, I discovered that no name was listed under Father on his birth certificate. Had this unknown man realized that he¡¯d fathered a prodigy, or was he blithely unaware of what he¡¯d done, like so many uncaring men? Had no one ever imed Knox? Sourness pitted my stomach. My head pounded with questions, but the idea of grilling him in my vulnerable position swelled a ball in my throat. I pumped liquid soap in my palms,thered them and raised them to his chest. As I caressed his chilled skin, I grimaced with sympathy. It was like holding an ice cube under blistering heat. Why did he have to torture himself? I nced down at the patch of horizontal marks crisscrossing his abdomen, and grief tore at my throat. Knox was dying for affection. He was desperate for it but couldn¡¯t express it in healthy ways. Maybe I could help him. I stroked his broad pecs, fingers slipping in his chest hair, relishing in the act. He let out the minutest sigh. ¡°I could get used to this.¡± So could I. My heartbeat seemed too loud. I was overwhelmed. Was it was from the steam filling the shower or the heat radiating from his body? A pink flush spread across his torso, except for the scarring on his abdomen. I was amazed at the thrill looking at him gave me. Under the guise of washing, I explored, feeling his wide shoulders, thick biceps, the muscle rippling his back, with undisguised greed. Judging by the curl of his lip, he¡¯d noticed. ¡°nning on updating your article?¡± I smiled, picturing the bold headlines. ¡°I¡¯d rather keep that to myself.¡± That seemed to be the right answer. His smile grew a fraction as my hands wandered down his taut stomach. He didn¡¯t have the body of a gym rat, but that suited him just fine. He was perfectly proportioned, nothing in excess. Therge erection jutting from below his abspleted the mouthwatering visual. My gaze lingered far too long on his giant, uncut cock. I couldn¡¯t imagine it inside me, let alone my mouth. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like being touched.¡± ¡°I enjoy your touch very much.¡± Two rough fingers prodded under my chin, forcing me to look at his face. ¡°But I¡¯m not a fan of intimacy.¡± My heart lurched. ¡°Why? Does physical touch repulse you? Or are you afraid of crossing that line?¡± Knox glowered. ¡°No.¡± My hands paused on his hips. ¡°No?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not answering those questions.¡± ¡°We¡¯re in a rtionship, Knox. I have to know your boundaries!¡± ¡°My boundaries are no intimacy.¡± I forced myself to grin as I caressed his sides. ¡°We have very different definitions of that word.¡± ¡°You are providing a service.¡± ¡°A service, huh?¡± I stroked his inner thigh, watching his eyes ze over. ¡°What does that involve?¡± ¡°Washing parts of me that are eager for your attention.¡± ¡°What a nice way to say that you need a blowjob.¡± ¡°You know damned well I want more than that.¡± I cleared my throat, continuing to massage him. ¡°But we only have fifteen minutes.¡± ¡°Think you can take me in your mouth for that long?¡± I doubted anyone could without suffocating. I nced down, mesmerized by the sheer size of him. He was too big. Wide and long. He looked dangerous. Riding a cock thatrge would probably put me out ofmission for a few days, and yet, an eagerness to try him leapt in my belly. I wanted him. Of course I did. For all his bullshit about natural design and breeding, he was right about one thing. When I looked at him, I asked myself the same questions. How would he feel inside me? What would happen when we had sex? Maybe it was the only way to connect with him. I had to get to know him-the real Bryan Knox. Whoever that was. Because if I had to spend the rest of my life bantering with a brick wall, I would lose my mind. I¡¯d hoped theminated schedule was a weird sexual fantasy, but nope. He was dead serious. Probably would have a schedule for the rest of my life. Confronting that reality was too much to bear right now. My hand rotated to cradle the sac hanging between his legs. He was stretched tight. Ready to go. I fondled them as Knox swallowed hard, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing. His neck flushed as I traced the steel outline. ¡°On your knees, Indie.¡± My heartbeat skyrocketed. ¡°I would, but a blowjob isn¡¯t on my schedule,¡± I quipped, intimidated by his hot re. ¡°You should¡¯ve cleared it with my admin yesterday.¡± He shut off the water, but I didn¡¯t feel the absence of heat. A ze poured from him, melting my skin. I felt an immediate and consuming attraction. It made me feel good that he seemed to be unable to look away from me. He inhaled a sharp breath, like a beast denied the rut during mating season. ¡°I¡¯m making it part of today¡¯s routine.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I said, well aware I was ying with fire. ¡°Your schedule is absolute unless it involves fucking me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite right, Miss Starling.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem very fair to me.¡± His smile contained a sensual me. ¡°That¡¯s why they call me a tyrant.¡± Knox took my waist and dragged me into him, almost as though he meant to kiss me. Swells of warmth bloomed inside me when I realized this was his first unrestrained action. He angled his head and red at me, his cock stabbing my thigh. ¡°Don¡¯t move a muscle.¡± His grip transferred to my wrists, which he pinned on the wall. His fingers tightened as he fitted his mouth between my neck and shoulder. I inhaled sharply from the stroke of wet heat. He didn¡¯t kiss. He imed me. He sucked me into his mouth with a delirious lust. My skin burned from his fiery possession. One hand cupped my breast while the other wrenched open my thighs. His finger rolled over my clit, discovering how much I wanted him. He bit down hard. Sliding his hands under my ass, he scooped me upright. He lifted me high, my butt bnced on his palms. Oh God. My fingers ached to touch him, but that was out of my control. Along with everything else. I slipped against the shower wall. ¡°Knox.¡± ¡°Put your legs over my shoulders.¡± I obeyed, blushing. I bared myself to him as I straddled his face. Knox stabilized me with one arm around my back and the other clutching my leg. Gently, he positioned me against the stone wall. My face blistered with shame as he syed me open, exposing my sex to him. His mouth hovered unbearably close, and an image of Knox eating me out imed my body with swells of warmth. Such a supplicant gesture for someone obsessed with power. Would he be good at it? I couldn¡¯t wait to find out. ¡°Do you know what your pussy looks like, Indie?¡± ¡°Jesus, Knox.¡± ¡°You¡¯re glistening, that¡¯s how wet you are. Your lips are open for me. Your clit is swollen. Every part of you is dripping, just like I always dreamed it would. This is the way I want you, Indie. Open. Ready for me.¡± He turned his head,shing my inner thigh with his tongue. It made a wickedly sexy dance. Closer and closer, he moved, his hot breath feathering my clit. ¡°Tell me you want me to lick your pussy.¡± A delicious shudder ran through me. Jesus. ¡°Stop fighting me. I know there¡¯s a cock-hungry slut inside you that wants to submit to me. You¡¯re not fooling me with that doe-eyed look. Your pussy is dripping. Now. Tell me you want my mouth.¡± ¡°I-I want your mouth.¡± He licked me. I sucked in a breath as a lightning bolt of arousal struck me, so powerful that I almost lost my bnce. I dug into his hair and stared at the intoxicating sight of myself bnced on his powerful shoulders, his gorgeous face shoved between my legs. I bit my lip hard. His tongue plunged inside with a slow, methodical rhythm. As the slick heat fucked me, his ferocious re seemed to do the same. He suckled my clit, ripping a moan from me. I clung on for dear life, unable to escape the swirling, sucking, torturous friction of his perfect mouth. God, he was amazing. His tongue couldn¡¯t reach where I needed him until he pressed my back into the ss. I whimpered, defenseless against the male machine fucking through my defenses. His syed fingers tightened on my ass. My nerves fired off with two overwhelming sensations-Hot. Wet. He flicked my clit faster and faster, the ricochet from his teasing massage blooming warmth inside me. He found a tempo that made me grip him and scream. My thighs quivered with the quake of an approaching orgasm, and then another hot flick sent me over the edge.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. I cried out for a release. Then I gasped in sweet agony, overtaken by a wave of bliss. The orgasm spread fire to my heart. This was much more than sexual desire. It shattered the barrier I¡¯d built to protect myself from him. Knox wrapped his arms around me, bringing me down to earth. I smiled, giddy with the sensation. I still sped his neck. I stood in a flood of joy. I wanted to hold him. Kiss him. But he wouldn¡¯t let me. Knox knotted his fingers in my hair and pushed me away from him, revealing his harsh expression. Pain hit the back of my throat, cleaving through my happiness. This was not a loving, tender man who would cuddle me after sex. He didn¡¯t want my mouth on his lips. A momentter, the hold on my hair glided to my shoulder. He pushed. My knees touched the floor. I was still dripping wet, aching with unsatisfied need. Suddenly, my vision filled with a closeup of his thighs. Then a bulbous head rubbed my cheek. He was harder than steel. He positioned his cock to my lips and forced them to part. I eagerly opened my mouth. His thumb hooked my lips, opening me to amodate him. Then he slid inside, filling me with a thickness I could barely breathe around. I gagged. Sucking on a man of his size was challenging. I couldn¡¯t wrap my lips around my teeth to protect him, but Knox didn¡¯t seem to care. He groaned as he buried himself, and heat teased my nipples as though he¡¯d licked me there. He inched himself deeper. His grip on me loosened as his other hand cupped my jaw. Knox¡¯s tiger-nted gaze burned as his hips chased his pleasure. ¡°I¡¯m going to fuck your mouth. And I¡¯ll need you to swallow every bit of cum.¡± My body still glowed with ecstasy, but at those words, my desire for him eroded everything else. ¡°Rx, Indie. There¡¯s a good girl.¡± A hitch caught in his breath as he guided me with his hips. ¡°All the way. I don¡¯t mind a little teeth.¡± I took him in as deep as I could, gagging, stunning myself with my enthusiasm. I wanted to be the one to break down his walls. I wanted him delirious with pleasure. I wanted him to break free of this icy facade. And I wanted him to shoot his load in my mouth. I popped him out for a break and sucked on the sides of him. I glided down to the base of his cock, fondling the tight skin stretched over his balls. Tired of my teasing, Knox grabbed my face and pushed inside my mouth. Then he fucked me with measured movements, his length bing easier and easier to suck. Knox slowly fell apart. ¡°Indie,¡± he sighed. I suckled the head, hoping to hear another sigh. He rewarded me with a groan. I¡¯d drained him of energy, and he couldn¡¯t keep up the shield. Was I finally glimpsing the real him? His firm hold became a loving caress. He stroked me with a tenderness I¡¯d longed for. ¡°I¡¯ve wanted you since the moment we met.¡± Why did that sound like we were standing at an altar? Our eyes shed in a tangle of confused emotions, and then Knox seemed to realize he¡¯d said something vulnerable. He seized my hair and fucked me hard, pausing his thrusts only to let me breathe. Then the relentless possession began anew. I watched the war raging on his face. He grimaced as he inched back and forth, going inside so deep that I couldn¡¯t inhale. He yanked me toward him as liquid heat shot into my mouth. Then he pinched my nose shut and thrust, pushing his seed down. Spasms ripped through his legs as he released a passionate yell. When I swallowed, his chest heaved. He swayed as though fighting the urge to copse. Then he raked a hand through his messy locks and smiled. It was almost as intimate as a kiss. He pulled out of me, shaking. ¡°Did you enjoy that?¡± I nodded mindlessly, his taste still rolling on my tongue. Surprisingly, I¡¯d enjoyed this act of raw domination. Even the fingers restraining me had burned my tingling skin. What else could he make me do? 2-17 INDIE Unknown: His name was Andrey Kozlov. I stared at myptop, which zed with the text message. The ugly reminder cleaved through my work on another air-headed column. Luckily, Eliot had approved my request to work from home for now. I sat upright on the chaise, narrowed eyes on Knox¡¯s kitchen as though an assassin waited for me in the hallway. My fingers hovered over the keys before I shakily typed a response. Me: Who is this? Unknown: The Devil. Unknown: Smile, Ms. Starling. You were on camera. Thest sentence burned my eyes. I red at the hyperlink, heart hammering. I tapped the underlined words. A gray rectangle popped onto the screen. I pressed y, and my old living room zoomed into focus. A threadbare sofa barely fit onto the tiles. A coffee table was crammed between an antique nightstand with a TV. Movement over the tile caught my attention. I stood at the stove, my hair in disarray. I watched myself gather the pink-and-brown strands and tie them in a quick ponytail. My hand slipped into my jeans to grab my phone. My hips swayed to the music, and I mouthed the lyrics as I slid a knife over the vegetables. A cold ache grew in my throat as smoke billowed from a burning pot. I knew what wasing, but the tension in my gut tightened. The Indie on screen rounded the corner. A heavyset man in ck stepped into view. Andrey. My insides seized up as he slowly stalked me. Then he lunged. The violent struggle triggered sensations-smells, tastes, a painful throb where he¡¯d smashed in my head. I put the cell down and rode the wave of shbacks, mirroring the anguished woman on my phone. I hugged my knees. I inhaled deeply, fighting the instinct to run. Eventually, I got it together enough to text him back. Me: Who are you? What do you want? Unknown: Your cooperation. Unknown: Drop your story or I¡¯ll share this video. My mind nked, and then a lightning rod of rity struck me. Sanctum. The report on MC gangs trafficking women. I¡¯d spooked them by interviewing the girls and showing up at their club, so they¡¯d sent a man after me. The Devil had to be involved. Unknown: Tell Knox nothing. Delete these texts. Unknown: I¡¯ll know if you disobey me. Me: Who are you? He never answered. The screen went dark as hisst message throbbed inside me like a festering wound. What should I do? Go to Knox? That video would destroy his career, and also cost me my job. Would I win a self-defense trial after the Devil edited the footage? What about Knox? I¡¯d dragged him into my mess without him knowing what he was getting into. My breath cut off as I imagined prison visits behind a ss window. I couldn¡¯t afford to antagonize them. I highlighted the conversation and hit the trash emoji. Then I called St. Luke¡¯s. ¡°Hi. This is Indie Starling. I¡¯m an investigative reporter at Vanity.¡± ¡°Oh, hi! It¡¯s Helen. Hold on, let me go somewhere quiet.¡± The distant sounds of piano music andughter dropped away. ¡°There. How have you been?¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing well, thank you. The reason I¡¯m calling is because I¡¯m a bit concerned about a woman I interviewed. Her name is Lara. She hasn¡¯t responded to my messages in a week. I thought that maybe you could put me in touch with her.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so, so sorry. Lara passed away.¡± The air left my lungs. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been horrible.¡± Helen sighed. ¡°One of the girls found her in her room. She thought Lara was asleep. Poor thing was there for hours before we finally called the ambnce. Overdose.¡± Theptop spilled onto the couch as I stood up. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. She saw a counselor for her drug addiction. Attended meetings. She was on her way to recovery-¡± A terrible suspicion shot into my head, obliterating my thoughts. ¡°Did you notice any signs of forced entry?¡± ¡°No, why?¡± ¡°Are you sure there weren¡¯t any strange men hanging around the property?¡± ¡°Stranger than usual?¡± Helen sounded dumbfounded. ¡°No, I don¡¯t believe so.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just-I¡¯m shocked that Lara would use when she told me reuniting with her children was her top priority.¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Sweetheart. She was held in captivity by Satan. He¡¯s a fierce opponent. He lures people like Lara into his clutches.¡± I paced Knox¡¯s kitchen, my throat tightening. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°The finest trick of the devil is to persuade you he doesn¡¯t exist.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I lied through numb lips. ¡°You¡¯re right. Thank you for telling me what happened.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee, dear.¡± I slid the phone off my face, staring at it as though it were contaminated. My thumb hit the off button, ending the conversation. It could¡¯ve been an overdose-but three sources vanishing after giving me damning information on Sanctum? A woman was dead. Was I responsible? My mouth went dry. I felt heavy, too stunned to process this terrible news. Abandoning theptop, I drifted to the floor-to-ceiling ss. My brain scrambled to find an exnation for Lara¡¯s death that didn¡¯t involve me. The fridge opened. Knox stood at the kitchen ind in sweats and a T-shirt. The ingredients for an omelet covered the metal countertop, but the way he looked at me told me he intended to fuck me. He approached me, his arm curling around my waist. He dragged me into his bracing warmth, his hands anchoring just above my ass. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± I wanted to tell him. So badly. But I couldn¡¯t. Two women missing. After Lara¡¯s death, I couldn¡¯t risk any more lives. I had to keep my head down. ¡°I-I feel so lost, Knox.¡± He caressed a sensitive patch of skin above my hip. A frantic pulse beat at the base of my throat. He shifted his pelvis forward, nudging me with his erection. ¡°You need a break.¡± The tempting offer red a response in my body. My nipples tingled in anticipation of his mouth. I smelled his cologne on my hair. I imagined his head angled to kiss me. My desire for him grew every day, starting from the moment I woke up tangled in his sheets, smelling of him. We¡¯d only been around each other for a week. He hadn¡¯t touched me since the shower, except in small ways to assert his dominance. Every time he did, my thighs clenched. Sex with Knox would be¡­powerful. I was close to giving in. I palmed his chest. ¡°Knox.¡± He pushed me into the ind, his hands already gliding under my sweats. He kneaded my ass and pulled my thigh over his. Then he opened my cor to expose my cleavage. His strong hands circled my waist and lifted me on the countertop. Nimble fingers unbuttoned my shirt. Then he rubbed his thumbs over thecy cups of my bra. A fluttering rose up my neck. Oh God. He didn¡¯t have to touch me to raise my nipples into aching points. My lips parted against my will as he eased the bra off my breasts. He cupped the creamy globes, his nearness flooding my pussy with heat. My hands clenched and released. More. I had to yield to the burning held captive inside me. My phone rang. Great, a distraction. I grabbed it, heart hammering. ¡°Ignore it, Indie.¡± His raking gaze centering on my mouth. ¡°We¡¯re in the middle of something.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t. It¡¯s my sister.¡± My cheeks burned as I pressed the green button, epting the call. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Finally. You can¡¯t ignore me forever.¡± My sister¡¯s boisterous tone sted through the phone¡¯s speaker. ¡°I even stopped by your apartment, but you weren¡¯t home.¡± I pictured ire on the doorstep of where I¡¯d been attacked, and my insides seized up. ¡°Jesus, ire. Never go there again.¡± ¡°Your neighborhood isn¡¯t that bad.¡± ¡°Trust me. It is.¡± I exchanged an exasperated nce with Knox. I fixed my shirt and jumped off the ind. ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t live there anymore.¡± Static crackled on the other end. ¡°What?¡± she blurted. ¡°You moved out?¡± ¡°Yeah, um, it was a spontaneous decision. I¡¯ve been busy. That¡¯s why I haven¡¯t returned your calls.¡± I chewed my lip as Knox tapped his chest. ¡°The perfect opportunitynded in myp.¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± she asked. ¡°You sound upset.¡± ¡°No. I mean, yes. I¡¯m fine.¡± I raked a hand through my hair as Knox shook his head. ¡°I just finished working out, so I¡¯m short of breath.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t work out. I can barely get you to walk with me.¡± I bit back a frustrated groan. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve-I¡¯ve been dating Bryan Knox, and he works out a lot. So I guess it rubbed off on me.¡± ¡°You little liar. You told me you weren¡¯t interested!¡± ¡°Of course I was,¡± I muttered, Knox¡¯s stare boring into my face. ¡°He¡¯s an attractive guy. It¡¯s like you said: A man like Knox onlyes into your life once.¡± ¡°You¡¯re freaking kidding me.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not. It¡¯s been a few months.¡± ¡°Months? Whoa. Back up. Why didn¡¯t you tell me? What about the damage to your career?¡± I scratched my neck. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Oh,e on, Indie! I know you like to see the best in people, but he threatened you after you called him out!¡± A thread of suspicion darkened her voice. ¡°Did he do something to you?¡± ¡°No.¡± ire fell silent. ¡°I¡¯m not lying. If anything, I underyed our chemistry. I¡¯ve never met anyone like him.¡± Patches of heat burned high on my cheeks as I pictured ire¡¯s unabashed shock. ¡°You know when you meet someone, and you¡¯ have this overwhelming feeling like-¡®that¡¯s my guy¡¯? That¡¯s how I feel about Knox.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± ¡°Yeah. A-and it was hard to deal with because he¡¯s so¡­intense. Dating himplicates things at work, but the more I learn about him, the more I want to be with him. So I caved. Ever since, we¡¯ve been inseparable. And my lease was ending, so I moved in with him.¡± Another long pause, and then- ¡°Okay.¡± I winced at her drawn-out response. ¡°He groveled on our first date. Big time.¡± ¡°Oh? Do tell.¡± ¡°After I told him I¡¯d never go out with him, he showed up to my apartment and begged me.¡± I cringed at the sneer curling Knox¡¯s lip. ¡°Then I made him promise to stop the St. Luke¡¯s demolition.¡± ¡°Really?¡± His eyes narrowed. Knox raised his chin and outstretched his hand, mouthing a demand for the phone. I ignored him. ¡°Yep.¡± My sisterughed. ¡°You must¡¯ve given him the best sex of his life. How he is in bed?¡± ¡°Good,¡± I drawled, meeting his re head on. ¡°But his cuddling game needs improvement.¡± ire snorted. ¡°I¡¯m not surprised.¡± Knox wrestled the phone from me and spoke into the receiver. ¡°This is Knox. You must be ire, Indie¡¯s little sister. It¡¯s wonderful to finally put a voice to the person I keep hearing about. We should get together sometime. I¡¯ll call you with the details,¡± he said coldly. ¡°Have a pleasant day.¡± Knox ended the call, tucking my phone in his jeans. He stood there, daring me to protest. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± I demanded, ring at the pink casing peeking through his pocket. ¡°You¡¯ve lost your phone privileges.¡± My heart throbbed. I can¡¯t lose ess to my phone. I¡¯d thrown out that story partly to appease my sister, but mostly to gain a win against Knox, which he clearly saw right through. I licked my lips. ¡°ire isn¡¯t stupid. She knows something¡¯s up.¡± ¡°So? Let her be suspicious.¡± ¡°She¡¯s my family.¡± ¡°You made that story up without my consent.¡± ¡°I know, but the St. Luke¡¯s thing makes sense. It¡¯s the perfect grand gesture to win me over. She¡¯ll get it, and it¡¯s not like you need more money.¡± ¡°I have no intention of altering my ns.¡± ¡°Why?¡± His eyes shed. ¡°Because this isn¡¯t about saving a church. You¡¯re having a tantrum.¡± Blood pounded in my temples. ¡°It¡¯s a resource for your oldmunity!¡± A muscle ticked in his jaw. ¡°Resource?¡± ¡°Yes! St Luke¡¯s feeds two hundred homeless every day.¡± ¡°You mean, the drug addicts.¡± He waved me off and crossed his arms. I couldn¡¯t believe this man. ¡°Arge percentage of those visiting St. Luke¡¯s are at-risk youth. Some only eat one meal a day. What are they going to do when the church no longer exists?¡± His re warned me to shut up, but I couldn¡¯t help myself. Hisck of empathy infuriated me. ¡°You could do so much good in the world. You could open up another feeding program. You could make low-ie housing safer!¡± ¡°The junkies can choke on their Narcan.¡± Heat flushed my cheeks. The poison from his words engulfed me like noxious fumes. If Knox had grown up wealthy, I would¡¯ve framed his attitude as the heartless disregard of the rich. But he¡¯d lived in a rat-infested apartment for most of his youth. He ate through the courtesy of food stamps. His teacher had to buy him school supplies. ¡°This is personal for you. Isn¡¯t it?¡± Knox stepped into my space, his glower forcing me backward. ¡°Disobey me again, and I can¡¯t be held responsible for what I¡¯ll do. I react poorly and tend to go overboard when I correct that behavior.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so callous!¡± I hurled the word at him, but he didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°You never take no for an answer. You ruin people¡¯s lives on a whim!¡± ¡°And you¡¯re an anxious, indecisive mess who needs someone to tell her what shoes to wear to get out the door. You begged me to take control. So I will.¡± Was that how he saw me? As a weak little girl? A shiver rippled through me. ¡°I did not beg you to wake me up at the crack of dawn!¡± ¡°And yet, part of you recognizes this is good for you because you haven¡¯t misbehaved until now.¡± A stone dropped in my stomach. It¡¯d been such a mistake to go along with his insanity. ¡°Knox, you can¡¯t do this.¡± His mouth widened in a predatory smile, making my thighs clench on nothing. Then warmth spread down my leg as he groped my ass. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever the hell I want to you.¡± He squeezed. I sucked in a gasp. He fondled me through my sweats, his finger sliding between the cheeks to stroke the damp spot seeping through my panties. His touch exploded everything within me. Anger. Frustration. Desire. Heat burrowed deep into my body. He pped my cheek. ¡°We¡¯re going out for dinner. Six-thirty. Wear the red dress.¡± 2-18 INDIE Tyrants first appear as a protector. Sage words from to, but they gave me nofort. Knox seemed hellbent on dominating every aspect of my life. Within a few weeks of my rescue, he¡¯d confiscated my phone, taken over my schedule, and introduced rules. He¡¯d printed out a list, whichy beside the red dress. 1. Be polite. Never embarrass me in front ofpany. 2. Dresses and skirts only. No sweatpants, jeans, etc., unless for exercise. 3. No junk food. I expect you to keep your body in good condition. 4. No PDA. 5. No masturbation without my consent. The man had lost his mind. It went on and on, but I refused to read the rest. I tossed the list in the trash. Then I broke the masturbation rule in the shower. Until he admitted these edicts were an abuse of power, he would never win me over. My hand dove into a greasy bag of potato chips as I worked in Knox¡¯s guest bedroom. I¡¯d poured a big bowl in front of the blinking eye affixed to the ceiling. A control freak like Knox probably monitored me throughout the day. Too bad he wasn¡¯t around to police my snacks. Knox was putting out fires at ck Prism, and he¡¯d left his curvy assistant behind to dominate me in his absence. Rapid footsteps rapped the tiles and paused at the doorway. A pretty blonde in a pencil skirt entered, her hair swept in a severe ponytail. Valerie pressed her lips into a fuchsia line. ¡°You¡¯re still not dressed.¡± ¡°For what?¡± ying dumb was worth it to watch her struggle to contain her contempt. Valerie tapped her iPad and frowned at the disy. ¡°Dinner.¡± ¡°Oh. That. I¡¯m not going.¡± I averted my gaze to theptop. ¡°I¡¯ve a lot of work to catch up on.¡± ¡°But he¡¯s taking you to one of the best restaurants on the Long Wharf. Tyger Tyger.¡± A slight wrinkle creased her forehead as I continued typing. ¡°You can¡¯t not go.¡± ¡°Says who?¡± Valerie released a tense breath. ¡°Me.¡± I chuckled, amused at the idea of this pint-sized girl forcing me to do anything. ¡°Indie, I¡¯m supposed to get you ready.¡± I scratched my chin. ¡°Tell him I ate a bag of chips and I¡¯m not hungry anymore.¡± Normally, I wouldn¡¯t act like such a bitch. She was desperate for his approval. Knox gave out atta-girls as often as Halley¡¯s Comet passed Earth. I understood what it was like to be unappreciated, but she obviously had a major crush on Knox. So I wasn¡¯t making her job easier. ¡°For God¡¯s sake. He won¡¯t ept that as an excuse.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Then he shouldn¡¯t have taken my phone.¡± Valerie muttered a curse and paced Knox¡¯s office, her attention lingering on his hoodie draped over the couch, his Herman Miller chair, the whiskey still pooled at the bottom of his ss tumbler. Had she slept with him? It wouldn¡¯t have surprised me. Valerie chewed her lip as she checked her tablet. ¡°He¡¯ll give it back if you behave tonight.¡± Asshole. I mmed theptop¡¯s lid shut, giving up on work. ¡°Can you honestly say you agree with his behavior?¡± She looked out of her depth. ¡°He makes the rules. It¡¯s not my job to question Knox.¡± Whoa, there. A violent buzzing filled my chest. I hated how she said his name. ¡°Maybe you should.¡± Her pink mouth twisted with a condescending nt. ¡°He has no tolerance for difficult people. That¡¯s why he took away your phone. He could¡¯ve done a lot worse.¡± My heart thudded. I couldn¡¯t believe this girl. ¡°Why are you enabling this?¡± I shouted as I followed her down the hall. ¡°He can¡¯t be paying you that much!¡± ¡°He is. And Knox is the best boss I¡¯ve ever had.¡± Valerie¡¯s eyes twinkled with a suggestion that inmed me. Then she opened the door to Knox¡¯s bedroom. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want my stylist toe over?¡± ¡°Knox likes how I look. Otherwise he wouldn¡¯t be obsessed with making me his ve.¡± Valerie ignored that rmingment. ¡°Dinner with Bryan Knox is a privilege most women would kill for.¡± ¡°And do you include yourself among those women?¡± Valerie pursed her lips. My shoulder hit hers as I entered the bedroom. I ripped the door from her grasp and shut it. I raked a hand through my hair, infuriated. A clingy red dress hung in the walk-in closet. Glowering, I shoved it aside and jerked a demure number off a hanger. I pulled it over my head, slid my feet into pumps, and stormed into the bathroom. I attacked my hair with a bottle brush and haphazardly applied makeup. A phone chimed outside. ¡°Hello, Mr. Knox. We¡¯re behind schedule.¡± A pause, and then, ¡°Yes, I did. She¡¯s not cooperating.¡± I bristled. I¡¯ll show you uncooperative. I yanked open the door and lunged for her phone. She yelped, jumping back. Her hip mmed into a console table, toppling it. Itnded with a deafening smash. The drawers opened, spilling their contents. I righted the table as Valerie picked up pages, revealing a long, hairline crack on the tile. ¡°Oh my God,¡± Valerie moaned. ¡°Look what you did!¡± ¡°Calm down. It¡¯s not a big deal.¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Do you know how much work went into this ce? A Japanese architect designed this house. We imported these paving stones from a Buddhist temple in Kyoto. I can¡¯t just drive over to Lowe¡¯s to buy more!¡± I couldn¡¯t bring myself to care. ¡°He¡¯s going to fire me!¡± she whined. ¡°Good,¡± I snapped. ¡°You¡¯re an embarrassment to the word woman.¡± ¡°Ladies. That¡¯s enough.¡± Knox¡¯s rumbling baritone echoed from the entrance as he strolled inside, delectable in his designer jeans and bomber jacket. A small curve tilted his lips. He approached Valerie, who huddled near the table, grimacing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. It was an ident.¡± ¡°Go. I¡¯ll take care of this.¡± Knox patted her shoulder like a master rewarding his dog. Valerie beamed as though a ray of the purest sunlight had touched her face. I glowered at her all the way to the elevator. The doors shut and Knox faced me, wearing a dazzling smile. He let out a lowugh. ¡°Tsk, tsk. Didn¡¯t you get the fighting out of your system?¡± I grabbed his coat. ¡°I want my phone.¡± ¡°Slow down, killer. You don¡¯t want to add to your body count.¡± I flinched. ¡°Don¡¯t call me that!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pet name.¡± His velvet tone teased warmth in my cheeks as he cradled my hands. His thumb swept over my knuckles. ¡°You know, I still have a hard time believing these dainty things are capable of such violence.¡± I stared at my slender wrists in his masculine grip, hardly able to believe the same. Graphic images trickled into my head. Vivid details. I imagined the thump of limbs falling into a stic bag. I swallowed down my nausea. ¡°Why would you bring that up?¡± ¡°Because you underestimate yourself.¡± He stroked the sensitive skin over my wrist. ¡°Someone attacked you, and you took care of it. I admire that.¡± I shuddered. ¡°I¡¯m not evil.¡± ¡°Never said you were.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t find this funny.¡± ¡°I do. It¡¯s amusing how often I need to reassure you.¡± His open expression was so intimate it stole the air from the room. ¡°You¡¯re a good person, Indie.¡± That washed over me like a warm bath. My eyes watered with gratitude, and then he seized my dress¡¯s zipper and pulled. My body caught fire. ¡°Don¡¯t. I¡¯m in no mood.¡± He grasped my neck. His fingertips caressed me, his gentle restraint sending a jolt down my chest. Electricity teased my nipples as his mouth touched my ear. ¡°I¡¯ll get you in the mood.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t by barking orders at me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have to raise my voice to make women obey. Do you know why?¡± ¡°Because they¡¯re terrified of you.¡± My cheeks burned with the lie. If there was any fear inside me, it was of giving in. ¡°Most rip off their clothes before I ask them.¡± He gave me a smile that sent my pulse racing. ¡°They enjoy deferring to strong men. It¡¯s the natural order of things. It¡¯s the reason you called me.¡± I stared at the wall, ignoring the heat in my clenched thighs. ¡°You¡¯re not fighting me.¡± Knox grazed my spine as he undressed me, spinning mes in my belly. ¡°You¡¯re only battling your instinct to submit.¡± I wanted intimacy, not submission. I craved the shelter of his embrace, but did I want to kneel at his feet? Did I want him telling me what to do, where to go, and when to suck his cock? Knox pinned my arms to my sides. ¡°You¡¯re better off when I¡¯m in control. I¡¯ve done right by you, haven¡¯t I?¡± I shook my head, face burning. ¡°Give your body to me. It¡¯ll help.¡± His whisper sank into a lower baritone. ¡°I promise.¡± He made me feel undone, like a rose blowing apart in the wind. I breathed between parted lips. Then he seized my dress and pulled it down, baring my breasts. His raking gaze scorched them before he lifted one hand to cup a tanned globe. He teased my nipples into aching points as his other hand yed with my mouth. I gasped, my tongue brushing his thumb. He pushed forward, and I glided along the finger that plunged into the wet warmth to his first knuckle. Then he pressed his lips to my ear and whispered. ¡°Suck.¡± I obeyed, my lips closing around the digit. Greed pounded between my legs. ¡°Good girl,¡± he murmured, sliding out of my mouth. ¡°See how easy that was?¡± I was too startled by my body¡¯s reaction to articte a response, so I rallied with an attack. ¡°You really are a caveman.¡± ¡°You have no idea, Indie.¡± Knox gave me an arresting smile, and a pleasant shiver nestled between my breasts. ¡°I like appealing to your baser needs.¡± ¡°What would you know about them?¡± ¡°Everybody¡¯s are the same-food, water, shelter, clothing, and sex.¡± ¡°If winning me over was as simple as checking off boxes, you¡¯d have done it already.¡± ¡°What haven¡¯t I offered you, Indie?¡± Intimacy. Love. Two things off-limits to his frozen heart. My lips burned with that unspoken answer, but I didn¡¯t want him to shoot me down. A tingle ran up my body at the image of Knox throwing me over his shoulder. Sex with him wouldn¡¯t heal me, but perhaps I¡¯d findfort. Giving up control went against my instincts, but I couldn¡¯t take this much longer. I needed relief. Knox seemed to sense my change of temperature. His hand glided under my dress. He brushed my thigh and anchored over my hip, his thumb ying with the waistband of my thong. My body felt heavy and warm. I met his stunning gaze, intoxicated by his closeness. ¡°Do you need a ring on your finger? Is that what this is about?¡± I swallowed hard, trying to keep myself cold and still. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± he growled, the bite of his grip sinking into my hip. ¡°Because I intend to marry you. It makes no difference to me whether it¡¯s today or six months from now. I will drag you to the courthouse if that¡¯s what it takes.¡± I forced myself to settle down. ¡°I thought you took what you wanted.¡± ¡°I need your consent, Indie.¡± ¡°Why? You ckmailed me into your bed.¡± ¡°Only because you gave me no choice. I¡¯m not interested in coercion. It¡¯s far more satisfying when a woman like you kneels because she wants to.¡± And I did, for some insane reason. Strong, entitled, cold, protective-Knox possessed many conflicting qualities, but I couldn¡¯t deny the ache pulsing between my legs. That I wanted to be his. Admitting that scared me more than lying beneath him and pretending to hate him. ¡°Set aside our differences. Your conscience. Your need to be right. Throw away convention. Let it all go, Indie. Just be with me.¡± I stared at him in despair, the pain in my heart a sick gnawing. As much as I desperately wanted to shed the weight off my shoulders, I couldn¡¯t turn off my emotions. Even if it were possible, I wouldn¡¯t. ¡°You want me to cut myself off from everything.¡± ¡°No, Indie. Your feelings for me give me a contact high. Destroying them would not be pleasing to me.¡± ¡°Then why are you taking over my life?¡± ¡°Because I want your pussy dripping when I¡¯m in your presence. I want you to enjoy yourself.¡± His hand slid to my upper thigh and squeezed. ¡°I want you on pins and needles, wondering what I¡¯ll do to you next. And you can¡¯t do any of that if you¡¯re terrified and stressed. You need to slow down. Rx. That¡¯s why I¡¯m handling things for you-a schedule. Rules. I¡¯m removing distractions so you can focus on yourself.¡± I red at him. ¡°And no masturbation is part of that?¡± He grinned. ¡°That¡¯s just a bit of fun.¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say to that. He was good at rationalizing his insane behavior, but the whole I¡¯m doing this for you reeked of paternalistic bullshit. He didn¡¯t think I could handle life on my own, but he was wrong. He¡¯d slowly dragged me into this lifestyle and gotten me to ept his outrageous schedule, because I foundfort in his overprotective arms. I also wanted to win his trust. Stupidly, I thought he¡¯d lighten up after realizing he could trust me. But the more ck I gave him, the more he took. The wrongness of my situation suddenly dawned on me. How much further would he go? An angry pulse beat at the base of my throat. I seized his hands and tore them off my body. ¡°You know, for a genius you¡¯re remarkably dense. You demand my loyalty, but you¡¯ve skipped a few steps on your way to controlling my existence. Like winning me over!¡± ¡°What do you want, Indie?¡± Knox leaned against the wall, his arms rising to cross over his chest. ¡°Do you even know?¡± I did. At the heart of all my frustration was a deep longing. If I was stuck with this man, I wanted him to make a real effort. Take me out on dates. Tell me what made you such a controlling asshole. My heart was sick from theck of real intimacy. And kiss me, for God¡¯s sake. I could¡¯ve listed those things, but he would¡¯ve shot them down. ¡°A normal rtionship!¡± His mouth thinned. ¡°We will never have that. I told you that in the beginning.¡± That crushed me. ¡°H-how long am I supposed to ept that?¡± Knox nced over my head, already checking out of the conversation. ¡°For the foreseeable future.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unreasonable,¡± I whispered, faltering in the silence that engulfed us. ¡°I¡¯ve made so many sacrifices for you, but you have yet to do anything for me.¡± ¡°I saved your life.¡± ¡°And that means you own me?¡± ¡°You signed on the dotted line, Indie.¡± I¡¯d done so not knowing that I was trading a quick death for a long, painful one. Because having feelings for Bryan Knox was like worshipping the moon. He¡¯d never reflect any of my warmth. He couldn¡¯t even meet me halfway. I gaped at him, my voice cracking. ¡°You can¡¯t expect me to ever fall in love with you!¡± He stared back calmly. ¡°I¡¯m fine with that.¡± Nothing he could say would¡¯ve hurt me more. He¡¯d cruelly snuffed out the spark of hope fighting to stay alive. His figure blurred into a vague outline as I blinked away tears. I shoved him aside and blundered into another room, mming the door in his face. My heart exploded with pain. I was bereft. Hollowed-out. As though he¡¯d scooped out my insides. I¡¯d agreed to be his. But tonight was the first time I felt like his ve. 2-19 KNOX Why would anyone hurt Indie? Who was behind this? In the weeks following the attack, I discovered no answers. Only more questions. Andrey¡¯s online presence evaporated. His father¡¯s investment firm stopped listing him as the VP of Sales on their website. His social media ounts disappeared. I expected an uproar from Alexei Kozlov once he noticed his son had vanished. At the very least, a missing persons report. But nothing ever became of Andrey¡¯s disappearance. The more thread I pulled, the bigger the spool seemed to get. Someone-or someones-knew Andrey was dead. I couldn¡¯t figure it out. So I broke into his house on the North End. Floorboards creaked as I stepped into a home with zero personality. Abstract art hung on gray walls. ck furniture. A shag carpet sat under a cappino table. It had the pristine look of a ce that was barely lived in. I rifled through racks of Boston Bruins regalia. I nced in his fridge. I searched through hisptop. After I¡¯d copied his hard drive, I pored over its contents by the graying light of dawn. Andrey didn¡¯t strike me as the brightest bulb. He didn¡¯t use two-factor authorization for his bank ounts. A deep dive of his financials revealed little-the connection between Andrey, Indie, and me remained elusive. The SIM card from his cell gave me nothing. Untraceable numbers. Whoever these people were, they were organized. I needed more information. I had to be overlooking something. My fists clenched as a white-hot furynced through them. I mmed a drawer shut and red at his desk. What the hell is that? Fleur-de-lis cufflinks rolled beside his mug. I picked them up, frowning. An odd piece of jewelry for a guy with sports jerseys in his closet. I had no clue about precious metals, but I knew someone who would-Tony Costa¡¯s wife. * * * T: We¡¯re five minutes out. I clicked off my phone. Smartly dressed couples packed the ck-and-gold restaurant. White dishes pooled with the blood-red sauce of Sichuan chilis. Indie sat at my side, impossibly gorgeous in a navy satin cocktail dress. She sipped her second ss of Chardonnay. She¡¯d put a bare minimum of effort into getting ready but somehow outssed every woman here. Several weeks had passed since the introduction of rules, which she had taken to perfectly. Somehow, I¡¯d resisted the overwhelming temptation to bury my cock inside her. I¡¯d barely savored the victory from winning her submission. But something was missing. I just couldn¡¯t put my finger on what it was. Her eyes centered on me, and something shifted in my chest. ¡°What is it, Indie?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand why we¡¯re here,¡± she deadpanned, balling her napkin in her fist. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel exposed?¡± ¡°No one¡¯s out to get me.¡± Indie paled. The ceramic teacup clutched in her fingers trembled. I¡¯d never met a more sensitive girl. The day after the murder flitted into my mind. Indie was in a state, crying over a man who tried to rape her. Honestly. She had too much empathy for her own good. I took her wrist, and pink flushed across her cheeks like a sunset over snow. ¡°I am one of the most influential men in this country. Everybody¡¯s dirtyundry is at my fingertips. Nobody will touch you when you¡¯re out with me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a hell of an assumption.¡± I longed to seize the curls bouncing on her shoulders and drag her protesting mouth over my cock. ¡°You can sulk until Tony and Evie arrive. But if you can¡¯t lighten up¡­¡± I grasped her bowed shoulder, sliding to her neck. I caressed her silken skin. My thumb pressed in deep, relieving the tension knotting her muscles. ¡°I might have to find some other way to make you rx.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t always need sex, Knox.¡± ¡°But making youe is the only way I know how to keep you quiet, at least, once you¡¯re done screaming my name.¡± ¡°And then what?¡± She lifted her chin in defiance. ¡°You conquer me again. Get off on the thrill of it. And then we pretend it means nothing?¡± My mouth tightened. ¡°You think it means nothing that I prioritize your pleasure?¡± ¡°Pleasure means squat if there¡¯s nothing more to it. Sometimes a girl needs to be swept off her feet before the ankles go behind her head.¡± I mulled that over, mentallypiling a list of romantic gestures I¡¯d gleaned from popr culture. Women expected things in a rtionship. Did Indie want roses on Valentine¡¯s Day? Would that make her look at me with a smile instead of a furrowed brow? I straightened as an olive-skinned man and a girl wearing a leather jacket over a dress weaved through the tables. ¡°Here they are.¡± A grim-faced Tony reached me first, pounding my back. Evie¡¯s grin widened when her gazended on me. She wrapped her arms around my middle and squeezed. ¡°Knox! How are you?¡± Nausea pitted my stomach. I gritted my teeth and fought the urge to rip her hands off me. ¡°Fine. You?¡± ¡°Great. Tired. We¡¯ve been so busy with Baby T.¡± Evie drew away, and my hackles lowered. ¡°You shoulde over and see him. We¡¯d love to have you.¡± I had no intention of going to see her kid, but Tony¡¯s forbidding re warned me to be polite. I shed Evie a charming smile I¡¯d perfected over the years in front of mirrors.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°Take an evening out of your crazy schedule and stop by, or Tony will kidnap you.¡± She dropped her glower as she turned to Indie, beaming. ¡°And you must be his girlfriend!¡± Indie held out her hand. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m Indie Starling.¡± ¡°Starling? Wait, you¡¯re the reporter that wrote the profile! The one about Knox! Aren¡¯t you?¡± Indie gave her a sheepish smile. ¡°Guilty.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how you met? Cute. I love it.¡± Evie yanked Indie into a fierce hug. ¡°When I read that profile¡­I thought, here¡¯s someone who understands Knox! And now you¡¯re dating!¡± A shell-shocked Indie disengaged from Evie, pink in the face. ¡°Yeah¡­It¡¯s been five months since the interview, but it feels like forever.¡± There was a definite note of coolness in her tone. Tony¡¯s mouth curled, but he said nothing. I ground my teeth and caught Indie¡¯s eye. Strike one. A waiter stopped at our table and filled our water sses. Tony waved off the cocktail menu, staring at the door as Indie ordered a vodka on the rocks. After we¡¯d eaten our fill of Chinese, Indie spooned thest egg roll onto her te. She stabbed it with her fork and lifted her hand. A horrible foreboding gripped my abdomen. Don¡¯t fucking do it. A wintry smile shed across her perfect lips. ¡°Open up, sweetheart.¡± She touched the egg roll to my closed mouth. Heat climbed my neck as the others stared. Then I bit off the tiniest piece and she pulled away with a gloating grin. Strike two. Evie intertwined her fingers with her husband¡¯s, grinning. ¡°They¡¯re just like us.¡± ¡°So how¡¯s the baby?¡± I didn¡¯t care, but it steered the conversation from us. I zoned out as Tonyunched into a long diatribe about diapers and form. ¡°¡­always fussy after eating. He tenses up. His body gets hard, and he screams. The doctors say it¡¯s gas.¡± Tony shrugged, bemused. ¡°I could go on and on.¡± ¡°Fascinating.¡± My sarcasm seemed to fly over Tony¡¯s head. ¡°Anyway, how are you?¡± Tony muttered as he picked up a spare rib. ¡°What did you need to talk to us about?¡± ¡°I need your wife¡¯s expertise.¡± Evie raised her brows. I slipped the cufflink out of my pocket and set it in front of her te. ¡°Tell me everything you can about this.¡± She turned it over in her fingers. Then she grabbed a jeweler¡¯s loupe from her bag and leaned over. ¡°The stone is onyx and the metal is rose gold. I don¡¯t have my scale, but I¡¯d guess it¡¯s worth five thousand.¡± ¡°Do you recognize it?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not familiar with the design.¡± Damn. Tony¡¯s attention flicked to it as she gave it back to me. ¡°Wait. I know what that is. All the Inner Sanctum members wear those things.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Kid, I practically lived at that club in my twenties. Blew a lot of cash there. After my cousin sold his shares, the new owners introduced this Inner Sanctum thing. The floor managers pushed me to join, but I refused. Thirty grand a month is steep for high-ss ass.¡± ¡°What is Inner Sanctum?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a scam.¡± Tony made a face, shrugging. ¡°A higher-tiered membership. Hotter women. Non-consent rooms. A ce to live out your most deviant fantasies.¡± So Andrey was a member of Sanctum as well. Clearly, it wasn¡¯t your average club. Thinking of the club conjured an image of Cainan. I barely knew him. He was under my radar so far. I¡¯d never looked up hisst name. He was only known to me as a client. A year ago, he asked me to develop software for locating human trafficking victims. His long-term goal was to undermine the one-percenter club with a stranglehold on Boston. I was all for it, given my experiences with them. Cainan and I had lost touch after running Legion out of the city, but I asionally bumped into him at Sanctum. Something flickered in my head. Before it kicked to the surface, it was interrupted by shattering ss. Indie¡¯s vodka tonic had crashed onto the table. She apologized profusely as Evie and Tony picked up ss fragments from the table. For fuck¡¯s sake. I sat back in my seat, exhaling a tense breath. ¡°It¡¯s all right, hon,¡± Tony grunted at Indie as he wiped up the mess. ¡°This is better than baby vomit.¡± As Tony carefully mopped Evie¡¯s side, a radiant smile blossomed over her face. The warmth of it struck me like a ray from a distant sun, illuminating the hollow core inside me. That¡¯s what I¡¯m missing. I nced at Indie, who was as warm as an open refrigerator door. She hadn¡¯t always been that way. In fact, she¡¯d been reticent in thest few weeks. Silently obeying. Downright quiet. Wasn¡¯t that what I wanted? ¡°We should go, anyway.¡± Evie gave me an apologetic grin as Tony grabbed her waist. ¡°But I want you and Indie over as soon as possible!¡± As Tony and Evie walked out of the restaurant, Indie watched them go with a haunted gaze. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you?¡± I muttered under my breath. ¡°I brought you along to liven the mood.¡± ¡°That¡¯s rich, you asking me to do that.¡± She seized her ss as though preparing to throw its contents in my face. My chest heated. ¡°Did you get the rule-breaking out of your system?¡± ¡°Not quite.¡± ¡°Do you want me to challenge me? Because it¡¯d be my pleasure to bang out some of this stress. Just thinking about my hand on your ass gets me so hard, I need a saw to cut through my wood.¡± She drank more wine, blushing. Then she leaned over and kissed my cheek. It was like a hot poker on my face. My skin burned. Her lips dragged from my cheek to the corner of my mouth. She lightly pressed into my lips. The second swell of heat wrestled with my self-control. I ached to force her on myp and make her do things. I couldn¡¯t let her do that again. It felt tantamount to handing Indie a loaded gun. ¡°Stop.¡± She pulled away and rolled her eyes. ¡°I will not apologize for being affectionate in a rtionship. It¡¯s normal behavior.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not normal.¡± ¡°No shit,¡± she muttered. My blood pressure reached heart attack levels. Strike three. I stood, grabbing her arm. 2-20 INDIE I¡¯d finally set him off. Good. ying by the rules had gotten us nowhere. I was done with it. His glowering mask suggested I would pay for my disobedience as he led me into the private bathroom. Once the door shut, he mmed the deadbolt into ce. He stood with a wide stance, his voice inmed with passion. ¡°You act like the rules don¡¯t apply to you.¡± ¡°I know they do. I¡¯m refusing to obey them.¡± His mouth curved with a sneer. ¡°You think you can win this battle?¡± ¡°I believe it¡¯ll be a cold day in hell before you admit that you wish things were different between us. You want more. That¡¯s what your obsession with control is really about.¡± My hand grazed his muscled chest and rested over his heart. He made a face, but recovered quickly. Then he seized my wrist and pinned it behind my back. I felt impaled by his fiery gaze. My stomach clenched as he grabbed me, but I couldn¡¯t deny the spark in my chest. His embrace still wrapped me in warmth, and I relished his punishing grip. A muscle flicked in his jaw. God, he was pissed. ¡°I have no desire to change.¡± What a pathetic lie. He was practically begging someone to heal the wound inside him, or why would he have gone through so much to keep me around? ¡°You like being this way?¡± ¡°I do,¡± he agreed. ¡°I pride myself on myck of emotion.¡± ¡°I hate to break it to you, Knox, but you do have emotions. You just can¡¯t identify them. You¡¯re emotional right now.¡± His grip tightened, and blood rushed where his fingers branded me. ¡°I¡¯m angry. I detest the effect you have on me.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s your n? Beat me until I kneel?¡± He shot me a smoldering look. ¡°Something like that.¡± His threat hung in the air, darkening the atmosphere. ¡°Your world won¡¯t fall apart if you let go.¡± He straightened, breathing in shallowly. For a moment, it was almost like he¡¯d granted me a reprieve. Then ice slid over the turmoil in his gaze.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Yes,¡± he drawled. ¡°I need to stop denying my instincts. For weeks, I¡¯ve been soft on you. I was trying to be merciful. I thought a smooth transition would be best. Clearly, I was wrong.¡± Fear jangled in my insides as he grabbed me, but I couldn¡¯t deny the spark in my chest. He pulled me toward him, locking his arm around my waist. His embrace, however violent, still wrapped me in his warmth. I had no desire to leave. ¡°Knox.¡± I swallowed the tight knot begging for release. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything crazy.¡± ¡°Too fuckingte.¡± I flinched at his vicious snarl. Knox rendered me immobile with a yank of my arms. He twisted them behind me, confining me in his powerful fingers. ¡°Knox, stop!¡± ¡°Stop?¡± he taunted. ¡°You don¡¯t use that word. Not after ignoring what I keep telling you.¡± ¡°Talk to me about it,¡± I pleaded as he undid his belt, the strap sliding from his loops. ¡°You can¡¯t be a savage whenever you don¡¯t get your way!¡± ¡°I am a savage. And it¡¯s time you learned that.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll scream!¡± ¡°Let it out, Indie.¡± His quiet voice seethed with coldness. My determination faltered. ¡°W-what the hell are you nning?¡± My pulse galloped ahead as the belt traced my curves. He maintained an iron grip on me. The threat of pain lodged a golf ball in my throat, the roaring in my head drowning the panic. Heat dipped into my belly as he nudged the dress to the middle of my back, which bowed under his weight. He moved my legs apart- Oh my God. ¡°Knox.¡± I turned, catching his feral gaze. ¡°Everyone will hear.¡± ¡°Good.¡± He lightly pped my cheek. ¡°I want the whole world knowing who owns you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll kill you.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you had your fill of murder?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bring that up!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me what to do.¡± He squeezed. ¡°You have no idea what your defiance provokes.¡± ¡°Get off me!¡± ¡°No.¡± Knox forced me to bow. He slid closer, wedging me between him and the sink. There was a metallic jingle, followed by the pping of leather. A thrill stroked my clit as he fisted my dress to my back. ¡°Wait,¡± I begged, my heart flipping. ¡°You don¡¯t want to hurt me.¡± He smirked. Then he lifted his hand. CRACK! Agony burst over my cheek as I gritted my teeth. The sheer force of the blow knocked a yell out of me. The leather struck me. Pain returned with a fierce bite. I spasmed, gasping. He pulled me back, raining smarting blows over my ass. Shame flushed my cor as I pictured amotion outside this door. It stung, but the humiliation of Knox spanking me in a public ce was worse. Then he stopped. I clung to the sink, trembling. My pulse thumped erratically as he soothed my yed skin. ¡°That was just the first round, Indie.¡± The mirror reflected his wild expression. He tossed the belt aside, the sound making me flinch. My guts churned. ¡°You¡¯re not a violent man.¡± ¡°Oh? That¡¯s news to me.¡± His hand gently looped my neck, pulling me off the sink. ¡°I have a lot of rage inside me.¡± He pinned my back against his chest, his fingers biting into my throbbing pulse. I watched us through the mirror as he followed my curves with one hand, gentling fondling a globe. I bit my lip against the delightful shiver of wanting. ¡°Why?¡± I gasped, overwhelmed by the sensation. ¡°Why would you be upset? You¡¯re Bryan Knox. You¡¯re the most powerful man in Boston. You get everything you want.¡± ¡°All the material possessions in the world can¡¯t help me. Besides, I don¡¯t want to be helped. I never want to forget how this city failed me. That I hold contempt for mymon man. I hate the world, Indie. I¡¯m the opposite of you.¡± ¡°But what does ite from?¡± Knox was silent for a long time, his arms loosely holding me like an embrace. ¡°Too many years of systematic child abuse.¡± I swallowed hard, determined to press on. ¡°What does that mean?¡± Knox¡¯s mouth worked furiously. Then it poured out of him, his voice detached. ¡°I¡¯ve been starved, Indie. Beaten. Molested. I¡¯ve been taken advantage of since before I could walk. My earliest memory is of being tortured with hot wax.¡± ¡°By who?¡± His fingers tightened on my body. ¡°My mother and her boyfriend.¡± Pinned against his body, I felt my eyes fill with tears. ¡°Why would they do that?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to know.¡± Knox let out a slow breath as his palm skated my belly, tracing the underside of my breast. ¡°By ten, I was as jaded as a war veteran.¡± ¡°My God.¡± He stroked my body up and down, a self-soothing gesture. There was nothing erotic about his touch. Even his voice was soft. ¡°How did you deal with it?¡± ¡°I felt nothing. I was too detached to bruise my knuckles on other people¡¯s flesh, but dragging a knife across my stomach¡­that felt good.¡± I flinched. Lord¡­the mental anguish he must¡¯ve been in to inflict that on himself. ¡°What about CPS?¡± I gulped down my sorrow, forcing my voice to stay even. ¡°Didn¡¯t they see your injuries?¡± ¡°They did,¡± he said, his face hardening. ¡°The state ced me with a family that seemed wholesome on paper, but they weren¡¯t much better than the situation I¡¯d just left.¡± He¡¯d stopped stroking me. His gaze was hollowed out, empty, striking a close resemnce to the girls I¡¯d interviewed from Sanctum. ¡°What did they do to you?¡± ¡°Everything. It took a long time to break free.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Knox. I really am.¡± He whirled me around, still holding my neck. ¡°I don¡¯t like being touched. It takes me back to when I was helpless. You don¡¯t understand what it does to me when you take control. The wrath you provoke.¡± Tears sttered my cheeks. ¡°I didn¡¯t know. Knox, I¡¯m so sorry.¡± He nodded, his eyes still haunted with the ghost of his past. His mouth parted and his brows rxed. Then his gaze centered on me. His expression nked. His brows drew together as tears skated down my chin. His lips pulled with a cruel twist. Just like that, his vulnerability was gone. ¡°How sorry are you?¡± My breathing hitched, intimidated by how quickly his mood had flip-flopped. I wiped my eyes, my mind teeming with disturbing images. ¡°I¡¯m sorry they made you feel powerless. You should¡¯ve been loved-¡± He pinched my face, cutting off my words. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in your pity.¡± ¡°F-forgive me.¡± Knox answered with a brush of his fingers on my inner thigh, the touch lighting me on fire. Nothing he said changed my feelings about him. At least I knew the ¡°why¡± behind his demeanor. He¡¯d developed this ice shield to protect himself. ¡°Get on your knees while I think about it.¡± Knox wasn¡¯t the type who cuddled after such a brutal confession. He needed to reim control. The restless gleam in his eye suggested what he¡¯d do to me. I knelt on the hard floor, my stomach knotted. ¡°Remove your dress.¡± I fingered my throat, the burn from my cheeks spreading to my toes. Under his re, I stripped, slipping off my panties and dress. Knox held out palm, and I handed him my thong. He pocketed my panties, his expression lighting up with a savage, very male satisfaction. His leather shoe nudged my thigh. ¡°Spread them.¡± I nced down my taut abdomen to Knox¡¯s shoe. Slowly, I inched my legs apart. I trembled with the humiliating disy of my sex until I noticed his erection straining his cks. When he gently fondled his cock, it was all I could do to keep myself fromunching at him. Knox tapped me until I¡¯d widened my thighs to his preference. Then his fingers brushed my shoulder. A sensual thrill passed between us. My cheeks blistered as the swell of warmth curled inward. I was embarrassed, yet turned on. Hot everywhere. My legs were syed, my nipples stiffened into aching points, and my thighs gleamed with arousal. Knox made a sound of deep frustration as he stroked himself. He was so hard it looked painful. My mouth watered as I watched him pleasure himself. ¡°Indie, y with yourself. Make yourself ready for me.¡± Knox stopped touching himself. ¡°Fingers in your pussy. Now.¡± My stomach bottomed out. ¡°Do it, or I¡¯ll parade you outside in the nude.¡± rm rippled down my spine. ¡°Why?¡± His vengeful gaze stabbed into me. ¡°I want you to get off for me.¡± My heart hammered. ¡°Again, why?¡± ¡°Knowing how wet I make you gets me really hard. That¡¯s a first for me.¡± ¡°That must be daunting for you.¡± ¡°Stop stalling and touch yourself.¡± Blushing furiously, I slid my finger along my inner lips. I slipped into the wet warmth with the smallest moan. His ferocious re widened. ¡°C-can I stop?¡± I whispered, transported on a soft cloud. ¡°Please let me stop.¡± ¡°No.¡± His eyes gleamed as I kneaded my clit, slipping in the river of my arousal. I teased myself, sinking and withdrawing, massaging. Desperate sounds burst from my throat. His hand drifted to his crotch. Riveted, I watched him unbutton his pants with a rough snap. My mouth burned as he seized the zipper and slid it down. The world seemed to tilt. My pussy clenched over my thrusting fingers. A feverish wave began between my legs, iming me. The raw energy lifted me to blissful clouds. I soared. Then my orgasm burst. Ecstasy flooded my being as I fucked myself. A tremor heated my thighs as a gust of pleasure swept me away. Knox smirked and grabbed my hand. He made me stroke his erection. Then he pulled off his briefs, revealing his aching cock. He wrapped my hand around the base. ¡°Jerk me off.¡± I tightened my grip, moving up and down his length. I ached with the desire to be touched, a lustful seed that grew as his cock thickened. It was intoxicating. ¡°Indie,¡± he sighed. ¡°You feel so good.¡± ¡°So do you.¡± I turned toward his weing warmth. Knox¡¯s sleepy smile betrayed every word that condemned him. One nce at him and my heart lurched. Even my name on his lips tingled my nipples. My thoughts scattered in a hundred different directions. I needed to resist. Not with my body-with my mind. Knox didn¡¯t make it easy with his hands buried in my hair. He arched and let out a delicious groan. Liquid heat jetted from his cock. Hot threads of cum draped my breasts. I quivered with the pleasant sensation. I couldn¡¯t speak. I did nothing but savor his undoing. Breathing heavily, he hitched up his trousers and took out his cell. The white circle blinked as he snapped photos. He grinned at the screen and put the phone away. Then he yanked on the paper towel dispenser and motioned me upright. I stood shakily. Knox wiped me clean. His eyes crashed into mine, no longer pools of espresso brown. They smoldered with a wild possessiveness. It was as though a storm cloud had gathered over his head. He rearranged his jacket and handed me my dress, watching as I put it on. Then he grabbed my purse from where it had fallen and handed it over. Then he opened the door for me. We finished our meal quickly and Knox paid the bill. As we left the restaurant, my palm met his in a warm sp. When we reached outside, Knox released me, plunging his hand into his pocket. His horrifying confession consumed me. The details he¡¯d divulged leadened my heart. How could anyone do that to a child? And why? You don¡¯t want to know, Indie. Cold invaded my chest. The chill spread to my limbs as I stopped, fitting the pieces together. He¡¯d been through things few people could grasp, let alone live through. When every adult in your life failed you, how could you ever learn to trust? Or love? He moved ahead of me, and I blinked with unshed tears as I gazed at his retreating back. He refused to deal with his pain, and I would forever be a victim of that. What did I have to look forward to? More stilted dinners. Emotionless sex. Zero affection. A few paces ahead, Knox nced over his shoulder, then turned. ¡°Indie.¡± I didn¡¯t move. He released a frustrated sigh and drifted toward me. He checked his watch, scowling. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for games.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going home with you.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I was too overwhelmed to put my feelings into a sentence. ¡°I can¡¯t stand this.¡± That provoked a slight reaction in him. His brows furrowed slightly, which annoyed me. Even when I threatened to leave, he couldn¡¯t be bothered. ¡°What?¡± ¡°This rtionship. I can¡¯t do this, Knox.¡± He grabbed my neck, the light restraint sending a jolt down my chest. His raking gaze settled on my mouth. ¡°You made a deal.¡± ¡°Give me a reason to stay.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have to. You belong to me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the problem.¡± I yed with my coat buttons as his ferocious stare heated me from the inside out. ¡°I¡¯m just flesh to you¡­I¡¯m a broodmare for your future children. You don¡¯t think of me as a person, and it shows. You¡¯re distant. You can¡¯t even hold my hand.¡± ¡°You know why I can¡¯t.¡± My heart broke for him. He flinched as I lifted a tremulous hand to his face. My fingertips grazed his cheek before I cupped it with my palm. I grimaced as I touched his freezing skin. It was like holding an ice cube under hot water. I stroked his brow ridge, trying to soften him. His breathing gradually slowed as I caressed him. His forbidding re warned me to stop, but he didn¡¯t move. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°You¡¯re upset. I want to help.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. ¡°Do you know what happens to people who make me feel vulnerable?¡± ¡°Threaten me all you like, Knox. You didn¡¯t go through all this trouble to dump me on the streets.¡± ¡°You think you can change me. Don¡¯t you?¡± His nostrils red and whitened. ¡°You¡¯re manipting me.¡± ¡°No, Knox. I don¡¯t have the power to do that. Only you can decide to be kinder. I¡¯m just a positive influence in your life.¡± He sneered. ¡°Trying to rein in the tyrant?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not like everyone else, Knox. I won¡¯t sit back and shut up while you wreak havoc on the city.¡± ¡°So you want to see me destroyed?¡± ¡°No. I want you to heal.¡± His beautiful face shone with pain that dove into my heart. Gently, he intertwined his fingers with mine, and for a moment, he seemed to revel in the intimacy. Then he pulled me off him, his features clouded. ¡°And what if I can¡¯t?¡± ¡°At least we¡¯ll know we tried.¡± Knox¡¯s eyes gleamed with caution as he leaned forward. He kept a brutal grip on my hair as his head angled. Then his mouth fell on mine. His lips were lingering and light. Tender. So gentle. His hand lifted to my cheek, cradling me, and the touch sparked a fierce ache. It was like he was lost in the taste of me. My shattered soul started to mend, Knox¡¯s lips imbibing me with peace. It felt so good-so right. I couldn¡¯t reconcile the tyrant with the loving way he held me. It was unbearable. My mind reeled. I palmed his chest, desperate for more of him. Knox ground his body into me as though needing me. His kisses harshened. His tongue fucked my mouth. Dominating me. He thrust it in and out with a passion I longed to feel between my legs, and a need inside me burned for more. I dug into his shoulders before realizing that I¡¯d grabbed him. I crushed my lips into his. My tongue danced in his heat. He was seductive and smooth. A dangerousbination-like dark chocte and red wine. Impossible not to indulge. It flooded my brain with all the wrong things. It was a violent kiss, filled with threatening promises of what he¡¯d do to my body. I seized his hair and moaned. I waded into a pool of ecstasy. I relished the feel of him, his masculinity, the burn consuming me. The instinct to surrender. Kissing him made me breathless and confused, like an eighteen-year-old girl. I¡¯d experienced nothing like it before. Knox pushed me until I hit a wall. He seized my wrists and held them as his tongue traced the fullness of my lips. He nipped his way to my corbone, ying devil¡¯s advocate with my hair, face, and neck. He tasted me with a savage intensity, sucking me into his mouth. He marked me with raised, pink patches. I groaned. Knox ripped to the side, breaking from our kiss. He dragged me from him, his grip firm on my hair. He looked delicious, his lips raw from kissing me, his hair mussed where I¡¯d grabbed it. My core twinged with a mad desire to free his cock and swirl my tongue over his velvety head. His breath fanned my cheek. His shock seemed to mirror the wild fluttering in my heart, a rare glimpse of Knox out of control. ¡°Are you okay?¡± He swallowed hard. ¡°That was¡­¡± Unbelievably hot. The buzz from his kiss throttled my veins like vodka. I needed more. The taste of him had unlocked the gates. Greed enveloped me. My fingers curled into his chest. My palms ttened over the pane of muscle. I slid upward, stroking his shoulder. Just as I leaned in for more, his face broadened with a smile, its beauty wiping my thoughts nk. ¡°Is this all you wanted from me?¡± I nodded, breathless. Knox didn¡¯t smirk, but his eyes gleamed like sapphires in the light. He held my gaze so intensely that I couldn¡¯t look away. Behind him, a car rolled to the curb. Men in ck with blood-red ties stepped out. Fear knotted in my throat. ¡°Mr. Knox,¡± barked one of them. ¡°We need you toe with us.¡± Knox peeled off my body and faced them. The front passenger door of the Audi opened, and a tall man who¡¯d haunted my nightmares emerged. Cainan, the sadist from Sanctum, looked quite different in the twilight. His wool pants and linen shirt gave him the appearance of a prince out on a walk. He strolled with a nonchnt grace, smiling. ¡°Good to see you, Indie. It¡¯s been a while.¡± Cainan spoke as though he hadn¡¯t forced me to my knees and made me touch his cock. Knox¡¯s grip cinched my waist, but he seemed unconcerned. Bored, even. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Your presence is needed at Sanctum.¡± Knox moved his hand from me, shoving both in his pockets. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine why.¡± ¡°Our higher members have information they¡¯d like to share.¡± Cainan¡¯s attentionnded on me, and his voice darkened. ¡°Concerning you and Indie.¡± My limbs trembled. ¡°You couldn¡¯t have sent a text?¡± Knox¡¯s indifferent re flickered from me to Cainan. ¡°I don¡¯t know what this is about, but I¡¯m not interested.¡± ¡°That is irrelevant.¡± Knox took my arm and headed down the sidewalk, but Cainan¡¯s goons closed off our path. He turned to face Cainan. ¡°Call my assistant and book an appointment.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, friend, but you¡¯ll have toe with us.¡± ¡°Fuck off.¡± Cainan tutted, motioning to his guards. I swallowed hard. This is all my fault. Knox set his jaw into a firm line as they surrounded us. ¡°Get in the car, Knox.¡± ¡°Again, fuck you.¡± ¡°It¡¯d be wise not to antagonize me, considering I went through a great deal of trouble on your behalf.¡± I could practically feel Knox¡¯s blood pressure rising. His grip tightened on my bicep. ¡°My security is on their way. They¡¯ll follow me wherever you take us.¡± Knox¡¯s indignant tone ckened with rage when they refused to budge. ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± ¡°Knox, you¡¯re getting in this car.¡± Cainan motioned to the man beside him, who produced a long, thin box. ¡°Don¡¯t make this difficult on yourself.¡± Jesus Christ. My heart pounded, but Knox smoldered. ¡°You know who I¡¯m connected to.¡± ¡°Are you referring to Tony?¡± Cainan opened the lid and removed a pre-filled syringe. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t rely on him. He¡¯s not the unhinged killer he used to be. Pity.¡± A muscle ticked in Knox¡¯s jaw. ¡°I don¡¯t need the Costas to bury you.¡± Laughter danced in Cainan¡¯s te eyes as he nodded to his guards. A man with bulging biceps pounced on Knox. Knox seized his neck, locking him into a chokehold. He mmed him headfirst into the car window. ss shattered as he ground the man¡¯s cheek into the broken shards. Another man leapt to his defense. A loud crack filled the air as Knox elbowed his nose. Then his leg shot out, mming into his third assant. The man dropped like a rock. Knox fought like an MMA fighter, turning on a dime to side-kick. He fluidly dispatched his attackers, but it didn¡¯tst once they piled on him. They forced him to the sidewalk. Knox grimaced as they wrenched his arms behind him. Cainan nted his boot on Knox¡¯s upper back and rolled up his sleeve. I lunged at Cainan, who still grappled to still the wildly struggling Knox. I seized the arm holding the syringe and sank my teeth into his forearm. Cainan backhanded mezily, the blow stunning me. ¡°Somebody grab her.¡± My arms were restrained, and then Cainan stabbed Knox with the syringe and shoved down the plunger. Knox¡¯s face went purple with rage. He screamed with fury. As they peeled him off the ground, Knox swung at one of them. His fist connected with a bloodied guard. I screamed. ¡°Knox, stop!¡± Cainan watched with a twist of his devious mouth. He held open the door as they hauled, jostled, and pulled Knox into the backseat. I ducked in beside him, teary-eyed. The sight of Knox sprawled on the leather seats choked my throat. I propped his head on myp as his eyes slid in and out of focus. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± 2-21 KNOX I¡¯ll kill them all. First on the list: Cainan. Backstabbing asshole. He¡¯d pay for this forced submission. This vition of my mind. My heart pounded as it worked through my system. Muffled sounds battered my ears. The drug I¡¯d been injected with slowed my thoughts, blurred my vision, and made physical resistance impossible. Helpless. I rode a wave of horrific shbacks as hands touched my face. I wanted to rip them off me, but I couldn¡¯t lift my arm. This can¡¯t be happening. I struggled to make out who the hands belonged to, and my gaze collided with a beautiful woman. Indie. She looked wretched. Tears streaked her cheeks, which she didn¡¯t bother to wipe. Pain nestled behind my ribs. I longed tofort her. I tried to sit up. Paralyzed. ¡°Oh, Knox. This is all my fault.¡± My thoughts swam as the car moved. I couldn¡¯t believe I¡¯d let myself get kidnapped. I felt nothing except a vague concern for Indie¡¯s life. She didn¡¯t deserve this. She was the only person that mattered. Indie stroked my hair. God, that feels amazing-Focus, Knox. ¡°What did you do?¡± she roared, whipping her head to the front. ¡°What did you bastards give him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a mild sedative, Miss Starling,¡± Cainan answered. ¡°You call this mild?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same form we use for everyone else.¡± ¡°The fuck are you talking about? What kind of ce gives out drugs, for God¡¯s sake!¡± she shouted, and a glow of pride warmed me for her courage. ¡°Is he going to be okay?¡± ¡°He looks like he¡¯s enjoying himself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not funny.¡± ¡°He¡¯s probably never been high before.¡± Amusement rolled through Cainan¡¯s voice. ¡°I¡¯ll make adjustments. Maybe ecstasy mixed with LSD. Don¡¯t look at me like that, Indie. You only have yourself to me.¡± My fading consciousness filled with Indie¡¯s weeping. As I fell into oblivion, cigarette-stained walls bled through the interior of a van. I was five again, bound to a chair. I was nine, locked out of the building in the middle of winter, huddling near a heat vent. My mother stroked my hair as I recovered in a hospital. Fight it. Icy fingers sank into me. My eyes closed. * * * I snapped awake. Iy in a bed alone. Despite my throbbing headache, I floated on clouds. I was awash in a golden peace. My thoughts were fleeting. Half-formed images churned in my head. The memory of Indie¡¯s gentle kiss flooded my chest with warmth. My first real kiss ever with a woman. I fingered my burning lips, marveling at the sensation. How much I¡¯d enjoyed it. I imagined her stroking my cock, and heat spread down my body. I¡¯d always discouraged intimacy, because the thought of it turned my stomach. It literally made me sick, a weakness I¡¯d rather avoid, so I did. That kiss¡­it made me feel things, and none of them were disgust. That one kiss sparked a fierce ache in my chest. I wanted more. I wanted her mouth again. I wanted to spend a whole afternoon in her arms. That bothered me, but I could not shut up the need clenching within me. The empty hole inside me was finally filling. I needed her. rm rippled down my spine at that disturbing thought. That¡­and another one equally as troubling. Where was she? My blurred vision adjusted to an unfamiliar room. The walls spun as I took in my surroundings-crystal light fixtures and marble. I wasn¡¯t in my house. Suspicion stabbed through the delirious haze of pleasure. Where am I? I sat upright, moving as slowly as a cier. A wave of sleepiness mmed into my head. A lock on the door clicked open. It swung inward, admitting Cainan and two armed guards. He¡¯d changed his pants and now wore an open-cored white shirt. My jagged memory strung together how I¡¯d acquired my stinging arm and my befuddled senses. I gritted my teeth, recalling the conversation with Cainan. That shot. Fuck. Cainan smiled. ¡°Enjoy your nap?¡± I stared at him, baffled. ¡°You drugged me.¡± ¡°I did.¡± My mind whirled at the dry response. ¡°You drugged me,¡± I repeated, rage inming my voice. ¡°Why?¡± Cainan shrugged, hands in his pockets. ¡°I thought it¡¯d be less traumatic than beating you unconscious and dragging you into the car.¡± I scrambled to make sense of my wild thoughts. ¡°So you brought me here. Put me in this bed.¡± My pulse galloped ahead, and the pulsing knot in my throat burst. ¡°Where¡¯s Indie? What have you done with her?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°You expect me to believe that?¡± A disturbing darkness reced his smoldering look. Then he spoke, shattering the tension. ¡°I expect you to obey if you want her to live.¡± Blood pounded in my ears. ¡°Who the fuck do you think you¡¯re talking to?¡± He fingered the chair in front of him. ¡°Have a seat.¡± I pushed myself to the edge of the mattress and slid off the bed. My feet smacked the ground, but I couldn¡¯t bnce. A sheer fury swept through me. ¡°What did you give me?¡± ¡°It should be leaving your system now.¡± Cainan¡¯s tight smile grew as he watched me closely. ¡°Men like you amaze me. You¡¯re rich. You think you¡¯re invincible, but you couldn¡¯t have a bigger target on your head. Should¡¯ve kept that security team a little closer, huh? I guess you thought nobody had the balls to attack you. Your arrogance is something to behold, Knox. It really is.¡± A wave of dizziness hit me. ¡°I¡¯ll ruin you. I¡¯ll destroy this club.¡± His expression bordered on mockery. ¡°You don¡¯t even know who I am.¡± I bristled. ¡°I¡¯ll find out!¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere until I¡¯m satisfied.¡± Cainan tapped the chair beside him, his voice leadening. ¡°Sit. Or is Indie¡¯s life not worth your pride?¡± A warning erupted inside me as his words sank in. Even if I overpowered this dickhead and his guards, I doubted I¡¯d find Indie. I searched my pockets for my phone-gone. How the fuck did I get us into this position? Simmering, I sank into the chair. ¡°Good boy,¡± Cainan murmured. ¡°Give him some water.¡± The man next to him handed me a bottle. I ripped it from his grasp, twisted the cap open, and guzzled it down. An edgy, twitchy feeling crawled over my skin as I stared into Cainan¡¯s worthless eyes. Was it the drugs running me hot-or the rage tunneling my vision? ¡°Take me to Indie. Now.¡± Cainan pushed back his auburn waves. ¡°Now, now, Knox. What did I just say?¡± I¡¯d never wanted to hurt someone so badly. ¡°The moment I¡¯m free, you¡¯re dead.¡± ¡°You should refrain from threatening the others. They¡¯re not as tolerant as I am.¡± Cainan checked his watch. ¡°You should be okay by now. Can you walk?¡± I stood. My bnce wasn¡¯t perfect, but at least I was inmand of my basic functions. ¡°Very good. Let¡¯s go.¡± The guards prodded my back. We exited into a softly lit hallway, the air thumping with moody electronic music. Ebony doors with crystal doorknobs nked me as we headed deeper into the club. Deep red ent walls matched the guards¡¯ ties. We strolled past many windowless rooms, which I¡¯d never seen in Sanctum. The club¡¯s strict rules on consent didn¡¯t allow for privacy, and theck of visibility struck me as ominous. As we approached a door engraved with an eye, Cainan waved at the guards. They stayed outside as Cainan rolled his wristband over the keypad. The light shed green, and it opened. This room was much like the one I¡¯d just left, except for the dome on the ceiling, and the woman in a dress.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Indiey on a four-poster bed, a ck slip clinging to her full curves. Her wrists were tied to the posts. She drew her legs up when we entered. Adrenaline rushed through me as I took in her vulnerable position. They¡¯d gagged and bound her. At the sight of me, she released a wounded howl. A blinding rage overtook my vision, and I rushed to her side, shaking as I untied the gag and restraints. Once they were off, Indie dove into my arms. Her lips trembling, she broke down in tears. Huge, heaving sobs wracked out from her chest. She was a trembling, crying mess. Shit. I looked around, as though a manual would swoop from the ceiling for how to deal with this situation. I brought her closer, bewildered. ¡°So sweet,¡± Cainan crooned. ¡°She¡¯s something else, isn¡¯t she? Every time I look at her, I¡¯m almost fooled by those big, innocent eyes. Then I remember she killed a man and called her boyfriend to butcher the corpse.¡± Fuck. How did he find out? ¡°I have video, Knox.¡± He pulled a phone from his khakis. ¡°Here.¡± My throat tightened. Cainan held it in front of me and clicked the center button. The screen flickered to life. I swallowed hard as it shed with images of Indie¡¯s living room. When Andrey appeared, I balled my fists. It was unbearable to watch. Indie had underyed the attack. She burst into tears. Cainan paused the video. ¡°You¡¯re lucky Andrey wasn¡¯t a full member. Otherwise our retribution would have been merciless.¡± ¡°What about my vengeance?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t retaliate. Because we¡¯ll go after her family.¡± Cainan¡¯s eyes were like two burning globes of ash, boring into mine. ¡°After I cripple yourpany, I¡¯ll hunt down Starling¡¯s rtives and rip them apart. One by one. Her parents are such a sweet couple. Every Friday, they do crossword puzzles together at Modern Pastry. And that little sister of hers. Divine.¡± Indie whirled around, grief choking her throat. ¡°But I did what you wanted. I dropped the story!¡± ¡°You called St. Luke¡¯s after our conversation.¡± ¡°Just to check on someone!¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have done that, Indie.¡± Cainan red at her until she shrank in my arms, shivering. ¡°You will delete your files and destroy all copies of your notes. You will obey mepletely.¡± ¡°I will. I¡¯ll do what you want, I swear.¡± I disengaged from Indie and slipped off the bed, blocking her from Cainan. I¡¯d heard enough to guess what was going on. ¡°If you had a problem with Indie, you should havee to me.¡± Cainan raised his hand in a flippant wave. ¡°We didn¡¯t know she was yours.¡± ¡°What is my sub used of doing?¡± ¡°Sniffing around Sanctum. Reporting on our illicit activities. Talking to people.¡± He shot her a rueful look that made me want to disembowel him. ¡°Our members are¡­intolerant of anything that could damage their reputations. Their careers.¡± Cainan toyed with his phone, his face alive with sadism. ¡°The others wanted to kill her. I persuaded them otherwise. So we¡¯ll send you home with a warning.¡± I couldn¡¯t wait to get back so I could start plotting his slow, imminent death. An angry pulse beat at the base of my neck. ¡°Fine. Consider me warned.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not good enough.¡± Cainan sank into a leather wingback chair and poured himself a drink from the bottle of whiskey on the marble end table. ¡°Some¡­well, they weren¡¯t satisfied with just letting you go. So you¡¯ll have to be punished.¡± I crossed my arms. ¡°A beating?¡± ¡°No. Nothing so pedestrian.¡± Cainan¡¯s eyes flicked toward the security camera. ¡°While they watch, you, me, and Indie will have¡­a dalliance of sorts. I will not touch your sub, but I will dom her. I will tell her what to do and how to do it.¡± Fuck. No. My mouth pinched shut. ¡°I¡¯d rather take a beating.¡± ¡°Would you?¡± he taunted. ¡°A thousand times over.¡± I seized Indie¡¯s wrist and dragged her off the bed and toward the door. ¡°You¡¯re sick.¡± Hisughter zed my cheeks as she dug in her heels. She looked disgusted, but determined. ¡°We can¡¯t leave. We have to do this, Knox.¡± My blood ran cold. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Please,¡± she begged, her eyesrge and liquid with misery. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡± Warmth enveloped my hand as her fingers curled around mine, tugging me to the empty chair. I lowered onto the cushion, my teeth clenched. ¡°Take your clothes off.¡± ¡°Cainan,¡± Knox growled. ¡°This is absurd-¡± ¡°You know what¡¯s at stake,¡± he snapped with the fury of a dragon. ¡°Off!¡± The breath in my lungs vanished as she lifted the slip off her seductive body, uncovering her thick curves, her heavy tits, the soft dimples marking her thighs. Her face was pale, but steadfast. ¡°Beautiful,¡± Cainan murmured. ¡°Now, climb onto hisp.¡± 2-22 INDIE I never imagined I¡¯d do this. I never saw myself sitting on Knox¡¯sp on another man¡¯s orders. Especially Cainan¡¯s. My wildest fantasies would never have put those two together. They were like a couple of Rottweilers facing off. The mood could snap a piano wire. Heat flooded my cheeks as I nced at Cainan. He stood beside Knox and to the left, his powerful frame unyielding. Cainan was like ck smoke. You didn¡¯t just see him. You felt him invade your lungs and constrict your blood vessels. Some men stole the light in the room, like Knox. Cainan overwhelmed it. He ruined people to appease the hole inside him, and he didn¡¯t even try to hide his callousness. I lowered my gaze, unable to stomach the cruel twist of his mouth. I stood, my tongue parched with the weight of their eyes on me. I stepped between Knox¡¯s legs. My backsidended on his thighs. As his palms imed my thighs, my nipples tingled. Knox examined his nails in the leather wingback chair, but the feigned boredom didn¡¯t fool me. He was living his worst nightmare. Cainan sipped his whiskey, ice clinking in his ss. ¡°Behaving so well. Knox trained you, but you obviously need a tighter leash.¡± Knox¡¯s lip twitched. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you.¡± ¡°For what, getting youid? Indie, straddle him. Put your arms around him-there you go.¡± I did as he instructed, sliding my calves on either side of Knox. I gripped his shoulders, holding in my breath. His closenessforted me. Knox spoke in a low voice. ¡°This isn¡¯t how I pictured our first time.¡± I smiled at his valiant attempt to make me feel better, my heart banging. I swallowed tightly. ¡°I also saw it differently.¡± In my dreams, Knox took me to his ce after a night of dancing. He ordered me to kiss him and made me beg for more before he pushed me onto the bed and fucked me. I expected dominance, not this three-way submission. But it would probably be worse for Knox than it would for me. I needed to be strong. Speaking in the same low voice, I whispered, ¡°When we¡¯re home, we¡¯ll have a do-over.¡± ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have to.¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Knox¡¯s frosty re hinted that he resented the situation, but the sangfroid in his tone rmed me. It was utterly devoid of emotion. Disturbing. ¡°I¡¯ll find out where you live,¡± he told Cainan calmly. ¡°I¡¯lly waste to your family. Your colleagues. Everybody you¡¯ve ever known will suffer. You¡¯ll regret this.¡± ¡°Indie, shut him up.¡± Desperate to diffuse the tension, I obeyed. I seized Knox¡¯s shirt by its cor and mmed my mouth into his. It was like kissing hot marble. His lips refused to move. Cainan¡¯s barb shot out. ¡°Would you like me to take over?¡± That seemed to goad him into action. Knox fisted my hair and ravished me. He sucked on my lower lip, stifling my moans with his burning kisses. He marked my neck with his teeth. He nipped down, stopping just before my breasts. His touch sailed up my thigh and kneaded my ass. Then Knox came to his senses and broke the kiss. He released me and dragged his nails into the leather. ¡°Fuck you, Cainan!¡± ¡°Upset because your girlfriend listens to my orders and not yours?¡± Cainan¡¯s stare impaled me, and a thrill of anticipation touched my nipples. ¡°Perhaps she needs a new master.¡± ¡°Touch her, and I¡¯ll break your fucking jaw!¡± I rubbed his chest, heart pounding. ¡°Knox, he¡¯s baiting you.¡± A grin overtook Cainan¡¯s malevolent features. ¡°Stroke his cock.¡± I hesitated. Knox growled. Themands clearly goaded at his endurance. Veins stood out from his forehead and his skin whitened. Cainan¡¯s brow rose. ¡°I gave you an order.¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°He doesn¡¯t want me right now.¡± ¡°Trust me, he does,¡± Cainan drawled, pulling an ankle over his thigh. ¡°He¡¯s mad at me for taking control, but he definitely wants you. Go on, Indie.¡± I met Knox¡¯s gaze. He nodded, his face marked with loathing. I took his knee. He was tense, his muscles knotted into a rock. His hand flew over mine, but he didn¡¯t stop me when I glided up his thigh. I fondled the bulge in his pants. ¡°Be a gentleman, Knox,¡± Cainan chastised. ¡°Return the favor.¡± Knox released a low hiss as I stroked the long, erect outline. Then he groped between my legs, his tiger-nted eyes narrowing when his fingers slid into the river of my arousal. I was wet because of him, his presence. That alone hurled me into a heightened state of lust. Every touch. Every whisper. Each one sent spirals of ecstasy through me. His arousal made me eager to grind my pussy on him. ¡°Take him out. You can¡¯t expect the man to get hard like that.¡± Cainan¡¯s smirk shed across his pale skin. ¡°Stroke him. Nice and slow.¡± Lifting my hips, I undid the button on his jeans, unzipped him, and pulled out his cock. His heavy erection sprang upright. My fingers curled around the dense column, sliding up and down as Knox tried his best to appearposed-a battle he was losing. He closed his eyes. Inhaled deep breaths. His mouth twitched as I teased the base of him. He let out the minutest sigh. Heat flooded me everywhere, sparks erupting into me as he brushed my shoulder. A firm hand gathered my hair into a ponytail. Not Knox¡¯s hand. Cainan¡¯s. Confusion clouded my mind as Cainan wrapped my neck with an unyielding fabric. Knox¡¯s thick finger sank into me. I squeezed him, lightheaded from thebined pleasure of Knox¡¯s finger inside me and Cainan teasing the sensitive skin of my throat. He fitted the strap through the loops and tied the buckle, then tested the tightness of the cor. Knox growled. ¡°Back off.¡± Cainan stepped away and retook his spot in the chair. ¡°Get off Knox and crawl to me.¡± The order sparked a re in Knox. His gritted teeth told me he was barely tethered to the floor, which sent a dark thrill down my spine. I¡¯d never seen him so¡­vtile. I stared at Cainan, speechless. Desperation wed at my throat. This would set Knox off, and Cainan knew that, so why was he doing it? I couldn¡¯t get on my hands and knees in front of him. The act was too intimate. It felt like I was being unfaithful to Knox. ¡°Do it, Indie.¡± Cainan¡¯s impatience sliced through my nerves. ¡°Or I¡¯ll be forced to break my promise to your master.¡± Shame bit my cheeks. ¡°I can¡¯t do this to Knox.¡± ¡°Mr. Knox,¡± Cainan corrected. ¡°And you¡¯ll address me as Sir.¡± Knox tapped my thigh. ¡°Do it.¡± Swallowing hard, I slipped from hisp and crawled over the hardwood floors, focusing on the grain of the wood instead of Cainan¡¯s unnerving stare. My breathing hitched as I reached Cainan¡¯s feet. I burned with the humiliation of two dominants observing me in this state. I was exposed, my ass and glistening pussy on disy for Knox while Cainan had a view of my breasts and naked back. ¡°Well done,¡± Cainan purred, my stomach clenching at his praise. ¡°Now look at me.¡± My gaze traveled over his leather shoes, the cks hugging his athletic frame, the loosened white shirt, to the savage cruelty hardening his princely features. ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± ¡°Because it pleases me immensely, Indie. There¡¯s no greater thrill than watching you debase yourself on my orders.¡± I didn¡¯t want to notice the erection straining his pants, but the massive shadow tenting his cks couldn¡¯t help but draw my attention. Jesus Christ. At least he wasn¡¯t touching himself. ¡°I think part of you enjoys that, Indie. You like being the ything of powerful men. You just have a difficult time admitting it. I can practically taste your dripping cunt.¡± I shuddered, shaking my head. ¡°Not ready to face that, are we?¡± He grabbed a lumbar pillow tucked behind him and tossed it on the floor. ¡°Straddle it. Ride it. Touch yourself. Do whatever it takes. I want your pussy grinding it until youe, understood?¡± Burning, I straddled the cushion. Heat from Cainan¡¯s body still clung to the fabric. I blushed as it stroked my bare pussy. I rocked my hips, the pressure almost too much. I let out a low moan, picturing myself on Knox¡¯sp. Through a mirror on the wall, I watched him. Knox sat up in his chair. His eyes seemed locked on my ass. I flushed, but held our gaze. Shame blistered my neck as I ground into the pillow. ¡°Indie, you owe me an orgasm.¡± I made small circles on my clit, unlocking a swell of desire. My hand explored the soft lines of my body as I yed with myself. I cupped my breast, imagining Knox¡¯s tongue exploring my nipple. Warmth bloomed inward, the sensation fiery as I fisted the pillow with one hand, abandoning all restraint. Among the wild ecstasy burned a deep humiliation. This was obscene. A shudder followed my pleasure, but Knox¡¯s thrilling stare drowned out the humiliation. I wasn¡¯t myself. I didn¡¯t care that both men watched me degrade myself. That there would be a video of me acting like a mindless slut. I needed toe. Cainan smiledzily, like a cat stretched out in the sun. ¡°Enjoying yourself?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I panted. ¡°Yes, Sir. I-I need more.¡± ¡°No. This is all you¡¯ll get until youe. And then maybe you¡¯ll get to take Knox¡¯s dick in your mouth. Would you like that, Indie?¡± I sank my fingers into the cushion and moaned. I chased my orgasm. I pressed into the pillow and rubbed hard, crying out as I felt the first spasm. Shudders radiated through me, quaking my thighs as I rode the wave of bliss. I kept grinding my clit, soaring higher and higher, exploding with all my tangled feelings about Knox. My head bowed after I stopped moving, the strength siphoning from my limbs. Cainan averted his gaze to Knox. ¡°She¡¯s a good girl. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Knox hissed. ¡°For the most part.¡± ¡°Think she deserves to suck your cock? Or should I make her do something else?¡± Knox said nothing for a few moments, the silence only broken by my heavy gasps. Then he spoke in a hoarse voice. ¡°I want her mouth.¡± Cainan bent to my side and snapped a leash onto my cor. He gave it a tug. My limbs shaking, I followed the pressure and crawled to Knox. I stayed on the floor, emotionally depleted. Cainan handed possession to Knox, who balled the leather in his fist. He shoved down his pants. His cock stabbed the air. I kissed the aching head, breathing him in. His musky scent steadied me. I clenched my thighs, desperate to soothe myself. A tantalizing bead of moisture rolled down his shaft. I licked it off. Knox¡¯s tight grip forced me to bow. Then his head teased my lips open. He slid over my tongue. I could barely close my mouth around his hardness. I swirled around him, sucking the sides of him as I moved toward his base. ¡°I like your enthusiasm. I¡¯m sure Knox appreciates it, too,¡± Cainan murmured, the encouragement teasing my nipples. ¡°Pay attention to his balls.¡± Feeling like a depraved whore, I obeyed. I angled his cock aside and fondled the dark sac with my mouth. I suckled the delicate skin. It contracted. Knox moaned, his hand threading in my hair. ¡°Suck the base of his cock,¡± Cainan instructed. ¡°That¡¯s it. What apliant little slut. Is there anything you won¡¯t do?¡± My cheeks burned. ¡°I guess not.¡± ¡°Look at Knox and tell him that.¡± I met Knox¡¯s feverish gaze. ¡°There¡¯s nothing I won¡¯t do for you.¡± Knox blew out a tense breath. ¡°Fuck.¡± ¡°Keep sucking,¡± Cainan ordered. I obeyed. Knox let out an unbidden sound as he sank inside me. I took him in deeper at Cainan¡¯s urging. I glided up and down, suckling his tip. He made a fist in my hair. Then his hips chased my movements in slow thrusts. ¡°You see, Knox? Inside every woman is a whore ready to be lured out.¡± Cainan¡¯s baritone cut through Knox¡¯s keening moans. ¡°That¡¯s not good enough, Indie. Take him all the way. Yes. Like that.¡± I tried. His mammoth-sized girth blocked my airway, but I kept fighting for another inch. Knox eventually released the most delicious groan. Then he pulled out. Air flooded my lungs as he let go of the leash. ¡°Get on the bed.¡± The order sted from Cainan¡¯s throat. I obeyed, my hands clenched until nails bit my palm. Knox had ripped off his shirt, and his jeans were below his knees. He stood, facing the wall, his back muscles heaving. He rubbed his face and muttered to himself, as if locked in a fierce internal battle. He began to pace, his fingers digging into his hair. Cainan strolled to the foot of the bed. He lounged on the post, his finger stroking the sheets near my ankle, not quite touching me. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± The taunt seemed to galvanize Knox. Veins bulged from his neck as he bellowed, ¡°Stay away from her!¡± ¡°I am.¡± Cainan jerked his head toward me. ¡°She¡¯s ready for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not doing this!¡± ¡°Why not?¡± said Cainan, sounding infuriatingly reasonable next to Knox¡¯s unhinged yell. ¡°I¡¯ve watched you do the same to countless girls at Sanctum. You like dominating women. Owning them. So do it. Take what¡¯s yours.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t. I¡¯m not in control-¡± ¡°Good,¡± Cainan hissed in an undertone. ¡°If you want to fight these people, you need to unleash the animal within.¡± Knox clenched and unclenched his hands. His tormented gaze found me, and then something changed. He staggered forward as though hypnotized. His pupils, already dted, grew into swells of ck. Watching him fall apart sounded a primitive warning in my brain. He was the Tyrant-ruthless, controlled, and powerful. Perhaps he became that way for another reason. Maybe his controlling behavior wasn¡¯t about soothing an unhealed wound. Maybe he needed it to keep the demons that fought for possession of his soul in check. And I¡¯d just unleashed them. I wanted to help him. But it was toote. 2-23 INDIE Cainan stood behind Knox, gloating. In the dim lighting, his powerful silhouette carved out a ck shape on the wall. I couldn¡¯t see his face, but I felt his triumph. Breaking Knox had been his goal. Knox climbed on the bed, obscuring my view of the demon. His naked chest glided over me, his hair tickling my breasts. I leaned forward, but Knox acted first, fingering my cor and jerking hard. He crashed his lips into mine, devouring me. His tongue explored my mouth, tracing my teeth. He sucked and bit like a crazed monster. His ferocious re warned me not to resist. I submitted to his frenzy, knowing that I wouldn¡¯t be able to stop him. If I couldn¡¯t handle him at his worst, how would we survive a life together? The promise of pain didn¡¯t scare me, either. What the hell is wrong with me? Instead of fear, I found excitement. I was the conduit for his untamed passion. I¡¯d triggered the jailbreak of this lunatic. He continued to kiss me. I almost passed out fromck of air. Knox broke away. ¡°Admit that you want me.¡± I nodded, panting. ¡°I need to hear it, Indie.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve always wanted you.¡± He didn¡¯t smirk at my admission, but his eyes gleamed like sapphires in the light. He held my gaze so intensely. ¡°After youe, your body is mine to do whatever I please to it.¡± I turned over, away from his intimate voice and the violent tremor it sent through me. Hey beside me, much closer than ever before. ¡°Knox. I-¡± I stopped as his naked chest touched my back. ¡°Oh.¡± His hand banded my torso and cupped my breast. With featherlike strokes, he rubbed where my nipples ached. He drew circles, torturing me. They stiffened into points. I squirmed against the heat iming my pussy. ¡°Does that feel good?¡± ¡°God, yes.¡± I leaned into him like a cat begging for more. ¡°Knox.¡± His mouth settled on my neck. His tongue stroked the sensitive skin, relieving a mountain of tension. Reaching behind me, I rubbed his stubbled jaw. My hand dove into his thick hair. I curled into the strands as he let out a st of hot air. He seized my wrist and yanked my hand away. ¡°If you need to touch me, do it here.¡± My palms roved over andscape of muscle as Knox guided my hand down his body. He let go of me when my fingers found a thickening bulge. I grabbed him, gratified by his responding sigh. His satisfying width filled my hand. Lord, he was hard. He felt likembskin stretched over a barbell. ¡°Use both your hands,¡± Cainan ordered. I caressed him, my thumb sweeping over the head to catch drops of precum. I smeared his arousal across the tip and down, where I cradled his tight sac. I needed more. I craved my mouth on his biceps, his chest, and his lips. I had to taste him. I wanted his arms wrapped around me as he entered me. He stroked his way to my inner thigh. Then his fingers slipped into my wetness. Gently, he spread my pussy. He didn¡¯t slip inside, just held me open. ¡°I¡¯m going to taste you,¡± he whispered. ¡°And you won¡¯t move while I take my pleasure. I want youing on my tongue. After that, I¡¯m gripping your thighs and fucking you until your pretty voice gives out from screaming my name. Your pussy will get so much action tonight you will be hurt, aching, and begging me to have mercy on you. But I won¡¯t.¡± My jaw dropped with his rming words. ¡°Can you handle that, Indie?¡± I wasn¡¯t sure I could. His fingers sank inside me. My back arched. I uttered indistinct sounds as he shoved into my depths. He nipped my shoulder, chuckling. ¡°Mmm. I think you can.¡± I fondled his shaft, gripping the base of him and jerking him off as he impaled me. My tight walls grasped him. He didn¡¯t m them hard like I hoped. Instead he tortured me with methodical pulses and pinched my nipple. My mouth parted as his thumb flicked my clit. The pressure inside rotated and thrust. ¡°Knox, I¡¯m close. You should stop.¡± I closed my eyes and fisted his cock, ashamed that my body was already falling to pieces. ¡°The first of many, Indie.¡± ¡°But I-¡± ¡°Stop closing your legs,¡± he growled, wrenching them apart. ¡°I am in charge of your pleasure. I will decide when youe. Are you on birth control?¡± ¡°Y-yeah,¡± I gasped. ¡°I¡¯m on the pill.¡± ¡°You will take them in front of me. I don¡¯t like surprises. Understand?¡± Knox pulsed inside me, his deep voice throbbing through my ck. ¡°Disobey me, and you¡¯ll lose ess to them.¡± That¡¯s crazy. The man had issues. A pathological lust for control. Intimacy problems. He didn¡¯t trust women. I opened my mouth to say I had no intention of doing that. Then he doubled the pressure on my clit and bliss flowed from me like warm honey. My leg muscles quivered as I felt the orgasm building. I gripped his arm, sliding down to tightly grasp his hand. ¡°Open your fucking legs,¡± Knox roared. I obeyed, panting. Hismand was like a boss scolding his subordinate, but it throbbed inside me like a sultry whisper. He ripped my hand away and twisted it behind me. Soft fabric cinched one wrist. Then he sped the other, fastening them together. He tested his handiwork by tugging roughly on the restraints, which held. ¡°Much better.¡± Knox¡¯s expression smoothed over with relief. He flipped me onto my back, his naked chest skimming mine. His mouthshed my nipple before sliding down my body and pulling my legs apart. Then he dipped his head and his tongue glided onto my clit. I made a hoarse sound. Knox¡¯s lips teased the tight bundle of nerves. Ecstasy exploded within me like glowing stars. He delved into me, far deeper than with any other man ever had. He yanked my hips so I couldn¡¯t squirm. Then he fucked me with his strong tongue,shing, flicking, suckling my clit. Eyes shut, he licked all the way down my slit, and the euphoria he gave me made one fact crystal clear: Knox had a knack for making money, but his real talent was fucking women. No man was this amazing with his mouth. Knox retreated, and my aching core clenched from the sudden chill. He wrenched my hips over, throwing my ass in the air. He pulled me open and shoved his head between my legs. The angle allowed him to tongue me even deeper. My hips chased his movements, and his mouth rewarded me with more torturous friction. I screamed as the ripples of pleasure became giant waves. A tremor heated my legs, and I reached backward, desperate to touch him. Face buried between my thighs, he seized my tied wrists and tugged, forcing my back into an arch. His greedy lips and tongue left my pussy as he straightened. ¡°You have something to say?¡± ¡°Please make mee.¡± ¡°Such a good girl,¡± he praised, stroking my backside. ¡°Impable manners. That¡¯s exactly what I want.¡± His knuckle circled my clit, and then he pped the fullest part of my ass. The sting of his blow radiated to my core, and I gasped in sweet agony. His fingers plunged inside me, his thrusts in harmony with my pleasure. He pulled out of me. Spanked me. Rubbed my clit.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Holy fuck. Involuntary tremors started in my thighs. I bucked against him, meeting his hand. My orgasm left me reeling. Rich groans erupted from my mouth. My body vibrated with liquid fire, but the relief never came. I groaned with a sharp frustration as Knox shoved me forward. Inded on my torso. His burning palms slid down my back, groping my ass in a rough pinch. Warmth bloomed inside me. Yes. I need this. Heat enveloped my back. He sealed his body to mine, his cock sliding between my clenched thighs. I shuddered, releasing a low sigh. I arched my neck, my cheek rubbing against him. I inhaled, drugged by his clean scent. It felt like a weight was shoving me deeper into the bed. He pressed up against me like a beast preparing to mount. A dense column slid up and down my clit. Then he fitted his cock to my entrance. He shoved. My body trembled. Fuck. He gripped my hips. The bite in his hold deepened as he anchored himself. I¡¯d been with plenty of men, but he was big enough to make me wince. His fingers dug into my hips as he hammered me, his strokes deepening into thrusts that stole my breath. His ragged breathing hitched. The full length of him nudged into me. A sharp pain split me in two. I fought to inhale. Too much. He was hot and thick, wedging me open. I lifted my head and cried out, but he didn¡¯t hesitate. He pushed my head down, growling as he fucked me. My back arched with his anchoring thrust. I grimaced as he buried himself. I wrenched on my restraints, panting, and released a choked gasp. Knox silenced me with a rough p. His hands roved over my ass and pulled me apart. His thumb gathered my wetness and slid up. He dug in, forcing his way through the tight ring. His knuckle pushed through it as he continued to fuck me. I was so full. So wet. He pulsed his thick thumb in and out in tandem with his cock ramming my pussy. Pain slowly sweetened into ecstasy. I abandoned myself to this animalistic fucking. The primal necessity seemed to consume Knox as he angled his hips. I held still and let him drill me. Pleasure stroked a line from my nipples to my clit as I eased into his frantic rhythm. When he pushed himself as far as my body would allow, he uttered a satisfied sound. His stabbing cock almost made me beg for mercy. I reveled in the agony. Loved it. I turned to look at the male machine pounding me. Knox was as fierce as ocean waves battering rocks on shore. He let out groans punctuated by savage thrusts. My nipples tightened as he unleashed his frustration on me. He gripped my hair and wrenched. He bit the back of my neck. He turned my head to the side mid-fuck, and leaned forward to smash his mouth on mine, giving me the most brutal fuck I¡¯d ever experience. He was so violently hard. After the kiss, he shoved me, and my face buried into the mattress. I was oblivious to everything-my tits bouncing and the raw sounds leaving my throat. My only goal was pleasuring him. I would do anything he wanted. I wanted his cum inside me. He thrust harder, the pain blinding, and then thick, hot spurts coated my insides. A deep animal grunt left his mouth as he chased the rest of his orgasm, making sure I¡¯d milked him of every drop. Then he loosened his grip and let go. But he wasn¡¯t through. The bed bounced as he dragged his knees to straddle my face. ¡°Clean me.¡± I stared at him, overwhelmed by the humiliation of his having fucked me so ferociously, and how my body had reacted to this debasement. My heart ached, as though sucking his wet cock was like being wrapped in his arms. I never wanted to stop doing this with Knox, for as long as I lived. He was still erect. I took him in my mouth and licked him from root to tip. A wave of peace washed over me as Knox pulled out andy beside me. He untied the straps confining my wrists and balled me in his chest, the demon within him finally sated. ¡°You subjugate the entire city. Why should she be any different?¡± Cainan¡¯s voice was like an axe. It cleaved through the glowing moment. Knox sat upright, bristling. ¡°You¡¯re free to go.¡± Smirking, Cainan tossed him my dress. ¡°Meet me outside. I¡¯ll escort you out.¡± I got dressed as quickly as I could, my skin crawling now that the glow had faded and reality set in. Knox rubbed his forehead, looking pained. He pulled on his clothes slowly, as though every movement cost him energy. ¡°Are you okay?¡± He exhaled a heavy sigh. Then he seemed to pull himself together, shaking his head. ¡°Let¡¯s get the fuck out of here.¡± Agreed. 2-24 KNOX What have I done? Guilt cut into my bones. I¡¯d known she was working on an article about Sanctum but hadn¡¯t warned her that the people there were dangerous. I¡¯d inflicted this on her. Worst of all, I¡¯d crossed a line in that bedroom. Regret pulsed in my veins. If only we¡¯d gone home after that kiss. I probably could¡¯ve given her what she wanted. I sat in my office. My only light source blinked from the server tower. I¡¯d turned off my screen after an ocr migraine burst across my vision. It¡¯d forced me to stop. My chin dipped and I stared at the keyboard. Over the next few days, I avoided Indie. I was unwilling to face her. I could give her what she needed, but would she still want it from me? I couldn¡¯t bear the disappointment. So I hid in my office and sent bodyguards to protect Indie¡¯s parents and sister. I searched for Cainan, whose involvement in human trafficking made no sense, considering our history. I¡¯d developed software for identifying victims at his behest. What the fuck was he doing there at Sanctum? The door softly opened. Indie popped in, her brown hair pleated into a braid. She carried a mug of coffee, which she put on my desk beside a te of Linzer cookies. Good girl. Cainan¡¯s voice swept in my head, and my stomach hardened. ¡°Are these homemade?¡± She nodded. The roughly cut edges and the slightly overdone crust were strong hints, but Indie¡¯s presence made me lose awareness of my surroundings. ¡°I thought you could use a snack,¡± she murmured, ying with my shirt cor. ¡°You¡¯ve been down here for hours.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She smiled, and my heart pounded. I cleared my throat and sipped the coffee, which tasted better than it usually did. Then I bit into a cookie, my tastebuds exploding with the raspberry jam. ¡°This is really great, Indie.¡± She rubbed my shoulder, then leaned over and kissed my cheek, showering my skin with sparks. Indie¡¯sforting touch vanished as she turned away. Her footsteps retreated as she headed to the door. I wheeled around. ¡°Stop. Come here.¡± Surprisingly, Indie obeyed. She returned to me and inhaled a deep, savoring breath. Sadness marked the perfect oval of her face. ¡°Do you need anything else?¡± she asked. Am I dreaming? I stared at her. ¡°Sit on myp.¡± She settled on my thigh and nuzzled my neck. Something inside me fluttered. The floral smell of her skin distracted me. ¡°We should probably talk.¡± I smoothed hair from her forehead, marveling at thefort touching her gave me. ¡°I¡¯m not proud of how I acted the other night. Losing control makes me feel pathetic and weak.¡± ¡°Knox, you were trying to get me out of there alive. Is that why you¡¯re down here?¡± Indie stroked my hair, but I sensed her misery. It dug into my chest. ¡°Because you think it¡¯s your fault?¡± ¡°It is. I¡¯m supposed to be inmand of myself. Give me half an hour in a locked room with that piece of shit, and I¡¯m no better than a rutting beast. The drugs. Him, egging me on. You being submissive. I couldn¡¯t take it. I lost myself.¡± ¡°You did not.¡± My throat thickened. ¡°I think I hurt you.¡± She cupped my cheek, forcing me to meet her soft gaze. ¡°Knox, I consented.¡± ¡°There is no consent if it¡¯s under duress. Damn.¡± A blinding pain throbbed between my temples. ¡°I¡¯ve been feeling like shit for days.¡± ¡°It¡¯s stress. You¡¯re overworked.¡± She didn¡¯t understand. ¡°I took advantage of you. It¡¯s unforgivable.¡± ¡°Knox, it was the best sex of my life. Which is saying something, because a man I loathe was in the same room and apparently, it was recorded.¡± Those words threw me off. I¡¯d never been so conflicted. Confused. On one hand, I¡¯d abandoned all sense. On the other, I agreed with her. It had been amazing. Was I keen on repeating the experience? Of course-just in a different setting. I¡¯d been with beautiful women. Talented girls who sucked me off in minutes. And I¡¯d never felt like this. My hands trembled. I kept tasting her. My cock still tingled from the imprint of her lips. Fucking her was supposed to cure me of this obsession. But if anything, I wanted more. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to act around you,¡± I admitted in a reluctant whisper, studying her. ¡°You have no idea what it¡¯s like to be in your presence. You¡¯re so good. You spend your free time helping people. Volunteering. Exposing traffickers. Who am I? The opposite. A tyrant. I get what I want, when I want it. I burn businesses to the ground for perceived slights. I follow a rigid schedule to keep my demons satisfied.¡± And they were bing more unwieldy. She¡¯d tossed her birth control pills on my nightstand hours ago. Whether it was idental or not, the gesture intoxicated me. I found myself ying with them, imagining ludicrous scenarios. Tampering with the pills. Throwing them out altogether. I wouldn¡¯t do that, but I nheless fantasized about getting Indie pregnant. When would that daye? And when it did, would I feel less bereft when Tony prattled on about his kid? A bright red flush climbed up her neck. ¡°I¡¯m not as great as you think.¡± ¡°You are by my standards.¡± ¡°Stop making me out to be a saint. I¡¯ve done terrible things. I killed a man, for God¡¯s sake.¡± I snorted. ¡°Took out the trash, more like. What else?¡± ¡°I dragged you into my mess.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you did. A lifetime with you for a dead guy is a bargain.¡± Her cheeks stained with pink. ¡°That¡¯s incredibly morbid.¡± ¡°But romantic?¡± Judging by her deepening blush, she agreed. Perfect. Now that I¡¯d redeemed myself, winning her over wouldn¡¯t be hard. I lightly fingered the rose blooming over her cheek. ¡°Nobody makes me feel the way you do.¡± ¡°Knox, stop with the ttery.¡± ¡°I¡¯m being sincere. Would I abandon my rules for anyone?¡± Her misty eyes spilled over. Then she tackled me, giving me a back-breaking hug. I gritted my teeth. I would endure. Touching overloaded my senses, but I had to get over it. I wanted this woman. I needed her loyalty more than I could articte, and I had every intention of chaining this girl to me. And I¡¯d tried the stick. It was time for the carrot. I tightened my arms around her slim shoulders. She hugged me tighter. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± ¡°You have nothing to apologize for,¡± I grumbled, grasping for the right words. ¡°I¡¯m just d you¡¯re okay. If anything happened to you, I would¡¯ve lost my mind.¡± That wasn¡¯t a lie. If she¡¯d been hurt, I probably would¡¯ve spiraled into a well of self-loathing. I wasn¡¯t in love, but I wasn¡¯t cruel enough to break her heart. I wanted what Tony had, not the dead-eyed models who used to hang on my arm. I rxed, sinking into her embrace. She nuzzled my chest. I battled an instinct to push her off me and tried to force my attention elsewhere. I got lost in her jasmine-coated skin and the way it made my pulse pound. Struck by a sudden inspiration, I whispered, ¡°Indie, I¡¯ll always be there for you. No matter what.¡± She cupped my face and kissed me. A teardrop transferred from her cheek to mine as she took me hungrily. Her tongue swept my bottom lip. She dipped inside and yed with me, the liquid fire thickening my cock. My heartbeat skyrocketed. Fuck. I never knew it could feel like this. I imed her rosebud lips, relishing in her receptive mouth and the way she melted against me. She broke away, looking utterly enchanted. A sweet kissnded on my cheek. I ripped off her T-shirt, and her perky tits bounced free. Without another word from me, she slid to the floor and knelt between my thighs. Fuck, yes. I undid my jeans and freed my cock. Heat wrapped me as she sucked me into hardness, her tongue gliding up and down my shaft. My balls tightened with the need for release as I guided her with my hand, falling into bliss. I couldn¡¯t believe she still wanted me. Indie¡¯s innocent eyes met mine, her submission stroking my dick as much as the blowjob she was giving me. Her tongue swirled. Liquid heatshed me, and I bit my lip to kill the contented sigh. Yes. I¡¯d won her. I¡¯d make her forget the darkness and only let her remember the orgasms. I saw our future etched out like the sun¡¯s weak rays, barely visible on the horizon. She would love me. Not tonight. Tomorrow, perhaps.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. 2-25 INDIE I battled nightmares. Scratches from padlocked doors invaded my mind while I worked. There was nothing we could do, so my guilt over the Sanctum girls festered. Like a contagion, it infected every cell of happiness. ckening my joy. Shriveling up my insides. It killed me that I couldn¡¯t say a word to anyone. I needed to vent, but telling the world that I¡¯d been kidnapped, forced into an exhibition scene, and ckmailed by a sex cult was off limits. If it weren¡¯t for Knox, I would be beside myself. ¡°Indie. Are you listening?¡± I blinked, and the ck fog melted from my vision. I sat in front of myptop, where a scowling Eliot crossed his arms. Shit. I¡¯d nked in the middle of my meeting. Again. I cleared my throat. ¡°Can you repeat the question?¡± He sat back in the chair, ring. ¡°Indie, what is with youtely? Your work is all over the ce. You barelye into the office. You don¡¯t pay attention in meetings.¡± I¡¯d stopped giving a damn about the utter banality of Vanity¡¯s columns. My lips thinned as I meted out an appropriate response. ¡°Sorry, Eliot. I¡¯ve been¡­dealing with some personal issues.¡± He rolled his eyes. ¡°Whatever. I was saying we should revisit your piece about the missing girls from Chelsea.¡± My heart pounded. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Your story. The one you told me about at that yacht party?¡± He cocked his head, his gaze narrowing. ¡°Why so glum? You were all for this. It was important to you.¡± ¡°No, um¡­it¡¯s just, I¡¯m kind of over that article.¡± Suspicion darkened his features. ¡°You¡¯d rather pass it on to another writer? James?¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°No. I meant that I haven¡¯t worked on it in a while. Besides, you seemed against it. You said it¡¯d be terrible for clicks, and I think you¡¯re right. Women read Vanity to feel good. They want fluff, not gritty realism.¡± ¡°Yes, well, we¡¯ve had an rming drop in traffic, and the CEO is pissed. I¡¯m hoping a more serious angle will draw in new readers. Kale smoothie recipes aren¡¯t riveting content.¡± Eliot let out a derisive snort. ¡°Anyway, flesh it out. It¡¯s almost ready to be published, but not quite. I want to get it out in two weeks.¡± Are you freaking kidding? I licked my lips, unsure of how to stop this impending disaster. ¡°I need longer than that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. I¡¯ve looked at the file you forwarded me. It¡¯s a great piece. Much darker than we¡¯re used to, but the CEO agrees that it¡¯s worth a shot. Maybe we¡¯ll use a less unsavory headline. Discarded Girls.¡± He winced, shaking his head. ¡°No. Too flippant.¡± No, no, no. ¡°Someone else read it? Eliot, I¡¯m notfortable-¡± ¡°I¡¯d also like you to introduce Christine to Bryan Knox. I know you¡¯ve built a rapport with him, but this story needs your full attention. Christine can handle Knox. He shouldn¡¯t give her too much of a hard time. Apparently, he¡¯s in a serious rtionship.¡± Fuck. My throat tightened. ¡°How-how do you know?¡± ¡°A credible source leaked to Elle Weekly that Mr. Knox moved a mystery woman into his ce several months ago.¡± He copied and pasted the link to the article in the chat box. ¡°Our readers would love a follow-up to the Knox profile. Is there any chance he mentioned something off the record?¡± ¡°Eliot, the trafficking story is a bad idea. I don¡¯t want to do it.¡± ¡°Indie, learn to take yes for an answer. This was what you wanted. I know you¡¯re nervous because it¡¯s your first real story, but we all start somewhere. Okay? Keep digging on Sanctum. I¡¯ll see if we can get ament from the manager.¡± I choked. ¡°But I can¡¯t-¡± ¡°I gotta run. My personal trainer is here. Bye.¡± The screen nked before I could object any further. I stared at the wall in a dazed sort of disbelief, and then the reality of my situation crashed over my shoulders. More people had read the story. What would happen when Cainan and his ring of trafficking scumbags found out? My back stiffened, and I struggled to breathe. I felt the other man on me-his meaty grip obstructing my air, the vicious tug of my hair, the arm of the couch mming into my head, the eager fingers groping to pull down my naked flesh. Over and over. Without respite, sensations mmed into my head, slicing pain into my nerves until my very cells seemed imbibed with trauma. I dropped onto the floor. The feelings I¡¯d buried-grief, fear, rage-battered my heart. I curled up and cried. Knox rushed into the room and dropped beside me, whispering sweetness into my ear. He moved me into a sitting position, his strong fingers cupping my cheek, erasing my tears with a firm stroke. Then his thumb made a leisurely stroll to my mouth, tracing my lips. The feathery-light caress tingled warmth in my cheeks. I grasped my cinched throat. My vision kept shing with blood. Tears burst from my squeezed eyes as I broke into sobs, in the full throes of a panic attack. I ttened my palms on the carpet, screaming, desperate to free myself from the terror. Knox clutched my arms, holding them still. It was like being tethered to a raft. Knox was dragging me to safety. His strong, warm arms held me tightly, reeling me into a cloud offort. His scent was earthy and crisp, like a pinewood forest in winter. He was like smoke rising from a cabin¡¯s chimney, beckoning me home. Knox stroked my hair. My fingers dug into the flesh of his back, the rigid muscles unyielding. He tucked my head under his chin, his heart pounding my cheek. He pressed his mouth to my head for a moment that seemed unrehearsed and wrong for Knox. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± I choked on my tears. ¡°Eliot wants to publish the trafficking story. He already showed it to the CEO. What should I do?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry?¡± I repeated incredulously. ¡°You heard what Cainan said. This is my family we¡¯re talking about! Are we all supposed to pack our bags and run?¡± He grimaced, as though battling the same pain. Tears sluiced my cheeks. Then his hard thumbs swiped them away. ¡°We won¡¯t need to. Come with me.¡± He helped me to my feet and took my hand. Startled by how quickly he¡¯d disarmed my panic, I followed the rough pressure of his hand. He led me into the master bedroom and pulled me inside the walk-in closet. I sat on a shoe bench and watched as he retrieved a heavy, metal locked box from a shelf. A grim-faced Knox slid it off the shelf, its contents rattling. ¡°What¡¯s inside?¡± He set it on myp. ¡°Trinkets. Relics of another life,¡± he murmured as he sat next to me. ¡°Open it.¡± He took off a key from a ring attached to his wallet and handed it to me. I took it and fitted the small brass key into the lock. I turned. It clicked and opened with a metallic groan. Inside yielded a trove of unremarkable objects: a tarnished harmonica. Magic: The Gathering cards. A stic name tag etched with his name. I picked it up, running my thumb over Bryan. ¡°What¡¯s this from?¡± ¡°In my teens, I worked the morning shift at a deli before ss. Lhese¡¯s. I was too young to work there, but the owner knew my mother was a monster. Then his son started pocketing cash from the register and med me, so I got fired. My foster father beat the shit out of me for stealing.¡± As he finished that disturbing anecdote, he poked into the box, his long finger sliding through the Magic cards. ¡°I was twelve when I began college. I should¡¯ve been safe there, right? Wrong. A man in my engineering ss gave me these to make up for¡­well, I¡¯ll skip the graphic details. This¡±-he snatched the harmonica, smiling-¡°was a gift from my mother¡¯s boyfriend, the biker gangster.¡± I stared at it, appalled. I fought a violent urge to take a hammer to this box, annihte its contents, douse it with gasoline, and set it on fire. ¡°Why the hell would you keep mementos of your abusers?¡± He smiled. ¡°Why indeed?¡± An ugly feeling crawled up my spine as he continued to talk. ¡°All these people who hurt me¡­who wronged me. Do you know where they are now? Can you guess?¡± I shook my head, trembling. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a hint. It¡¯s one reason why I didn¡¯t care for a reporter digging into my background.¡± Knox darkened as he dropped the harmonica back into the box. Then he mmed the lid shut and shoved it on the floor. Then it hit me, and my limbs numbed. ¡°They¡¯re trophies,¡± I whispered. ¡°Of people you killed?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to take someone¡¯s life to destroy them.¡± Triumph shed across his handsome face. A dark thrill shot into my heart as he leaned close to me, his lips skating my cheek. He kissed the shell of my ear. My temple. My forehead. My whole body buzzed with warmth by the time his feathery touch met my mouth. He was barely there, breathing, taunting me. Somehow his tongue stroked me into a blissful euphoria that soothed the trauma from this confession. Somehow we managed to slide to the floor, and Knox moved over me as I reclined, weakened from his kiss. My head touched the carpet, and I glimpsed the metal box. I pictured its sinister contents and the ruined lives they represented. It was impossible to steady my erratic pulse. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll let anything happen to you?¡± Knox lifted his head, his stare drilling into mine. ¡°Do you?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°No,¡± he repeated softly. ¡°Living in fear is just another way of dying. I don¡¯t want that for you, Indie.¡± He was a deeply wed man who showed his affection in the wrong ways, but this overwhelming connection between us was the only thing keeping me sane. My onlyfort was his inexhaustible strength. I craved his over-the-top protectiveness. His consuming obsession was the light in a dark and terrible world. But a warning pulsed at the back of my mind. What was the true cost of this love? 2-26 KNOX Got you. Steve Hennessy, the forty-year-old heir of the Hennessy hotel chain, apparently moonlighted as a trafficker. Piece of shit. I¡¯d done business with his father-I¡¯d bought out his shitty startup and fired the trust fund leech-because he¡¯d ndered me in an interview. Not satisfied with ruining his pipe dream, I¡¯d targeted his privileged sons. Digging up dirt on those Harvard motherfuckers was among one of the most satisfying moments in my life. It took a while for his family¡¯s reputation to recover. After his oldest son went to jail for possession of child pornography, Steve Hennessey drifted out of the public eye. A few yearster, though, and everybody seemed to forget that Junior was a pedophile. Strange how memories faded once money exchanged hands. Hennessey had a lot of things going on-a new wife, more real estate properties, and of course, dabbling in his hobby at Sanctum. Uncovering the traffickers¡¯ identities took several weeks. I studied camera feeds and wrote down license te numbers. I called cabpanies. Impersonated a client. The breadcrumbs led me to Hennessey. Within a few hours of sending him a ¡°security alert¡± from his email provider, I gained ess to his ount. I found his home address and drove there, where I used one of my programs to hack into his Wi-Fiwork, giving me remote control of hisputer, his house, and his wife¡¯s phone activity. I texted her a picture from the ¡°Hidden¡± folder of his phone, which showed him engaged in fetio with a girl half his age. I found the ckmail on me, deleted it, set his thermostat to eighty-five degrees, and logged out. That was enough for now. I had endless patience. You needed that when you handled hundreds of employees and your entirepany¡¯s future hung on the precipice of a multimillion-dor deal that seemed more likely to never happen with each passing day. Zenocorp¡¯s CEO was still being an utter ass. ¡°Hamilton,¡± I barked, leaning into my Herman Miller chair. ¡°Sign the fucking non-disclosure. Why are you dragging your feet on this?¡± My earpiece echoed with his sigh. ¡°Because,¡± he muttered in his Oxford British ent, ¡°we don¡¯t give that proprietary info to anyone, not even our partners.¡± ¡°This is a win-win situation for both of us.¡± ¡°Knox, I¡¯m not my father. You¡¯re hiding something big.¡± I flipped off my phone. ¡°Sorry to disappoint, but this is a run-of-the-mill client.¡± ¡°Then why was your project manager so cagey about the details?¡± ¡°Because I am ruthless with my employees and squeeze the worth out of every single person. I don¡¯t give second chances, and I demand perfection. That¡¯s why they¡¯re scared to piss me off.¡± ¡°You sound like an asshole, and I¡¯m reluctant to do business with assholes. And I don¡¯t like the thought of never being able to use what we¡¯ve learned from ck Prism in any future projects.¡± ¡°Hamilton, this is a routine non-disclosure. We just want to upgrade, and we need more information on how your hardware works.¡± I heaved an enormous groan when he didn¡¯t respond. ¡°I¡¯ll throw in an extra five million.¡± ¡°Ten,¡± he countered. A drop in the bucketpared to the three hundred million I¡¯d make. But it was crucial that Hamilton believe he¡¯d screwed me, so I paused before saying, ¡°You love digging the knife in, don¡¯t you? All right. I¡¯ll adjust the paperwork and send it over, but I want it signed today.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± I hung up, smirking. I won. We were back on track to meet the proposal deadline, and I couldn¡¯t wait tough at Hamilton¡¯s apoplectic voicemail when he discovered I¡¯d fucked him over. Ruining my rtionship with Zenocorp was a risk, but the government deal would rocket us pastst year¡¯s profits- My pen was skipping, so I yanked open my side drawer to get another one and was startled to see a package. I picked up a clear bag of chocte truffles wrapped in red, silver, and pink. A red ribbon cinched it shut. I turned it over, reading the heart-shapedbel stuck to the packaging: Chocte is Love. I tugged at the ribbon and opened the bag, fishing out a pink-wrapped truffle. I unwrapped the chocte and ate. Something inside the candy fizzed. Pop Rocks. The pressurized carbon dioxide dancing over my tongue triggered memories of little ck bags and strawberry-red powder. I smiled, fingering the red ribbon. Indie must¡¯ve put it there. I checked my watch-February 14. Heat scorched my stunned face. I¡¯d never been in this position before. I didn¡¯t observe holidays and couldn¡¯t remember when someone had given me a gift that wasn¡¯t a discount on member services. And I hadn¡¯t gotten her anything. Shit. I couldn¡¯t go up there empty-handed. I racked my brain for gifts. Flowers and choctes? Too cliche. Dinner? An idea struck my head, and I texted my overeager assistant the basics of my ns. Val: I¡¯m on it. Perfect. A blender screamed upstairs. I stood and followed the noise, finding Indie in a state of disarray. She stood behind the metallic counter in a crop top. A milky concoction whirled inside the blender. While it pulsed, she sliced cucumbers and doled hummus on a te. She turned it off and sucked the paste off with an indecent moan. My chest heated. ¡°The way you look at food makes me jealous.¡± Walking into this scene of domestic bliss felt like I¡¯d stumbled into another man¡¯s life. I¡¯d never experienced this¡­takeover of my space. Curiously, I didn¡¯t mind the empty sses she left everywhere. Or that she¡¯d stuffed the pantry with junk. I even cherished the potato chip bags she stuffed in my office trash can, because imagining the absence of them stabbed my gut. Indie beamed. ¡°Hey. Are you hungry?¡± I went to her side, sliding my arms around her waist. ¡°That depends. What are you offering?¡± Indie lowered her gaze and blushed. ¡°An afternoon snack.¡± ¡°I believe it¡¯s called a delight.¡± Indie snorted. She poured the goop into two sses. Smiling, she picked up the sses and gestured for me to bring the tter of snacks. I slid it over the coffee table and sank into the couch after she led me into the living room. She joined me, her legs colliding with mine. ¡°What is this?¡± I pointed at the ss she¡¯d ced on the coffee table. ¡°It¡¯s a protein shake. Almond milk, ice, peanut butter, dark chocte, and pretzels.¡± I lifted a brow. ¡°Pretzels?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t knock it till you¡¯ve tried it.¡± ¡°Pretzels don¡¯t go with milk.¡± ¡°They do. Trust me.¡± She held up her ss, tapping it against mine when I picked mine up. ¡°Cheers.¡± I brought it to my lips and sipped. The sweetness danced pleasantly with the bits of salt. ¡°I¡¯m not into desserts, but this isn¡¯t bad.¡± She bent over the huge tter filled with meat and cheese. She assembled a sandwich and gave it to me. Warmth touched my cheeks. ¡°You¡¯re spoiling me, Indie.¡± Her grin tightened something in my chest. ¡°Only because you¡¯re ill.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not ill.¡± I¡¯d stopped our exercise session early this morning after I pulled a muscle in my lower back. Really, it was nothing. Indie had been fussing over me all day, like I was recovering from surgery or something. ¡°Knox, you can¡¯t sit like that. You¡¯ll make it worse.¡± She wrenched on my arm until I obliged, leaning forward. Then she forced a lumbar pillow behind me. ¡°You don¡¯t want to mess around with a back injury. I slipped a disc once and it hurt for a year.¡± ¡°Jesus, that long?¡± ¡°Yeah. And I couldn¡¯t do much. It was miserable. I shelled out for a physical therapist, and they had me do all kinds of core strengthening exercises.¡± I devoured the sandwich over a te that Indie took away once I finished. She stroked my thigh, the soothing gesture so alien to me. I¡¯d never been taken care of like this, and it made me ufortable. I locked eyes with her, consumed with an urge to dominate her. I patted myp and beckoned her. ¡°I can¡¯t. I¡¯ll hurt your back.¡± ¡°Indie, I¡¯m two hundred and thirty pounds of muscle and sex appeal. You¡¯re not going to hurt me.¡± Laughing, she crawled on top of me. ¡°Okay, but tell me if it starts aching.¡± She didn¡¯t resist when I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. Her head dropped onto my shoulder. My neck tickled with her soft breathing. Something heavy lifted from my chest. Finally. I held her tightly. Holding her was like being wrapped in a warm nket. It felt perfect. My eyes closed, lost in the sensation. I¡¯d never let her go again. I couldn¡¯t forget how much I needed this peace. ¡°Did you find the chocte?¡± she murmured. ¡°I did. Thank you. That was nice of you.¡± She beamed, shrugging. ¡°I felt like you needed a reward. You¡¯ve been so affectionatetely. I know it doesn¡¯te naturally to you, but I love it so much.¡± I checked my watch to see if Val had texted me. Nothing. I dropped my arm around Indie¡¯s back. ¡°Don¡¯t you go to the farmer¡¯s market on Mondays?¡± She nuzzled my neck. ¡°Staying in with you appealed to me more.¡± The hole inside my chest yawned, but I ignored it, desperate to bring this conversation to a level that I understood. ¡°Because you want me,¡± I purred, my hand sliding under her shirt. ¡°You love having your ass spanked and your pretty pussy filled with cum. Don¡¯t you? You can¡¯t get enough of me. Say it, Indie.¡± ¡°You have such a dirty mouth.¡± Her thighs clenched around my hips. I fingered her chin so that our eyes shed. ¡°Remember what you said to me the other day? It was right after I gave you the birth control pill. In a very suggestive tone, you said, ¡®I need something to wash this down.''¡± She blushed fiercely. It was the filthiest thing I¡¯d ever heard her say. And I¡¯d loved it. My cock hardened instantly with the dirty mental image of Indie swallowing me down with that blue pill. She dipped her gaze, the blush creeping across her cheeks. ¡°Okay, fine. I love sex, but I¡¯m not here for that. I don¡¯t like leaving you alone when you¡¯re injured. You¡¯re surrounded by employees. I can¡¯t see any of them ever visiting you in the hospital. Except Valerie.¡± She kneaded my shoulders, working the knots from my muscle. ¡°You have no siblings¡­no family.¡± My lips twitched with the need to smile. ¡°So¡­I¡¯m charity?¡± ¡°I just want to be there for you.¡± Her happy glow warmed me more than her sweet words, which Itched onto desperately. My heart pounded. Did she mean that? ¡°I¡¯ll be there for you, too. Always.¡± I kissed her open mouth, and the pounding of my heart finally quieted. The scent of her hair intoxicated me. Her hands on my neck sent an involuntary thrill deep in my chest. I flicked my tongue against her lip. I delved inside and ravished her little mouth. Fuck the pain away. If Indie wanted to adopt my philosophy, so be it. Especially if it got me a blowjob. Indie slid off myp and knelt on the floor. Her hands glided down my abdomen, rolling back my T-shirt. She gave me a coquettish wink as she caressed my abs. ¡°May I express my appreciation for you?¡± I nodded. ¡°You may.¡± Blood throbbed in my temples as she unzipped my jeans. Fuck. Keeping myselfposed was impossible. All she had to do was pucker her lips. I was like a teenage boy, instantly hard. She took out my cock. Her tongue darted out with a teasing lick. Heat enveloped my cock as her mouth closed around it, her tongue riding my shaft. My cheeks burned as she made the sloppiest sounds. My fingers dove into a tangle of hair. She squirmed as I slowly sank into her pink mouth. When she gagged I pulled her off me. ¡°Do you like sucking my cock?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She gasped. ¡°I like it.¡± ¡°Good. Your jaw will get quite the workout within the next few months. I need to defile your body before I get you pregnant.¡± I thrust into her mouth. She made a delicious sound as I rocked my hips. Fuck, that was hot. She stared at me, the challenge in her eye stroking my cock. Her tongue swirled. Liquid heatshed the sensitive head, and I groaned. My skin flushed as she sucked me off, sliding down my painfully hard dick to y with my balls. She sucked the base of my cock and glided to the head. I sat upright. Watching her suck me off struck me with a lightning bolt of lust. I fisted her hair and went to town, hammering her mouth. My senses were on fire with her agonized gurgling and the wet heat gripping me. Heat consumed me as I filled her with cum. A flood of euphoria drowned me as I thrust, and I stilled, relishing in the visual of my cock in her mouth. She swallowed my cum and even went back to lick a stray drop that rolled down my shaft. Somehow, after she¡¯d cleaned me up I was still hard. That never happened. Indie¡¯s mouth made a wet pop as she lifted her head. She wiped her upper lip, then tore off her clothes. My cock saluted the sudden appearance of her full tits. I palmed them as she straddled me. Eyes burning, she cupped my head and kissed me. Slow and sweet. Drugging. The sort of kiss that soothed my tired soul. My mouth moved down her cheek, to her jawline, to the breasts that tickled my chest. I nipped her skin until I brushed her nipple. I circled it with my tongue before closing on her, sucking. She trembled. ¡°Please, Knox.¡± Yes. I was addicted to her begging sighs. ¡°Use your words, killer.¡± ¡°I need you,¡± she murmured, mindless with desire. ¡°Kiss me. Fuck me.¡± I twisted my body and reclined her on the couch. One shove and my jeans were below my knees. I shoved her thighs apart, positioned myself between them and plunged into her. Amazing. The slick heat gripping my cock was too fucking good. It erased all doubt that we weren¡¯t a perfect match. I would marry this woman. I would give her a baby. When she gasped like that, as though surprised that we fit together, it resonated in my soul-made me hopeful. Blood throbbed in my cock, the skin so tight it ached. Fucking her raw was a better drug than Ecstasy. I caressed the beautiful hollows of her back and seized her ass as I rammed home. A brightness sprang into her gaze as I filled her. She groaned. I pounded her, muffling her whining by pressing her head into the sofa¡¯s end pillow. I caressed her soft skin before grabbing her hips and pulling back with quick jerks. Heat raged through me as she chased my hips. She cried out, bucking into me. My thighs trembled. The release came in a flood of nirvana as I fucked her with cum. Her body quivered from my twost, hard thrusts. I sank into a peaceful bliss, copsing on top of her. ¡°God, Indie. Fuck. You made mee so hard, I can¡¯t think straight.¡± She linked her arms around my neck, and stretchednguidly. ¡°Can I ask you for a favor?¡± ¡°Sure. Anything.¡± ¡°It¡¯d be great if you paused your ns for St. Luke¡¯s.¡± I licked my lips, shrugging. ¡°Sure.¡± In the split second it took to realize she¡¯d manipted me into changing my ns, I¡¯d already agreed. Well, fuck. I searched inwardly for outrage, but found only azy contentment. She¡¯d crossed the line. And I didn¡¯t care. This was confusing. ¡°Thank you.¡± Indie pressed her lips into my neck, staggering the blood flow to my head. ¡°Thank you so much. You won¡¯t regret it.¡± Then she kissed me hard on the mouth, and I lost all will to take it back. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what, Indie. Fuck me like this every day, and I¡¯ll do whatever the hell you want. Want me to save the whales? Done. If you want a stuffed bald eagle for your desk, that¡¯s fine, too.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want a stuffed bald eagle. I want you.¡± I¡¯ll admit, she did that well.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. But I believed her. She had a pure heart, which was why I couldn¡¯t get mad at her for taking advantage of my euphoric state. The only thing she¡¯d asked of me was to save a goddamn church. The earnest beauty of that made me cherish her even more. She spoke from the heart and nowhere else, unlike everyone else in my life. We need to get married. My post-nut rity had never been louder. I felt a wave of fear, lust, and optimism. It rmed me that it revolved around one woman. Which wouldn¡¯t be so bad if she didn¡¯t have a mind of her own. She could get hurt. She could leave me. Suddenly, the idea was intolerable, like inhaling ck smoke. I had to lock her down. Soon. 2-27 INDIE Our first kiss triggered an avnche of emotion inside Knox. Sincest week, he¡¯d barely kept his hands off me. So many mornings his sweet kiss roused me from a deep sleep, right before he handed me atte. I cherished those gestures, because they proved his feelings for me had grown. He did care. It validated my initial impression of Knox, that beneath his ice-cold exterior was a man desperate for intimacy, affection, and love. Here was the proof. He¡¯d halted the demolition of St. Luke¡¯s and would fund cleaning up the property. He took me out on dates and kissed me in public, rules be damned. I was falling for Knox. I didn¡¯t expect a rush of yearning whenever Knox entered the room, or the need clenching my thighs with his gentle touch, or my overwhelming desire to submit. Knox and I strolled through The Spheres after dinner. They had been emptied for our date. Outside was pitch-ck. The moon poked through a gap in the steelttice, illuminating the dense vegetation in an ethereal glow. Knox pulled me up the same staircase he¡¯d stormed down during our first meeting. He smiled, as though reliving the memory. Then he brought my hand to his mouth and kissed it. Warmth shot up my arm and settled into my heart. When we reached the highest level of The Spheres, a rxed lounge area, we tilted our heads to gaze at the stars. ¡°This is beautiful,¡± I said, my voice thick with emotion. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you did this for me. It¡¯s so thoughtful.¡± A grin yed on his lips. ¡°Wait untilter.¡± ¡°There¡¯s more?¡± I thumped my fist on his chest. ¡°You¡¯re making me feel bad for only getting you chocte!¡± He waved me off. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t feel obligated.¡± Knox¡¯s soft eyesnded on me. ¡°I like seeing you smile. And no man would ever call a date with Indie Starling an obligation.¡± I blushed. Easy on the charm, Knox. He¡¯d even dressed up for tonight. A navy suit clung to his powerful frame. It shouldn¡¯t have made such a big difference to see him out of his usual jeans for once, but it transformed him. The suit elevated his rugged good looks. He looked formidable, like a man who should be given every ounce of control. He¡¯d chosen my dress. The wine. The food. Sure, Knox picked things I already enjoyed, like Chardonnay instead of Merlot. He chose a backless number I¡¯d worn before. I¡¯d mentioned that I lovedfort food, so he¡¯d ordered lightly battered fried chicken on top of crispy waffles. We ate. Weughed, tucked away in a restaurant with no other patrons. It was wonderfully extravagant gesture. He gave me all of the romance, but none of the choice. Knox poured wine from a bottle that had been waiting for us in an ice bucket beside the chaises. He passed a ss to me and I drank, grateful for the excuse to settle my nerves. ¡°I¡¯ve always dreamed about power,¡± he said, pouring a drink for himself. ¡°I have this image in my mind. Andmark named after me. I wanted to be unrecognizable from the street kid who fetched cigarettes for bikers.¡± ¡°Well, you seeded.¡± And yet, something of that boy lingered in his gaze. His head tipped toward the ceiling. Moonlight bleached his skin, erasing that jaded toughness. ¡°I never imagined I could ever be normal, that I could have what everybody else has.¡± His voice dipped to a smoldering whisper. ¡°I need you in my life, Indie.¡± I froze, the ss halfway to my mouth. ¡°You have me.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t belong to me in the way I require.¡± His earnestness stroked my skin with gooseflesh. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a selfish man. I don¡¯t just want what¡¯s best for you, I want you for myself. It¡¯s not enough for me to have you living in my house. I need more,¡± he boomed, his voice magnified. ¡°I know I¡¯m not the easiest man to be with. All the rules¡­the schedules. I demand a lot. But I also can¡¯t stand the thought of you leaving me.¡± Warmth imed my cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m not going to leave you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that unless you mean it.¡± ¡°I swear,¡± I whispered. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡± My heart pumped madly as he fingered my cheek. Those words coupled with his touch had weakened me. He¡¯d never said anything so vulnerable, and I didn¡¯t know why he¡¯d chosen tonight to air this out. His light grip transferred to my waist. ¡°Do you think about the future?¡± The nagging in my mind refused to be stilled. Pain needled my chest. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°What do you see?¡± Heat stole into my cheeks. I was lightheaded from the alcohol and overwhelmed by his attention. ¡°I-I want to stop working for Vanity one day. I¡¯d like to write for a more prestigious website. Do some charity work for the homeless. Beyond that, I¡¯m not sure¡­we¡¯ve been through so much.¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ¡°I see you getting everything you want. You can have anything, Indie. Keep writing, or you can retire early and do something else with your life. Build a family. Children.¡± Thest time Knox had mentioned children, I¡¯d panicked. But several months of living with him had thawed me to the idea. I pictured an overprotective Knox in the delivery room andter, sitting opposite a high chair feeding his toddler. I smiled, my heart teeming with those warm images. ¡°I can¡¯t wait.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± he said huskily. My throat tightened. ¡°Knox, why are we here?¡± He hooked his chin over my shoulder and whispered in my ear. ¡°It¡¯s a special asion.¡± ¡°Valentine¡¯s Day?¡± His tender gaze met mine, and his face broke into a smile. It was eager and alive with affection, and I fought to resist the swells of warmth kicking in my chest. The lights darkened. Dozens of people marched up the staircase in silence, forming a circle around us. Candles burned on screens as they lifted their phones. I whirled in Knox¡¯s arms, bewildered by this disy, and then he stepped back. Oh, God. Knox reached in his zer and pulled out a box. I gaped at him. No. He wouldn¡¯t. Several of the women surrounding us gasped. Every muscle inside me tensed as Knox popped open the lid. The sound shot through my soul. Lightnded on a big, sparkling diamond. I wasn¡¯t knowledgeable about jewelry, but I knew the size of that stone could wipe out my student loans. My heart stalled, then pumped furiously, as though kicked into action. Fuck. He nced at the ring before taking it from the box and holding it between his thumb and forefinger. His eyes crashed into mine, the emotions within themplicated. ¡°Marry me.¡± Those words sucked the oxygen from my lungs. My cheeks boiled and my vision blurred. I couldn¡¯t breathe. Blinking, I scanned his confident expression and the ring in his grip. He couldn¡¯t be serious. We¡¯d only known each other for seven months, and most of that wasn¡¯t spent as a couple. My brain listed a thousand reasons to turn him down. I hadn¡¯t even introduced him to my parents. Marry me. It was an order, not a question. I hardened as I put together Knox¡¯s over-the-top charm with this abrupt proposal. He¡¯d nned this. He wanted me vulnerable, so he took me on a fantastic date, plied me with alcohol and sprung this on me. My mouth trembled with the weight of everyone watching. What if I said no? My stomach bottomed out. And if I epted? Hope fluttered in my chest. Did he even love me? My voice cracked as I attempted to speak, but nothing came out but a whimper. I offered my wavering wrist and Knox grasped my left hand, sliding the ring on my finger. He grabbed my face and kissed me hard. ¡°Marry You¡± by Bruno Mars exploded from speakers. Knox dipped me as white balloons floated down like fluttering doves. The people around us hurled silver streamers in our direction. They uncorked giant bottles and sprayed us while letting out earsplitting cheers. Champagne soaked his waves as he shielded me from the st. For a moment, I was transported. Because his warmughter when I squinted from the alcohol felt perfect. His face buried in my hair as though its scent gave him life. A wrenching joy swayed me back and forth. I dissolved into overwhelmed tears. Knox pulled a streamer from my hair. ¡°What good is a rtionship without strings?¡± 2-28 KNOX Paparazzi chased us to the car. I had Valerie tip them off to where I¡¯d exit, and the camera shes, aggression, and shouting seemed to be too much for my new fiancee. Security opened the car door. Indie dashed inside like a bird flying into its cage. I climbed in after her. Reporters shouted questions through my window. ¡°Mr. Knox, when¡¯s the wedding?¡± ¡°When did you start dating?¡± ¡°Is this a publicity stunt?¡± I closed the window as they begged me for a soundbite. Shadows moved behind the tinted ss. The engine rumbled. My back pressed into the seat as we lurched forward. I savored the peace. The traffic sounds were like a quiet symphony for my overstimted brain. Indie¡¯s ragged breathing drew my attention to her. She¡¯d stered herself into the corner of the back seat like a frightened cat. She swayed, gripping the cushion. I frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She didn¡¯t answer. Her eyes zed over with fresh tears. I had no idea if they were from fatigue, joy, rage, or everything at once. I grasped her knee. ¡°Tell me.¡± Her chin trembled and a lone tear slid down her cheek, setting off my rm bells. I swallowed tightly. ¡°Indie.¡± ¡°Why did you do that?¡± Indie¡¯s voice rattled with restrained emotion. She tore a strand of hair from her bright pink mouth. ¡°You blindsided me.¡± I arched a brow. ¡°Proposals are a surprise?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t even talked about marriage.¡± ¡°It¡¯s what I want, and I¡¯m tired ofpromising.¡± ¡°When do you everpromise?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve handled you like ss, little killer. You¡¯re the only person in the world who gets special treatment.¡± I grabbed her hand and spread her palm on my pecs. Her lips parted as I traced the outline of her engagement ring. ¡°All I want is your loyalty¡­or maybe the problem is that you hate the idea of marrying me.¡± ¡°Knox, you didn¡¯t even ask to marry me.¡± Indie¡¯s wide eyes flicked to mine. ¡°You gave me an order.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°This is overwhelming. Why did you do that?¡± I stroked her furrowed brow. ¡°I know. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Are you?¡± she ground out, blinking rapidly. ¡°Do you even want to marry me? Or am I just a box you¡¯re checking off because I have the rightbination of looks and personality?¡± She was obviously searching for reassurance of how I felt about her, which satisfied my ego. She wanted to be with me. ¡°Both.¡± My smile broadened. ¡°You have a unique way about you that I find irresistible. You speak from the heart and nowhere else, which is so rare in my world. You have all the qualities I admire in a woman. I¡¯ve never wanted anyone as much as you.¡± Never before had I said those words to a woman. Was that not enough for her? I tensed as the chill inside me grew. Her gaze was as soft as a caress. Then she leaned forward and kissed me, the impact of her gentle touch shocking me. My fists unclenched as her kiss gave me a numbedfort. Her fingers dove into my hair as she crushed my mouth. The taste of champagne swirled against my taste buds until her essence overpowered the alcohol. I wanted to shove her against the wall, but lips softer than a down quilt pressed into mine. She was like a deadly drug, lulling me into aa. She drew me closer and mauled my mouth, setting my body on fire. Her palms glided up and over my pecs to cup my face as she leaned into me. So intimate. Nobody had ever dared to stroke me like this. The wave of passion knocked me backward. My shoulder hit the seats, and then we tore at each other. I imed every corner of her mouth. My cock swelled as she attacked my clothes, dragging her nails into my dress shirt. I clung to her, breathing hard, in awe of the ecstasy flooding me. When our kiss ended and she looked at me, something caught in my chest. A me. I stiffened. ¡°Get off me.¡± She obeyed, sliding over the seat. ¡°Good girl.¡± I sat up and tweaked her chin. ¡°Turn around. I want to fuck my fiancee.¡± Her eyes zed with defiance, but her dress whispered as she turned onmand, facing the passenger-side window. Yes. We were finally getting somewhere. She bristled as she sat there, perched on the leather, spine ramrod straight, but she had obeyed. My cock strained my cks. I brushed away the dark strands from her upper back and clutched the zipper of her dress. Slowly, I pulled. My knuckle only grazed her skin, but I felt a twitch run across her muscles. The dress fell off. As it did, I breathed kisses on her beauty marks. Temptation gripped my cock and I imagined it hardening under Indie¡¯s sensual grip. ¡°Stick your ass out. More.¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. I pped her ass cheek when she was too slow toply. I stroked her naked back. I took a condom from my pocket, teasing the foil along the swells of her ass, the dip in her dimpled back, all the way up the swath of goose-down skin to her mouth. I slid it between her lips. ¡°Hold this for me.¡± Her mouth parted. I pushed the packet in until she bit down. Then I stroked her backside, grabbing a handful of ass. She was so good. She deserved a reward. ¡°It¡¯s been too long since I¡¯ve been inside you.¡± The car slowed as we reached my building, but I¡¯d already hit the do-not-disturb partition. ¡°You¡¯ve been a sweet girl all night-so nice and well-behaved. I¡¯m also very pleased that you epted my proposal without a fuss. So I¡¯m going to make sure you¡¯re taken care of.¡± She made a fretful sound. I grabbed the wand tucked in the seat. I clicked the on button and it started to violently vibrate. Indie squirmed as I teased the mushroom-shaped head up her thighs. It was as though the same energy gripped us both. Anticipation flooded my veins. ¡°You will not let go of that condom. Understand?¡± She red at me. I opened my palm and whirled my hand. It cracked against her ass cheek. She jumped, her teeth bared. She was a wolverine. I¡¯d chained this beast to my side, this wild, untamed woman. It took a dead man to trap her, and I would not waste my time. I would break her in until she was my willing ve. ¡°Keep it in your mouth, Indie.¡± I stroked her legs, inching the wand to her pussy. ¡°I¡¯ll need it in a few minutes.¡± 2-29 INDIE News of my sudden engagement went as well as I¡¯d expected. Mom and Dad muttered congrattions in a brief phone call. Eliot texted me a link to ¡°Billionaire tyrant bends the knee¡± apanied by a single word: WTF. And my sister reacted to the announcement with an udylike snort, followed by, ¡°Is this a joke?¡± I nursed my pounding headache with a mimosa. My sister, Knox, and I had brunch inside a Beacon Hill cafe in a tense silence reserved for hospital waiting rooms and funerals. We sat near a window. Rain peppered the umbres and covered the brick sidewalks with a gritty sheen. ire sat in front of Knox in an oversized sweater, glowering. ¡°Chinook salmon is an endangered species.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Knox lifted a giant piece of salmon to his mouth. ¡°Fascinating.¡± ¡°You might want to consider making more ethical choices.¡± My sister ignored my foot pressing on hers, her fervent gaze fixed on my fiance. ¡°Next time, order the Antic cod.¡± A long pause stretched between them, in which Knox¡¯s probing stare seemed to have no effect on my sister. His indignant expression cracked with a smile. ¡°Even if I gave a damn about fish, which I don¡¯t, no amount ofmercial fishing is sustainable.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s important for the environment!¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯d rather eat raw whale than fish pumped with antibiotics.¡± ¡°God!¡± ire threw up her hands in disgust. ¡°Have you considered, I don¡¯t know, getting a soul?¡± He raised a brow but said nothing. I gulped down my cocktail, and a rush of warmth infused my cheeks. ire stabbed her sd with unnecessary force, cherub mouth pressed into a thin line. It was just like my sister to pick a fight over fish. She was dying to tell him off. She¡¯d texted me earlier with the news that one of Knox¡¯s property managementpanies had evicted her friend from a low-ie apartment building. I¡¯d begged her not to bring it up. A fool¡¯s errand, considering my sister had once organized a protest against single-straw use in her high school¡¯s cafeteria and Knox had helped me dispose of a body and liked his steak extra bloody. Compassion for fish was beyond him. I wanted my sister to like him. I couldn¡¯t be his only admirer. I need a drink. ¡°Can I get another?¡± I waved over the waitress and pointed at my disappearing mimosa. ¡°Does anyone else want a drink?¡± Knox shook his head. ire gave my engagement ring a sullen re. I nudged her foot. ¡°Hey. Did you know that The Spheres have forty thousand nts from fifty different countries?¡± She shrugged. ¡°Cool.¡± I sighed and pushed my chicken pata around the te, exhausted from the effort of making these two talk. Knox seemed to sense my deted mood. He slung his arm across my back, then kissed the shell of my ear, alleviating my sinking anguish. ¡°Cheer up, killer.¡± ire frowned. ¡°That¡¯s an unusual pet name.¡± Knox winked. ¡°It¡¯s a term of endearment. Because she¡¯s very aggressive with what she wants. Aren¡¯t you, sweetheart?¡± Was this his way of being cute? A flicker of heat dove into my chest. He gently turned my face to him. My chin tingled from his hypnotizing touch as he leaned in, his spiced cologne seductive. His mouth pressed into mine with a firmness that sent spirals of ecstasy through me. ire raised her brows, a reluctant smile fighting to take over her frown. ¡°If nothing else, I¡¯m d that my sister turned the Tyrant into a simp.¡± My stomach lurched. ¡°ire, that¡¯s rude.¡± Knox stroked my thigh. ¡°It¡¯s okay, ire. I know I have my work cut out to win you over. It won¡¯t happen in one afternoon.¡± ¡°You¡¯re damned right,¡± ire ground out between bites. ¡°My friend got evicted from his home because you need another high-density apartment building to feed the ck hole inside you.¡± Knox¡¯s lip curled. I kicked her chair. ¡°ire.¡± She shook me off. ¡°The goal of urban development should serve human beings, not corporatendlords or corrupt businessmen!¡± A muscle ticked through Knox¡¯s clenched jaw. ¡°I¡¯m not doing this for money.¡± ire crossed her arms and snorted. ¡°I wasn¡¯t always rich, little Starling. I grew up in a terrible area of Dorchester. You can¡¯t understand the relentless stress of living in the ghetto. Bikers would recruit kids to join street gangs, grooming them into bing monsters. People can¡¯t thrive if they¡¯re too afraid to check their mailbox because it means walking past the drug addict experiencing a psychotic episode.¡± His ardent gaze flicked at her face, and she blushed. ¡°You don¡¯t know what that¡¯s like.¡± I lightly stroked his forearm under the table. My sister blinked, apparently surprised by this insight. ¡°Fine¡­but how does luxury housing help these people? Why can¡¯t you acknowledge that you¡¯re discing people who¡¯ve lived here for decades?¡± Knox shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s what progress looks like.¡± ire put down her fork, which was lucky, because she looked angry enough to run him through. ¡°I have no idea what my sister sees in you.¡± ¡°ire,¡± I practically shouted, rmed by the disgust in her voice. ¡°You¡¯re not giving him a chance.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± she growled. ¡°I know his type. He¡¯s a controlling douche.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re a sanctimonious vegan,¡± Knox drawled, spreading his arms. ¡°But I¡¯m still willing to have lunch with you and pay for your overpriced tofurkey sd.¡± ire rolled her eyes at him as she shot upright, flinging her purse on her slim shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m done. See youter.¡± Knox raised his brow. ¡°Get used to me, little Starling. I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡± I pleaded her with my eyes, but ire hugged me goodbye and stormed off. I watched her go, disappointment rattling in my chest. I slumped into my chair. I hadn¡¯t expected them to get along like gangbusters, but Jesus. He rubbed my back. ¡°You okay?¡± ¡°Yeah. I just didn¡¯t think this would happen.¡± I bit my lip as Knox resumed eating. ¡°Honestly, she¡¯s a lovely person. She doesn¡¯t know you like I do.¡± ¡°Indie, she has the better measure of me.¡± That¡¯s not true. My insides squirmed. Yes, he¡¯d done terrible things, but he¡¯d also saved my life. Thisplicated, messy man had somehow stolen my affection. He was capable of good. Every day, the light inside him grew. I wasn¡¯t ready to write him off like my sister. Knox seemed to be steeling himself for something unpleasant. ¡°Indie, I need to¡­¡± He trailed off, his attention wandering over the crowd. His face flushed. ¡°Cainan.¡± I whirled around in time to see Cainan¡¯s tall form shoving between two tables as he made a beeline for us. He sank in the seat ire had vacated with a sigh, tousling his auburn waves. ¡°Knox. Nice to see you again. You, too, Indie. Was that your sister who just left?¡± I dug my nails in Knox¡¯s knee. Cainan gaped at her through the window. I could tell that he didn¡¯t object to fiery blondes. Knox kicked his chair hard, and Cainan turned around. Cainan gave him a mollifying smile and held up his hands. ¡°I¡¯m only here to impart a message.¡± Knox could barely conceal his rage. His eyes had narrowed, his nostrils were ring. Veins stood out from his corded neck. ¡°What?¡± Cainan picked up ire¡¯s fork and helped himself to her unfinished sd. He chewed, making a satisfied sound that pitted my stomach. He stared at the fork¡¯s tines for a moment, and then he shifted his attention to me. ¡°The members would like me to express our gratitude for the show, and remind you that sharing the article is off limits. If anybody else reads it, we¡¯ll take appropriate measures.¡± Shit. My thoughts snapped to Eliot¡¯s phone call-I still hadn¡¯t resolved that issue. Was he implying that he already knew? My hand shook in Knox¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m handling it,¡± said Knox. ¡°Good.¡± A dark grin shed across Cainan¡¯s pale skin as he sipped from ire¡¯s water ss. ¡°I read it for the first time yesterday. You have such extraordinary ideas about our club. Everything I do is consensual.¡± I drew a steadying breath, restraining myself from grabbing the knife on the table and stabbing his hand. ¡°Right, because the padlocks don¡¯t give off that impression. Silly me for thinking that!¡± ¡°The so-called victims you championed for have safe words. Participation is voluntary. They can leave at any time. Shouldn¡¯t be hard to believe, considering you tried to join us.¡± ¡°How willing can they be when they¡¯re drugged up? You can¡¯t fool me. You killed Lara! And I still don¡¯t know what happened to Ronnie and Justine.¡± ¡°They¡¯re on an ind, having a ball. I flew them out in exchange for their silence.¡± Cainan stopped speaking and smiled at the waitress, who refilled ire¡¯s water. When she left, he resumed. ¡°Lara¡¯s death was a tragic overdose. She was a raging drug addict. Seems to be amon w in girls that suck dick for a living.¡± My pulse raced. I didn¡¯t believe him, but ice twisted around my heart. How many more girls had been discarded? ¡°You¡¯re a monster.¡± ¡°Am I? Everybody wanted you dead except me.¡± Cainan¡¯s gaze centered on Knox as he replied to me. ¡°You¡¯re wee back whenever you like. You might find more freedom exorcizing those demons at our club.¡± An angry vein pulsed in Knox¡¯s neck. Cainan stood, patting Knox¡¯s shoulder. His crooked smile faltered as he gazed at me, and the tenor of his voice deepened. ¡°Don¡¯t publish that story.¡± 2-30 INDIE Knox: You look beautiful today. The words ran down my neck like a me-tipped feather, heating the skin under my open cor. I nced over my shoulder, scanning the handful of people. I stood in a Starbucks in my work building. I red at a broad-shouldered man in cks absorbed in his phone. He lifted his head, as though sensing my hostility, and met my stare. Not Knox. His tanned, fortysomething face broke into a smile that I ignored. Heart pounding, I averted my gaze to my phone¡¯s screen. I typed a response. Me: Are you following me? Knox: No. Me: Then how do you know I look beautiful? Knox: Because you always do. That coated my mouth like honeydew, before my tongue curled with bitterness. The barista called my name. I grabbed my coffee and headed for the elevators. The receptionist scowled as I opened the ss doors. I avoided her stink-eye and forced myself to grin. Nobody smiled back. Since the sale of thepany, everybody hated me. I¡¯d done everything I could to win them over. I made small talk. Contributed to the potlucks. I¡¯d ordered a box of cupcakes from an expensive bakery. They sat in the kitchen all day, untouched. My coworkers shunned me like a leper, and I understood why, but that didn¡¯t make it any less hurtful.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. My chest tightened as I reached my desk. I swallowed the ball of hurt and kicked aside my chair, using the stand-up attachment. Then I unpacked my messenger bag and opened myptop. My hands shook as I scanned my inbox. Christine, a statuesque tinum blonde with an addiction to fillers, stopped by my cubicle. She beamed, oozing sharine warmth. ¡°Morning, Indiana.¡± ¡°Indie,¡± I grated, stabbing a key. ¡°Not Indiana.¡± ¡°Oh, my bad.¡± Christine¡¯s brows drew together in a mock frown. ¡°You¡¯ve worked here for, what, eight months? I should remember you by now.¡± She¡¯d remembered me fine a week ago, before ourpany¡¯s social media ount exploded with a bombshell announcement. Thanks, future husband. ¡°That¡¯s worrying,¡± I said, clicking my tongue. ¡°Losing your memory at such a young age¡­maybe you should see a doctor? Didn¡¯t they release a study linking fillers with early-onset dementia?¡± Her lips thinned. Then she slid her empty coffee mug over my notepad. A brown ring stained the pages, bleeding the ink. ¡°Christine, those are my interview notes.¡± ¡°Considering your work barely qualifies as journalism, you¡¯re lucky to have interviews.¡± She gave me a raking, condescending gaze. ¡°Well, I guess luck has nothing to do with it.¡± Heat curled around my neck. ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep with Knox for favors.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have fucked him, but I get the appeal. He¡¯s rich. He¡¯s hot. He has connections with other rich bastards. He¡¯s buddies with the guy who owns Empire Network, so you have a foothold in the industry the rest of us don¡¯t. You¡¯ll always have a job. We have to do what he says, or we¡¯re done.¡± ¡°Then quit.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have that choice. I¡¯m not screwing a man whose worth outstrips that of Bill Gates.¡± ¡°Look, I had no idea he¡¯d buy us out.¡± I deliberately raised my voice so others could hear me. ¡°All right?¡± ¡°Bullshit.¡± Christine jabbed her forefinger in my chest, her nail stabbing me through the fabric of my shirt. ¡°He¡¯s your fiance. You¡¯re the only reason he hasn¡¯t fired everybody and turned this ce into a meme factory. Some of us have families to support!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you expect me to do, Christine! I can¡¯t control him.¡± ¡°Yes, you can.¡± She leaned in and spoke in a whisper. ¡°When he walks through that door, go into his office and make him believe he needs me. Give him a sloppy blowjob. Do whatever it takes. I am not losing my kids¡¯ health insurance because you fucked Bryan Knox.¡± Tell me how you really feel. My cheeks blistered. ¡°You¡¯re way out of line.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care! You don¡¯t belong here.¡± Christine stomped away, lodging a knot in my throat. Angry tears obscured my vision as a chuckle broke the stifling tension, and then, the colleagues who¡¯d been listening to the exchange returned to their desks. I sank in my chair and breathed in deeply, head in my hands. I¡¯d refused to quit out of pride, but this was ridiculous. The job didn¡¯t pay enough to be worth being slut-shamed. When I epted Knox¡¯s proposal a week ago, I had no idea he¡¯d buy the fuckingpany. A notification pinged my phone. I glowered at the screen, but the notification reminded me of a mandatory meeting of all employees in five minutes. I wiped my eyes and pulled it together, breathing through my mouth. Then I shuffled into the kitchen. I shoved Christine¡¯s mug in the sink, where it shattered. Eliot strode in, whistling. The jaunty tune sting from his lips died when he nced at me. He grabbed a mug from the drying rack. ¡°Look sharp, Indie. Top brass visiting today.¡± ¡°The CEO?¡± His lip curled. ¡°Yep.¡± I gritted my teeth. Fuck¡¯s sake. Dread pitted my stomach as we headed for the conference room. Eliot held the door open for me, and then he joined the group of men wearing grim expressions. Coworkers packed the quiet room, picking through a banquet of catered breakfast food. I gaped at the steaming trays pushed against the window containing an assortment of scrambled eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, and a mountain of pastries. A powerful silhouette rippled outside the frosted ss. One of them detached and opened the door, admitting Lars Whitman, the sixty-five-year-old CEO of Vanity. He shook hands with Eliot and stood at the head of the room. ¡°Good morning. Thank you for joining me. I¡¯ve spent thest thirty years at the helm of this groundbreakingpany. I couldn¡¯t be more proud of my aplishments in media. It has been very rewarding and I don¡¯t regret a single day, but I¡¯ve been waiting for the right moment to retire. As of this morning, I am stepping down as CEO. My recement is a very sessful individual who has assured me he will preserve this publication¡¯s integrity. I¡¯d like to introduce you to your new boss, Mr. Bryan Knox.¡± My stomach turned. The door swung open, and there was my infuriating fiance in his jeans and bomber jacket uniform. Women swiveled in their chairs to gape at him. A smile staggered across his wide face. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Whitman, for that esteemed introduction. I hold a deep respect of thispany¡¯s mission statement, and I am honored to be a part of bringing women¡¯s voices to the mainstream.¡± His searing gaze swept the conference room,nding on the men. ¡°Improvements will be made where they are needed. More than likely, we will be undergoing corporate restructuring.¡± Layoffs. Panicked whispers echoed through the room. What the fuck is he doing? I fisted a croissant as he droned on in a long-winded speech packed with buzzwords, too irate to concentrate. This was what my sister meant when she called him dangerous. Did he think he could buy into my life? When the meeting ended, a thick crowd of men surrounded Knox. I returned to my desk and tried swallowing the ball in my throat. Eliot stopped by, Christine hovering behind him, their faces taut with fear. ¡°Is heying us off?¡± Eliot asked. I shrugged. ¡°No idea.¡± ¡°How can you not know?¡± she snapped. Why did they all think I was the mastermind behind Knox¡¯s unpredictable nature? ¡°He doesn¡¯t tell me anything, Christine.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give me that shit!¡± she hissed, moving to stand in front of Eliot. ¡°The man is clearly obsessed with you. If you told him to fire me, I swear to God I¡¯ll make your life a living hell.¡± Eliot¡¯s warning grunt yanked our attention to Knox¡¯s presence. He filled the entrance to my cubicle, his mouth twisted with a sadistic curve. A spasm of terror twitched on Eliot¡¯s face before he wiped it clear. ¡°Both of you. Conference room,¡± Knox barked. ¡°The rest of you, back to work.¡± Eliot nodded and took off. Christine¡¯s lip quivered and her eyes shone, but she followed Eliot and disappeared behind the frosted ss. My fiance dropped a Styrofoam cup on my desk. A faint cinnamon smell spiraled from the steam, filling my belly with warmth. ¡°I picked this up for you, killer,¡± he murmured, palming my shoulder. ¡°Two sugars and a dash of cinnamon.¡± I¡¯d been pissed, but the sweetness of the gesture made me melt. Bryan Knox had gotten me coffee. He¡¯d changed so drastically, I barely recognized the man staring at me with undisguised longing. I cleared my throat, overwhelmed. ¡°Thank you.¡± My mouth parted as he kissed my cheek. I hated myself for the involuntary rush of desire rushing through me. I shouldn¡¯t want this cruel sadist. He tweezed my chin like a modern Don Draper. ¡°Wait in my office.¡± My stomach knotted. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± I held onto his hand. ¡°Knox, please. Don¡¯t do it!¡± He patted my head and slid out of my grip. Then he strolled toward the conference room. I knew it wouldn¡¯t do any good for me to follow him and plead for Eliot¡¯s job. Knox would enjoy the spectacle, and he would me me anyway. I charged into the managing editor¡¯s office, a featureless room with an L-shaped desk. I paced in front of the frosted ss. Minutester, it rippled with arge shadow. The door opened and Knox stepped through, closing the door behind him. ¡°What did you do?¡± I demanded hoarsely. ¡°Not much.¡± Right. Once at a crowded restaurant, Knox had backhanded a drunken man who pestered our waitress with filthy questions. He stood up, calmly approached the man, and hit him, which met with apuse from employees and patrons. He rarely lost his temper, but when provoked, he threw down like an avnche. ¡°I fired her,¡± Knox drawled. ¡°As for Eliot, he¡¯s finished. Not only is he fired from here, but he¡¯ll never work in media again.¡± ¡°What did he do?¡± ¡°He created a hostile workce. If you¡¯re about to beg for his job, don¡¯t.¡± He took a bold step forward, his body colliding into mine. ¡°Even a sloppy blowjob won¡¯t change my mind. Although you¡¯re wee to try.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve made things worse for me!¡± I whispered fervently, stepping away from his intoxicating presence. ¡°I¡¯m going to quit.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± ¡°Knox, I can¡¯t work here anymore.¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± Knox¡¯s brow furrowed, and his hand dropped from my shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ve already told James you¡¯ll be in first thing Monday morning as managing editor. From now on, you call the shots.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that!¡± I¡¯d never be able to live it down, not that he cared. ¡°It¡¯s tant favoritism.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what people think.¡± He took my arms, his touch boiling my doubts and fears. My breath hitched. ¡°Knox, I¡¯m not pushing your agenda.¡± ¡°Who said anything about that? I just want my fiancee to be fulfilled.¡± ¡°Fulfilled?¡± I yelled, my voice almost a screech. ¡°You did this for yourself.¡± He flinched. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± My mind was a crazy mixture of hope and fear. ¡°Buying Vanity wasn¡¯t about controlling me?¡± Knox¡¯s mouth thinned. ¡°We needed to kill the trafficking story.¡± ¡°But I told you I was handling it!¡± His expression clouded over, as though he struggled to understand my distress. ¡°Why does that matter?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t see me as apetent person.¡± My voice wavered and broke, shattered with hurt. ¡°That hurts me, Knox. I told you I was handling it. If you¡¯d given me a few more days, I would¡¯ve convinced Eliot to drop the story. Instead of listening to me, you buy out mypany. You fire the editor. Do you have any idea what this is doing to my reputation? I betrayed my journalistic integrity. I¡¯m unhireable. I will never work in media again.¡± He grabbed my hands, his tone beseeching. ¡°I can talk to someone. I¡¯ll get you a position somewhere else.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to be given a job! I worked hard to get here, and you¡¯ve guaranteed that nobody will ever take me seriously. I¡¯ll never work in this industry again without your help. Do you have any idea how sick that is?¡± Knox raked his hair. ¡°I¡¯ll fix it.¡± He wasn¡¯t listening. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to fix it! I want you to butt out of my life! And if you don¡¯t, then you are a tyrant.¡± He stiffened as though I¡¯d called him a disgusting swearword. A shadow darkened his handsome features. Then his hands dropped mine, his demeanor growing in severity. ¡°Look, I¡¯m negotiating a contract with a very big client and I don¡¯t need negative publicity. I can¡¯t have that fucking video dropped into the world.¡± ¡°I was taking care of it, Knox. You crossed the line.¡± His brows furrowed, and then the blue in his eyes brightened. Knox seized my waist and yanked me against him, wearing a yful grin. ¡°Are you talking aboutst night? I certainly did. Have I showed you the photos yet?¡± I shook my head, unable to stop my cheeks from burning. ¡°Want to see them?¡± The pit of my stomach churned as he got out his phone, and in a few swipes, had pulled up a photo. He slid the cell into my hand. My skin jolted at his gentle touch. The screen zed with the mouthwatering sight of a male torso, sculpted to perfection. He was fucking me from behind. He was mid-thrust, cock buried inside me as he held onto my bound wrists. Another shot was aimed at the mirror. I was unraveled, my face on the bed, my hair a wild mess of pink and brown, lips parted in ecstasy. ¡°Sweet Jesus.¡± ¡°There¡¯s more,¡± he breathed hotly in my ear. ¡°Look.¡± I swiped to the right, my limbs weakening with another shot of mostly me. This was an over the shoulder view of ample breasts, a smooth belly, and Knox¡¯s veiny hand on my thigh. I kept swiping. The temperature in the room climbed with every sinful frame. I paused on a picture of Knox¡¯s head between my legs. Oh my God. I shoved the phone back into his hands, not trusting myself to speak. His amused gaze followed me as I turned away from him. I desperately needed to calm down. The entire office already thought I was a slut. If I went out there looking like he¡¯d fucked me- Knox purred. ¡°I forgot about this album.¡± I whirled around. He stared at his phone, his mouth curving with male pride. What was he looking at? And why did his smile stir something wild in my stomach? I blew out a frustrated breath. ¡°Could you be any more of a pig?¡± His eyes flew open. Then heunched forward, his stone chest pinning me against the wall. One hand dove in my hair, and the other trapped my wrist. He pressed into me, his dense erection jutting into my thigh. The expression in his eyes made me wish I were closer to the door. ¡°Do you know what apophenia is?¡± I clenched my jaw to kill the waver in my voice. ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn-¡± ¡°It¡¯s a psychological trap people fall into when they perceive meaningful connections where there are none. There are studies on people who seek out patterns where none exist. We recognize ourselves in the wisps of a nimbus cloud. We are more likely to bet. We see trends in data that aren¡¯t there because it¡¯s human nature to problem solve. You can¡¯t deal with your feelings for me, so you look for reasons to fear me. You see what you want to see.¡± His soft voice tingled every nerve. ¡°No, Knox. I see a man trying to distract me because he knows he¡¯s damaged, so he throws psychobabble at me.¡± ¡°How am I supposed to fix that, Indie?¡± I shook my head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m not a therapist, but seeing one would be a start.¡± ¡°Therapy,¡± he scoffed. ¡°You would have me relive my abuse over and over again, just to make you feel better about being engaged to a man like me.¡± My heartbeat galloped. A growing awareness pulsed behind my ribcage, wing at me like a frightened animal. He wrenched my head back. Somehow, I preferred his cool outrage to the unpredictable silence humming between us. I ignored the sparks in my belly, clinging to a desperate hope that he¡¯d leave. ¡°This isn¡¯t about me.¡± ¡°It is.¡± His thumb yed with my lower lip, sending a jolt down my body. ¡°You can¡¯t face reality, which is that you enjoy submitting to a callous bastard like me.¡± I opened my mouth, but all that came out was a whimper. ¡°You want to be tied up and dragged by your hair. You want to be gagged, thrown over a bed, and taken. You want me to call you my little fuck toy. You want me to cut off your air as Ie inside you. You like the thrill fucking me gives you. You even enjoy cooking for your man. Taking care of him. Doting on him. You want to be my little woman. Don¡¯t you?¡± No use denying it. He¡¯d felt me tremble from enough orgasms and tasted my enthusiasm when I couldn¡¯t hold back my arousal. He knew how to make mee, that my appetite was just as insatiable as his. He¡¯d seen me effortlessly blend into the role of a dutiful wife. He made me feel stripped of agency, but I had power. I needed to stop him. My heart hammered. I pictured shoving him toward the door, but the violence might make things worse. He¡¯d take it as an invitation to assert his dominance. He¡¯d rip my clothes off and pleasure me until I screamed for mercy. Then he¡¯d fuck me. A heated shiver rippled through me. ¡°You¡¯re wet, Indie.¡± His other hand brushed my shoulders, provoking a trail of goosebumps. His light caresses sent shivers of ecstasy through me. My lips formed stop, but a hot ache grew in my throat, blocking its escape. He touched my breasts through my shirt. ¡°You have a safe word you never use, despite how often I pound that tight cunt.¡± Blueberry. ¡°Knox, I-¡± I broke off as two fingers massaged the top slope and down the sides, rotating, hardening my nipples into aching points. I breathed more quickly, short of breath. ¡°Finish your sentence,¡± he said, his touch flooding my face with fire. ¡°¡®Knox, I¡­what?¡± I panted, distracted by his breath fanning my cheeks. My mouth pooled with saliva, tantalized by his closeness, his earthy scent. Heat rushed to where he caressed me. I swallowed hard, meeting his re head on. His lips pulled into an infuriating grin. Then he tugged at my blouse. The tension in my fist rxed, and the cotton slid down my shoulders. Knox¡¯s gaze dipped down my cleavage. His palm glided over the exposed skin, painfully teasing. ¡°Tell me you don¡¯t want this.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t-oh.¡± He flicked my nipple, and a lightning bolt of desire struck me. My feeble protest transformed into a groan. My torment was an invitation that he seized. He jerked, and the shirt and bra slipped down my torso and arms, baring my body. ¡°Jesus,¡± he sighed, drinking me in. ¡°Fuck.¡± The pulsing knot in my stomach swelled. I waded in a pool of lust. Why does he always do this to me? He pushed my skirt up and sped my thigh, sending a tingle up my core. His fingers zed a path to the apex of my thighs, kneading. Arousal fogged my brain as he slid my panties aside and massaged my clit. He rotated, sucking at my lips until I opened for him. We shared long, smothering kisses, like he drew life from me. His hand anchored over my thigh. Then he pushed a finger inside me, the intrusion rough. He pulled out and mmed in. My legs widened. He fucked me, the pressure not enough to ease the building agony. I dropped my head, watching him slide between my lower lips. I fought the urge to roll my hips. He dipped into a bed of nerves, and I began to pant uncontrobly. ¡°Still want me to leave?¡± he taunted. I couldn¡¯t control my body¡¯s reaction to him, and I hated him for reminding me. He thrust his fingers inside my tight channel. ¡°No.¡± He stopped thrusting. ¡°No? As in, stop?¡± ¡°No.¡± I wrenched his hair, my voice hoarse. ¡°I mean, yes. Please.¡± ¡°Which is it, Indie?¡± Fuck, I had to stop this. It was impossible. I felt his touch everywhere. A rolling warmth curled through my hips as he resumed his thrusts. I pulled his arm away and jabbed his chest. ¡°Blueberry!¡± He stepped back. His rock-hard erection strained the fabric of his jeans. He looked wild, untamed, unlike himself. A momentter, he softened. ¡°You have nothing to fear from me.¡± I couldn¡¯t untangle my jumbled feelings. I was confused, angry¡­scared. Scared to be alone. Scared to be without him. Scared that if I looked into those deep blue eyes and he asked me something, I¡¯d say yes to whatever it was. I wanted him to heal. I did. But not at the cost of my freedom. 2-31 INDIE I had to leave Knox. I didn¡¯t want to, but it was necessary. Guilt stabbed my insides every moment. I consoled myself with the fact that this wasn¡¯t forever. I believed in us, but I couldn¡¯t live like this anymore. I wanted to be his equal-not his prisoner. I wouldn¡¯t spend the rest of my life bending to his whims. If he cared about our rtionship, he¡¯d change. Unfortunately, the only way to hammer the message home was by leaving, but I couldn¡¯t simply walk out the front door. I had to n it carefully. Knox was many things, but he wasn¡¯t negligent. The man had a sixth sense about my physical needs. I woke up in the early morning to a dense column thrusting inside me. Waking up to a naked, muscr chest gliding over me had been one of my most erotic experiences ever. Iy on my side, winded after three incredible hours of being filled, fucked, and used. Knox spooned me, his thigh thrown over my leg. Heat stole into my cheeks as he breathed a kiss under my ear. Light peeked through the window, caressing the muscled arm flung over my waist. His embrace felt like a steel cage. I rolled over, studying his face. Beads of sweat clung to his forehead. His hair was slightly damp, mussed into waves. My pulse raced at the sight of his strong body. ¡°It¡¯s half past seven,¡± Knox grumbled. ¡°Thirty minutes to shower, eat, and exercise.¡± ¡°Hip thrusts count, right?¡± His eyes glinted with mischief. ¡°I believe so, but I¡¯d be doing all the work.¡± ¡°Well, if you¡¯d let me ride you once in a while, we wouldn¡¯t have that problem.¡± Fat chance. Knox liked sex with me best when I was bound. He tied my ankles and wrists. Then he used me in whichever positions he desired until I begged for mercy. I still throbbed in all the ces he¡¯d fucked me. The thought of never experiencing this bliss again¡­I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed. ¡°Got to get up.¡± Knox gently disengaged from me, swatted my ass, and slid off the bed. I admired him as he stretched, his back muscles rippling with a power few women could imagine. My phone buzzed. I grabbed it from the nightstand, frowning at the screen. Eliot: We need to talk. Eliot: It¡¯s urgent. What could he possibly want? Difort needled my spine. I dismissed the texts, in no mood to be chewed out by my former boss. Then I joined Knox in the bathroom. I would imprint his body and the way he made me feel in my memory. He scooped me in his arms. His head dipped as one hand lowered to stroke my thigh. I shouldn¡¯t encourage this. I¡¯m leaving him. My heart wrenched with a sharp pain that only his touch soothed, because I was still a ve to him. I craved his weight on me. I ached for him to pin me down as he entered me. I trembled when his deep eyes prated mine, half-hoping he¡¯d see the guilt in them. ¡°What is it, Indie?¡± My cheeks flushed. ¡°You never gave me my pill.¡± ¡°Time for that again?¡± ¡°It¡¯s every day, Knox.¡± Knox opened a drawer and pulled out the birth control packet. He popped out a pill. Holding it, he stroked my chin. I parted my lips, and he pushed it inside with his index finger. I closed my mouth around him, the erotic gesture making my core twinge. He withdrew, and I swallowed the pill. I tasted myself on his finger. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to take it anymore.¡± ¡°Are you saying that because you¡¯ve tracked my ovtion?¡± I joked, raising a brow. ¡°Or are you in a mood?¡± Knox headed for the shower, his drawl echoing behind him. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you get pregnant.¡± He turned on the water, the sound shattering my thoughts. ¡°Well, I do.¡± I followed him in the freezing spray, teeth chattering. ¡°I-I¡¯m barely into my career. Having a baby would set me back years.¡± He adjusted the water temperature to warm. ¡°I¡¯ll find you a job anywhere you like.¡± ¡°Do you seriously want this?¡± He shrugged. ¡°I wouldn¡¯tin if you had a baby.¡± Pain struck my throat. While he dreamed about a building a life with me, I was preparing to leave him. ¡°Don¡¯t you think we have other priorities?¡± ¡°Life goes on, Indie.¡± ¡°What made you bring this up?¡± ¡°Tony.¡± He pulled me under the heated spray. ¡°His wife added me to a shared album of their kid. My phone is blowing up with baby pictures.¡± ¡°Oh, so now you want one? Is this apetition?¡± His gaze narrowed. ¡°It¡¯s on my mind. That¡¯s all.¡± I didn¡¯t trust that for a second. Knox moved at a ridiculously fast pace. Last week, we got engaged. Now he brought up babies. Tomorrow, he¡¯d throw my birth control pills in the trash and drag me to the altar. I couldn¡¯t deal with him, and yet his dominance made me whimper. His fingers buried in my hair, tightening. He jolted my head back and crashed his mouth into mine. My resolve weakened as his tongue parted the seam of my lips and thrust into me. He pushed me against the wall, the cold stones digging into my ass. He broke from our kiss, sighing. ¡°We should talk about it soon.¡± ¡°I¡¯m twenty-five,¡± I reminded him stonily. ¡°There¡¯s plenty of time for kids. Let¡¯s¡­take it slow. Okay?¡± Knox¡¯s mouth thinned, clearly not pleased by my reaction. Dismay stung my cheeks as he stepped aside and exited the shower. He ripped a towel from a rack and dried himself. Then he paused in front of the sink, staring into his reflection. He looked bereft. His pain dove into my chest. Then he left the room. I washed myself and pulled on a robe, searching the rooms until I found him in his mancave. The tower of servers blinked with blue and red, a geek version of a Christmas tree. Knox stood at the sliding ss door, his imposing frame backlit with outdoor light. I put my hand on my hip. ¡°Why are you brooding?¡± He didn¡¯t answer right away. ¡°I¡¯m thinking.¡± ¡°You¡¯re standing in the dark. Alone.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been that way my whole life,¡± he said, his tone wistful. ¡°It¡¯s why I want this. I have no family except a teacher who rmended me for the gifted program, you, and a former neighbor. She has dementia and no longer recognizes me.¡± I flinched, struggling hard to contain my guilt. ¡°You¡¯ll have plenty of people on my side. A sister. Parents. Aunts and uncles.¡± ¡°I want a son,¡± he boomed, crossing his arms. ¡°I¡¯ll teach him to code as soon as his eyes can focus on a screen. I¡¯ll hire the best tutors-no kid of mine is going to public school. When hees of age, he¡¯ll manage ck Prism.¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°In other words, you¡¯ll dominate your kid¡¯s life.¡± I met his hardened gaze, and grief tore at my heart. ¡°That¡¯s a recipe for disaster, Knox. What if he hates coding? What if he tells you to fuck off, runs away to Colorado, and decides he wants to spend of the rest of his life selling ski equipment? And what if you have a girl?¡± ¡°If my son is stupid enough to deny his birthright, I¡¯ll cut him off and pass the torch to the next one. And my daughters will expand my empire.¡± His gloomy vision for our children¡¯s future stole the warmth from the room. ¡°Modeling yourself after Darth Vader won¡¯t get you any Father of the Year awards.¡± I swallowed the despair in my throat. ¡°I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re having this conversation right now. We¡¯re not a month out from that psychopath ckmailing us, and you want kids? Or have you forgotten what happened?¡± ¡°Believe me, I haven¡¯t.¡± He smoothed the hair from my face. His touch soothed my distress. It always did. Dangerous men make me feel safe. And Bryan Knox, with his questionable business practices, his connections with the Mafia, and his ex-military guards, definitely made me feel protected. ¡°You should think of wedding venues.¡± The knot in my stomach throbbed. Leaving him would be unbearable. I closed my eyes as he stroked my head and prayed for strength. And for Knox¡¯s forgiveness. 2-32 KNOX Things were looking up. I¡¯d marry the girl of my dreams. ck Prism was on the verge of breaking new ground in cybersecurity. I¡¯d sent eviction notices to Indie¡¯s former apartmentplex and evacuated the tenants. I¡¯d ted it for demolition in a few days. Anybody investigating Andrey¡¯s murder would find a pile of rubble where he drew hisst breath. Billionaire Tyrant Bends the Knee! He¡¯s Engaged! Ten Fast Facts About Bryan Knox¡¯s Fiancee. I scanned a gossip column as I rode the elevator, bemused by the headlines cheering my engagement. They were packed with rumors. Nonsense. I¡¯d already sed mywyer on the rag that imed Indie had ¡°trapped¡± me with an unnned pregnancy. They could attack me all they liked, but I wouldn¡¯t let the vultures get away with libeling my fiancee. What was she doing right now? I buried the impulse to check on her and stowed my phone, watching the numbers blink closer to Cainan¡¯s floor. I¡¯d tracked him down to Seaport. I told Indie I¡¯d left for a business trip, but I was still in town. I doubted she¡¯d approve. Two more floors. The doors opened to a ssy foyer. Checkered ck-and-white marble led to a grand staircase covered in deep blue carpet. Flowers spilled from a vase on a pedestal table. Cainan¡¯s ptial home screamed old money. It looked like a museum. Smelled like one, too. A dusty stench lingered in the rooms. Everything was well kept, pretty, and in order, but like the Kozlov house, it had an air of neglect. Of moldering pages from antique books that had never been pulled from their shelves. Ahead, a flickering shadow danced over polished hardwood. I entered arge room bathed in orange light. mes roared in a hearth, the logs spitting and cracking. A man sat on a velvet couch, his back to me. He lounged, his arm draping the couch. Sucking noises emanated from the floor. Cainan¡¯s knees were spread wide, his gray trousers shoved to his ankles as he fed a woman his cock. A blond girl wearing a cor and nothing else bobbed her neck, blowing him. ¡°I was wondering when you¡¯d find me.¡± Cainan turned from the fire, his expression nonplussed. ¡°How did you get inside?¡± My heart pounded as I stepped forward, hands in my pockets. ¡°I know my way around security.¡± ¡°To what do I owe the pleasure?¡± ¡°I¡¯m pissed.¡± ¡°About Sanctum? Ah. That was an experience.¡± A smile broadened the sick fucker¡¯s face as if he was recalling Indie¡¯s naked body. ¡°You chose well with that woman. The sister¡¯s hotter, though. Don¡¯t you think?¡± His transparent attempt to goad me shouldn¡¯t have worked. ¡°Not my type,¡± I snapped, distracted by the slurping sounds. ¡°Are you going to put your dick in your pants, or do I have to wait for you to finish?¡± ¡°ve, take my cock out of your mouth.¡± The girl obeyed. Cainan pulled up his pants and zipped himself. ¡°My friend and I need to chat. Give us privacy.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± ¡°Good girl,¡± Cainan praised softly. ¡°You know where I want you.¡± Nausea pitted my stomach as the blonde did as she was told, drifting away like a white ghost. I grabbed the switchde from my pocket as Cainan looped his belt in his pants. My thumb slid down the metal, exposing the de.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. The second the girl was out of sight, I lunged. Cainan turned his head as I seized his auburn curls. I immobilized him by pressing the knife just over his pulsating carotid artery. Torture didn¡¯t get my blood flowing. Violence did not bring me peace like it did with Tony, but I did get a contact high when the person I was menacing expressed fear. Unfortunately, Cainan seemed immune to threats. ¡°So you¡¯re here to kill me.¡± His rxed gaze collided with mine, a twisted smile blooming over his face. ¡°Because I made your girlfriend suck your dick?¡± ¡°Nobody tells me what to do with my fucking body.¡± ¡°And for that, I deserve to die? Have you ever even killed a man?¡± His indifference grated on my nerves. ¡°I¡¯ve destroyed plenty of lives.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ve never experienced the pleasure of taking one, have you?¡± No, I hadn¡¯t. Most forms of intimacy disgusted me. The proximity of my hand to his skin repulsed me. The feeling of his hair in my hands pitted my stomach. So far, I loathed the experience. ¡°I much prefer to watch a man closely as I rip his life apart.¡± Cainan rolled his eyes. ¡°You have nothing to threaten me with.¡± ¡°I¡¯m holding a knife to your throat.¡± ¡°What about the girl?¡± he quipped, flicking toward the bedroom. ¡°You have to kill her, too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy her off.¡± He tutted. ¡°Mercy is for the weak, Knox.¡± I wrenched his hair, shutting him up. ¡°You get the real measure of a man by studying his victims. Yours are helpless. Drugged into submission. Mine are men like you. Arms dealers with ties to human trafficking. Did you think I wouldn¡¯t pay you back for what you did to Indie?¡± Crimson welled around the de. ¡°What I did?¡± Cainan flinched. ¡°Knox, use your fucking brain. I hired you to create some anti-trafficking software. Why the hell would I do that if I¡¯m one of them?¡± ¡°Perhaps you wanted yourpetition destroyed.¡± Cainan¡¯s mockingughter dug into my chest. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I slide this de across your throat?¡± ¡°Who scared Indie out of Sanctum? I did. Who convinced the psychopaths not to ughter you both? I did. Who wiped out the evidence of Kozlov¡¯s murder? I did.¡± His fervorshed at me as he straightened, pushing my hand that held the knife away from his throat. ¡°I¡¯m not your enemy.¡± Growling, I pocketed the knife. I¡¯d suspected this ever since ourst visit at Sanctum, and his cryptic warning at brunch seemed to cement that he was some kind of double agent. But I didn¡¯t trust Cainan. His oily smile rubbed me the wrong way, and he was too calm for a man who¡¯d just had his life threatened. ¡°How do we destroy them?¡± ¡°Forget it.¡± Cainan smeared the blood on his neck. ¡°You¡¯re no match for these people. And for fuck¡¯s sake, keep the reporter girl under your thumb.¡± I left the house in a state of numb disillusion, confused about Cainan¡¯s role in Sanctum. Now I found myself wrestling with gratitude for the son of a bitch. I drove home. Nothing seemed amiss until I strolled into my walk-in closet. A wall of empty, swinging racks swung where Indie¡¯s clothing used to hang. I frowned. Had she taken everything to the dry cleaners? That naive hope burst as I searched the house. I tore through the rooms, looking for her. She¡¯d cleaned out the coat closet. The bathroom, too. Fuck. I grabbed my phone. Six missed calls from Valerie. Val: She packed her things. Val: She¡¯s gone. I¡¯m sorry. The raw harsh noise I made didn¡¯t seem to belong to me. Disturbing quakes rocked my serenity as I called Indie, and it went straight to voicemail. What the hell? She¡¯d kissed me goodbye this morning. A hollow beat pounded in my stomach as my gazended on pages attached to the refrigerator door. I ripped them off the fridge. Dear Knox, I¡¯m leaving you. I care about you, but I can¡¯t do this anymore- My lungs constricted from the pain in those words. I flinched and looked away. That phrase echoed, barely a thud against the violent roaring in my head. I can¡¯t do this anymore. She left me. A feeling punched through my shock- Rage. 2-33 INDIE Thump. Thump. Thump. I nced at the stationary door. Either my visitor was tall or he had a deceptively high knock, and I knew a handful of men with that height willing to break down my door. Actually, just one. I stood in my new apartment, hanging outside the bathroom. My hand flew to the towel loosely wrapping me. I pulled it over my breasts as the knocking persisted, my heart pounding. I¡¯d barely unpacked, spending the day in a stated of numbed horror. I would get past this, but not if he showed up to my door. My fragile heart couldn¡¯t take it. Shit. I¡¯d taken every precaution. I withdrew from the ATM in low amounts to not draw his attention. I paid my security deposit in cash. I was careful, but he¡¯d found me. Fuck. I breathed in the shower¡¯s leftover steam and removed the cap from my hair. I undid the knot, the dark curls falling to my shoulder. Two impatient thuds hammered the wood. ¡°Indie!¡± Cursing, I grabbed my phone and unlocked it. A barrage of messages from my fiance leapt onto the screen. Knox: I¡¯ming over. Knox: I can¡¯t control the way I feel about you. A twinge of sadness hit my chest as I read his texts. My fingers hovered over Knox¡¯s desperate words as they invaded my body. I couldn¡¯t handle how I felt about him, either. Which was why I¡¯d left. I had to break free of his stifling authority, otherwise my future was shaping into one of those Stepford wives I swore I¡¯d never be. ¡°Indie. It¡¯s me.¡± His voice broke with huskiness as it boomed through the door, sending ripples of agony through me. ¡°Indie¡­let¡¯s talk. Are you there?¡± ¡°Yes, I am.¡± I readjusted the towel, my throat tightening. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Good. I want you to open this door.¡± ¡°Go home, Knox.¡± He let out a ragged sigh. I bit my lip and forced an iron will on myself. I hated myself for feeling guilty, but the thought of the man I loved in emotional pain pitted my stomach with nausea. ¡°Open it,¡± he growled. ¡°Now.¡± I wanted to. I couldn¡¯t. ¡°In-die. Last chance.¡± His warning made my heart race. I wiped my slicked palms as I returned to the bathroom, temptation rising within me like the steam clinging to the ceiling. The cheap fan spun, but moisture clung to the walls like a jungle mist. A scraping hit the lock. The sound of a deadbolt sliding open crashed in my ears. How in the fuck? Knox stepped inside, his brown hair stered to his head as though he¡¯d been walking in the rain. A shadow of stubble peppered his dimpled chin. His frowning mouth beckoned for a kiss. His dark and terrifying eyes gave me a thrill. I shoved my whirlwind attraction aside. He broke into my apartment. I froze, stunned by this tant abuse of boundaries. I couldn¡¯t move. I stared, tongue-tied, as Knox shut the door behind him and tossed his jacket on the couch like he owned the ce. His attention flicked from the furniture to me. He seemed bewildered. ¡°You nned this,¡± he said in a lilting voice, his lips curving. ¡°You waited until I left on a business trip.¡± A ck silence surrounded us as I fought to still my pounding heart. His smile broadened, and the conflict in my body raged. He drew closer, dragging with him a heat wave. ¡°H-how else could I leave you?¡± He shot me a prating look. ¡°Why would you do that?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you read the letter?¡± I¡¯d spent hoursposing it on my phone before I¡¯d penned it to paper. I¡¯d poured my heart onto those pages, second-guessing every word, crying. I gathered my towel, even though it firmly wrapped my body. He eyed the hand clutching the fabric, his gaze darkening with hunger. ¡°I did. That list of grievances has nothing to do withck of desire.¡± My mouth opened in dismay as he watched me with grim disappointment. He didn¡¯t fucking get it? I¡¯d written four single spaced, handwritten pages detailing the reasons behind the breakup, and he¡¯d dismissed every single one. ¡°Desire isn¡¯t the problem,¡± I fired back. ¡°It¡¯s everything else.¡± He crossed his arms, a muscle ticking in his clenched jaw. ¡°Just because our rtionship is unconventional doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s toxic.¡± ¡°You forced your way in here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a break-in if you have the key.¡± How the hell did he get that? I uttered a harsh sound. ¡°I can¡¯t do this anymore.¡± I marched toward the bedroom. My shoulder brushed his, and he seemed to take the idental touch as an invitation. He pivoted, blocking me. ¡°What is this really about?¡± A rock wedged in my throat as he stood there, boldly intimidating. What was this about? His overwhelming presence. How my body reacted to him. That I¡¯d surrendered all authority. His rules. The schedules. I couldn¡¯t even take my birth control without his say-so. It was about him telling the world we were engaged before I¡¯d wrapped my head around the idea of marrying him. He moved, and I collided into him. He grabbed my hip and yanked us together. My pulse throbbed as he leaned forward and red, his expression dark and angry. ¡°Indie, why are you running from me?¡± My breathing hitched. ¡°You terrify me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± That word tore apart my calm. ¡°You are so-you are so frustrating!¡± I uttered a harsh sound as he stood there, glowering. ¡°I can¡¯t do this anymore. I¡¯m not rehashing every detail of what you did. ¡°I realize I¡¯m not like the men you¡¯re used to, but I would never hurt you.¡± He still wasn¡¯t fucking listening. ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± I seethed. ¡°You¡¯re-¡± ¡°Intense. Yes. I understand needing space.¡± He gave the suitcase on the floor a rueful look. ¡°But this is a bit of an overreaction, don¡¯t you think?¡± How did he not understand this? ¡°Youck boundaries,¡± I shouted, hand on my hip. ¡°You are obsessed with control.¡± Knox said nothing. He watched me intently. His posture was rxed, as if he was flirting instead of breaking and entering. It pissed me off. ¡°Knox, get the fuck out.¡± ¡°Make me, Indie.¡± I bit my lip and looked away from his challenging re. It was as though he wanted me to fly off the handle. Doubt clogged my mind. ¡°I will call the police.¡± ¡°Go ahead. It¡¯ll be a waste of taxpayer money. It¡¯s not like Imitted a crime.¡± ¡°Once again, you broke in!¡± ¡°I let myself in.¡± He yed with the set of keys, dangling them in front of me. ¡°I own the building now, so I guess I¡¯m yourndlord.¡± I wished I could use him of bluffing, but Knox had a reputation of snapping up real estate around Boston at a second¡¯s notice. Honestly, that was the least of his crimes. This was the worst thing he¡¯d done. He knew I¡¯d never let him in, so he¡¯d bought the apartment building. I tried to throttle the dizzying current racing through me. ¡°You¡¯re crazy.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t control the way I feel about you.¡± Something inside me crumbled, because that sounded like I-love-you but it was more urately I-am-obsessed-with-you. That doused the unexpected warmth surging through me. ¡°You have no right to dictate where I live!¡± ¡°I have every right. It¡¯s called capitalism.¡± I shook my head at the sheer nerve of this man. ¡°This is stalking.¡± ¡°Call it whatever you want,¡± he murmured, his expression softening with his tender voice. ¡°I can¡¯t let you stay in a rundown shack without twenty-four/seven security.¡± God help me. I had to conquer my involuntary reaction to his gentle, loving eyes and the way he spoke to me. ¡°Knox,¡± I pleaded meekly, ¡°it¡¯s over.¡± He grabbed my hand. ¡°Then why are you wearing my ring?¡± Because I want toe back to you. My cheeks zed as he brushed the diamond on my finger. ¡°Because I-I still have feelings for you. I don¡¯t want to take it off.¡± Knox softened, his palm closing over mine. ¡°Get dressed ande.¡± I wanted to. Every cell inside me urged to rush into his waiting arms, but I needed to hold firm. ¡°I¡¯m not going with you.¡± ¡°The hell you aren¡¯t. We¡¯re engaged!¡± His broken voice sawed at my resistance. A spark leapt in my breast at the idea of listening to him, and then a heavy weight mmed into my head. You have to leave him.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. But if he stood in front of me and begged, I would cave. I would submit to his touch as I always had. I wanted him, but I didn¡¯t want our life together anymore, and the confusing push and pull was pure hell. My eyes burned with unshed tears. ¡°Knox, I need some time alone.¡± I tightened the towel around me, the cotton taut against my breasts. I imagined him brushing aside my protests and peeling it off me. I pictured him pushing me against the wall and entering me with a hard thrust from behind. My breasts tingled with the anticipation of the rough ster grazing my sensitive skin. ¡°Knox. Please.¡± He just watched, an infinite pool of patience as I worked myself into a frenzy. ¡°Did you find someone else? Is that it-there¡¯s another man?¡± My throat closed up. ¡°God, Knox. No.¡± Apparently, his pride couldn¡¯t withstand the possibility. He rushed past me like an inferno, throwing the bedroom door open. My heart pounded an erratic rhythm as he searched the apartment. I followed him into my bedroom as he rifled through my closet. ¡°Jesus, Knox. Do you mind?¡± He lowered his head, frowning. ¡°I¡­I had to be sure.¡± My jaw ached from my clenched teeth. ¡°You want to look in my underwear drawer, too?¡± He stared at the empty racks filled with swinging hangers and then red at me like it was my fault. ¡°I¡¯ll turn this whole ce upside down if I have to.¡± The fracture in his voice stabbed my chest. ¡°Th-that¡¯s insane.¡± He abandoned his search and stepped close enough to inhale his spiced cologne. The fragrance hammered me with images of Knox, naked in bed after sex, wearing azy smile. Knox brushed his knuckles on my cheek. ¡°You¡¯ve made me crazy, Indie.¡± A tear slipped down my cheek. I wiped it away. ¡°I don¡¯t make you anything.¡± ¡°You disappeared. I came home early and your clothes were gone. My assistant texted-said you¡¯d moved out.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, Knox,¡± I whimpered. I needed to stop apologizing. ¡°I really need this. I have to be on my own for a while, for my own sanity.¡± I clutched the towel as he cornered me against the wall. His deep blues probed mine as he caged me in his arms. ¡°I don¡¯t like you staying in this dump.¡± ¡°Where I live is not up to you.¡± He smirked. ¡°Everything involving you has been my decision for thest six months.¡± ¡°I¡¯m staying.¡± I lifted my chin, my voice wavering. ¡°I need you to ept that.¡± Knox¡¯s stare drilled into me. He looked unlikely to ept anything but my unconditional surrender, but after a few beats he seemed to calcte that the odds of me going quietly were slim to none. Tell me you love me. I begged him silently, the hope swelling in my chest like a hundred violins. I got through to him. He¡¯d promise to change. He¡¯d beg for my forgiveness. He¡¯d tell me how much he loved me. Knox cupped my cheek, and my pulse skittered rmingly. Suddenly, his embrace was warm and sweet. ¡°One day, you¡¯ll be mine forever.¡± Pain edged his baritone, attacking the walls I¡¯d built around myself. It throbbed in my chest as he leaned in to kiss me. My mouth parted in anticipation, but he ghosted my jaw until he reached my ear, whispering. ¡°Enjoy your freedom while itsts.¡± 2-34 KNOX I couldn¡¯t stop hurting. I wasn¡¯t unaware of losing Indie for a second, because every good feeling vanished. The sun had winked out, bathing my world in ice. An intense sickness consumed my body for days. Devastated didn¡¯t quite cover the sheer agony. I needed her back. I knew where she was and barely restrained myself from breaking down her door. This pain would end the moment I saw her, but she was adamant about staying away. I could have my pick of any woman in Boston, except the only one who mattered. Without her, I couldn¡¯t breathe. I wished I could box the way she made me feel and sell it to the masses so I could triple my worth. I wanted to spend every day with her. She needed to be off the market and on my arm, permanently. She was my soulmate. She belonged to me. Nobody would convince me otherwise. Not even her. The fact she ¡°broke up¡± with me meant nothing. She was still as much mine as she was before her tantrum. Alone in my house, I raged. I staved off the impulse to break down her door. Then I couldn¡¯t take it anymore. I slipped the burner phone from my pocket and dialed her number. I knew it by heart. The digits were etched into my brain like the pattern of moles on her body. She answered. ¡°Hello?¡± I sighed. ¡°Indie.¡± ¡°Knox. This is stalking.¡± ¡°So you¡¯ve mentioned.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t back off, I¡¯ll tell Vanity that I¡¯m getting a restraining order against Bryan Knox. I¡¯ll give yourpany the scoop.¡± She was a lot more sassy when I wasn¡¯t standing in her apartment. Or was this feigned bravery? Was she holding the phone away from her voice so I wouldn¡¯t hear the tears? ¡°Wouldn¡¯t running that story be a huge conflict of interest?¡± I flicked a speck of dust off my knee. ¡°Besides, you would never do that to me.¡± Indie¡¯s purity was inexhaustible. She stopped dead in the street to chat with homeless people. Indulged the drunken idiot at parties. She was relentlessly positive, and her presence put everybody at ease, including me. ¡°Knox, I¡¯d hate to ruin your life,¡± she said in her breathy, feminine whisper. ¡°Don¡¯t make me do this. Please.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I can stop.¡± ¡°You have to,¡± shemanded. ¡°I¡¯m not kidding! This isn¡¯t fair to either of us.¡± ¡°Believe me. I wish I could,¡± I hissed, raking my hands through my hair. ¡°I hate-fucking loathe-the effect you have on me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure I want to have an effect on you.¡± ¡°Yes, you do.¡± I paced my bedroom, my eyes raw fromck of sleep. ¡°You want to be the one that changes the tyrant.¡± ¡°The only person who can do that is you.¡± ¡°Why should I?¡± Indie¡¯s pained breath cut into my lungs. ¡°You should do it for me.¡± She was asking the impossible. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re making this so hard. Every woman I¡¯ve ever been with begs me for more. Most of them take off their clothes before I give the order.¡± ¡°Great. Date them.¡± She could barely get the words out. ¡°Nobody exists to me but you, Indie.¡± ¡°Then you have to change.¡±Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°I can¡¯t! This is who I am.¡± My screaming echoed, the sound so wild, I couldn¡¯t believe it came from my mouth. ¡°Be reasonable.¡± ¡°I asked you for space.¡± ¡°I know,¡± I muttered brokenly. ¡°I¡¯m trying.¡± The line prickled with static, and then she released a tense breath. ¡°This is really desperate of you.¡± I couldn¡¯t agree more. ¡°This is nothing. I¡¯m capable of worse, which you already know.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± she begged. ¡°Knox¡­you have to move on.¡± The suggestion made me want to punch a hole through the wall. ¡°I am never moving on.¡± ¡°I told you what I need. How many new phone numbers have you gotten to harass me?¡± ¡°Twelve. Sixteen if you count the emails.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t funny.¡± ¡°I have tough at myself, Indie. Because the alternative is to hate this groveling sack of shit I¡¯ve be. I miss you,¡± I reluctantly admitted, marveling that it was true. ¡°I need to feel you in my arms again.¡± ¡°Knox¡­I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Yes, you can. I know you miss me, too.¡± I swallowed the rest of my words. ¡°How are you?¡± ¡°So far, so good.¡± ¡°Come on. Give me a bit more than that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice to have my way, for once.¡± Her voice thawed slightly. ¡°What about you? Are you okay?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t slept in days. I fantasize about kidnapping you. I can¡¯t function. I don¡¯t eat. I barely sleep. Am I okay? What do you think, sweetheart?¡± ¡°Knox, I can¡¯t with this.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just being honest.¡± ¡°No,¡± she barked. ¡°You¡¯re unloading on me. Guilting me. Is that your goal? Manipting me intoing back? When we first met, you said you wanted me willing.¡± ¡°I did. I mean, I do.¡± I seized the handle to my dresser, my knuckles whitening. ¡°Of course I do.¡± ¡°And yet you won¡¯t leave me alone.¡± ¡°Things changed. I¡­I can¡¯t bear it, Indie. My feelings for you are out of my control. I told you that. Ever since you grabbed my arm at the interview all those months ago, you¡¯ve been in my head. Do you know how many I allow to touch me like that? None. But I give you free rein over my boundaries.¡± She went quiet before saying, ¡°Knox, you should get help for that.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve healed as much as I ever will,¡± I spat out, mming my fist onto the wood. ¡°And baby, judging from how easily I make youe, you don¡¯t want me to change.¡± ¡°Our rtionship is not normal.¡± ¡°Fuck normal. It¡¯s overrated. Besides, normal people failed me during my childhood. The doctors and social workers knew about my abuse. They stood by and did nothing. So if that¡¯s what normal is, I don¡¯t want to be associated with it!¡± ¡°Believe me, no one thinks that about you.¡± ¡°If they did, it would be because of you,¡± I murmured, thinking back to her ttering article. ¡°The first time I read your profile, I was stunned. I didn¡¯t realize you were checking me out. Finding out how hot you were for my body turned me on, Indie. Want to hear what I thought of you?¡± She didn¡¯t respond, but her breathing hitched. ¡°That low-cut blouse teased your cleavage. I got an eyeful of your perky tits when you took off your jacket. I remember wondering how nice they¡¯d taste. How hard I¡¯d bite them. How they¡¯d look covered in my cum. If you¡¯d let me take pictures of us fucking.¡± Heat spiraled into my groin as I pictured her in that blouse and skirt. ¡°And when I finally broke you down, we did all that and more. Didn¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± A grudging warmth rushed into her voice. ¡°But Knox, you could have that with someone else.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve ruined other women for me, Indie.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do this anymore.¡± My chest tightened. ¡°But I have to see you.¡± ¡°No.¡± For God¡¯s sake. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Because I know what¡¯ll happen! You¡¯ll get me in bed and make me forget why I¡¯m mad at you. And then you¡¯ll take over everything again, until I¡¯m back where I started-blowing you whenever you point at your dick!¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Sounds fun.¡± ¡°No, Knox. You¡¯re supposed to be my fiance, but I¡¯m a prisoner. I¡¯m not your equal. All you¡¯ve ever done was own me, trap me, and control me.¡± ¡°I need the control. It heals me.¡± ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t. If it did, you wouldn¡¯t have to keep doing it. Control is a drug for you. You need more and more. You¡¯re never satisfied.¡± She was correct. The more she obeyed, the more difficult it became to ignore my baser urges. Her submission in the bedroom intoxicated me. I always craved more. If I could control Indie¡¯s breathing, I would. ¡°Indie, I¡¯d never hurt you. You know that, right?¡± She quieted, and the weight of her silence filled my lungs with something that felt¡­wrong. She hung up. What the hell happened to us? I hurled the phone into the wall, and it shattered. My house was the loneliest ce because her absence stabbed my gut whenever I looked into the hollowed-out dressers. Losing her threw my empty life into sharp disarray. I was lost in the suffocating pressure coiling my heart. I couldn¡¯t take this anymore. I needed the world to reorient back into its regr orbit, but what could I do? Pull yourself together ande up with a n. Yes, everything was fine. I breathed slowly. Her defiance was a mere inconvenience and frankly, a strange decisioning from a woman well-acquainted with my ruthlessness. Apparently, I¡¯d loosened her leash too far. It was time I gave it a tug, just to let her know there was still tension in the rope. I dialed Tony¡¯s number. He answered after a few rings. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me. I need a favor.¡± 2-35 INDIE Me: I don¡¯t want your men following me. Knox: I¡¯ll call them off when you¡¯re safe. Me: Which is¡­when Ie back to you? He didn¡¯t respond. My annoyance with Knox flickered as I nced at the man standing outside. This morning, I left for a jog, and a six-foot-something giant with the broadest shoulders I¡¯d ever seen introduced himself as Charles, my bodyguard. I told him I didn¡¯t need security. He informed me that Knox had paid him and another guy to guard me in twelve-hour shifts. Every day. It was thoughtful in an overbearing way. Knox cared about me, but he revealed it in ways that stripped me of agency. And so far, he¡¯d shown no signs of stopping. My phone buzzed with another text. I ignored it. I shook my head for the umpteenth time that afternoon, perched on my couch with a ss. Ice clinked together as chocte-infused whiskey slipped down my throat. In thest few days, he¡¯d tried hard to win me over. He sent lunch to my apartment. When I visited the office, a piping hottte waited for me on my desk, apanied by a sweet Post-it note. ¡°He¡¯s so persistent.¡± I sighed, dropping the tumbler on my coffee table. ¡°What do you think?¡± My sister shrugged as she bent her knees and slid her legs to one side. She was younger than me, but wise beyond her years. I sought her advice because she always had the answers. Unlike me, she wore confidence like a luxurious coat. She never hesitated to give her point of view, but tonight she seemed reticent. ¡°ire?¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. She wiped dust off her sweatpants. ¡°You don¡¯t want to hear my opinion.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. Of course I do.¡± Her jade eyes glowed with a passionate challenge, but she picked lint from the couch. ¡°He¡¯s a stalker, and you need to call the police.¡± As usual, my sister went straight for the jugr. I slumped into the cushions as the weight of Knox¡¯s obsession mmed into my shoulders. ¡°I can¡¯t do that to him.¡± ¡°You are way too nice.¡± I waved her off, sipping more of the drink. ¡°I can handle a few inappropriate calls. He¡¯ll get bored of it and move on.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s not happening.¡± My hand trembled, and whiskey sloshed against the ss. Knox would leave me alone if I convinced him that I didn¡¯t want him, but I doubted whether that was possible. ¡°As long as he thinks he has a chance, he will bombard you with texts, emails, and calls until you cave. He scares you, Indie. And I don¡¯t me you. He sounds certifiable.¡± ¡°He is.¡± I drank deeply as she helped himself to the olive and cheese spread. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if his next n is to knock me up. I can¡¯t believe he bought my apartment. The whole damn building, ire. Before that, he bought mypany. Who does that?¡± ¡°A billionaire with a broken heart?¡± she suggested. ¡°Trust me, it¡¯s not broken. In his mind, we¡¯re still together. I need a new ce. And a job.¡± ¡°Get a passport with a different identity while you¡¯re at it.¡± ¡°Right?¡± I¡¯d scoured ssifieds and made a list of prospects, but a ring problem prevented me from moving forward-my stalker fiance. Even if I broke the lease, Knox¡¯s unlimited reach would find me. He had an entire department dedicated to espionage, staffed with the brightest engineers he¡¯d stolen from other techpanies. He¡¯d locate me again. Not that I could face severing him from my life. My cheeks flushed as I drained the rest of the whiskey. ¡°He hasn¡¯t shown up to the apartment in a week. Maybe he is letting go.¡± My sister snorted. ¡°That gorgeous nerd is nning his next move.¡± I ofteny awake at night, stressing over the lengths he¡¯d go to get me back. Knox didn¡¯t have anyone else. He was the most isted man I¡¯d ever met. No family. Barely any friends, except for the jesters who showed up when he held court. He appeared content, but I knew better. His bewitching smile covered up a lot of damage. ¡°Does that make him such a bad person?¡± I asked, worry clogging my chest. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we go after what we want?¡± ¡°Not by maniption.¡± ¡°He¡¯s type-A. Ites with the territory.¡± ire grimaced, shaking her head. ¡°You¡¯re rationalizing his behavior, Indie. It¡¯s not healthy.¡± ¡°I know, but I can¡¯t help but feel for him. It¡¯s not his fault every adult in his life abused him. What he became was shaped by the abuse. I can¡¯t ignore that.¡± ¡°Indie, listen. I love you. You¡¯re my older sister and I¡¯ll support you no matter what, but I hate that you downy his actions. He¡¯s out of line. And I don¡¯t care what he¡¯s been through. There¡¯s no excuse for it. None.¡± I considered that, frowning. My mother raised me to forgive. She looked the other way when my father cheated on her. Dad let the contractor that stiffed him redo the bathroom. They allowed my sister to stay in Colorado after she¡¯d nearly flunked her first year of college. Empathetic people held back on consequences. ¡°I¡¯m better off without him,¡± I murmured, the lie stinging my cheeks. ¡°I gave Knox a second chance. A third. Fourth. Fifth. But then I realized that I¡¯d given him carte nche to do whatever he liked.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t change him.¡± Exactly. My spirits plummeted when I pictured him alone. The pang in my heart burned. I ached for Knox. My heart bled for the boy inside him who never stood a chance. I wished I could guide him out of the darkness, but some men only craved the light from the fires they¡¯d started. I grabbed her empty ss and mine. Then I shuffled to the kitchen and dumped them in the sink. My chest tightened as I stared at the reflective metal, picturing a life without Knox. If I stayed here, I¡¯d work myself into another crying jag. ¡°I think I need a walk!¡± I forced a smile as I strolled into the living room. ¡°Want to stretch your legs?¡± * * * A glorious sunset dimmed over Castle Ind as we roamed from Seaport to the North End. It rained on the way there, but I took it as a blessing. Water battered me as I tipped my head back, relishing in the soothing chill. Vendors shouted their wares at the evening farmer¡¯s market. I sauntered down the path Knox and I took so many times. As my boots clicked the brick-lined street, I inhaled the scent of frying donuts. A sweet memory of Knox wiping sugar granules from my lips tortured me. I passed tables bursting with cranberries, prickly pears, and yams, sinking onto a park bench. ire walked ahead, haggling with the pickle farmer. I closed my eyes, gripped in the sensation of Knox sitting beside me on this very bench. Darkness slowly released its clutch on my heart. His mouth seemed to press into mine. We¡¯re over. I pushed that away and concentrated on the bustling marketce, the birdsong, the soft zoom of cars. Life would be bearable again. I had to let him go. I wiped my cheek as someone drifted by. Rocks shifted under their feet. Gravel crunched close to me. The footsteps stopped. ¡°Miss Starling?¡± The gruff voice jolted my eyes open. A man in histe thirties stood in front of me, hands shoved deep into his cks. ¡°Good evening, Indie.¡± ¡°Tony Costa? What are you doing here?¡± Annoyance lined his gorgeous, olive-skinned face. ¡°Taking you to Knox.¡± ¡°You have to be kidding me,¡± I whispered harshly, ring at him. ¡°Again?¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing him a favor.¡± I shrank from him, bristling. ¡°And if I refuse to go?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bring you anyway.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll scream,¡± I growled, nails digging into the bench. ¡°We¡¯re in a public area. I¡¯d like to see you try getting away with manhandling me into a car.¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know. I have a lot of friends in the justice department. And if by some miracle you outrun me, I¡¯ll get you the next time you¡¯re outside alone.¡± He shrugged, a bestial grin carving into his face. ¡°It¡¯s up to you whether you¡¯d rather spend weeks looking over your shoulder.¡± A lump swelled in my throat. ¡°Look, I can¡¯t leave. I¡¯m here with my sister!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a problem.¡± He turned at the waist, ncing in her direction. ¡°You won¡¯t be gone long, and she¡¯s distracted at the moment.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know my sister, pal.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have someone escort her home.¡± Tony faced me, his expression softening. ¡°Indie, he just wants to talk.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make this harder on yourself. Come.¡± Should I run for it? I searched for my sister among the throng of shoppers, but couldn¡¯t find her blond head. I stood, blood rushing to my temples. Tony backed up, motioning for me to join him. Avoiding him, I sprung for the path, crashing through a pile of leaves, my boots skidding in an awkward run. I took a quick nce behind me, screaming at the terrifying image of Tony closing in on me. My footing stumbled as my rubber soles slipped on the slicked road. Suddenly, red bricks whirled toward my face. I threw up my arms andnded hard. Pain mmed into my bones. Tony¡¯s roar crashed into my ears as he skidded to my side and peeled me off the ground. ¡°Let me go!¡± He dragged me upright as a Lexus wheeled to us, grimacing at shocked passersby. He opened the door and shoved me inside, then climbed in the backseat with me, cursing. ¡°Help me!¡± I shouted, catching the driver¡¯s gaze in the rearview mirror. ¡°I¡¯ve been kidnapped! Call the police!¡± The man faced the windshield and tapped the gas, as though driving kidnapped women to their destination was the most normal thing in the world. Tony raked his hair, his wedding ring winking through his ck locks. He muttered harsh-sounding words in Italian as he rubbed his forehead. ¡°Where the hell are you taking me?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out in five minutes,¡± Tony said testily, his thumbs texting a message. ¡°I have to tell your fiance there was a mishap.¡± ¡°He is not my fiance! I broke up with him, for God¡¯s sake!¡± The blue light from the phone illuminated Tony¡¯s furrowed brow, and his clouded expression hardened into anger. What the fuck was going on? We zoomed across the North End to Beacon Hill, a pretentious corner of Boston that Knox had carved out as his own. The car stopped in front of his favorite restaurant. ¡°He¡¯s out on the patio.¡± Tony got out, unfolding to his mammoth height as he held the door open. ¡°Any day now, sweetheart.¡± His mocking drawl inmed my cheeks. I ripped off the seatbelt and got out the other side, shaking with rage. I made a beeline for the restaurant entrance, catching Tony¡¯s amused gaze. I¡¯ll kill Knox. 2-36 INDIE There he is. Knox sat at an outdoor table by the firepit, eating. His open, army-green bomber jacket was rolled to his elbows. Flyaway brown hair framed his masculine jaw and hollowed cheeks. Not a trace of the distress that gripped me showed on his face. He looked gorgeously distant. ¡°Sit down, Indie. How are you?¡± He could get fucked. I remained standing, hands on my hips. ¡°How am I? Aside from the kidnapping?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t kidnap you.¡± ¡°He forced me into the car!¡± He shrugged, his expression pensive. ¡°I wanted to see you.¡± Pain squeezed deep inside me. ¡°So you decide to send one of your goombah associates to sling me over his shoulder and carry me across town? Did you ever think to ask me?¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t havee.¡± He crossed his arms, the breeze ying with his gentle waves. I ignored the fluttering in my chest. ¡°This isn¡¯t normal, Knox. You can¡¯t control me like this.¡± ¡°I can. I will. And the more you struggle against my hold, the tighter I¡¯ll squeeze.¡± He smiled, but it wasn¡¯t for my benefit. ¡°And you know how strong I am.¡± That evoked many images of Knox holding me down on the bed, and I hated myself for the cheap thrill it gave me. ¡°I want you to stop contacting me.¡± ¡°And I want you in my bed tonight.¡± ¡°Are you out of your fucking mind?¡± ¡°I was tolerant to answer that question once,¡± he said, a threatening note wavering on thest word. ¡°But if you keep questioning my sanity, I will punish you. Sit.¡± I sank into the chair as a suffocating tension tightened my throat. I red at the ted Iberico ham, the ss of wine, and the tware already ced in my spot. As if I¡¯d take this grotesque peace offering. I shoved the fork away from me. ¡°Take me back to my sister. Now.¡± ¡°After we¡¯ve had our talk,¡± he murmured, his handnding on my knee. ¡°Indie, I want you back. This stupid fight has gone on long enough. I can move your things back in in an hour. You won¡¯t have to worry about packing.¡± His words. His touch. Quite the devastating lure. My heart skipped as he stroked life into my leg. I met his cold, confident re with a waning fire. ¡°Knox, I¡¯m moving on.¡± ¡°Not without me.¡± Knox¡¯s voice was like an icy guillotine, cutting off all argument. His rejection of my independence pissed me off, but then he moved his chair closer to mine and took my arm. He held it firmly, but with so much care that it swept up my rage in a whirlwind of confusion. Reconciling his gentle touch with his callousness was impossible. His loving, worshipful, tender hands always weakened my resistance. He frowned, his thumb caressing the red mark on my forearm. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°A little.¡± He fished an ice cube from his water ss and touched it to the wound, stroking the chill from my flesh. ¡°I apologize. I didn¡¯t mean for this to happen.¡± ¡°The fall or the strange man forcing me into a car?¡± I shouted, yanking my arm away. ¡°You¡¯ve got some fucking nerve! You never apologized for interfering with my life, and you keep upping the ante. You have yet to admit you did anything wrong! And then you send your goon to manhandle me?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m slowly going insane.¡± His eyes tracked my face before settling on my mouth. ¡°You haunt my dreams, Indie. And I know it¡¯s the same for you.¡± My cheeks flushed as his re drilled into me, as though daring me to deny it. He flung away the ice cube and grabbed my arm. Then he mopped the wetness on my raw skin. His voice softened to a murmur. ¡°Indie,e home with me.¡± ¡°No!¡± He grabbed my waist. I yelped as he pulled me onto hisp, positioning my feet on either side of his thighs so that I straddled him. I gasped as my crotch brushed against the bunched fabric of his jeans. Then he pulled me so close that his chest expanded against mine. This close up, I saw every line on his face, and they told a story of sleepless nights. Combined with his wistful stare, it was quite the gut punch. ¡°I can¡¯t do this anymore, Indie.¡± A hot ache grew in my stomach, my throat raw from unuttered protests. ¡°Knox.¡± ¡°I want you to return to me willingly, but my patience has limits.¡± I trembled at his delivery of that sentence. I could never tell whether his passion came from his heart or the demon possessing his soul. The one he struggled to fight. Knox stroked my back, my body tingling from the contact. It irritated me. I didn¡¯t want him to soothe me, but I fought not to drop my chin onto his shoulder and sigh with pleasure. He turned his head to whisper into my ear. ¡°Do you think of mete at night?¡± My pulse thudded. ¡°I-why would you ask that?¡± ¡°Because it soothes the bastard inside me. Answer the question.¡± My stomach clenched as a shudder heated my thighs. ¡°Fine. Yes.¡± ¡°Do you touch yourself when you think of me?¡± His galvanizing re nearly did me in as his hands explored the hollows of my back. I shifted, trying to reconcile being in his arms, and identally rubbed his groin. ¡°Do you?¡± he snapped. ¡°Yes. Happy?¡± ¡°How does it make you feel? When you can¡¯t stop thinking of me since you left?¡± I stared into his eager gaze. ¡°Pathetic.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing shameful about your desire,¡± he soothed, my heart rushing to the spots he touched. ¡°It¡¯s an awakening of your most primal instincts. You want to be knocked up by me.¡± He was fucking crazy, but he wasn¡¯t wrong. I had dreamed about him. I floated in a cloud of Knox fantasies during the day, and devious memories kept me warm at night. I relived his touch under the sheets. I fought the urge to nce at the photos of us, to rey himmanding me to orgasm. ¡°Indie,e back to me.¡± ¡°So I can be your whore again?¡± ¡°What a demeaning way to describe our rtionship. Do you think I invite all my whores to live with me? Do you believe I¡¯d go through these lengths for a good fuck?¡± ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I feel like your whore? It¡¯s always about sex. You say nice things to me, but every conversation ends with you talking about shoving your cock inside me.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± I just want you to love me. I loved him, and I¡¯d suffered just as much in our time apart. All I needed was the same feelings returned to me. My heart was sick with keeping in this horrible secret, but the thought of him shooting me down terrified me. So I shut my mouth. Knox stared as though waiting for me to speak. When I didn¡¯t, he shook his head. ¡°You¡¯ll never find a man who can give you what I can. Before long, you¡¯ll realize that and return to me. And then you¡¯ll spend the next few weeks on your back with your legs open. For me.¡± I ignored the strange aching in my limbs. ¡°No, I won¡¯t!¡± ¡°You will. You know that you crave the dominance of powerful men. You want to be owned. Taken. Fucked.¡± My heart thundered as I shook my head. He grasped my chin and pressed his thumb into my lip. ¡°You never had an issue with that part of our rtionship. Isn¡¯t that what you said when we broke up¡­that desire wasn¡¯t the problem?¡± Heat stung my cheeks at his firm eye contact. I hated that I couldn¡¯t hide from him. He was right. I had a hard time epting it, but I¡¯d followed his orders for six months. Sexually, I enjoyed being at his beck and call. Coming to terms with that was an ongoing struggle.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Knox¡¯s muscr arms enveloped me, pulling me flush to his chest. He hovered over me, his face inmed with a passionate beauty. He stroked my cheek. Then he trailed down my jaw, my skin tingling where he touched. His drugging closeness spiraled warmth in my belly. ¡°You trusted me once. You told me things you¡¯d never admitted to anyone else because you knew I¡¯d understand. Listen to that instinct.¡± ¡°I trusted you. Then you messed with my life.¡± ¡°What do you fucking want?¡± he ground out, his tone growing desperate. ¡°I¡¯ll give you anything. Anything. Juste back to me. Please.¡± ¡°Tell me you love me.¡± Patches of heat rose to my cheeks as we stared at each other. I hadn¡¯t meant to blurt it out, but relief washed away the angst building in my chest. I would have him back once he gave me this. If he was worth it, he would say it. Please say it. He stiffened. His eyes fractured with a deep pain as he slumped in his chair, his hands dropping from my body. His demeanor grew severe, incongruous with his strained speech. ¡°The people who¡­who were supposed to love me have always hurt me.¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll hurt you?¡± Conflict raged in his tormented gaze. ¡°You¡¯ve hurt me every day since I first saw you. You don¡¯t want me like I want you. You don¡¯t trust me. You don¡¯t ept my gifts. The way I want to help you. How I need to keep you safe.¡± I swallowed hard, fighting to keep tears at bay. ¡°Knox¡­control isn¡¯t love.¡± ¡°Then I don¡¯t know what love is!¡± ¡°Will you let me show you?¡± It would take work, but I was willing to do it for him. Not everybody grew up with a perfect model of rtionships. He just needed someone to hold his hand. I loved him enough to do that. Come on, Knox. Gradually, he hardened. His parted lips thinned. The pink flush consuming his cheeks dissipated as he took my arm, his grip biting. The longing on his face disappeared, his arrogant mask mming in ce. He smiled, but it didn¡¯t soften his look. Then his touch glided under my skirt, his fingers curving into my ass with a brutal pinch. ¡°No.¡± His rough whisper was like a wind blowing out myst hope for us. I stumbled off hisp, stood, and grabbed my purse. ¡°You know what? Fine.¡± My eyes flooded with tears. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have to show you what love is! It¡¯s something you fucking feel!¡± 2-37 INDIE This breakup was eating me alive. Much worse thanst time, because he would nevere back to me. Over the weeks, I made an art out of avoiding Knox. Which didn¡¯t work at all because his face was everywhere. I couldn¡¯t even nce at a coffee mug without thinking of him. Freedom felt nice after months of living on someone else¡¯s routine, but Knox had rubbed off on me. In the mornings, I exercised and sent resumes to job postings. Then I worked in the vegetable garden at St. Luke¡¯s. I still had a schedule, but I woke up at eight instead of six. I¡¯d put in my notice at Vanity. Theck of Knox¡¯s dominating presence weighed on my soul. I no longer had his strong arms to sink into after a nightmare. He couldn¡¯t reassure me after I fell into a self-hating spiral because I¡¯d failed the girls I¡¯d interviewed. I thought of them constantly.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. A chime hit my phone. I swiped open the screen. Knox: Happy birthday, beautiful. I clung to my cell and screwed my eyes shut, fighting the warmth sweeping through my abdomen. A sh of loneliness stabbed me. I reread the messages, staring at beautiful until it burned. My fingers ached with the need to respond, so I called my sister. She picked up on the first ring. ¡°Hey, birthday girl! Did you change your mind about hanging out?¡± ¡°ire,¡± I huffed, climbing the steep staircase to my apartment. ¡°I need you to talk me out of calling him.¡± ¡°Ah. So it¡¯s one of those nights.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just¡­I can¡¯t help wonder how he¡¯s doing. If he¡¯s seeing anyone.¡± My hand slid up the railing, throat tightening at the brightly colored package on my doorstep. I stooped, brushing aside the yful ribbons. ¡°Oh my God. Did you buy me L. A. Burdick handmade choctes?¡± My heart pounded. It had to be from Knox. We didn¡¯t celebrate things in my family. I had no ns beyond the slice of grocery store cake and the Chardonnay in my fridge. My earliest memory was being left behind at the beach, my parents picking me up hourster at the police station. Indifference was the recurring theme of my childhood. ¡°No, but it has Knox written all over it.¡± My sister¡¯s heavy sigh raised a blush on my cheek. ¡°Send it back, unopened.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± I¡¯d already torn through the wrapping paper. My thumb pried the lid open as the door swung inside. I kicked out with my foot to close it and carried the box to the kitchen table. I popped a truffle into my mouth. ¡°Indie, opening his gifts emboldens his efforts,¡± ire warned. ¡°Remember what dating him was like? How he controlled your every step? He¡¯s obsessed with you. He¡¯ll say and do anything for your attention.¡± I chewed on a mouse-shaped milk chocte, savoring the rich vor. I¡¯d never told ire about Knox showing up at my apartment. She¡¯d scream into the phone to call the cops, but I had no desire to hurt Knox. ¡°It¡¯s a nice gesture. I¡¯d feel rude if I sent it back.¡± I put the lid aside, and a handwritten card fell out. ¡°There¡¯s a note.¡± ¡°Do not. Read. It.¡± Toote. Indie, You¡¯ve been gone too long. It¡¯s time to return to me. Knox The audacity of that man. It never ceased to amaze me, and yet, imagining his silky baritone repeating those words teased warmth between my thighs. The sweetness rolling over my tongue turned into ash. God, I miss him. I read the note to ire. She was aghast. ¡°He can¡¯t boss you around.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t stop him from sending gifts.¡± I pressed my thumb into the card, my voice wavering. ¡°Or coffee. Lunch. Bodyguards.¡± ¡°Well, don¡¯t give Knox any reason to contact you. No messages. Not even a thank-you. Otherwise you¡¯ll be sending him mixed signals. Making him think there¡¯s hope when there isn¡¯t any.¡± ¡°I miss him,¡± I said hoarsely, my eyes burning. ¡°I¡¯d go back to him in a heartbeat if he changed.¡± ¡°Indie. Just listen to yourself. You can¡¯t force someone to change. This is his nature. From what you¡¯ve told me, he¡¯s messed up. He needs therapy. He¡¯s a psycho.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that about him!¡± ¡°I can and I will.¡± I shook my head. ¡°You don¡¯t know him.¡± ¡°Fine. Does it matter? He crossed the line many times over. I one-hundred-percent support you leaving him. Indie, you¡¯re doing the right thing.¡± Her softening tone blew myposure apart. Silent tears streaked my cheeks. ¡°Then why do I feel horrible?¡± ¡°It¡¯s always like that with your first love.¡± ¡°I do love him.¡± I nudged the box of choctes, barely holding in a sob. ¡°And I know he cares about me. That¡¯s what makes this so confusing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± she ground out. ¡°Your rtionship was toxic. It still is. Him not respecting your boundaries isn¡¯t love. The way he treats you is not loving.¡± My sister¡¯s reassurance did little to unclog the doubt from my thoughts. Searching inward only gave me more agony because the man was unwilling to change his behavior. Knox would eventually realize he¡¯d never win me back. He¡¯d find another obsession. I¡¯d fade to a lukewarm memory while he stayed an evesting me. ¡°I¡¯m better off without him.¡± The pathetic lie pitted my stomach. ¡°Maybe one day, you¡¯ll believe it. Indie, go out. Do something fun! Forget about Knox for a few hours. It¡¯s your birthday.¡± My smile trembled. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± She clucked her tongue. ¡°I wish you would¡¯ve taken me up on my offer to hang out.¡± ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m just not in the mood. Anyway, I have to cook dinner.¡± ¡°All right.¡± She sighed, sounding disappointed. ¡°Enjoy your night.¡± I hung up, my head pounding, and shuffled into the kitchen. I opened the refrigerator door, but ignored the uncooked ribeye. I grabbed the bottle of wine and uncorked it. It sloshed into a ss. As I debated texting a friend, my screen zed with a phone call. I epted it, turning on the speaker. My ex-boss¡¯s nasal tones sted into the room. ¡°Indie. Jesus Christ. I¡¯ve been trying to reach you forever! I really, really need to talk to you.¡± Ugh. You. ¡°Eliot, I can¡¯t get your job back. The man does not listen to me. We¡¯re not even together anymore. I have no pull over Bryan Knox, so you can stop calling. Okay?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t about that,¡± he said in a halting voice. ¡°Although I wouldn¡¯t mind if you put in a good word for me. I¡¯ve had a difficult time finding a job. It¡¯s sort of¡­why I¡­I fucked up. I did something.¡± I fished another chocte from the box. ¡°And you want me to make it go away? I told you, I¡¯m not with Knox anymore.¡± ¡°No, no, no. I¡¯m not asking you for a favor.¡± ¡°Then spit it out, Eliot. I have ns tonight.¡± I didn¡¯t, but that made me feel like less of a loser. ¡°Any day now.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t find a job. It¡¯d been weeks with no callbacks. No interviews. Radio silence. I had the feeling Knox followed through on his threat to cklist me. I was pissed off. When I found out Knox killed your piece, I¡­I edited it. Then I¡­listed my name as the author.¡± ¡°You stole my story?¡± ¡°It gets worse. I sent it out.¡± I rubbed my face hard. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°The Herald. The Globe. And the New York Times.¡± He continued to ramble as air vanished from my lungs. ¡°It was a stupid thing to do. I was high. It all happened so quickly.¡± ¡°You mean, it¡¯s being published?¡± My heart bottomed out as I let out a hoarse scream. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°The Times,¡± he whimpered. ¡°But look, I¡¯m contacting them. I¡¯ll tell them everything. Maybe there¡¯s time to change it before they publish on Monday.¡± ¡°That¡¯s in two days!¡± ¡°Well, I could¡¯ve told you sooner, but you never picked up!¡± ¡°Jesus Christ, Eliot. You could¡¯ve put this in a text message. Are you insane?¡± A hot wave scorched my cheeks as I pictured Cainan¡¯s retribution. ¡°Eliot. Quit babbling and listen to me! You need to stop this story.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t. It¡¯s toote.¡± The phone dropped from my clenched fist. Eliot¡¯s intive voice whined near my feet. My veins turned to ice. Two days. How would I fix this? I didn¡¯t know anyone at the fucking New York Times¡­but Knox probably did. But call him? I¡¯d rather chew off my arm. Did I have any other options? I picked up my phone. I ended the call and scanned the contact list. My eyesnded on the number that had texted me months ago that I suspected was Cainan¡¯s. Me: I need to speak with you. ASAP. His response came immediately Devil: Be outside in an hour. 2-38 KNOX Fuck love. If this was love, I didn¡¯t want it. I hadn¡¯t felt so miserable in over a decade, when I still cared about the bitch that created me. This feeling was like a cancerous tumor. It spread, gnawing at my insides, taunting me with flickers of hope. A notification pinged my phone. I knocked it off the desk in my haste to grab it. It was Indie. She¡¯de to her senses. I swiped the phone open. A work-rted text shed over the screen. Not Indie. I mmed it face down on the desk. My head throbbed with a vicious headache as I pictured Indie at the altar with another man. I¡¯d only stayed away because she¡¯d begged me. Then thirty days flew by, and the thirty became forty. At this rate, I¡¯d never see her again. ¡°Mr. Knox?¡± My assistant stormed in. She pushed a mug of coffee in front of me, her brows pinching together as she scanned the uneaten sandwich on my desk. ¡°Would you like me to get you something else?¡± ¡°No. Get rid of this.¡± Valerie took the te, so close that her overpowering perfume stung my nostrils. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± I didn¡¯t see the point of sustaining myself. Or sticking to a schedule that no longer worked to control my impulses. Life held no meaning without the woman who filled my heart. I shrugged. ¡°Not hungry.¡± Valerie¡¯s fingers brushed my shoulder. She touched me a lot,tely. Since Indie left, she was less shy about asserting her desire. No doubt, she hoped I¡¯d fuck her over the desk. Valerie wanted to be my rebound, but I would never, ever be interested. Her transparent feelings annoyed me. ¡°Valerie. You¡¯re hovering.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir.¡± She withdrew her touch and stepped aside, bright patches rising to her cheeks. ¡°Your job isn¡¯t to fawn over me.¡± I picked up my coffee and sipped. ¡°I have a fiancee for that.¡± ¡°She moved out, Mr. Knox.¡± ¡°Really? I hadn¡¯t fucking noticed.¡± Hershes fluttered as she averted her gaze downward. ¡°I apologize, sir.¡± ¡°I also don¡¯t pay you toment on my personal life.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Valerie¡¯s oval face twitched with fear. ¡°Sorry, sir. It won¡¯t happen again.¡± She didn¡¯t leave. I glowered at her. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Tony Costa is here to see you.¡± I sank into my chair. ¡°Whatever. Bring him in.¡± She disappeared. Momentster, Tony stormed in, carrying with him an aura of danger along with a stic bag. He leaned against the sliding ss doors, his profile rigid with difort. ¡°Tony. What brings you here?¡± He scowled. ¡°You asked me toe.¡± ¡°Oh. Right.¡± He crossed his arms. ¡°You look like shit.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ming down with a cold.¡± ¡°Sorry, buddy. Do you need anything?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I snapped, annoyed that he¡¯d adopted the same concerned tone as Valerie. ¡°But Indie¡¯s not. She dismissed her security and can¡¯t be alone.¡± He worked his jaw stubbornly. ¡°I have better things to do than stalk your ex.¡± Why did everyone want to talk about my rtionship? I raked my hair, frustrated. Caffeine wasn¡¯t helping with my sluggish thoughts. ¡°I didn¡¯t break up with her. She left me.¡± ¡°You never mentioned that.¡± ¡°Well, I had no idea our friendship was on that level.¡± Tony¡¯s dark eyes shed a gentle but firm warning. ¡°When you send me to a job, you have to give me all the facts. Not just the ones you¡¯refortable with disclosing.¡± My heart pounded an erratic rhythm as I fantasized about caving in his skull. ¡°Tony. Remember what I did for your wife?¡± ¡°Yes. But I have limits.¡± ¡°Says the fucking serial killer!¡± Tony¡¯s unblinking stare dove into me. ¡°Knox, you¡¯re having a bad day. Go take a shower and jerk off before you say something you¡¯ll regret.¡± ¡°You owe me.¡± I breathed deeply, thrown by my violent outburst. ¡°I saved her. Her mother, too. If you thought I did that out of kindness, think again. Time is money and that¡¯s all I care about, so my favorse with a giant price tag.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t like you.¡± I drained my mug, mming it on the table. ¡°Meaning what?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a miserable ass. More so than usual.¡± Tony swung the stic bag on my desk. ¡°Is this about Indie?¡± Her face shed in my mind, tormenting me. I buried my head in my palms. Suddenly, I could¡¯ve slept a million years. I was so exhausted. I groaned. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Ah, kid. You¡¯ll be okay.¡± I rubbed my temples. His sympathy made me want to throw up. ¡°Breakups are brutal.¡± Tony¡¯s full mouth twitched into a bemused grin as he patted my shoulder. ¡°But I never would¡¯ve expected you to handle it like this. Didn¡¯t you get the juvenile behavior out of your system in high school?¡± ¡°Never went. My test scores were off the charts. Everyone called me a genius and sent me to MIT.¡± I resented the bitter pang in my heart. ¡°I can¡¯t do this anymore, Tony. I need her.¡± Tony heaved an exasperated sigh. ¡°Well, your game is all wrong.¡± ¡°What other game is there?¡± ¡°The truth,¡± he boomed. ¡°Start by apologizing. You¡¯re a mess without her. You fucked up. You love her and wanted her back so badly that you lost control, and you¡¯ll do anything to make it right.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t lost control.¡± A bright mockery invaded his stare. ¡°That¡¯s why you had me kidnap your ex. So you could talk to her.¡± I turned in my seat, facing him fully. ¡°I can¡¯t love her. I don¡¯t have it in me. She¡¯s determined to change everything about me.¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is that what she said?¡± ¡°She wants me to stop ¡®controlling¡¯ her.¡± ¡°Then do it, you fucking moron! Jesus. Are you going to be like this for the rest of your life?¡± He leaned over and smacked my arm. ¡°Huh? You want to be a sorry sack of shit?¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ¡°I like how I am.¡± ¡°Look, Knox. If you want this chick, you¡¯ll have to make sacrifices. Real ones. Quit having her followed. Let the poor girl breathe for a hot minute. I promise, she¡¯lle back to you.¡± A sickening amount of hope lodged in my voice. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve seen you two together.¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°And if she doesn¡¯t?¡± ¡°Then you move on, buddy.¡± Give up? The thought of abandoning Indie splintered pain inside me. It felt like epting death. I shook my head. ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°If you love her, you¡¯ll do anything for her. Even let her go¡­because her happiness is worth more than yours.¡± And be miserable forever? I sneered at him. ¡°Your advice is terrible.¡± Tony opened the bag, his eyes twinkling as he revealed a tub of Ben and Jerry¡¯s Cherry Garcia ice cream. He slid it forward into my hands. I gaped at him. ¡°You¡¯ll need it.¡± Tony gave me a pitying smile, patted my head, and strolled out. I fought a childish impulse to throw the pint at Tony¡¯s retreating back. Let the poor girl breathe. His suggestion churned in my guts like ck tar. Why? So she could marry another man? For months, visions of my future with Indie had tormented me. Our wedding. Her pregnant belly. Children. Was I going to stand aside and allow someone else to take my dream? My chest caved in. I can¡¯t live without her. I had to act now. If I didn¡¯t, another asshole would offer her what she thought I couldn¡¯t give. I had to tell her I loved her. That I¡¯d put all the schedules and rules behind. If she needed me to change, I would try. No. I will. Hand shaking, I called Indie. Blocked. Fuck. My heart pounded as I tried a different phone, but it went straight to voicemail. I ended the call. Never mind. I¡¯d drive to her ce. I stood, and a wave of dizziness crashed into my head. The world tipped sideways. I careened to my right, swept in vertigo, and fell. Pain shattered my arm. I blinked, my cheek stuck against the hardwood floor. I grimaced, trying to raise my torso. My limbs wouldn¡¯t respond. Light footsteps tapped closer as I rolled onto my back. My assistant raced to my side. Her palms cupped my face, and I flinched. Stop touching me. My hand flopped on the floor. I made a weak fist and pushed. ¡°Valerie,¡± I groaned. ¡°Phone.¡± I copsed under the weight of crushing fatigue. She hovered above me, her features blurred. ¡°You¡¯ll be okay, Mr. Knox.¡± I growled, fighting the heavy sensation pressing on my forehead. Itmanded me to sleep. My mind floundered as it seized on one word: drugged. Again? How? ¡°Hospital,¡± I choked out. ¡°Now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re fine.¡± Valerie shook her head, her gaze filling with tears. ¡°He said you would be. Oh, Knox. I¡¯m so, so sorry. I just want you to be happy. I care about you so much.¡± Valerie stroked my hair with a nauseating intimacy. Then she leaned over and kissed my cheek. Bile filled my throat. I turned over and gagged. Valerie leapt out of the way. Indie, I love you. That glowing thought protected like a frail shield as darkness swallowed me. My eyes closed. I drifted. * * * How did I get here? I cursed the sluggish crawl of my thoughts. Iy on a chaise longue, surrounded by fleur-de-lis wallpaper. My eyes roamed over ck furniture, white marble, and a buxom blonde who sat way too close. The coffee mug materialized in my head as Valerie came into focus. My assistant drugged me. The scheming, double-crossing bitch. Valerie lowered her phone. ¡°You¡¯re awake. How are you feeling?¡± ¡°Betrayed,¡± I snarled. ¡°I don¡¯t me you.¡± Valerie trembled, her mouth crumpling into an agonized frown. ¡°But I had no choice. You were going to get yourself killed.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± She picked at her nail polish. ¡°A man approached me in a bar weeks ago. He was a client of yours. He recognized me from a meeting, I guess.¡± Cainan. That fucking demon. She didn¡¯t need to mention anything else. He must¡¯ve been following her, searching for a vulnerability in my security. As for Valerie, Indie was right about this viper. I should¡¯ve known how dangerous jealousy could be. A cold, numbing chill wrapped my body as she edged closer to me. ¡°We had a few drinks and talked. I confessed that I¡­I had a crush on you. He seemed to sympathize. He imed you were in danger. He told me all about Indie¡¯s research, how it¡¯d put you both at risk. He said we needed to help you.¡± ¡°Help me,¡± I repeated hollowly. ¡°By slipping me a roofie?¡± ¡°It was only to keep you from running to her.¡± An angry beat pulsed at the base of my neck as I restrained myself from violence. Valerie didn¡¯t seem to notice that I¡¯d concentrated every effort into not mming her face into the wall. Her dewy-eyed smile nauseated me. ¡°Knox, I¡¯m in love with you.¡± ¡°Say that again, and I¡¯ll choke the light out of your eyes.¡± I swung my legs off the chaise. The slight movement caused so much vertigo that I abandoned my attempt to stand. ¡°And the moment I¡¯m free, I¡¯m filing a police report.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± she whispered, her hands twisting around her purse. ¡°She¡¯s getting you involved with dangerous men. Making you do things you¡¯ve never done before. If you stay with her, you¡¯ll end up in jail. Or worse. It¡¯s not worth it, Knox. I know you. You were happier without her.¡± ¡°My happiness is none of your concern.¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing what¡¯s best for you!¡± I seized her jaw and pinched it closed. ¡°We are fucking done.¡± I released her as the lock in the door clicked. The ebony door opened, admitting Cainan closely followed by two guards. He was like a toxic breeze, aggravating my senses. His charcoal gaze swept over Valerie. ¡°Time¡¯s up, darling.¡± Valerie froze. ¡°We made a deal. You said I¡¯d be with him.¡± ¡°You were with him for twenty minutes.¡± Cainan checked his watch and motioned to the guards. ¡°Take her out.¡± Valerie shrieked as Cainan¡¯s goons lifted her off the chair and dragged her from the room. Cainan smirked as she wed the wall in an effort to return to me. Her screams echoed down the hall. Then he shut the door, shaking his head. ¡°You should be more careful about the people in your employ.¡± I ground my teeth. ¡°She wasn¡¯t a nutcase until you got your ws in her.¡± Cainan sank into the chair across mine, his expression lifeless. ¡°You underestimate me. My greatest thrill has been showing you how powerless you actually are.¡± ¡°Why are you fucking with me?¡± A satanic smile curved his lips. ¡°To show you that I can get to you anytime and anywhere.¡± I seethed. ¡°This won¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°No. Because I have Indie.¡± My stomach plummeted. ¡°She¡¯s here?¡± Cainan nodded slowly. My vertigo gone, I jumped off the chaise and headed for the door, my pulse spiking when I realized it was locked. My fist banged the wood. ¡°She¡¯s a good girl,¡± he murmured, standing too close behind me. ¡°She came to me when she found out the story leaked.¡± Leaked? I whirled around. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me.¡± ¡°I know. Eliot Carter did it.¡± Cainan crossed his massive arms. ¡°The disgruntled editor you fired? He sent her story to three publications. The Times was nning to publish her article. I managed to stop it, but the wrong people discovered what happened. Now it¡¯s toote.¡± ¡°What do you mean? What did you do?¡± He didn¡¯t answer. I twisted the doorknob, then yanked at it. I wrenched madly and shoved my shoulder into the wood. ¡°She¡¯s alive, Knox,¡± he said, sounding somber. ¡°But I¡¯m not sure for how much longer.¡± Lights popped in my mind as though I were being strangled. There was nothing I could do. I waded in an ocean of fire, trying to reconcile that I was powerless. That I couldn¡¯t save her. But maybe I could. I turned around, clenching my fists. ¡°What do I have to do?¡± His lips twitched. ¡°What makes you think there¡¯s a chance?¡± ¡°Because this is all part of your design. You¡¯re a sadist.¡± Cainan leaned forward, seething. ¡°I do enjoy the sight of a tyrant on his knees.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± He stared at me for what seemed like a millennium, then backed away. ¡°They want you thoroughly discredited. By the time I¡¯m done with you, your professional life will be over and your reputation will be ruined, but at least you¡¯ll have each other.¡± ¡°I only care if she lives.¡± Nothing else mattered to me. ¡°Done.¡± I let out a ragged sigh. ¡°If I agree to do this, you and the traffickers will leave us the hell alone. Forever.¡± ¡°I give you my word.¡± I held out my hand for him to shake. ¡°Deal.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you to her.¡± I followed Cainan into the dreary hallway to the room next door. Indie sat on the bed, white-faced. She sprung off the mattress and flung herself into my arms. She sank into the crook of my shoulder and shook with silent sobs. I sagged into her, returning the embrace. God, I¡¯d needed this. I dug into her back as she squeezed the breath out of me. ¡°I¡¯ll be outside.¡± Cainan shut the door, leaving us alone. ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± I whispered. ¡°I made a deal with Cainan. They¡¯ll leave you alone for good.¡± ¡°Kn-Knox, I¡¯m so sorry.¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s fine.¡± I wasn¡¯t sure about that, but at least she would be alive. ¡°Let¡¯s get you home.¡± I had no idea how we made it outside and into a car. Only that I blinked, and the scenery changed. Silent tears streaked her pale cheek as we stopped at her apartment building. I took her hand, my thumb brushing the engagement ring she still wore. She folded into my arms and gripped my back, squeezing me hard. Tony¡¯s advice echoed in my head. I have to do this. My throat tightened. ¡°Go.¡± Indie lifted her head from my shoulder. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t let you go again.¡± I couldn¡¯t give it another second¡¯s thought, or the selfish bastard inside me would drag her to my ce. ¡°Go. Before I lose control.¡± Her eyes widened. I looked away from her, unable to bear any signs of relief. ¡°Leave, if you want. I won¡¯t stop you. I won¡¯te after you. I won¡¯t contact you ever again.¡± Silent tears crawled down her cheeks. ¡°You won¡¯t?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want this,¡± I said, my breath hitching with the pain in my chest. ¡°Letting go of you will kill me. But if it¡¯s what you need¡­I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ll do anything for you, Indie. So I¡¯m asking you this onest time. Stay with me. Please. I miss you. Pleasee home. I¡­I love you.¡± My lungs tightened when she blinked rapidly, rxing only when she crashed into my chest. She sank her fingers into my shirt and cried, then whispered the words I¡¯d been dying to hear ever since we met. ¡°I love you, too.¡± A tear slipped down my cheek as I broke down for the first time in twenty years. 2-39 INDIE Three monthster I sat in the stands of a basketball court. The ball smacked the ground as Knox stole it from Tony, whose angry swipe missed him. Knox tossed the ball. It sank through the. ¡°I could¡¯ve done that if I were your age.¡± A gloating smile shed across Knox¡¯s face. ¡°Need a break, old-timer?¡± Tony straightened and uttered a harsh-sounding Italian curse. I checked my watch. ¡°Babe, we should get going.¡± ¡°All right, T. You made a good effort.¡± Knox pped his arm and winked. ¡°Poker on Thursday?¡± ¡°Bring twenty thousand dors. Cash.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Tony¡¯s sank into the bench in front of me and toweled his brow. Then he red at Knox. ¡°I¡¯m not losing my winning streak.¡± ¡°Do you want me to lose on purpose?¡± ¡°No, but I know you. You¡¯ll have all the stats memorized. You¡¯ll calcte the odds of every hand and it won¡¯t be fair.¡± Knox rolled his eyes. ¡°Then use multiple decks. Makes it a lot harder for me to count cards.¡± They bantered as we strolled to the parking lot. We parted ways, and then Knox slipped his hand in mine, a gesture that would¡¯ve been unthinkable months ago. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°An Audi TT.¡± Knox led us to a fire-engine-red luxury sports vehicle. It seemed like a strange choice for a loaner car, given Knox¡¯s size and the feminine sculpting of its body. ¡°Where¡¯s the Mustang? Did you get rid of it?¡± ¡°Tony¡¯s driving it home for me.¡± He grabbed my wrist and folded the keys in my palm. I gaped at him. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°It¡¯s yours. Give it a test drive.¡± His grin shed, dazzling against his tanned skin. He dropped in the passenger seat and shut the door, cutting off my gasp. He was giving up control. The old Knox never would¡¯ve let me drive. It¡¯d been ages since I¡¯d owned a car. I¡¯d learned to drive in a very battered Kia handed down to me by my parents, and it died one year into college. After I moved closer to campus, I didn¡¯t need a car, so I never reced it. Excitement throttled my veins as I settled behind the wheel. The leather interior smell saturated the air. My hands syed over the dash, which flickered to life.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Wow. You didn¡¯t have to blow our kids¡¯ college fund.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t that expensive. Any fiancee of mine will have a sick ride.¡± Knox¡¯s eyes gleamed as he fingered the gear lever, like an eager boy with a new toy. ¡°I picked it up yesterday. Do you like it?¡± It was an over-the-top but surprisingly sweet move. By the way his eyes tracked my face, he wanted my approval. ¡°I love it.¡± I programmed my radio stations in the dash and synced my phone to the Bluetooth. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡± Knox looked pleased with himself. I kissed him. His hot sigh scorched my lips before he responded hungrily, and then he kissed down my neck. He breathed a kiss at the base of my throat, triggering a wild swirl in my stomach. He¡¯d refused point nk to try talk therapy but did other things to soothe his need for control. He¡¯d even volunteered at St. Luke¡¯s a few times. He still had his real estate projects, which he¡¯d toned down after I¡¯d drilled into his head about acts of kindness healing the soul. He¡¯d redirected his millions to building low-ie housing instead of the fancy high rises. He smiled more. Heughed. The best part of living with Knox was watching him thrive. He¡¯d done so many beautiful things for me that I considered giving him a child a privilege. ¡°Drive,¡± he whispered into my ear. ¡°You¡¯ll bete.¡± I was meeting my sister for lunch near Bourton University. I adjusted the height of the seat. Myugh bubbled with joy as I started the car, giddy over his gift. I pulled from the garage. It purred like a jungle cat, responding to the slightest touch. I didn¡¯t know much about cars, but I loved that he¡¯d thought of me. Sometimes, I could barely contain my guilt over the fallout. Knox had lost everything. After his deal with Cainan, doctored photos of an overdose and Knox entering a rehab facility made the rounds on social media. His publicist issued a cookie-cutter statement about a drug addiction he didn¡¯t have. Then the Pentagon yanked out of his three-hundred-million-dor deal. The board at ck Prism voted unanimously to fire him. Anyone who remotely knew Knox didn¡¯t buy the drug habit angle, but it seemed to convince everyone else. ¡°Do you miss working at ck Prism?¡± ¡°A little. I¡¯ve made my peace that it¡¯s gone and with the idiot they reced me with.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get it back.¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± A heaviness centered on my heart. ¡°I feel awful about what you¡¯ve lost. It¡¯s so unfair. How could they do that to you?¡± ¡°Believe me, I¡¯m over it.¡± Knox swayed forward as I tapped the brakes. ¡°No regrets. I gained you in the process, and it turns out you¡¯re all I need. I have enough rage without piling this on top.¡± He always had a good answer. I admired the part of him that shrugged off negativity. ¡°You¡¯re the strongest person I know.¡± ¡°I¡¯m many things,¡± he said, folding my palm in his. ¡°Joyful, pissed off, content, and angry. All the time. Even if I don¡¯t look like it. But I realized that if I wanted a decent life, I needed to let go.¡± Really? That threw me for a loop. My emotions skidded and crashed. It was a hell of thing to throw at me while driving. I flipped the turn signal. I stopped beside the campus and rolled to the curb. The engine idled as Knox and I got out. My chest still rattled with Knox¡¯s confession, but he beamed at me. ¡°Have fun with your sister.¡± He anchored an arm around my waist. ¡°And do me a favor, honey.¡± ¡°Anything.¡± Knox fixed me with a prating stare. ¡°Try not to kill anyone.¡± He found out. We¡¯d never discussed the incident with Valerie, but I imagined he¡¯d exchanged words with her at some point. After I discovered what she¡¯d done, I tracked her down to her apartment. I had no idea what I thought I¡¯d aplish. It wasn¡¯t a very civilized conversation. She¡¯d barely said hello before I sank my fist into her mouth. I ended up knocking out at least one of her veneers. I smiled at him. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± He shook his head, smiling. ¡°I¡¯ll see you in a couple of hours. I love you.¡± Warmth bloomed in my stomach at those unexpected, but incredible words. ¡°I love you, too.¡± I squeezed his shoulders, stunned by the confession I never meant to make. Knox¡¯s chuckle tickled me before he imed my mouth. Slow and scorching. His lips fluttered on mine, sucking gently. I dragged him closer, deepening the kiss. His tongue swiped across, parting my lips. I groaned, and heughed. He grabbed my ass and kissed me, his firm grip biting through my jeans. I tipped my head to invite more, but he¡¯d already pulled away. The heat from his arms buzzed my skin as he returned to the car and drove off. I strolled between the limestone buildings without paying attention, my feet bumbling into cracks as my insides fluttered. I passed through a grassywn surrounded by skeletal cherry trees. They¡¯d long since lost their blossoms. Clouds of cotton candy pink tumbled across the pavement. I crossed a street and entered the cafe where she worked. ire waved as I slipped into the emptying cafe. She ran around the counter and grabbed me, her eyes alight with excitement. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind that I invited someone. It¡¯s this guy I¡¯m seeing. I can¡¯t wait for you to meet him.¡± ¡°Oh? Where is he?¡± ¡°He¡¯s somewhere.¡± She dragged me to an empty table with a man¡¯s coat slung over the chair. ¡°He¡¯s so hot, Indie. I met him randomly. It¡¯s only been a couple of weeks, but it¡¯s crazy how much we have inmon. We¡¯re inseparable. He wants me to go on a trip with him.¡± ¡°Like to the White Mountains?¡± ¡°No, like an ind retreat.¡± ¡°I hate to be a downer, but that seems fast.¡± She smacked my arm yfully. ¡°Look who¡¯s talking.¡± I squirmed. ¡°I just want you to be safe.¡± ¡°Oh, this guy is harmless. He helped me pick up trash for four hours on Sunday. He asked permission to kiss me on our first date. He¡¯s so sweet, ire. You¡¯ll see. You¡¯ll love him.¡± ¡°Wow. He sounds like a keeper.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m trying to be.¡± A gravelly, masculine voice cut me to the bone as a man I¡¯d thought I¡¯d never see again sank in the chair beside my sister, beaming. ¡°You must be Indie. I¡¯m Cainan.¡± I gaped at him as he palmed my sister¡¯s back. I managed to close my mouth but was too stunned to speak. I sat in silence. Because the devil who¡¯d kidnapped Knox, drugged him, and threatened me could not be the man dating my sister. This had to be a sick joke. I swallowed hard and forced a smile on my face. ¡°ire, can I be a jerk and ask you to make me atte? I¡¯m dying for something to drink.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she murmured, her brow furrowing. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back. Cainan? Would you like one?¡± ¡°Yes, please.¡± ire wandered off, ncing back at us twice. I waited until she¡¯d disappeared behind the stainless steel machines and the sound of the coffee grinder drowned out my question. ¡°What the fuck are you doing?¡± Cainan¡¯s full mouth lifted into a dark curl, a warning darkening his gaze. ¡°I promised to stay away from you, but I never said anything about her.¡± 40 Epilogue KNOX Two yearster Five past eight. I stared at my watch¡¯s disy, frowning. I¡¯d give the nanny one minute to return from the park with my daughter before I harassed her with phone calls. I tracked them via the app in my phone, growling when the nanny took a detour through a winding set of streets. Funny how bing a fatherpletely changed everything. Before I evenid eyes on Indie, I saw my future children as extensions of myself. I wanted three boys. Three recements. If one got sick and died, I could always have another. What I didn¡¯t know was how hard I¡¯d fall for my baby girl. I had no idea of the soul-wrenching agony I¡¯d experience every time she was in a stranger¡¯s arms. Even my ambitions for our children had changed. After I got rehired as ck Prism¡¯s CEO, I figured I would groom our firstborn to take my ce. But bing a father had fundamentally changed me. I didn¡¯t care anymore about legacies. I just wanted to give my daughter the love I¡¯d never experienced. Warmth pressed into my back as Indie encircled my waist, hooking her head over my shoulder. I slipped my arms around hers. I rxed, sinking into her embrace. I no longer had an aversion to touch. I was so lucky to have her. She¡¯d helped me be the man she deserved. Honestly, it was still a work-in-progress. She¡¯d tried to get me into therapy, but I couldn¡¯t stomach talking to a stranger about my abuse so I bought books on cognitive behavioral therapy and did exercises to realign my thinking whenever things got too overwhelming. She nudged me. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°The nanny.¡± ¡°Knox.¡± A grunt escaped my mouth. We¡¯d had endless discussions about our fifteen-month-old¡¯s safety, but until Athena was eighteen I¡¯d be a nervous wreck whenever she left the house without me. I¡¯d slipped an air tag into my baby girl¡¯s pocket, just in case. I chewed my inner cheek. ¡°Something might be wrong.¡± ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong.¡± She sped my hand and followed me through our house. I left the front door, locked it, and headed down the driveway, dragging my wife with me. As we turned the corner, our nanny, pushing a stroller, stopped to point out our neighbor¡¯swn decorations. Athena grinned toothily. ¡°See? She¡¯s fine.¡± Indie¡¯s touch glided up my arm and gripped my bicep. Trusting strangers to take care of my daughter was hard. I¡¯d been through too much to ever feelfortable leaving her alone, but Indie had pressed me until I caved. She wanted more freedom on the weekdays, and I couldn¡¯t wine and dine my wife with Athena screaming from a high chair. ¡°Come on,¡± she said, squeezing my hand. ¡°We have half an hour with the sitter and I want to take advantage.¡± I allowed her to lead us into the bedroom, smirking. Indie shut the door with a fuck-me smile. She threw her arms around my neck and kissed me. I caught her lips with a sh of tongue and teeth. I groped her curves, kissing the dent below her ear. Indie grasped my waist, teasing my cock as she drifted downward. We stumbled toward the bed. I yanked the blouse down, exposing her creamy skin. I bent my head and licked, and she let out a hiss. ¡°When¡¯s thest time I fucked you?¡± ¡°Um. Last night?¡± My ravenous mind briefly recalled my face between her thighs. ¡°It¡¯s been too long.¡± Her lips brushed mine. ¡°I need you.¡± I love you. She kissed me before I could utter my confession. Indie was my life¡¯s purpose, the fire in my soul, and now that we had a family, she would never leave me. Yes, I¡¯d loosened up on controlling her every move. But mostly because she could never be rid of me. Indie broke off, her sexy grin widening. She undid her blouse and bra, her tits spilling out. She took off her pants and thong. Then she descended to her knees. Blood drained from my brain as Indie palmed my thighs. I fisted her hair. ¡°Such a good girl.¡± ¡°How do you want it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a cock, Indie.¡± My dick twitched at the sight of her, naked and kneeling. ¡°Open your mouth and suck.¡± Her touch fondled my balls, and then she gripped my shaft, sliding up and down. She stroked. She teased me with the stream of precum. She kissed the tip. Her tongue yed with me. A spark heated my groin. I rocked my hips and slid along her mouth. Her lips parted. She took me inside, leaning forward. Her tight warmth hugged me as she went deep. I pulsed, trying not toe. Stamping down on my growing arousal was next to impossible when her eyes locked on mine. I traced the length of her neck, up the delicate arch, and under her jaw. Her muscles flexed. It was beautiful to watch. My wife seemed determined to drain my balls. Indie worked me vigorously, shing a coquettish smile whenever she paused. The tickling of her tongue taunted me. Her touch glided up and down my legs. My fingers sank into her hair. I was going toe and I didn¡¯t want to finish with my beautiful wife on her knees. I stopped her. Then I dragged her upright and pulled her into my arms. I steered us toward the bed. ¡°Enough. I need your pussy.¡± I shoved her onto the mattress. I slid between her thighs and pushed inside her. My lips met hers as I pounded her hard. She gasped as I filled her. She dug into me as I rutted her like a beast. I pulsed in and out, rolling over her slicked skin. I kissed her as heat webbed across my chest. My rhythm picked up. She raked my back with her nails. Indie¡¯s orgasm shook through her thighs. Her walls clenched me, massaging my cock until I came. I buried myself. A wave of euphoria leached the strength from my limbs as I spilled into her. Several minutester, Indie nipped my ear. ¡°We should get ready for dinner. The Costas areing over.¡± ¡°Did you get enough prosciutto?¡± ¡°Yep. Two pounds!¡± My mouth pulled into a wry grin as I pictured Tony and his olive-skinned cousins stomping around my house, swearing, filling the house with their loudness. Most of them were on the wrong side of thew, but they¡¯d adopted us as a second family. You make your own family. Hourster, when our house was packed with Costas, I still mulled that over. I rolled pasta in the kitchen next to a flour-dusted Evie as I meticulously folded ravioli. I¡¯d never been a people person, but I spent every other weekend at the Costas, or they showed up here. Tony invited me to barbecues, baby showers, bachelor parties, christenings-which apparently were a big deal-and dragged me on fishing trips. Strangely, I didn¡¯t mind having a social life. We had some things inmon. Tony¡¯s cousin Vinn grew up on the same block as me. And he hated bikers, too. So I figured they couldn¡¯t be that awful. The only drawback was that Italians liked to hug. A lot. A boy streaked into the kitchen and collided into my legs. Tony¡¯s rambunctious toddler, Tristan, seized my finger. ¡°Oncle Nox?¡± ¡°What is it?¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Evie glowed as I allowed the boy to drag me away from the kitchen into the living room. He directed me toward the rug where a stic train set had broken. Athena yed next to him, beside a watchful Indie. Her bright eyes shed as I repaired the broken track of the train set. She banged on a manual keyboard that seemed to be her favorite toy. Probably because I¡¯d spent so many hours cuddling with my daughter with theptop on my knees. She was my protege in the making. My life. I never knew I could love anyone so much. I scooped Athena in my arms, and she poked my cheek. My daughter would be whatever she wanted, and I¡¯d dedicate my life to her bing the most badass version of herself. ¡°You still want another one?¡± Indie teased. I smiled at her. ¡°I want whatever you¡¯re willing to give me.¡± She pressed her soft lips into mine, and warmth bloomed inside me. I pulled her into my arms. She kissed the top of Athena¡¯s head, and my chest tightened. Everything I¡¯d built was gone, but I¡¯d gained a wife in the process. And a baby girl. I just wanted to have a decent life and protect people I loved. My empire had been reduced to ashes, but I had my woman¡¯s love. And that was all I needed. Chapter 1 of book 3 CAINAN Who should I save? I paced the narrow hallway, wrestling with an impossible decision. Door 13 was the farthest gone, but the girl behind Door 9 was the youngest. Barely eighteen. She¡¯d just been trafficked and still had fight in her, unlike the broken woman who¡¯d huddled in the corner when I¡¯d visited her. I was mostly deaf in my left ear, but the remaining cells screamed, the high-pitched notes stabbing my brain. My tinnitus acted up the most when I was stressed. Lately, that was all day. Every day. I wiped the sweat clinging to my brow and nced at my watch. I wrenched open the door and stepped inside. Light red overhead, illuminating a girl trapped in a concrete prison. She scrambled to her feet, wobbling like a filly. The girl had the awkward look of a teenager who hadn¡¯t yet settled into her body. Which is why she¡¯d been taken. The perverts I¡¯d worked hard to destroy had endless appetites for the young and beautiful. After the girls were kidnapped, they were thrown into a windowless dungeon with noforts aside from a camp bed. With good behavior, girls won privileges. Upgrades. Those who never behaved stayed in this room. She had been here for six days. ¡°Oh look, Satan¡¯s spawn is back.¡± The girl bared her very white teeth. ¡°I¡¯ll never do what you want, so you might as well turn around and walk through that portal of hell that you came from!¡± ¡°Satan¡¯s spawn is setting you free.¡± A gut-wrenching ray of hope shone on her wasted face, hollowing out her cheeks, before she wiped it away. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± ¡°We need to leave now.¡± I crossed the room and seized her arm, dragging her from the filthy mattress to the doorway. ¡°Get your fucking hands off me!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t shut up, you¡¯ll never see your family again. Understand?¡± Trembling, she nodded. I yanked her into the empty hallway. Without pausing, I led her though a series of corridors and doorways. I walked through camera blind spots until we reached the service exit. My heart hammered as I pushed the door. She let out a choked gasp as we stepped into an alley zed over with watery sunshine. Light poured over her, highlighting her innocence. ¡°You¡¯re really letting me go?¡± ¡°That town car will take you wherever you like.¡± I gestured at the car, my voice lowering. ¡°Tell anybody what I did for you, and I¡¯ll kill you.¡± She twisted out of my grip and her back hit the brick wall. Her terrified eyes blinked. Then she took off at full speed, hurtling down the opposite end, away from the car and toward the cameras pointed around the block. I checked my watch and texted my driver. Me: She ran. See her home safely. I dropped the phone into my pocket. Then I reentered Sanctum. It wouldn¡¯t do if the cameras caught me at the same time she went missing. Instead of taking the same route, I slipped back into the club¡¯s main floor, which was filled with oblivious rich men who had no idea that women were kept in cells upstairs. I ordered a stiff drink at the bar. Then I entered the opulent Inner Sanctum with checkered marble floors and found a quiet corner with a padded leather loveseat. The soft, golden light of the giant crystal chandelier cast a fairytale-like glow over the debauchery. Faint outlines of naked women yed in my peripheral vision, but I ignored them as I shot off a text to my girlfriend. Me: Are you awake, beautiful? ire: I am. ?? What are you up to? Me: Thinking about your body and what I intend to do with it. Me: I want your mouth. I want the warmth of your little body. I have ns for you, baby. Three dots appeared next to my message, but she never replied. Smirking, I imagined ire fiddling with her phone. I put it away and returned to my ss. I drank until my throat burned. Every day, I obliterated my mind with substances until I gained a measure of peace that allowed me to sleep a few hours. Drinking helped. It was the Band-Aid holding my cracked head together. But it wouldn¡¯tst much longer. Eventually, this tiresome facade would crumble and I would wee death, but until then¡­I had work to do. After a while, I was so drunk that I could hardly feel my face, let alone my tangled feelings. ¡°Cainan. We need to talk.¡±Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. The grave undertone of a Russian ent dragged my attention over the rim of my ss to a grizzly older man in a navy zer, a pain in the ass by the name of Alexei Kozlov. He was one of the scumbags heading this trafficking enterprise at the heart of Boston. He¡¯d recently suffered the loss of his son and since then, he¡¯d been insufferable. I bnced my drink on my knee. ¡°What can I do for you, Mr. Kozlov?¡± He took the seat next to mine with abored, pained sigh, my nose stinging with the stench of Old Spice. His rheumy eyes swept across the room before they settled on me. ¡°I want you to kill the reporter¡¯s sister.¡± I humored him with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m not a hitman, Mr. Kozlov.¡± ¡°I know. But you have connections that the rest of us don¡¯t. You could have that cunt strung up before tomorrow. You could get one of your Mafia friends to do it.¡± I shouldn¡¯t be surprised. He¡¯d only hinted at it five thousand times. Not long ago, a journalist started investigating Sanctum and flew too close to the sun. The geniuses in charge sent a man to shut her up-that person was Kozlov¡¯s son. He was supposed to intimidate her. Instead he attacked her. The girl defended herself. Killed him. And now, Kozlov wanted revenge. ¡°Mr. Kozlov,¡± I began somberly. ¡°I was saddened to hear about your son¡¯s passing. I can¡¯t imagine what you must be going through, but I can¡¯t think of a worse idea than murdering the family member of a reporter who wrote an expose on Sanctum.¡± ¡°My boy was killed.¡± I bowed my head. ¡°A sad day for us all.¡± ¡°I want that little bitch dead.¡± ¡°What you want is irrelevant.¡± I shrugged, ying with the lip of my ss. ¡°We voted to leave Indie Starling alone so long as she kept her trap shut. And she has.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to touch Indie. I want the sister punished.¡± I opened my mouth to give him another fake-sympathy speech, but judging by the fury trembling his lip, Alexei Kozlov would not let this go. I didn¡¯t know why. His son had been a simpering, useless idiot before he¡¯d gotten himself murdered. I sipped my drink. ¡°So you want me to murder ire Starling.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°You realize I¡¯m dating her, right?¡± A loud bang erupted as he mmed his fist onto the coffee table. ¡°You were ordered to get justice for my son!¡± ¡°My orders were to contain the problem. Which I¡¯ve done to everyone¡¯s satisfaction except yours.¡± ¡°You were supposed to humiliate the cunt, not treat her like a girlfriend.¡± ¡°She¡¯s hardly my girlfriend, Mr. Kozlov.¡± Bass beats pounded into my skull as the whiskey worked its way through my system. ¡°She¡¯s my pet that I intend to use, abuse, and toss aside. And while I¡¯m enjoying her, I have no intention of ending her life.¡± ¡°He was my only son,¡± he mumbled, digging a crumpled napkin from his jacket pocket. ¡°You don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to lose a child.¡± As he dotted at his dry eyes, I restrained my impulse to vomit. I could¡¯veughed at this nauseating disy. My empathy for this guy was at a fat zero. The man who fucked a rotation of sex ves did not get to wave the dead son card in my face. The only reason I¡¯d started dating ire was to stop the others from killing her. Although¡­I wasn¡¯t exactly Prince Charming. She didn¡¯t know that I¡¯d spent our dates picturing how I¡¯d corrupt her. How I¡¯d defile her tight body. She had no fucking clue of my depravity. I was the worst man in the world for her, but ire flew right into my hand and ate from my palm, oblivious to my ws. Kozlov¡¯s obsessive ranting yanked my thoughts from my petite beauty to this unpleasant wretch, whose hands clenched and unclenched on his knees. ¡°¡­I want her brought into Sanctum. I want her tortured. I want her holes filled with cum. Cainan, I won¡¯t rest until she¡¯s been recorded getting fucked by every member in our establishment. Then I¡¯ll send the video to her sister.¡± ¡°Once again, Mr. Kozlov, I am dating ire Starling.¡± My brittle smile vanished as my tone grew cold and hard. ¡°Are you not familiar with the concept of ownership? She is mine. Mine to y with, mine to fuck, mine to do whatever I wish. If I find out you¡¯ve touched a hair on her pretty head-I¡¯ll kill someone else in your family. Perhaps your mother.¡± His widened eyes showed the whites all around. ¡°H-how dare you threaten me?¡± I drained the ss and tossed it on the table. My pocket buzzed, sparing me any further response. ¡°I have to take this. Excuse me.¡± I grabbed my phone and left him on the loveseat, crossing the room into the employee¡¯s entrance, where I ducked into an office. I answered, expecting my driver¡¯s loud Italian-American ent to st through the speaker. Instead a wet cough greeted me, followed by a voice that chilled my blood. ¡°Cainan, it¡¯s your father.¡± 3-2 CLAIRE We regret to inform you that your application to Bourton University has been declined. I lowered my head, lips pressed tight. I deleted the rejection email and tucked my blinking flip phone into my purse. Well, that was the end of my ambition to attend college in Boston. Every school I¡¯d applied to denied my transfer request, and there was no way in hell I was going back to Colorado, so I had nowhere to go in the fall. My heart shrank. Thete spring sun beat on my neck as I knelt, filling a nter box with potting soil. I nted the tomatoes and watered until the dirt darkened. Clutching my garden shears, I pruned off the suckers from another nt and added them to thepost pile. I put the tool aside and smiled at the boxes bursting with sweet peas, the butter-yellow daffodils bending with the balmy breeze, and cupped the head of a pink tulip. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± I whispered into the soft petals. ¡°Do you like it here?¡± I patted the tulip like a golden retriever and moved on to the next swaying bulb, again whispering to it. I wasn¡¯t crazy. It¡¯s just that people sucked and nts never talked back, so I spent a lot of time in gardens. They were my happy ce. I loved the colors. The earthy scents. Digging into the earth with my bare hands. Ever since I was a kid, connecting with nature calmed me. I used to hide in the forest whenever my parents argued. The leaves, the trees, the crawling life embraced me like a mother¡¯s arms. And I would feel safe. My phone pinged. My pulse raced at the hair-raising sound. I ripped off one glove. Then I turned off my cell and stuffed it deeper inside my purse. I inhaled in and out slowly, but it was no use. Cold invaded my being, drowning the day¡¯s warmth. Everybody knows. The invisible fist around my throat squeezed. You will never escape it. I needed air. My lungs burned. I couldn¡¯t take this. I had to breathe. With every ragged inhale, my heart beat as though on the verge of explosion. My hand dove into my purse. Where was my Xanax? Two women burst into the garden,ughing. I removed the other glove and tucked both in the Rubbermaid bin, heading into the adjoining church. I copsed in a pew. A blissful harp melody yed as a soprano note rang out, singing the first bar of ¡°Ave Maria.¡± It halted the stream of self-hatred within me. I wiped my face as the choir joined the soloist. I closed my eyes, ignoring the pains in my body as their voices soared. Gradually, the choking sensation lessened. My thoughts floated away from me as the music seemed to enter my being, filling it with warmth. My concentration wavered with the sound of a person-likely a man-sitting with a heavy thud into the pew behind me. It creaked as he leaned into my section. My flesh prickled with an intimate touch-his finger grazing my neck. ¡°Little Starling,¡± a deep and sensual voice whispered, and I burned despite the morning chill clinging to my limbs. ¡°Volunteering on your day off, eh? Don¡¯t you get tired of being perfect?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have better pickup lines?¡± ¡°Ouch. I thought that one was pretty good.¡± Wood groaned as his weight shifted, his body so close to me that I shook with an involuntary tremble. ¡°You¡¯re avoiding me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you answer my texts?¡± I swallowed. ¡°I-I don¡¯t like looking at my phone.¡± ¡°You mean that primitive thing that flips open? You¡¯re the only person I know that doesn¡¯t own a smartphone. I can¡¯t decide whether that makes you a savant or a hippie.¡± ¡°Why not both?¡± His purr caressed every muscle and nerve. ¡°You¡¯re ying hard to get. It¡¯s endearing.¡± I turned around, my heart hammering. A gorgeous man sprawled on the pew, his dark curls sparking like auburn fire in the sunlight. He had a broad, chiseled face, with a full mouth that curled withughter. He was pale, clean shaven, the slight dusting of stubble like a delicate shadow along his jaw. His thick, muscled forearms with their light dusting of hair were covered with a blue long-sleeved shirt. He had an athletic build, which I¡¯d discovered in a racy photo of him stepping out of the shower. I¡¯d met Cainan at a fundraiser a couple weeks ago. I was working at the clean-air initiative booth when the hottest guy I¡¯d ever seen approached me. We chatted for a solid twenty minutes before I learned he was the co-sponsor of the event. And it took even longer for me to get that this beautiful, rich, aplished man was hitting on me. Why? I thought for the millionth time since we¡¯d exchanged numbers. What does he want with me? He¡¯d been clear that all he desired was mypany. He was always texting me. Calling me. Sending me thirst traps. Turning me on with sultry voicemails. Making ns for more dates. When he wasn¡¯t blowing up my phone, he sent me thoughtful gifts apanied with notes that made me melt. I was infatuated with him. Around him, I couldn¡¯t control the butterflies. They zoomed and bounced off the walls of my stomach, filling me with a joy that deepened whenever I looked at his face. Coming across his name on my notifications was enough to make me blush. It¡¯d been months since I felt that way about a man, which is why I kept him at arm¡¯s length. He was perfect. But I couldn¡¯t trust men. Heat raised in my cheeks at the idea of confessing that. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I wanted to see you.¡± ¡°So you are stalking me.¡± He was still smiling, a predator sizing up his prey. ¡°You told me you¡¯d be here this afternoon.¡± ¡°Oh. Yeah, I guess I did¡­¡± I trailed off, not trusting my pounding heart. I had to go before he said another nice thing and suckered me into going home with him. His finger traced my neck, brushing my corbone. ¡°I wanted to invite you to ate lunch.¡± ¡°I already ate,¡± I lied. He leaned in, his eyes glittering. ¡°Dinner, then.¡± I said nothing, retreating further as his imperious presence seemed to fill the whole row. When I didn¡¯t answer, he chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be standoffish,¡± I murmured. ¡°I like you¡­I do, but I have to take things slow.¡± The yful grin slipped, and his brow furrowed. Cainan took my shoulder, his thumbnding perfectly on a tense knot. ¡°Of course. I understand.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to, but-¡± ¡°You need to feel safe,¡± he finished. I nodded, my throat too tight to respond. I¡¯d made no secret of my trust issues-don¡¯t trust people to have your back, because they don¡¯t. Living by that mantra kept me safe, but it sure as hell didn¡¯t bring me joy. My pulse rocketed as he squeezed. The massage started innocently enough, his touch riding the tension until I ckened against the pew. Then he drifted across the loosened muscle, his fingers ying with the sensitive skin as I grew lightheaded from his ttering attention. If it weren¡¯t for my seat, I could¡¯ve fallen back into his chest. ¡°Follow me.¡± Cainan¡¯s perfect mouth pressed into my ear before he released me, my face zing. I slid down the pew and he followed, exiting with me. Cainan looped his arm with mine, his broad smile warming up my body even more than the kiss. He led me away from the angelic voices. He pulled me in a private alcove. Then his hands fell from me and his eyes crinkled with the faintest marks of worry. ¡°So what¡¯s got you all worked up?¡± I barely knew Cainan, and he could read my damned mind. ¡°Why does anything have to be wrong?¡± ¡°I know a guilty look when I see one. What did you do? identally throw a stic cup in the garbage?¡± Iughed. ¡°Silly man. I¡¯d never be caught dead with a single-use stic cup.¡±Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. His eyes twinkled. ¡°My mistake.¡± I sighed heavily. ¡°I dropped out of college after nearly flunking out of freshman year. I feel horrible because I wasted a year¡¯s worth of tuition. And I got rejected from Bourton, which is where I wanted to transfer.¡± His arm glided over my shoulders and anchored me to his chest. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. Why didn¡¯t you say something?¡± I shrugged. ¡°I was embarrassed.¡± ¡°Are you looking for a shoulder to cry on or vengeance?¡± I smiled. ¡°Vengeance, of course.¡± ¡°You give me the names and I¡¯ll get to work.¡± ¡°Can you take out the entire admissions board?¡± ¡°Possibly. But there¡¯s still an appeal.¡± He stroked my cheek with a finger, his voice burning with mischief. ¡°I know someone who can help.¡± ¡°No,¡± I said, my tongue thick and heavy. ¡°That¡¯s okay. I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m ready to go back to school.¡± ¡°ire, it¡¯s no trouble at all.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so sweet. But it¡¯ll be a waste,¡± I whispered, sliding a hand around his body. God, he felt so good. ¡°I-I have no clue what I want anymore. I was thinking of taking the year off. Is that stupid?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s a great idea.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°If I was in your position, I wouldn¡¯t rush into school so I could join the drudgery of the nine-to-five world.¡± He sighed as he caressed my head. ¡°I¡¯d get the hell out of here and travel. Experience things. Live.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t already?¡± ¡°Not as much as you¡¯d expect. And you better believe that I regret it. The biggest lie we¡¯re told is that we have all the time in the world. But in reality, I could die tomorrow. And if I did, nobody would write about how I was a dedicated worker on my tombstone.¡± Cainan¡¯s voice dropped as he tightened his arms around me. I sucked in my lip, mulling over that. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°I know,¡± he said, smiling down at me. ¡°And on that note,e on a vacation with me.¡± I blinked. ¡°Vacation?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere. Just the two of us.¡± His breath tickled my ear as he drew me close. ¡°My family owns a vi on a small ind in the Caribbean.¡± I grinned. ¡°Right.¡± ¡°You could use the break to figure out your future, and I could use thepany. It¡¯ll be fun. Fresh pineapple juice. Warm wavespping your feet. Hot sand. All the papaya you can eat. And me,¡± he added as an afterthought. ¡°I¡¯ll be there, rubbing lotion on your body every morning.¡± A flood of heat engulfed my cheeks. ¡°Sounds like paradise.¡± His mouth tipped with azy smile. ¡°You¡¯ll never want to leave.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell if you¡¯re joking, but I do like the idea of being hand-fed grapes on a beach.¡± ¡°Do I look like a servant?¡± The words were tinged with an arrogance only an aplished man like Cainan could achieve. ¡°If anything, ire darling, you¡¯ll be feeding me.¡± ¡°I knew you were too good to be true.¡± ¡°ire, I¡¯m serious. Let¡¯s do this.¡± I swatted his chest. ¡°Stop.¡± ¡°Pack a bag. We¡¯re going.¡± I snorted and slid from his arms, but he reeled me back into his embrace. ¡°Let me take you away for a couple weeks.¡± ¡°What-really?¡± My mind floundered when he nodded, fixing me with a prating re. ¡°I can¡¯t. I don¡¯t know you. You could be a maniac, or a bad guy intent on stealing my virtue.¡± A feline smirk graced his handsome face. ¡°Oh, it was mine the instant we met.¡± ¡°You¡¯re that sure?¡± ¡°Come with me. I¡¯ll prove it to you.¡± ¡°In your dreams.¡± I ttened my palms on his chest and kissed his cheek, turning away from the wave of his enticing cologne before he said something or touched me in a way that had me falling into his embrace again. ¡°You should¡¯ve offered to take me skiing. I love skiing.¡± ¡°ire,¡± he growled. ¡°I have to go. I¡¯m meeting my sister.¡± I winked at him and headed toward the exit. ¡°Bye, Handsome. Save me a seat on your private jet.¡± He grabbed my waist before I took another step, hooking his head over my shoulder. ¡°The sister you still haven¡¯t introduced me to?¡± I flushed, nodding. I¡¯d avoided bringing them together for reasons I didn¡¯t understand. I hadn¡¯t mentioned Cainan to her except in off-handments about ¡°a guy I¡¯m dating.¡± It felt easier to distance myself if my sister barely knew he existed. She was so wrapped up in her own world these days. He raised a brow. ¡°Are you ashamed of me?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°Then let mee with you.¡± I giggled, tracing the knuckles of his powerful hand. ¡°Don¡¯t you think we see enough of each other?¡± ¡°No.¡± Iughed harder, heat tickling my cheeks. Then I faced him, but the humor I thought I¡¯d see wasn¡¯t there. His strong profile spoke of power, but his face kindled with a passionate honesty. Some men were like my sister¡¯s fiance, stoic to a fault, and others vented their feelings like toddlers. Cainan let every w shine. He was so vulnerable. So open. The faraway look in his widened eyes silenced me. The highlight of my week was watching the well-bred prince roll up his khakis and help me pick up garbage with the Streets Clean-Up program. I expected him to throw in the towel after fifteen minutes. He spent the entire four hours flirting with me as he tossed Styrofoam cups into a trash bag. He threw me smoldering looks. Bantered with me. Seized any excuse to touch me. The man had a crush on me, and I should soak it in instead of acting like it scared me. Even now, his bold stare made my skin flush. ¡°I want to see you more. Don¡¯t you feel the same?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± My heart hammered foolishly as his mouth curved with tenderness. ¡°And I¡¯m happy that we met. You know, especially since you¡¯re wrapped around my finger. You wouldn¡¯t have picked up garbage on our second date if you didn¡¯t really like me.¡± He chuckled. ¡°I enjoyed myself.¡± ¡°Only because you¡¯re a relentless flirt.¡± ¡°Just because I¡¯m engaged, genuine, and talkative doesn¡¯t mean I have ulterior motives.¡± Cainan¡¯s wink sent a flurry of wingbeats to my butterflies. I could¡¯ve fanned my face. ¡°If you did, what would they be?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not spoiling the surprise.¡± I sighed. ¡°You seriously want to meet my sister?¡± ¡°I want you, any way I can get you.¡± God, I could fucking melt. He wanted to meet my family. This man was a keeper. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°You sure? I don¡¯t want to make you ufortable.¡± ¡°You do,¡± I whispered, curling my fingers in his shirt. ¡°But in the way that gives me warm, gooey feelings.¡± His smile staggered into a devastating grin that made the world disappear to a distant murmur. Then he lowered his head and pressed his lips into my cheek, then my jaw, chin, and finally, my mouth. Lips softer than velvet imed me in a sensual stroke. His nails lightly brushed my arms. He grabbed the back of my head, but didn¡¯t deepen the kiss. I chased his sigh. My tongue swiped his lips, and he inhaled sharply. I wanted him to devour me, but he stayed light and respectful. It frustrated me. I ached to grab him by his auburn hair and pull him into a real kiss. How could I tell him that I wanted more? I pushed my tongue against his lip and flicked into his mouth. He responded with a groan that made me clench my thighs. Cainan pulled back, his eyes zed over. His mouth glistened. He looked like he could¡¯ve bent me over a church pew, and if we didn¡¯t have an audience, I might¡¯ve let him. Instead he took my hand. 3-3 CAINAN What a devil. She gave me tongue in church. I could throw her in my car, take her home, and use her body for days. I wouldn¡¯t be able to stop myself if she made the slightest sexual innuendo. The petite beauty sauntered ahead of me, looking too innocent in her low-cut summer dress, her hair pouring over her shoulders like molten gold. She nced at me, pink rising to the apples of her cheeks. I¡¯m going to make you my ve. But right now I was her fucking simp. I held the door open for ire, trying not to get distracted by her stupid, cute smile, her glistening lips and how I wanted to shove them apart with my cock. She winked at me. ¡°Thanks, angel.¡± Heat stole into my face as I let the door close behind us. ¡°My mom called me that.¡± ¡°Yeah? Was she wrong?¡± I shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m an angel to some.¡± ¡°Well, I know you have a dark side¡­or my phone wouldn¡¯t be filled with so many explicit text messages.¡± ire gripped my hand tighter and ran her thumb over my knuckles. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought?¡± Plenty, you silly bird. As we turned the corner, ire lifted our linked hands and kissed the back of my hand. I smiled, wondering if she¡¯d repeat these sweet gestures once I made her my pet. I envisioned her in a thong and a cor, kneeling, nting a loving kiss on my knee. A desperate need boiled within me as we strolled down an Allston-Brighton neighborhood, hand in hand. She talked about her sister as we headed toward the cafe, and I kept silent for the most part, only adding a sympathetic word or two. I was content to soak in her words. Listening to her was a joy because her voice was honey. ire halted. ¡°Geez. We walked past it.¡± ¡°Yeah, we overshot the cafe by a couple of blocks.¡± She pouted. ¡°And you said nothing?¡± ¡°You¡¯re in charge, Starling.¡± At least, she thinks she is. ¡°I¡¯m just along for the ride.¡± A disbelieving smile tiptoed across her cherubic face. ¡°It¡¯s your fault for distracting me.¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t have to.¡± Her throaty growl seemed to stroke my cock. I ignored the urge to throw her over my shoulder and instead cupped her cheeks. Soft skin glided under my fingers. So pure. Unlike most women, she wasn¡¯t hidden underyers of perfume or scented products. She even smelled innocent-clean and fresh. But what I liked most about her was how hard she was falling for me. It gave me a thrill. I was the son of a human trafficker, and yet, I made this straiced Disney princess hot for me. The ease in which I¡¯d seduced her made me feel like a fucking god. Being around her was like breathing in ecstasy. The power I held over her intoxicated me. I couldn¡¯t wait to have her to myself. My hold drifted to her neck as I dug into her hair. ¡°Cancel the meeting with your sister.¡± ¡°What?¡± Her startled eyes crashed into mine. ¡°Why?¡± Because I said so. ¡°Reading your thirsty texts at two in the morning has filled my head with ideas¡­and we¡¯re a few blocks from your apartment.¡± I leaned in, nting kisses on her jaw. She inhaled sharply. I nipped her earlobe. ¡°Let me show them to you.¡± ¡°Cainan, you¡¯re pulling my hair.¡± I¡¯ll do more than that tonight. I loosened my grip. ¡°Sorry.¡± She bloomed with color, like a sunset over snow. ire took my wrists and slowly pulled them off her person. Her smoldering re heated my blood. ¡°Try to keep your inner caveman inside when you meet my sister.¡± ¡°No promises.¡± Pink in the cheeks, she brought me into Storyville Coffee, a charming cafe right across from the limestone buildings of Bourton University. Students pored over textbooks on tables. I slung my coat over the tail of a chair as ire hovered over me, frowning. ¡°What is it?¡± Her lips tugged into a nervous smile. ¡°Do you mind hanging back for a bit? I¡¯m going to talk to her first¡­just so that she doesn¡¯t feel ambushed.¡± ¡°Whatever you want.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± She grabbed my shirt cor and raised to her toes,nding a clumsy kiss on my mouth. Sparks showered my cheek as I strolled a short distance away. ire bounced to the entrance of the cafe where she worked part-time. A taller woman entered and engulfed ire in a big hug. They headed for the table where I¡¯d left my jacket and sat down. I amused myself by imagining Indie¡¯s expression when she found out I was dating her sister. Would she be furious? Would she make a scene? My thoughts diverted as my gazended on ire¡¯s young face, illuminated by an eager glow that struck my chest. What was she saying about me? I glided forward. Apparently, ire¡¯s speech had won Indie over. Indieughed, her eyes shining with affection. ¡°Wow. He sounds like a keeper.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m trying to be,¡± I said, taking that moment to reveal myself. Indie nched as I sank in the chair beside her sister. ¡°You must be Indie. I¡¯m Cainan.¡± Indie went rigid as I stroked her sister¡¯s shoulder. Her porcin features twitched into a forced smile. ¡°ire, can I be a jerk and ask you to make me atte? I¡¯m dying for something to drink.¡± ire frowned. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll be right back. Cainan? Would you like one?¡± ¡°Yes, please.¡± ire bounced toward the machines. I smiled at an irate Indie as ire made usttes. The two sisters shared very little inmon. They even looked different. Indie¡¯s thick curves contrasted against ire¡¯s hard, athletic body. She was a brte-ire was blond. Something of ire¡¯s chin and nose appeared on Indie¡¯s face, but otherwise they were night and day. Indie was more mellow, but right now she could¡¯ve given ire a run for her money.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ¡°What the fuck are you doing?¡± My lip curled. ¡°I promised to stay away from you, but I never said anything about her.¡± ¡°If you think, I¡¯m going to step aside and let you defile her-¡± ¡°Like I did with you and your fiance?¡± I winked, knowing it would incense her to mention that sordid affair. ¡°How¡¯s Knox, by the way?¡± ¡°He¡¯s better than you¡¯ll be if you don¡¯t leave my sister alone!¡± ¡°Unless you want ire to find out that you¡¯re not the bastion of virtue that she thinks you are, keep your voice down.¡± Indie stared at me, her gaze bleeding wrath. ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± ¡°Well, you know the people I¡¯m affiliated with. How bloodthirsty they can be. At their behest, I bumped into your little sister. She¡¯s a delightful girl,¡± I murmured, stroking my lip as ire poured milk into the steamer. ¡°I guess I took a liking to her.¡± ¡°Stay away from her.¡± I clucked my tongue. ¡°If you knew what I was protecting her from, you¡¯d be on your knees, thanking me.¡± ¡°Is that a threat?¡± ¡°Absolutely not. I¡¯m only here as a courtesy. I wanted to bring you up to speed.¡± I nced at ire, who was still hidden behind the espresso machine. ¡°We should bury the hatchet. For her sake.¡± ¡°Bury the hatchet?¡± She released a chokedugh, balling her painted nails into a fist. ¡°Have you forgotten what you¡¯ve done to us? There is noing back from that, Cainan. You are out of your goddamn mind. You and ire will never be a thing.¡± I smiled. ¡°You can¡¯t stop me from dating her.¡± ¡°No, but I¡¯ll tell her I ran into you at a sex club. And then she¡¯ll hate you. For once, do the right thing and let her go.¡± A desperate note tore into her voice. ¡°Please.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°But I did what you asked,¡± she reminded, her lip quivering. ¡°You promised you¡¯d leave my family alone.¡± ¡°I said I¡¯d try, and I have.¡± Not very hard, but I gave it a serious effort. ¡°I fought my attraction to your sister. Believe me, I never expected us to hit it off. But here we are.¡± ¡°Cainan, you are the fucking worst.¡± I shrugged, leaning into my chair. ¡°Like it or not, I¡¯m going to be in her life.¡± Her nostrils red. ¡°No. I forbid-¡± ¡°You and I struck a deal.¡± Rage throttled my neck as I rapped my knuckle against the table with each syble. ¡°I kept you and Knox out of the firing squad in exchange for your cooperation.¡± ¡°You swore you wouldn¡¯t harm my family.¡± ¡°And I haven¡¯t.¡± Indie looked like she wanted to vomit, and the fire burning in my chest banked. I lowered my voice to a hush and motioned toward ire. ¡°You¡¯re only pissed off because she¡¯s smitten with me. Shame, Indie. Don¡¯t you want her to be happy?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give me that crap. She thinks you¡¯re the perfect guy because you¡¯ve lied about everything.¡± I could¡¯veughed at the irony of a woman I intended to kidnapbeling me so inurately, and yet a warm glow flowed through me at the thought of ire whispering that word to me. I grinned. ¡°What else did she say about me?¡± ¡°Jesus Christ.¡± Indie shook her head and grabbed her phone. ¡°I¡¯m calling Knox.¡± My hand came down on hers. ¡°Let me have her. I¡¯ll owe you.¡± ¡°No.¡± I clenched her wrist, stilling her attempt to get away. ¡°Indie, this is happening with or without your blessing.¡± A vein pulsed on Indie¡¯s forehead. ¡°If your entire rtionship is built on lies, it won¡¯tst anyway.¡± ¡°It will if you keep quiet.¡± ¡°Ghost her,¡± Indie spat. ¡°Tonight.¡± I blinked. ¡°That¡¯ll break her heart.¡± ¡°Better broken than not beating at all.¡± ¡°Come now, Indie. I¡¯m not a violent man. I¡¯ve dated ire for weeks, and nothing terrible has happened to her. In fact, I¡¯m taking her on a vacation. She could use the rxation after getting rejected from Bourton, and it¡¯s best she leaves Boston for a while¡­unless you¡¯d rather she was killed?¡± I asked as Indie turned a shade of sour milk. ¡°Andrey¡¯s daddy is still upset over what you did to his son, and he¡¯s not backing down.¡± ¡°Make him.¡± ¡°I tried,¡± I said deadpanned. ¡°I¡¯ve done what I can without turning suspicion onto myself.¡± ¡°Then she needs to go into hiding.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the n.¡± ¡°Not with you,¡± Indie snarled. ¡°With Knox and I.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t work for me.¡± ¡°You really think I give a-I don¡¯t care what you fucking want! If you have any soul left inside you,e clean to my sister. And if she somehow doesn¡¯t drop you faster than a hot potato, you¡¯ll have my blessing. But if anything happens to her, I¡¯m publishing the article.¡± I sighed. ¡°That¡¯ll put you and Knox at risk.¡± ¡°Again, I don¡¯t care. Tell her the whole truth, or else.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± She was taking a trip with me regardless. I raised my brow. ¡°Indie, what if she wants me despite my misdeeds? How will you take that?¡± Indie crossed her arms,municating in one fiery look that it would never happen. But it made no difference. In six hours, ire would be on my jet, well on her way to Leda, and the fallout from the expose wouldn¡¯t matter. We weren¡¯ting back. 3-4 CLAIRE ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I returned with the coffees, bewildered to find my sister and my boyfriend locked in a heated exchange. A red-faced Indie stood in front of Cainan, who lounged in the chair, regarding her with a cruel twist of his mouth. As I approached, Cainan¡¯s ankle slid off his thigh and the arrogance melted off him. ¡°We¡¯re having a friendly chat. Is that for me?¡± I mumbled a ¡°yes,¡± already regretting the heart floating on the steamed milk, but Cainan didn¡¯t seem to mind the cheesy drawing. He beamed full wattage as he took his cup and sipped. He smacked his lips and let out a soft exmation. ¡°Huh. It tastes different.¡± ¡°I used macadamia milk.¡± ¡°Ah. Trying to convert me to veganism, are you?¡± His wink sent warmth down my belly, and I grinned stupidly. ¡°Just broadening your horizons.¡± I put the other coffee on the table in front of Indie. ¡°Well, a few of these might do the trick.¡± He caught my wrist and kissed my hand. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only coffee,¡± I murmured as I sat beside him, my cheeks burning. ¡°Indie? Why are you standing up?¡± My attention snapped to my sister, who hadn¡¯t thanked me for the coffee and red at Cainan like he¡¯d shown her his dick. Indie¡¯s horrified expression smoothed over. She gave me a strained smile. ¡°I¡¯m actually going to head out.¡± Her deadpan contradicted the rage glowing in her narrowed eyes. ¡°I have a stomachache.¡± Cainan set his cup down, his brows furrowed. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry to hear that.¡± My brows furrowed. She was leaving? A second ago she was fine. ¡°You said that you couldn¡¯t wait to see me.¡± ¡°I-I know.¡± Her anxious gaze swiveled from me to Cainan, who expressed nothing but a vague concern. ¡°I¡¯m feeling crappy. I think it¡¯s food poisoning fromst night that¡¯s hitting me now. I¡¯ll call youter. Okay?¡± ¡°But-¡± Indie pulled me in a brief hug. She squeezed hard. Then she ripped from my side. I stared at her retreating back as a ringing sense of loss struck me. She¡¯d been acting so strangetely. I figured it had to do with her fiance¡¯s firing, which was a blessing in disguise because that man needed a healthy serving of humble pie. More and more, I felt like the odd man out. Obviously, my sister was dealing with issues. It bothered me that she wouldn¡¯t talk to me. We¡¯d always had a very close rtionship. I didn¡¯t like how grim she looked all the time. Frowning, I turned to Cainan. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± I caught up with her as she left the cafe. ¡°What is up with you?¡± I burst, jogging to her side. ¡°I-nothing.¡± ¡°Something happened. It¡¯s all over your face.¡± Guilt stabbed at my heart when Indie froze, her body oddly clenched as though she was holding in her breathing. ¡°Is this about Knox?¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure in a hurry to leave for nothing being wrong,¡± I used, some of my ireshing to my sister for staying silent. ¡°Did Cainan make a pass at you?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± I seized Indie¡¯s jacketed arm, slowing her to a walk. ¡°Then why did you look like you wanted to rip his head off?¡± Indie spoke slowly, as though determined to stay calm. ¡°I think you can do a lot better.¡± I deted. ¡°You don¡¯t like him.¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. He gives me a bad vibe¡­He¡¯s arrogant.¡± Wow. My stomach bottomed out further. ¡°Are we talking about the same guy?¡± ¡°ire, he¡¯s not a good man.¡± ¡°And you gleaned that from talking to him for five seconds? He¡¯s one of the kindest people I¡¯ve ever met-¡± My sister made a violent noise. ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± I said brokenly, unable to disguise the hurt in my voice. ¡°I supported you even though I hated Knox. I made an effort to get to know him. Why can¡¯t you sit down for twenty minutes to do the same for me?¡± ¡°ire, it¡¯s not like that.¡± ¡°Then what is it?¡± I demanded, my throat wing with pain. ¡°Because this feels shitty. Like you¡¯re making up an excuse to leave.¡± ¡°I have to go. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll callter and exin. Okay?¡± Bewildered, I nodded. Indie hugged me again and zipped down the street. I waved as she ducked into a rideshare car, practically fleeing the man I was sure she would love. What had he done to piss her off? I headed back inside, thoroughly disheartened by her reaction. Cainan¡¯s bewitching smile faltered. ¡°Everything all right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I whispered as I sat, heart hammering. ¡°Did something happen between you two?¡± He frowned, sliding an arm behind my chair. ¡°Did she leave because of me?¡± I yed with my dress, difort filling my belly. His mouth curled. ¡°Did she?¡± ¡°She said you gave her a bad vibe. Why would she say that?¡± Cainan shrugged, his fingers pressing into my shoulder. ¡°I have no idea. If I had to guess¡­your sister seems like the overprotective type. She mentioned something about Colorado.¡± Heat stole into my cheeks, which I imagined turning bright red as I clutched my cup. Oh my fucking God. She told him. My blood pounded. My hand shook as pressure built behind my eyes, dismissing the possibility. He didn¡¯t know. Otherwise he wouldn¡¯t be so flippant. ¡°She was grilling me and let it slip that you left Colorado because you were upset,¡± he murmured, his brows pinched. ¡°ire, it¡¯s fine. Really. I figured she was being vignt¡­about whatever it is.¡± Heaviness centered on my chest, followed by a rush of anger. She¡¯d spilled details about my private life to my boyfriend, for fuck¡¯s sake. It wasn¡¯t beyond Indie to toe over the line, but this was such a grant abuse of my boundaries. I trembled, coffee spilling down the cup. The heat of my shame spread like a rash, consuming every inch of my body. As the concern on his face grew, the ball of hurt in my throat swelled. I was falling apart in front of him. This was so embarrassing. My eyes burned. Not here. I grabbed my purse. ¡°I need to go.¡± Cainan sped my shoulder. ¡°ire?¡± I couldn¡¯t form any words. I bolted upright and ran. * * * I sat on a bench at the Boston Common. I loved this area of the park because it was out of the way, but well-maintained, like all the flora in the Common. The pink bleeding heart bush beside me cheered my spirits-I was particrly fond of them. Perhaps because they burst from the ground behind chain-linked fences, their stubborn roots taking hold every spring no matter what, and needed so little maintenance. ¡°You¡¯re blooming marvelously,¡± I whispered, stroking the soft velvet of its heart-shaped petals. ¡°Such a pretty pink, too. I hope you keep flowering for a few more weeks. You bring so much color into the world.¡± ¡°Miss? Are you talking to that bush?¡± I nced up, meeting the gaze of an elderly woman who probably thought I¡¯d lost my marbles. My cheeks heated, and I shrugged. She smiled. ¡°Oh, I meant no offense. I do the same thing. It helps them grow.¡± I nodded, silently disagreeing. Some believed that sound waves stimted nt growth, but research hinted that it made no effect whatsoever. It was beside the point. I talked to nts because I liked doing it, not because I expected anything in return. Theirpany was infinitely more appealing than most people. Why the fuck had she told him? Why even bring it up? I red at my phone¡¯s ckened screen. My lips ttened and curled. Heat flushed through my body. I felt dangerously vtile. I didn¡¯t dare turn it on. If I did, I¡¯d ream my sister for being so careless. What the hell had she¡¯d been thinking? If she tried to defend herself, I would lose it and say something I regretted. My enthusiasm for the garden gone, I got up and walked home. By the time I reached Allston-Brighton, the sun was disappearing behind pumpkin-colored clouds and a periwinkle sky. Beautiful. I was so lost in beauty that I nearly bowled over a man. As I rebounded off his steel chest, he caught my arms, righting my bnce. My gaze leapt up a bright polo to a devastatingly handsome face. Cainan. The tightness around my neck loosened as he released me to pick up something he¡¯d dropped. Strangely, I couldn¡¯t move. The buzz from feeling his hands on me still coursed through my veins. Standing in his vicinity did things to my body. I cleared my throat. ¡°What are you doing at my apartment?¡± He frowned. ¡°You ran off and didn¡¯t answer your phone. I was worried. I went to your house, but you weren¡¯t there. ire, I¡¯m so sorry for what I said. I¡¯m an idiot.¡± ¡°Stop.¡± I took a giant step toward him. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± His doubtful frown deepened. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m misreading the signs.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not,¡± I whispered. ¡°I¡¯m not?¡± I shook my head, and his devilish smirk returned. ¡°Good, because I¡¯m really into you.¡± My pulse galloped ahead as those perfect words reyed in my mind. He brushed hair behind my ear. Then he lifted a long-stemmed tulip he¡¯d clearly snatched from someone¡¯s garden. I didn¡¯t have the heart to chastise him. Especially when he caressed my cheek with its petals with that fuck-me stare. ¡°Is this okay?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I mumbled. ¡°But people can see us.¡± Hezily nced down the road, tutting. ¡°Can¡¯t have that. Perhaps we should move this indoors.¡± I sucked in my lip. ¡°And then what?¡± ¡°That depends on you. You know what I want, little girl. I¡¯ve been quite clear about that.¡± He trailed the soft petals down my throat, my heart pounding with his widening grin. ¡°But what do you want?¡± I want you toe inside. Ande inside me. ¡°Say it out loud, ire.¡± He continued stroking me with the tulip, settling it in my cleavage. ¡°I can¡¯t read your mind.¡± His gloating smile hinted he¡¯d at least guessed at my dirty thoughts, but it felt too daunting to lead him into my apartment for sex. It was too soon, even though my knees loosened at the thought of his naked chest gliding over mine. ¡°I want¡­I want to hang out more.¡± He shook his head. ¡°You want more than that, ire.¡± I raised my chin. ¡°Just because I could eat my weight in chocte cordials doesn¡¯t mean I should.¡± ¡°Self-care isn¡¯t a sin. Indulging won¡¯t kill you.¡± Why did everything he said have to sound so sexual? My face flushed. ¡°The diabetics in this country would disagree.¡± His raking gaze stroked my breasts before itzily returned to my eyes. ¡°We¡¯re talking about you and me, not your sweet tooth.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re missing the point.¡± ¡°No, you are.¡± He twirled the flower, its velvet petals caressing my breast. ¡°Late at night, when the world drops away and all I¡¯m left with are my thoughts¡­I think about ying with your tits.¡± I choked on my saliva. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I picture myself doing that while you ride my face,¡± he murmured, making my mouth water. ¡°I imagine your taste. What sounds you¡¯ll make when I fuck you. How hard you¡¯ll moan when youe.¡± I burned hotter with every filthy word. ¡°Is that right?¡± He smirked. I licked my dry lips, intimidated by the want pulsating in my core. ¡°What happened to the sensitive guy I¡¯ve been talking to for weeks?¡± His head cocked to the side. ¡°He¡¯s still here.¡± ¡°Is he? I could¡¯ve sworn he turned into a different person just now.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a man beneath all the sweet nothings. I feel like I need to remind you of that.¡± He shrugged, showering my skin with sparks whenever he moved that damned tulip. ¡°How else will I get you in my bed?¡± I giggled. ¡°You¡¯re so bad.¡± ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t even know the half of it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not ready, Cainan.¡± The throbbing space between my legs disagreed. ¡°But would¡­would you like to have a drink with me?¡± He beamed. ¡°I¡¯d love to.¡± 3-5 CLAIRE He came inside. Unfortunately, not in the way I wanted. But the sex-charged air crackled with electricity as Cainan crossed the threshold, his hand clutching mine. As soon as he closed the door behind him, I felt like I¡¯d lost control of the situation. I felt as breathless, tongue-tied, and nervous as a teenaged girl. Not because he intimidated me. I was afraid he knew that I couldn¡¯t deal with how much I wanted him. ¡°Nice digs,¡± hemented, edging his thick arms from his coat. ¡°It suits you.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± He hung it on the rack, smiling. I sucked in a sharp breath, simply because he¡¯d taken off an article of clothing. My gaze traveled over the rich outlines of his shoulders, straining against his polo. His every movement seemed precise as we stood within a pulse-pounding distance. Cainan¡¯s rakish smile sent a flutter down my curves. I cleared my throat. ¡°About earlier¡­I shouldn¡¯t have run off. It was childish.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t owe me an exnation,¡± he said, his gentle murmur heating up my face. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe she told you.¡± I disengaged from him, my body burning as I slipped into the kitchen. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s gotten into my sister. She¡¯s acting so weird.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bet.¡± ¡°Do you have any siblings?¡± ¡°One, I think.¡± An ancient heaviness sat in his eyes. ¡°A half-brother on my dad¡¯s side. I¡¯m not close with him.¡± ¡°Oh. I¡¯m sorry to hear that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be. Never been a huge fan of my family.¡± I couldn¡¯t fathom not having anyone. ¡°My sister and I used to be close¡­something¡¯s wrong with her. She won¡¯t tell me anything, and it¡¯s obvious why.¡± I reached for the blender in the cupboard and banged it on the counter. ¡°She thinks I can¡¯t handle bad news. That¡¯s why she¡¯s keeping things from me and behaving like a mother hen.¡± He bowed his head. ¡°I doubt that very much.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Cainan heaved a sigh as he leaned against the stove, a giant in the tiny kitchen. ¡°Sometimes, people go through difficult times in life¡­seasons. Maybe she¡¯s going through a season. You mentioned that she was recently engaged. Perhaps she¡¯s adjusting to her new fiance. She¡¯lle back to you, ire.¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± I swallowed tightly and opened the fridge, knowing he was right but still feeling disgruntled. ¡°Want a green smoothie?¡± He made a face. ¡°Do I have a choice?¡± I smirked, pulling out the ingredients. I¡¯d foisted them on him ever since I¡¯d noticed the dark circles under his eyes, the strain tightening his jaw, and the crappy takeout he ate most days of the week. His demanding job kept him overworked and stressed, except when he took time off to be with me. Cainan¡¯s body warmed my back. He yed with my hair as I chucked pea protein, lemon juice, celery, kale and frozen banana inside the blender. As it pulsed the contents, he grabbed two sses from the cupboard. I turned the machine off and removed the lid. Cainan held out the sses as I poured. He handed one to me after I put the blender in the sink. Then I pulled him into the living room where we both sank onto my threadbare couch. We tapped our sses together. Cainan hesitated before drinking. His stern gaze had the air of an Olympic diver about to jump. Then he chugged his smoothie, wincing. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you drink these every day.¡± I bopped my fist on his knee. ¡°Hey, they¡¯re good for you.¡± He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. ¡°They¡¯re foul.¡± ¡°You need the nutrients, Cainan. Your diet of General Tso¡¯s chicken and whiskey will put you in an early grave. The consumption of junk food is directly rted to stress. It affects everything.¡± ¡°Even your gut microbes. I know. I actually read the studies you send me.¡± I flushed with pleasure, finishing my smoothie. I set it down and nuzzled his shoulder as a wave of sleepiness hit me. I felt peaceful for the first time in ages. A buzzing warmth filled my chest. Cainan watched me intently. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± ¡°Really tired. Dizzy.¡± He nodded. ¡°It¡¯ll pass.¡± ¡°Wow, I¡¯m beat.¡± I tried to lift my head, but it was too heavy. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I don¡¯t think I can stay awake.¡± ¡°Then close your eyes.¡± ¡°No,¡± I moaned. ¡°I want to be with you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m right here. I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡± Cainan¡¯s pulled me over hisp. He felt so warm. I leaned into him with a happy sigh. Then I felt across his chest, my arousal sharpening. I stroked his shoulders and swept to his clean-shaven jaw. He inhaled sharply. Then he released his breath slowly, the sound vibrating into my core. I felt his head turn, his mouth perilously close. ¡°ire. Go to sleep.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather enjoy you.¡± I thrust my fingers through his curls and raked the back of his neck. ¡°You smell so good.¡± He made a delicious, rumbling noise. His hand wrapped around my waist. He squeezed, his touch ironing me through my dress. ¡°I enjoy you, too. But you shouldn¡¯t tempt me.¡± ¡°Why?¡± He kissed my cheek. Then he disengaged from me and stood. Without his support, I slumped into the cushions. Cainan rearranged my limbs into a morefortable position and slid a pillow under my head. Until he did that, I didn¡¯t realize how little strength remained in my body. I was utterly worn out. But why was I so drowsy? It was only four. Minutes ago, I was buzzing with nerves. Suddenly I needed sleep so badly I couldn¡¯t stand? This made no sense. I had to get up. I nted my feet and pushed with my legs, but the world spun violently. Cainan appeared out of nowhere. His hand nudged my shoulder, forcing me onto the couch. ¡°Stay.¡± I pouted. My body¡¯s unwillingness to cooperate annoyed me. Everything kept spinning, and my vision couldn¡¯t focus. The sea of movement swirled the contents of my stomach, and I lifted myself-only for my knees to give out. The carpet mmed into my elbows. I groaned, clinging to the floor as it seemed to rock like a boat. I hadn¡¯t felt this awful since freshman year, when I overestimated how much I was drinking and stood up too quickly. Fog obscured my thoughts. Gentle fingers curled under my body and lifted. I swung backward into a male chest that engulfed me in a befuddling warmth. Cainan held me close, his finger sliding in the drool gathered at the corner of my mouth. What¡¯s happening to me? I was losing consciousness. Stay awake. I couldn¡¯t form a thought to exin my growing rm because I was in his arms. He was so beautiful, so powerful, and the tender way he held me was perfect. I felt like a swooning bride on my wedding day. ¡°I¡¯ll never forget thest few weeks.¡± He lowered his head, his lips brushing my cheek. Sparks showered my face as he lingered there. ¡°I¡¯ll break your body and your spirit, but for this moment, at least you willingly gave me your heart.¡± I blinked, struggling to gather my bearings. ¡°I¡¯m bringing you into a life you don¡¯t know, that you won¡¯t understand, but you must survive. You¡¯ll need to be strong for what I¡¯m going to do to you. For what they might do to you.¡± Break my body¡­my spirit? Suddenly, it hit me that Cainan was not whispering sweet nothings. My abdomen tensed as he stood, carrying me like a sack ofundry. He dropped me on the bed. I rubbed my aching head. ¡°I don¡¯t feel right.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I drugged you.¡± I smoldered, not impressed by the joke, but Cainan made no apology. His eyes glowed with a hard intensity that bottomed out my stomach. Then he revealed the pill bottle in his jacket pocket. ¡°I slipped two sedatives in your smoothie.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I did.¡± I choked on my saliva, unable to ept this horrifying development. My pulse hammered in my ears. Cainan drugged me? What the fuck? He¡¯d been nothing but a perfect gentleman. He respected my boundaries. If I told him I needed space, he listened. He never made me feel pressured. He was so attuned to my needs that he¡¯d memorized every vegan restaurant in the city¡­and the way he glowed with happiness when we did something together¡­nobody could fake that. He¡¯d amodated my every need, and yet¡­he¡¯d drugged me. Nausea roiled through me. ¡°Where did you get the drugs?¡± It wasn¡¯t the most important question-and he knew it. What was he going to do to me? My mind refused to go there. ¡°I have a guy,¡± he said in his low, unhurried cadence. ¡°They¡¯re handy for situations like these.¡± Situation. What a neutral way to discuss drugging me. My pulse spiked as I dwelled on his second sentence. His casual delivery seemed to suggest it was easy for him. He¡¯d done this before. My stomach clenched tight as I searched for an escape, but Cainan stood by the door and I¡¯d never get by him in this state. ¡°Cainan,¡± I whispered, hating the plea in my voice. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this¡­we could go on another date.¡± He smiled an unapologetic grin, his hand brushing my knee. ¡°There won¡¯t be any more dates.¡± What did that mean? His raking gaze seemed to indicate he wasn¡¯t done with me. He didn¡¯t have to say anything more. The threat was implied in his touch, his stance over the bed, in his casually arrogant words. He would vite me. He would hurt me. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you more once we¡¯re on the ne.¡± ¡°W-what?¡± I felt like a broken record, still stuck on the fact that this seemingly sweet man had drugged me. ¡°ne?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he snapped, his voice growing in severity. ¡°I¡¯m taking you away.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°On a vacation.¡± Laughter threatened to bubble from my throat, but I tamped it down. I gaped at him, more and more alert despite the sedatives coursing through my system. My body refused to acknowledge the severity of the situation, but my anxious mind galloped ahead. A danger sign shed in my head. I lifted myself to a sitting position. Somehow, I¡¯d regained my motor control. I spilled from the bed and gripped the bedspread like an anchor. He lifted me and pushed me onto the mattress. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± ¡°I¡­I need to use the bathroom.¡± I cursed myself for theme attempt to distract him, but my mind wasn¡¯t firing on all cylinders. The drug coated me in a medicated calm, but I felt my anxiety underneath it, roaring like a river under ice. I gingerly stood and headed for the bathroom. I walked slowly, as though Cainan might charge at me. I took the doorknob gingerly, as though it might bite. Both of us knew I had no intention of going inside. My hand trembled so hard the doorknob rattled.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Please,¡± I begged, myposure cracking. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you want from me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you?¡± I forced a challenge in my voice. ¡°I want you to leave right now.¡± He moved to stand in front of me. His eyes burning, he pushed me backward until my knees hit the mattress. He patted my shoulder like I was a doll. Cainan gave me a scorching look before he seized a suitcase from my closet, flinging it on the bed. He began emptying my drawers into the luggage. He didn¡¯t look at me as he packed. My patience frayed as he ignored me. ¡°Why are you packing my things?¡± He mmed the lid of the suitcase, and I jumped. ¡°Because I¡¯m kidnapping you.¡± ¡°You slipped sleeping pills into my drink to kidnap me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I dug my nails into theforter. ¡°Where are you bringing me?¡± He checked his watch, his brows furrowing. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be awake.¡± ¡°What made you do this? You¡¯re not¡­you don¡¯t hurt people.¡± I bleated, my speech so slurred I could barely understand myself. ¡°This is not you!¡± He shook his head with a smile. ¡°You don¡¯t know a damned thing about me.¡± My throat tightened. ¡°I don¡¯t?¡± ¡°I lied about everything.¡± My mind exploded. ¡°What-what do you mean?¡± ¡°I lied about my job. My parents. Myst name.¡± Cainan banged drawers in my adjoining bathroom, rifling through their contents. ¡°Where I went to school. About my passion for environmentalism. About why I asked for your number.¡± Indie was right. My walls copsed, and my heart drowned in an agony that I couldn¡¯t fully appreciate. I swallowed hard, my mind a crazy mixture of hope and fear. As he zipped up the suitcase, an unwee tension stretched between us. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself, but this was happening. Would I fight him? I couldn¡¯t let this happen without a fight. If I fought, he might hurt me. Would I rather suffer the consequences of being kidnapped? Fight. Escape. Adrenaline coursed through my body as I balled my shaking hands. Cainan¡¯s mouth twitched as he left the bathroom, his amused gazending on my clenched fists. ¡°Are you going to fight me, little Starling?¡± 3-6 CAINAN I tied her hands. Our brief strugglended on the floor with ire pinned under my body, writhing. Her bitter gaze met mine as I snapped zipties around her. She bucked madly as I grappled with her, wrenching her head back to tape her mouth shut. It wasn¡¯t easy. She wasn¡¯t as dainty as she looked and she wasn¡¯t afraid to punch. I caught several blows on my chest. Shey beneath me, hercy bra peeking from inside her dress. She scratched at the stic wrapping her wrists, bellowing like a frightened animal. I swallowed hard. But I wasn¡¯t sorry. Not in the slightest. If anything, I owed myself an apology for indulging in a ridiculous fantasy. I could never be the man she wanted, and even if I could, I was going to destroy this girl. I couldn¡¯t allow myself to get attached. No more dates. No more gazing at her and wishing things were different. No more dreaming-only fucking. ire was nothing more than a sacrificialmb, presented at the altar for a vengeful god. And I was his devil. The burning spread to my gut as the apartment door opened. Twockeys from Sanctum, Alex and Liam, entered, both wearing crimson ties and ck suits. ire flipped onto her side and bellowed, but they didn¡¯t even nce at the girl tied up at my feet. ¡°Why isn¡¯t she asleep?¡± ¡°No idea,¡± I said, motioning toward the suitcase. ¡°Get her luggage.¡± I gave the apartment an uneasy once-over. My stomach rebelled as I scooped ire in my arms. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I ground out, tuning out her muffled groans. The Sanctum goon followed me outside. He opened the SUV¡¯s door, and I took a deep breath before I ducked inside. ire thrashed. I had to crush her with my bodyweight, which awakened parts of me starving for her touch. ire¡¯s head rolled over my groin. A boom sounded through the van as the trunk closed. Her eyes widened. Her muscles seized. She screamed, red staining her cheeks. Veins in her neck swelled like ropes. rm shot down my spine. ¡°Shut that bitch up,¡± snarled Alex, who¡¯d hurled himself in the passenger seat. ¡°Jesus fucking Christ.¡± Liam took the driver¡¯s seat and started the car. It jolted forward, knocking ire to the side. I yanked her over myp. Ignoring the fit she made was impossible. Even with the tape on her mouth, it was like a scratch on a record, jarring, painful. She ripped back and forth. Her desperation knotted agony in my stomach. Alex turned, snarling. ¡°Shut her up!¡± I stroked her hair, and she flinched. ¡°I usually let them get it all out.¡± ire dove toward the door. I jerked her down. Her feet iled as I dragged her onto the seat. ¡°Give her the sedative. We have a long drive ahead of us.¡± Alex grabbed a box from his jacket and opened it, glowering when I didn¡¯t reach for the fluid-filled syringe. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± I had no idea. My skin broke with beads of sweat. This had never happened to me before. ¡°I already gave her pills,¡± I muttered, swallowing down my nausea. ¡°Anything more might-¡± ¡°You want her to panic all the way to the airport? Be my fucking guest.¡± Alex swore as ire attempted to knee my balls. ¡°Give her the shot and be done with it. She¡¯ll thank youter.¡± She won¡¯t. ¡°What¡¯s in it?¡± ¡°What does it matter? It¡¯s lorazepam. They use it in hospitals. She¡¯ll be fine.¡± I took the syringe. My head filled with images of thest time I¡¯d drugged someone. Of the damage and devastation I¡¯d already caused. Bringing an arrogant billionaire to his knees seemed like justice, but this¡­this was evil. I swallowed bile as my fingers touched the stic. This is what you deserve for getting too attached. I inhaled deeply. Just do it. Her screaming, the bound hands, the syringe-they stirred terrible memories. I had a job to do. I needed to be a ruthless bastard to get it done. On the list of heinous things I¡¯d nned for ire, drugging her wouldn¡¯t even make the top five. Do it. I moved the girl on her side, clutched her arm until it whitened, and stabbed. I winced as the plunger went down. Clouded with a murky terror, her eyes rolled back. Her muffled shriek dulled to a low wail. I ripped out the needle and flung it to the floor. The sight of itying on the carpet gripped my guts. ire sank into myp. Her muscles rxed. She was out. I felt her pulse. I checked her breathing. The lump in my throat swelled as I peeled the tape off her mouth. Then I wiped the tears tracking her cheeks, tracing a shameful path from her gorgeous lips to her soft neck I¡¯d held not long ago. My pulse raced. A mad craving snaked my limbs, intoxicating, filling my head with lurid images. My thumb yed with her open pout, my cock painfully hard. An obscene urge to kiss her consumed me.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. I sealed my lips against hers. 3-7 CLAIRE Where the hell was I? I flinched from piercing whiteness as I pushed back linen sheets and raised myself on an elbow. Iy in a massive bed. A ck-and-white painting faced me, disying a beautiful man asleep on a bed, his wings stretched out behind him as a woman stood over him, holding an oilmp. I blinked. My mind reeled as I drank in the gilded trim, gold hardware on the built-in drawers, and gray curtains rolled halfway down a bright sky. The tiny, evenly spaced windows looked like those in an airne, but that couldn¡¯t be right. My head was too foggy to take in the strange details. I shoved off the plushforter and gaped at my naked waist, instantly wide awake. Did I go home with Cainan? My throat tightened as a sigh dragged my attention to the male body heating the bed. Cainany beside me, on his stomach, a pillow wedged between his head and arm. Heart pounding, I lifted the sheet. My gaze dipped from his peaceful face, to the seductive line of his back, following it to his steel glutes and the shadow under his hip. I let the sheet drop, my pulse racing. Did I have sex with himst night? My mind was foggy. I scanned my body for clues, but felt none of the soreness I¡¯d expect. And yet something had happened. Otherwise I wouldn¡¯t be here, without any clothes. I slid my legs from the bed. rm bells ringing, I padded into the adjoining bathroom. It was too small. A shower with ck ss sat in the corner, crammed beside a vanity with ck doors and a gilded mirror. An outrageous, gold-ted sink reflected my face. Cainan seemed to have a ir for the dramatic. I took care of business in the bathroom and grabbed a white robe tucked in a cubby. As I wrapped it around my waist, my ears popped. A loud roar reverberated through the walls. I can¡¯t be on a ne. Rattled, I chewed my lower lip as I returned to the bedroom. As I rejoined Cainan in bed, he stirred. Charcoal slits opened as he rolled over and settled inches away. A sleepy smile staggered across his lips when he took me in. ¡°Hello there.¡± ¡°M-morning.¡± My insides ckened at the fact I couldn¡¯t recall anything. I wanted to ask him point nk, but starting off the conversation with admitting that I didn¡¯t remember the sex seemed tactless. Did we even have sex? Cainan pushed himself upright with a yawn. Theforter fell off his shoulders, revealing a powerful frame that no woman could ever forget. He raked his mussed hair and spoke in a voice deep with exhaustion. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± I crushed my involuntary reaction to his affectionate look. ¡°Okay, I guess.¡± He gestured toward the nightstand. ¡°There¡¯s water if you¡¯re thirsty.¡± Darkness flickered in the back of my brain as I searched my surroundings for empty condom wrappers, lube, anything that might jog my memory. Cainan slipped from bed. Corded muscle rippled down his arms as he pulled on boxers. He shed me a smile so disarming, I fisted the sheets. ¡°You¡¯re quiet.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m trying to be polite, but I remember nothing fromst night. I don¡¯t know w-where we are or how I got in your bed, and it¡¯s freaking me out.¡± His hand roved over the bedsheets, gliding over my ankle. He squeezed. ¡°That¡¯ll pass.¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t understand-¡± ¡°Starling, drink.¡± My body froze from the barked order, but maybe Cainan wasn¡¯t a morning person. My mouth was dry. I reached for the tall ss and gulped it down. Cainan unzipped a suitcase and piled folded clothing onto the bed. He dressed in blue chinos and a loose-fitting polo. His cial eyes dove into me. ¡°You really don¡¯t remember.¡± Emptiness gnawed at my stomach. ¡°No.¡± He snorted. ¡°That¡¯s probably best.¡± My mind spun with bewilderment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but where am I?¡± ¡°On a ne over the Antic Ocean, on a ne, headed for a tropical paradise.¡± ¡°What?¡± He parted the curtains on a window, and it reflected light so blinding that my eyes watered. I fought through it and peered through the burning sun. An airne wing peeked through the tumbling clouds. Oh my God. Images suddenly arranged themselves. Zip ties burned at the forefront of my brain. The violent struggle in the van swam to my memory, and the syringe seemed to pierce my flesh again. I checked my shoulder, but all that remained was a red dot. I shoved myself to the other end of the bed. ¡°It came back to you?¡± Cainan shot me a look so chilling it could¡¯ve cracked marble. ¡°Good.¡± I inhaled a sharp breath, panic rioting within me. ¡°Where are we going?¡±Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°I¡¯m taking you on vacation, just like I promised.¡± My mind whirled at the dry response. ¡°This isn¡¯t funny.¡± ¡°You said that yesterday, too.¡± He rose fluidly, hands in his pockets. I scrambled to push together my wild thoughts. ¡°So you brought me here. You put me on a ne. Tucked me in this bed.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± My pulse galloped ahead, the knot in my throat pulsing with a raging question: Did you fuck me? No. Nothing felt sore. It couldn¡¯t have happened, but if he¡¯d raped me while I was drugged, it might¡¯ve been painless. Hell, I might¡¯ve encouraged him. I don¡¯t believe this. I swung my legs out of bed. A sheer ck fright swept through me as I approached where he stood, his abdominal muscles tensing as though I¡¯d charge him. ¡°Move,¡± I growled. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± He smirked. ¡°You¡¯re thousands of feet in the air. You¡¯re not going anywhere.¡± ¡°T-then I¡¯ll scream at the top of my lungs. The crew will rush in here. The captain will turn the ne around and you¡¯ll be arrested for kidnapping as soon as wend.¡± Swallowing, I continued, hoping his sanity would lock back into ce. ¡°Y-you don¡¯t want to go to prison.¡± The corner of his mouth twisted. ¡°You can get up to twenty-five years, Cainan-¡± ¡°Shut up and listen. You¡¯re my captive. You are no longer a free woman. You are my property, myfort woman, my pretty little bird. I will use your body for my pleasure, and I don¡¯t care how you feel about it. You may have strong opinions about that, but I don¡¯t want to hear them. I am not going to soften. I will not realize the error of my ways. Your only purpose is to please me sexually.¡± My thoughts raced. rm rippled down my spine. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You heard me.¡± I wetted my lips. I¡¯d heard, but I didn¡¯t believe him. This couldn¡¯t be real. Couldn¡¯t be. Why take me away? Why drug me when I was perfectly willing? Why pretend to be a good person for weeks if all he wanted was to fuck me? Was he crazy? ¡°Please,¡± I whispered, my heart lodged in my throat. ¡°I-I need to go home. I have to see my sister.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going home for a long time,¡± he said, and I flinched. ¡°I mean to y with you for a while.¡± A warning spasm erupted inside me as that sank in, shock siphoning the blood from my face. ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me like that!¡± ¡°You need to drop this fantasy you¡¯re holding onto. It¡¯s making me pity you. You don¡¯t want that. There¡¯s nothing more boring than pity.¡± Cainan moved behind me, stroking my hair and shoulders, his gentle touch contrasting his ugly words. I breathed in shallow gasps. ¡°I¡¯m just supposed to ept that you¡¯re a monster?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he said, his thumbs digging into my back muscles. ¡°You¡¯re here to be used, and I have very particr tastes when ites to ves. You¡¯ll follow my rules. You¡¯ll wear the clothing I pick out. You¡¯ll eat the food I give you. You must do everything I ask, without question. And you¡¯ll obey, or you¡¯ll get punished.¡± My breath burned in my throat. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± ¡°To my vi.¡± And once I was there, what would he do? Make me his ve? What did that even mean? I pictured a cold cell with a bucket, chains, and manacles. If I agreed to be his ve, would he hurt me? Maybe this wouldn¡¯t be so bad. If I didn¡¯t fight, we would just be two people having sex. Did I want to fight? Submitting to him had to be better than receiving his wrath. As soon as I got the opportunity, I¡¯d contact someone. Interpol-my sister-they would find me. Did he take my phone? Fuck, he probably did, but no matter. He didn¡¯t have a hope of keeping me silent at the airport. Provided he didn¡¯t drug me again. ¡°And how long are we staying?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. A few weeks, at least.¡± My breathing went ragged as he untied the sash at my waist, letting my robe swing open. His finger brushed my naked belly, showering my skin with sparks. What the fuck was wrong with me? I closed my robe, my throat tightening. ¡°Settle down,¡± he murmured, cupping my cheek with an affectionate pat that razed a line down my body. ¡°You¡¯re making this a bigger deal than it needs to be.¡± He seized a lock of hair and tucked it behind my ear, sparking my skin with warmth. My body¡¯s reaction to his touch felt so wrong. ¡°Cainan, you¡¯re not going to get away with this.¡± ¡°Not in Boston, but Leda is a special ce. It¡¯s a paradise for heathens. Nobody will help you escape. No one will lift a finger if you scream yourself hoarse that you¡¯ve been kidnapped. The entire ind is filled with arms dealers like me, traffickers, drug lords flying abroad for a vacation, and they all have their own private security.¡± ¡°You¡¯re an arms dealer?¡± He nodded. He sold weapons for a living? That stabbed my iling heart. My lower lip trembled. I¡¯d been thoroughly duped. He stood there, tall, powerful, emotionless. Who the fuck was he? Not Cainan, the businessman who¡¯d stolen my affections. Someone else¡­a stranger who¡¯d kidnapped me. My pulse beat erratically as the silence loomed between us like a heavy mist. ¡°This is your captain speaking,¡± the speaker overhead barked. ¡°We¡¯re about thirty minutes away from Leda. The weather is a humid eighty-three degrees. We¡¯re beginning our descent, so please head back to your seats and buckle up.¡± Even the pilot was in on it. He had to have seen Cainan dragging me through the main cabin, unconscious. Shock wedged the words in my throat as Cainan strolled to the suitcase and opened it, rifling through its contents until he pulled out a dark pink cocktail dress. He held it up and tossed it on the bed. ¡°Get dressed. I¡¯ll give you a few minutes to savor thest of your privacy. When I return, I expect to find you alert and ready to leave.¡± He wasn¡¯t going to drug me. Maybe I could escape. My heart thumped madly. A red tide pulsed from my belly, joining the blood flowing to my hands, my feet, every avable part that screamed to run. He caught my gaze. ¡°Do as I say.¡± The quietmand stole all the fight from my body. A sense of inevitability slid down my throat as I curled my fingers around the fabric. His eyes were like bits of stone, drinking in mypliance. ¡°Good girl.¡± A perverse heat flushed my skin at his praise. Then he left the room. Beads of sweat broke out on my neck. What the fuck just happened? 3-8 CLAIRE Heartbreak. Anguish. Fear. I cycled through several intense feelings as Cainan locked me in the bedroom. I sank to the floor by the bed, still wearing the robe. Immobilized by panic, I couldn¡¯t think. Nothing in my past experiences had prepared me for this. It was like stumbling into a foreign world where the old rules didn¡¯t apply. Only one man mattered. His rules. His pleasure. His mercy-and I couldn¡¯t gain that through violence. Still, I ignored the pink dress he¡¯d draped on the mattress. Wearing what he wanted felt like conceding my freedom. I couldn¡¯t. I was supposed to be a strong woman. But I didn¡¯t feel that way. I was drained, my energy spent from battering my fists against the door and screaming. The crew had to hear my frantic pleas for help, and their inaction meant that they really were in Cainan¡¯s pocket. Searching the bedroom revealed nothing I could use for a weapon-not that I nned to fight. The door unlocked, and Cainan stepped through. His eyes glittered as his gazended on me, my skin growing hot from his bold appraisal. He closed the door and approached, standing over me like a towering oak. I covered myself loosely, pretending his smoldering stare didn¡¯t unnerve me. I only had the robe on, and Cainan looked like he could fuck me on the floor. He lightly fingered my jaw, tipping my head back. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you ready to leave?¡± My cheeks burned, responding to his gentle touch with a five-rm fire. I couldn¡¯t be attracted to this man. What was wrong with me? He sighed deeply. ¡°Starling, the only reason I gave you clothes to put on your body is because I¡¯m a possessive man. I don¡¯t like other men looking at my ves. And if you walk out there with your tits out and your pussy on disy, they will definitely look. You¡¯ll make them aroused. You¡¯ll get them hard. Do you think I¡¯ll enjoy that?¡± I flinched. ¡°I-I don¡¯t care.¡± He smiled, and it was as if two loving fingers had pushed dimples onto his face. ¡°You will when I protect you from the others.¡± ¡°Other men?¡± I licked my dry lips. ¡°There are more people involved in this insanity?¡± ¡°Leda is a Caribbean ind owned by several billionaire families with very¡­carnal lifestyles.¡± He picked up the dress he¡¯d left for me and tossed it closer to where I stood. ¡°You can¡¯t just fly into the airport. You need an invitation. The rich and famouse here to party, to fuck gorgeous women, towork, to make business deals. There is no police. There are nows.¡± ¡°So you brought me to some kind of¡­demented yground for psychopaths. Why?¡± I fisted my robe, unable to stomach my new reality. ¡°Why would you schlep me across the ocean?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m a sick man with no impulse control.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s-that¡¯s not true,¡± I insisted, wondering why I was defending him. ¡°You barely touched me in the weeks we dated.¡± Cainan lifted a brow, throwing clothes in myp. ¡°And that deception means I¡¯m not capable of doing monstrous things? Can you ount for the recent gap in your memory?¡± My heart hammered at the disturbing ease in which he gave that answer. ¡°Why date me for that long, then? Why waste your time getting into my good graces only to betray me?¡± ¡°I had to see what you were like. Find out more about you. What makes you tic. That¡¯s always useful for breaking in girls.¡±Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Arrogance defined his features, starting with the cruel twist of his mouth. It looked like an ill-fitted mask. Like he was forcing himself to be over-the-top evil. The Cainan I¡¯d met was kind and caring. Beautiful, inside and out. I was his girlfriend, not his victim. I curled my palm around his knee. ¡°Why am I here, Cainan?¡± ¡°So I can teach you how to pleasure me.¡± Still holding my chin, he brushed his finger over my lip. ¡°But right now, I need you to put on that dress.¡± I swallowed, willing myself not to tremble. ¡°Y-you don¡¯t want me like this. You can¡¯t.¡± He seized my hand and pressed it t on his thigh, making me to feel every ridge of muscle as he glided up, over the bump tenting his chinos. I gasped as the steel of his erection bit into my palm. I clutched the dense column, feeling the mushroom-shaped head, the thick shaft, the heat of him somehow flowing into my body. I released him and breathed in shallowly. I ripped my gaze away from his huge cock and studied his face, struggling to find anything but wild lust. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you did this to me for sex. It¡¯s obvious that there¡¯s something else going on.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. Fucking you isn¡¯t enough. I want to dominate you.¡± His hands slid into my hair and pulled it into a fist, making me gasp with pain. ¡°And control you. And train you to be my willing toy. You will choke yourself on my cock just for the pleasure of satisfying me. Soon, you will ept that you exist for no other purpose.¡± I swallowed thickly, imagining myself inpromising positions at Cainan¡¯s feet. ¡°But you¡¯re-you¡¯re so not the type to do this.¡± ¡°How would you know?¡± ¡°I-I¡­¡± I trailed off, my knees aching from my position. ¡°This feels like a prank. Like you¡¯re putting on a show to scare me.¡± His demeanor ckened in ferocity. ¡°Put on the dress. We need to go.¡± ¡°What happened to you?¡± I blurted, ignoring his fierymand. ¡°Where¡¯s the sweet man that asked if he could kiss me? I want the guy who offered me his jacket even before I knew I was cold and told jokes when I felt low and made meugh¡­I want him. Not this character you¡¯ve made up.¡± My hair stood on end as Cainan held my gaze, the silence suffocating and hot, like steam. He wasn¡¯t looking anywhere but my eyes, and that sent a shock down my spine. ¡°This is who I am.¡± He seized my arm and hoisted me onto the bed. He threaded his hand through my hair, so close his breath warmed my lips. His full mouth molded to mine. He was like goose down, so soft and sensual that I leaned forward to im more of him. His kiss crumbled a mountain of tension. My hand found his chest, unbidden. Then I glided to his back. I raked the muscles through his shirt. I dragged him closer, deepening the kiss. His tongue swiped across, parting my lips. My nerves buzzed. His earlier kisses made me burn, but this¡­was exactly what I needed. I wanted to offer him all of me, my neck, my hardening nipples. Cainan fisted the hair on the back of my head. He pushed me off him, releasing me with a yful flick of his tongue. ¡°I am not a character. I am real. You better get used to me, because you¡¯re not going anywhere.¡± My stomach bottomed out. ¡°But-I thought-¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to think. Just obey.¡± He reached down and pped me between the legs, right on my clit. I yelped. My knees shook from the shock of the blow. I opened my mouth to respond, and then he shoved a finger inside me. My nipples tightened with the sudden invasion. The blunt force stole the breath from my lungs. I writhed as his finger fucked my pussy. Pleasure built up before I could resist, easing his forced submission of my body. Then he vanished, leaving me to throb with aching want. He popped out and sucked his glistening finger, closing his eyes as though savoring the taste. ¡°Cainan.¡± ¡°Shut the fuck up and get dressed.¡± 3-9 CLAIRE Fuck men. On dating apps, every man was a gentleman until sex. Then they did a one-eighty and made me feel like shit¡­or they turned into psychopaths like Cainan. I should¡¯ve known better than to get involved with him, but I honestly thought Cainan was different. In reality, his warmth was an illusion priming me for this con job, and it fucking worked. The facade he¡¯d maintained seemed to be gone. His eyes glowed, but there was no light. Only amusement from leaving me with a damp spot between my legs. Once I pulled on the skimpy pink dress he¡¯d fished out of my suitcase, he marched me out of the bedroom. The cabin door opened, and a fragrant humidity rolled inside. I stood in the narrow row as Cainan had words with the captain. ¡°Appreciate it, James.¡± Cainan shook his hand, and when he moved away the pilot slipped a wad of cash into his pocket. ¡°Have a lovely holiday.¡± I tuned out their voices and assessed the situation. We¡¯dnded in a small airport surrounded by massive green cliffs. As I followed Cainan outside to the descending staircase, a team of rifle-bearing men in fatigues arrived in a military jeep. My senses zed high alert. Dread bottomed out my stomach as soldiers stepped out of the vehicle, apanied by a man in khaki shorts and ck short-sleeved shirt with a white floral print. A broad smile blossomed over his wide jaw, dazzling against his olive skin. He ripped off his sunsses and tucked them in his cor, revealing a handsome face with striking features. His thick eyebrows sat low on his eyes, which, like Cainan¡¯s, seemed to probe my body as though he owned me. Glossy, dark brown hair framed his angr jaw. Unlike Cainan, he looked like he¡¯d spent a lifetime on the beach. His skin had a leathery, tough quality, so tanned that he could¡¯ve been any race. He appeared younger than Cainan, but not by much. He barked withughter, arms outstretched. ¡°You fucking dog. Come here!¡± Cainan descended, his paleplexion stark against that of the mystery man, who vaulted up the boarding stairs and grabbed Cainan in a back-pping hug. ¡°Brother. It¡¯s been too long.¡± He pounded Cainan with an enthusiasm that made me flinch. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to hear all about your adventures in Boston. How many weeks are you here for this time?¡± Cainan smiled. ¡°All of them.¡± ¡°You¡¯re joking?¡± The man¡¯s beaming grin faltered as Cainan disengaged from his embrace, nodding. ¡°Well¡­that¡¯s great. Dad¡¯s getting old and could use more help. Just don¡¯t let Dad rub your nose to the grindstone. You need to live a little.¡± Cainan¡¯s head jerked in my direction. ¡°I¡¯ve got that covered.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± The man removed his sunsses, squinting. ¡°I see you brought a toy for yourself. Come down, honey. Let¡¯s have a look at you.¡± Somehow Cainan sensed me inching further into the ne. He turned around and snatched me. Then he yanked me down the steps until I stood in front of him, bringing me face to face with another monster. Who is this? I didn¡¯t dare give my fear a voice, but it curdled in my stomach like food poisoning. Cainan rubbed my shoulder as I returned the man¡¯s unsettling stare. ¡°This is my brother, Rn.¡± ¡°Hello there.¡± Rn strolled into my personal space, his sandals nudging my feet as he peered at me like an enthusiast at an art gallery. ¡°Nice. Where¡¯d you get her from?¡± ¡°Boston. Dad¡¯s expecting her.¡± ¡°Indie Starling,¡± Rn murmured with a poisonous hiss, startling me. ¡°So you¡¯re the one causing all this trouble.¡± ¡°No. This is her sister, ire.¡± Cainan tightened his hold on my shoulders. ¡°But she causes plenty of drama of her own.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure she does.¡± Rn whistled as he studied me from all angles. ¡°Are you¡­attached to her? She has a vibe I¡¯m into.¡± He let out an appreciative groan that sent a chill down my spine. What a disgusting man. ¡°I would rather run backward through a cornfield than touch you.¡± Rnughed, exchanging an amused look with Cainan, whose mocking drawl set fire to my skin. ¡°Your loyalty to me is inspiring.¡± ¡°Y-you¡¯re crazy,¡± I stammered as a bright mockery invaded Rn¡¯s stare. ¡°Both of you.¡± Rn sneered. ¡°Why is this bitch talking?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a work-in-progress,¡± sighed Cainan, pushing me forward to continue our descent. ¡°Something tells me I¡¯m going to have my hands full.¡± ¡°Give me one night, and I¡¯ll train the disobedience out of her.¡± Rn¡¯s self-assured smirk pitted my stomach with nausea. ¡°Although I can¡¯t guarantee I won¡¯t leave any marks on her.¡± Cainan stepped onto the tarmac, gripping my arm tightly. ¡°I can handle her myself.¡± ¡°Oh,e on,¡± his brother pouted. ¡°I¡¯ll let you have a ride with any of mine.¡± Cainan released me and wheeled around to face Rn, his voice like the growl of a dragon. ¡°The answer is no. Do not ask me again.¡± ¡°All right. Fine.¡± My mind spun in a thousand directions. Why were they treating me like a dog? And why was Cainan ring at him like he¡¯d done him a personal wrong? I could¡¯ve flinched against the promise of violence in Rn¡¯s gaze. His demeanor darkened with a frightening severity, and I backed away from the furnace, only to collide with Cainan¡¯s hard body. ¡°Well, you must be exhausted. Let¡¯s get you home and settled in.¡± Rn faced the guards idling by the jeep and sted a whistle. ¡°What are you waiting for? Grab their shit.¡± ¡°Sorry, Mr. Sandor.¡± The soldiers retrieved our luggage. Cainan nabbed the passenger-side seat as Rn slid into the driver¡¯s side. I dragged behind them, gauging the distance between the jeep and the airport. Should I run for it? Panic welled in my throat as a guard nudged me with the butt of a rifle. I broke into a wild sprint. The car cut off my escape with a screech of wheels. Rn¡¯sughter boomed as I hurtled over the hood and took off in the opposite direction, toward the ne. The world rushed past me in confusing shapes. My lungs burned. I sprinted under the wing, where they couldn¡¯t follow. In a whirl of lush green and concrete, I spotted the mobile stairspletely unattended. I dove into the little seat facing the wheel and sat on it, baffled by the controls. I shoved my thumb in a button. The crane whirred as the stairs descended. I smashed my forearm across switches and mmed my foot into the pedal. The mobile stairs zoomed from the jet with an agonizing shriek. I wheeled it around. The wheels spun before they gained traction, but it was too slow. The speedometer was barely above ten kilometers per hour. I screamed my frustration as someone leapt onto the tform. I jerked on the wheel. The car swung in a wide arc. Cainan wavered and gripped my seat. The jeep crashed into us with a devastating crunch. The impact threw me forward, but a hand balled in my shirt saved me. Cainan crushed me against his chest and cut off the power, stopping my escape. He sighed roughly as he nced at the jeep¡¯s slightly bent hood. ¡°Fuck!¡± Rn bashed his fists on the dashboard. ¡°Look at what that bitch did!¡± Cainan curled his fingers in my hair and dragged me toward the car, where a soldier inspected the damage. I twisted and tore at him until he seized my wrists, ending my struggle with a rough yank. ¡°Stupid fucking cunt!¡± Rn seethed. ¡°What do you have to say for yourself?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry it didn¡¯t burst into mes!¡± I bellowed, straining against Cainan¡¯s grip. ¡°And you¡¯re a shit driver!¡± The reproving shake of Cainan¡¯s head contradicted his glowing eyes. Rn, on the other hand, looked close to grabbing the knife strapped to his waist. He stepped out and mmed the door, shaking with rage. ¡°Give her to me right now.¡± I flinched, and Cainan fitted his mouth to my ear. ¡°Rx, little Starling. He doesn¡¯t decide what punishment you¡¯ll get. He¡¯s not your master. I am.¡± A dark thrill struck the base of my spine. Would he beat me? Did he get pleasure from other people¡¯s pain? I tried to imagine Cainan¡¯s closed fists raining on my back, but the vision kept breaking before it made a solid outline. I couldn¡¯t ept it. I looked into his eyes and wondered, but there was no promise of violence in those charcoal depths. No anger for my disobedience. And underneath his steel embrace, the softest touch grazed my wrist. It was like being held in fire and ice. Too tender to belong to a human trafficker. And it waspletely hidden from Rn. Who was still having a tantrum. He¡¯d walked up to Cainan, whose arms tightened around me in a protective reflex. Rn didn¡¯t seem to notice. ¡°If she breaks the rules in front of me, I¡¯m entitled to smack around that little bitch. And I will. That¡¯s my right, and there¡¯s not a damned thing you can do about it!¡± Cainan¡¯s re hardened as his attention snapped to his brother. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not true. I can retaliate in many ways. Like for instance, cutting off the fingers that touched my property.¡± Rn flushed. ¡°That¡¯s a bit extreme.¡± ¡°Do I need to remind you of the consequences when someone touches my ves?¡± Cainan seethed. ¡°I am her master. You are nothing. Touching her is a privilege you will never get. Understand?¡± Rn¡¯s jaw tightened, but he said nothing for several moments. Then he let out a tense stream of air. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re making such a big deal out of this.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t bruise the fruit on disy.¡± Cainan shed his brother a sneer as he put his body in front of me. ¡°It¡¯s an easy concept to grasp. And despite that, you always ruin the pretty ones.¡± ¡°Cainan, that one needs a beating.¡± Rn pointed at me, his teeth gnashed in an ugly grimace. ¡°Look at her! She¡¯s defiant.¡± Cainan did with a casual toss of his head, then turned back to Rn. ¡°You and I have very different methods. Mine has finesse. Yours is the poster child for domestic violence.¡± ¡°But it works.¡± ¡°Of course it works. That¡¯s not the point. We are running a business. Nobody wants to fuck a girl covered in bruises. Except you, I guess.¡± Rn bristled. ¡°Fuck off.¡± Cainan nodded. ¡°As always, brother, I¡¯m blown away by your wit.¡± One of the guardsughed. Rn flinched and flushed a deep red, his gaze flicking to the soldiers watching the two brothers face off, and then narrowing on me. His burning eyes held me still. They were terrifying, ck and fathomless. Our silent exchange told me that he wouldn¡¯t forget this humiliation. He¡¯d find some way to hurt me. My stomach clenched as Cainan faced me, taking me in his arms again. His warmth was so bracing. So male. It disarmed me thoroughly, and then he pushed me toward the jeep, speaking in a ruthless snap. ¡°We don¡¯t tolerate runaways. Nor the destruction of property.¡± His about-face was like jumping into an ice-cold pool. I swallowed hard, not sure whether he was helping or hurting me. ¡°Running is a serious offense. We discourage it for obvious reasons. It agitates the girls. They start to get dangerous ideas.¡± Cainan tutted, as though thinking was a dangerous pastime. ¡°Hope is a virus. It needs to be isted and wiped out, or it spreads.¡± Was he serious? Everybody seemed to swallow that pile of bullshit. The guards didn¡¯t blink. Rn¡¯s sadistic grin was back on his face, as though his brother was finally speaking in anguage he understood. ¡°The first time I catch you, I¡¯ll spank you,¡± Cainan growled, my ears aching at his raised voice. ¡°The second time you run, I¡¯ll take you. I¡¯ll fill your pussy with my cum. Do you understand?¡± No, I didn¡¯t. My mouth hung open as I gaped at him, too stunned to reply. Why was he pretending to be brutal? Taking him seriously was a challenge. This was the same man who enjoyed the new Jennifer Lawrence romanticedy so much he made us rewatch it. He was the one who¡¯d filled the theater with his belly-achingughter. He hadn¡¯t faked that. Had he? This ultra-dark side of him seemed like a performance, but how could I be sure? Why shouldn¡¯t I believe he was evil? He¡¯d threatened to rape me. A fact that hollowed out my insides and send a dark thrill too low on my belly. My nerves tensed as he wrenched me backward, bumping his hips into mine, allowing me to feel the full length of his erection. I sucked in a breath. Oh God. He meant this. He wasn¡¯t lying. ¡°Do. You. Understand?¡± The pulsing knot in my throat erupted. ¡°Cainan, you can¡¯t!¡± ¡°Why not?¡± he asked calmly, his mouth lightly skimming my cheek. ¡°What did I tell you on the way here? What is your purpose?¡± To please you sexually. He squeezed my hips. ¡°Repeat my words.¡± ¡°I-to please you sexually.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly right. You are mine. If I want your pussy, I¡¯m going to take it. Anytime. Anywhere.¡± My stomach bottomed out. Shock wedged a response in my throat. ¡°But I am a generous lover. I like to give as much as I take. I can be gentle, but if you run¡­all that goes out the window.¡± Cainan straightened, his voice hardening. ¡°Now, I want you to apologize to my brother.¡± ¡°I-¡± I was about to obey, and then a smirking Rn strolled into view. ¡°I¡¯m not sorry!¡± His hand buried in my hair as he shoved me over the hood. I flinched as the hot metal kissed my cheek. Then his body crushed mine. ¡°Try again.¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Please,¡± I babbled, my eyes widening as his weight kept me from struggling. ¡°Let me go. I won¡¯t tell anyone.¡± Rn let out a condescendingugh. Cainan¡¯s torso lifted from me, but he kept his hand on my head. His thighs trapped my legs. A confusing heat burned my cheeks as his fingers teased the hem of my dress. ¡°When I give an order, you will obey. You will do so respectfully. I know this is new to you and it feels strange. But anything new is unusual until it bes normal. It won¡¯t happen overnight, but you will learn your ce.¡± ¡°Good talk there, chief,¡± I said with a forcedugh, wincing from the pressure on my head. ¡°Does it ever work?¡± I could feel his quiet astonishment that his threat hadn¡¯t worked on me. Cainan¡¯s voice seethed with disdain. ¡°You don¡¯t want to upset me.¡± ¡°I care more about the Kardashians than your feelings!¡± My heartbeat rocketed as Cainan released me. Then he seized my thighs and stroked. His touch was lighter than a feather, but the audacity of the movement robbed me of breath. I choked on my saliva as he kneaded my thighs. He¡¯d never handled me like this. In our messages to each other there was plenty of innuendo, but he hadn¡¯t crossed the line during our dates. Weeks of pent-up sexual tension smoldered in my body. I was acutely aware of the graze of his fingertips, and how much I ached for more. Heat circled my waist as his hips pushed into mine, wedging my thighs apart. Cainan swept under the curve of my ass cheeks. His light touch split into three soft fingers as he grazed the edge of my thong. Blood rushed at the spots where he caressed me, the pleasant warmth battling my head, which kept telling me to run. Shock wrapped my throat. I bucked against him, only seeding in grinding his hips. He let out a groan as a rock-hard column dug into my ass. Cainan¡¯s grip ckened. I sucked in a tight breath and stopped moving. My chest pulsed against the hood as Cainan crushed me, digging his erection into my ass. Oh my God. My heart somersaulted as he yed with something on his waist. Leather pped through loops as he pulled off his belt. ¡°Cainan, don¡¯t do this.¡± I twisted around, drawing his eager gaze away from my body. ¡°Please.¡± ¡°You made your bed.¡± Cainan flicked his wrist in a quick snap, and my backside exploded with pain. I screamed, jumping forward. ¡°Beautiful,¡± Cainan crooned as he fisted my dress to my middle back, exposing me to the other men. ¡°Look at that color.¡± A sensual thrill teased my nipples as he fondled my burning cheek. I shut my eyes, but the backs of my lids burned with an image of me bent over the hood, half-naked, a thong the only thing guarding the growing heat between my legs and a group of rabid men. ¡°Stop,¡± I begged, licking my lips. ¡°You¡¯ve made your point.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t even begun.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t give you what you want!¡± I shouted, fighting to escape his suffocating weight. ¡°I¡¯m not the type. I won¡¯t be your ve girl. What I¡¯ll do is make your life a living hell until you strangle me. So if you¡¯re going to kill me, get it over with!¡± ¡°Kill you? After all the trouble I went through to bring you here?¡± he tutted. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not made for this!¡± ¡°Oh, I disagree. If you could see yourself from where I¡¯m standing¡­ Legs spread. Pussy on disy.¡± The belt rubbed into my skimpy underwear, the hard leather lingering where my clit pulsed. ¡°You¡¯ll be my perfect little whore before long.¡± My heart thumped wildly. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°You will.¡± Cainan¡¯s smile brushed the sensitive patch under my ear. ¡°You¡¯re halfway there.¡± ¡°Not anymore.¡± I cleared my throat, pretending to not be affected. ¡°You broke everything between us.¡± ¡°If only I did, ire¡­but I know you¡¯re confused. You have no idea what to make of me. You¡¯re hoping I¡¯ll turn back into the man I pretended to be. Maybe you¡¯re right. Or maybe I¡¯m feeding into that false belief to make you desperate¡­and dependent on me. I doubt you realize how much of yourself you¡¯ve given to me. I know your doubts. Your fears. Your secret desires. How you like to be kissed.¡± I trembled. ¡°Stop.¡± ¡°What makes youe,¡± he continued mercilessly, my skin prickling with desire. ¡°We¡¯ve discussed that in detail. Haven¡¯t we? You confided in me your most delicious fantasies. I can make them happen, ire.¡± He spoke so quietly, I doubted anyone could hear him, but his seductive purr red in my head. I could listen to nothing else. It was overly intimate, as though we were locked in a private room. ¡°I don¡¯t want you,¡± I whispered, tears flooding my gaze. ¡°I hate you. I will never feel anything for you.¡± ¡°But you already feel something for me.¡± I shuddered. ¡°You¡¯re wrong.¡± ¡°So if I stroke your pussy, you won¡¯t be dripping?¡± His palm moved between my thighs, engulfing me with his heat. ¡°Shall I put that to the test?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°You sound worried.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± A note of hysteria entered my voice as he massaged me. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± I slumped on the hood, ovee with lightheadedness. My clit throbbed from his pleasant movements. Slowly, he pulled my underwear aside, baring my sex. As soon as the balmy air touched my wet lips, I squeezed my eyes shut. I felt him pull me apart and hold me open. And then his thumb slipped in the river of my arousal. ¡°That is¡­the most ready pussy I¡¯ve ever seen. God, you¡¯re such a perfect girl.¡± He said it with such a loving caress that I gnawed on my lip, fighting to keep the bliss it brought me from working through me. He rubbed me from side to side, a traitorous spark building in my core. I gasped. There were no words to describe my torment. He¡¯d stolen my power. Now he humiliated me by turning my body against me. ¡°Cainan,¡± I wheezed, raising my torso. ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± ¡°It¡¯s too bad you¡¯ve been such a naughty girl, because I could make youe.¡± A hot ache grew in my throat. ¡°Stop it!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let you pick. Pain¡­¡± He pped my ass hard enough for the sting to bite deep into my flesh. Then he chased the blooming sting with his thumb on my clit. ¡°Or pleasure?¡± ¡°Neither.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t choose, I will.¡± His finger rammed inside me. He inserted himself all the way to his knuckle. I sputtered an unintelligible word as my walls gripped him. He pulled out too soon, spreading the wetness over my clit. Heat consumed my body like a sauna. ¡°Pain, you asshole.¡± Cainan sighed, winding the belt around my wrists. Pressure returned to the middle of my back as he forced me to bow, and then he ripped the thong to my knees. More than one appreciative groan murmured through the group. Shame flooded my cheeks as I pictured them gawking at my bare ass and pussy. My pulse throbbed as I waited, hating myself for trembling. I looked behind me. Cainan¡¯s palm lifted and whirled down. Pain bloomed across my ass cheek. Hended another blow before I drew breath, knocking the scream from my mouth. Heshed at me, the agony returning. I leapt forward, trying to get away from the fierce bite of his palm, but he wouldn¡¯t let me go. He grasped my wrist and held me still as the blistering sensation spread from cheek to cheek. He fucking hit me. It hurt, but the humiliation of a man I¡¯d dated, whom I thought was a good person, stung so much worse. The blows weren¡¯t the love taps. They were painful, open-palmed swings. He struck me so hard that tears brimmed in my eyes. I dug into my hands to keep from crying. Then he stopped. Cainan stroked the raw flesh as I trembled on the hood. ¡°Apologize,¡± hemanded. ¡°Look at my brother and apologize.¡± ¡°N-no.¡± I braced myself, but Cainan¡¯s fingers brushed my inner thigh. Once again, the light touch set me ame. He continued to spank me with his hand rubbing my clit. With each strike, he was bolder, sliding up and down my slit. ¡°No,¡± I burst, my voice hoarse. ¡°I want you to hit me.¡± ¡°Tell me you¡¯re sorry.¡± Cainan¡¯s soft reproach made heat bloom in my body. ¡°Or I¡¯ll make a real liar out of you.¡± I bit my lip when another swift blow radiated to my pussy. ¡°Please stop.¡± ¡°I will when you apologize.¡± I gritted my teeth against the unwee desire in my belly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Look at him and say it.¡± I whirled around, but didn¡¯t see Rn. I saw myself standing in his ce, mouth agape in shock. A rush of self-loathing imed my cheeks at my utter powerlessness. I¡¯d caved after a few minutes, and only because I¡¯d enjoyed it too much. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I mumbled incoherently. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry.¡± The vision warped into a teary blur as Cainan¡¯s palm patted my smoldering behind. He rolled the dress over my back as I blinked away tears. They tracked down my cheek as the others returned to the car. He opened the door for me, ushering me in the backseat. This time, he sat beside me. As Rn threw himself in the driver¡¯s seat and turned on the radio, I slowly faced Cainan. His gray orbs danced over my face. ¡°Wee to Hell.¡± 3-10 CLAIRE It didn¡¯t look like Hell. The setting sun dipped behind green cliffs that made a jagged mountain range around the ind. Dense foliage framed the roads in startling bouquets of color. Gigantic birds of paradise sprouted in gardens. There were red banana trees, broken by fields of pineapple sprouting from crimson earth, coffee bean ntations, and so much more I could barely keep track. I would¡¯ve been over the moon if the circumstances were different. Humid air stuck my dress to my skin as the jeep wound through the jungle. I sat sandwiched between Cainan and the door. I needed no reminders of the stakes. Every turn took me further from freedom. If I wanted to escape, I had to focus, but memorizing the twists and turns was impossible after the first hour. The deeper we ventured, the more light the flora swallowed. A damp chill pressed into my bones as conversation in the car faded. Cainan nudged my leg. ¡°You¡¯re quiet.¡± Initially I ignored him, but his attention was as ring as a spotlight. ¡°I have nothing to say to you,¡± I finally said. ¡°I doubt the girl who chastised me for using a stic straw has nothing to say. I expected you to cuss me out.¡± I was never less angry in my life. I was exhausted from defying him. I closed my eyes, utterly miserable. Eventually, the shock and hurt would fade and I would rip his head off, but until then¡­my heart ached with pain. This was a waking nightmare. Yet another man I liked turned out to be a monster. During the drive, I wrestled with denial. Kidnapping happened to girls on TV. Not me. God, not me. I knew exactly what I¡¯d be used for. Spanking me was only the beginning. There would be more. I looked out the window, swallowing the sob in my throat. As the glossy leaves whipped past, I brainstormed an escape. There was too much to process for me to be humiliated. All I felt was numb disbelief as we journeyed deeper into an ind I¡¯d never heard of. The jeep wheeled onto a long, paved road. We approached a wrought iron gate manned by a soldier in fatigues, who stuck his head out of the security booth and waved the car ahead. With a mechanical click, the gate swung open. We swept into the driveway, passing a manicuredwn. As we turned the corner, the view stole my breath. A three-story, L-shaped mansion stood in front of us, surrounded by dense jungle. Rn parked and the soldiers opened the door. I stepped out. ¡°This is your family¡¯s vi?¡± Cainan got out behind me. ¡°It¡¯s more like apound.¡± Arge pool sat in the center of an immactely trimmedwn filled with dozens of white lounge chairs. Cainan grabbed my wrist, leading me toward the ultra-modern mansion. Guards with huge rifles patrolled the patio. An automated wall opened to an infinity pool, where a waterfall cascaded onto an atrium garden. Inside, everything was tile, wood, and stone. A massive indoor/outdoor living room sprawled next to ss walls. Beautiful women in skimpy bikinis traversed the property, swam naked in the sparkling pool, and leaned on furniture like trinkets waiting to be picked up. As we reached the ceiling-high ss doors of the house, a maid detached from the expansive kitchen to greet us. She wore the same zed-over, vacant expression that was on the faces of the man raking the pool, the gardeners, and every other staff member. The girl was decked out like a risque French maid, other than the worn leather cor wrapping her neck. The dress was allce and ck tulle. ¡°Cainan,¡± she said sweetly. ¡°Wee. And Rn, it¡¯s good to see you again.¡± She put a flirty emphasis on Ryn, which seemed to perk up his attention. He swaggered forward and grabbed her ass. ¡°Is that a new outfit? It¡¯s so hot. You need my cock, don¡¯t you babe?¡± She needed to punch him in the face. Miraculously, she didn¡¯t. Instead the maid toyed with his shirt, rolling her bottom lip into an absurd pout. ¡°You haven¡¯t been with me in a week.¡± He uttered a nauseating moan and smashed his lips into hers. She kissed him back enthusiastically, throwing her arms around him. As he devoured her with his sloppy kisses, she made porn-like sounds of amusement. I swallowed hard. Will that happen to me? Cainan sneered. ¡°Where¡¯s Dad?¡± Rn withdrew his mouth from the maid with a sickening pop. ¡°Away. He¡¯ll return in a few days.¡± ¡°Lovely,¡± Cainan muttered. ¡°Gives me time to get up to speed.¡± ¡°Whatever. Dinner¡¯s in an hour. You should join.¡± ¡°No, thank you. I think I¡¯ll retire for the night.¡± ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Rn hooked his arm around the maid, who smiled like an empty-headed doll. He pointed toward a detached house on the opposite side of the pool. ¡°Breakfast is at eight. Housekeeping makes the rounds at eleven. Oh, and Dad insists on one rule. If she runs, she must be taken to him.¡± Cainan¡¯s jaw hardened into granite. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve had issues in the past with guests taking pity on the whores. It sets a bad example.¡± ¡°Back up-whores?¡± I burst, fed up with keeping silent. ¡°Speak for yourself, Eurotrash pri-¡± Cainan palmed my mouth, cutting me off. I yelled at the top of my lungs, but it made no difference. He grabbed my waist and pulled me to his chest, and my ragged breathing broke. The smell of Cainan enveloped me, manly, seductive, tinged with a hint of something-ckberries. Fat purple blobs hanging in thorny bushes. It shot images of humid summers and purple-stained hands into my head. My sister and Ibed the neighborhood as children for them. We¡¯d stuff our faces with ckberries until we were sick. Thinking of Indie brought a wave of fierce homesickness and regret for not listening to her. And then intense fear. My God, I was kidnapped. What¡¯ll happen to me? Will I ever see my sister again? * * * Cainan slung me over his shoulder and dragged me to the guesthouse. I beat him with my fists as I swung upside down, my hands sliding on his dense back muscles. He ducked into the doorway, and I shivered in the conditioned air. Pale walls whirled past me as we climbed the staircase. We entered a marble bathroom. The ck-and-white pattern rotated as Cainan set me down. I raced for the door. He kicked it shut. I was tired, aching, and stiff from hours of riding in an ufortable vehicle, but I let out a scream that could¡¯ve toppled a mountain. Cainan¡¯s steel arms bound me like a python¡¯s coils, wrapping me in an embrace I couldn¡¯t break. I bucked as he carried me into the bedroom. The sight of the big, round bed sent a dark thrill down my body. I stabbed into his abdomen with my nails. He hissed. ¡°Feisty little Starling.¡± ¡°Let me go!¡± Cainan tossed me onto the bed. Then he heaved a sigh, his chest expanding under his shirt. Something violent begged to purge from my lips. The way he¡¯d treated me in thest twenty-four hours nailed me with a vicious gut punch. I could barely restrain my tears. ¡°Why are you doing this to me?¡± Cainan¡¯s lips pulled into a pulse-pounding smile. ¡°Oh honey. You wouldn¡¯t be here if I cared about your feelings.¡± His indifference tore at my iling heart. ¡°You lied to me. Your job. Your family history. Your name.¡± I exhaled roughly, my breathing ragged. ¡°Who the hell does that?¡± He looked bored. ¡°Me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you who does that-pathetic men. You couldn¡¯t fuck me, so you kidnapped me? You are pitiful.¡± A flicker of apprehension worked through his face before it morphed into a lifeless mask. He raised an eyebrow, as though to ask whether I was doneining. I wasn¡¯t. I could kill him. But even as I pictured standing on his bound body, I wanted to cry because it meant we¡¯d never be together. Giving up on him was throwing away all the good times. As I stared at him, memories popped in my head like winking stars. That day at the farmer¡¯s market, when I¡¯d asked him if we could be exclusive. That time he¡¯d stopped at the cafe with a bag of my favorite candy. How he always sheltered me from the road when we walked on the sidewalks. How much of his behavior had been a performance? Every wink and stolen kiss? Even when he held my hand? Was he lying when he kissed me? When he gave me advice? It doesn¡¯t fucking matter. He¡¯smitted evil. Drugging and kidnapping me showed a callous disregard for my life. He¡¯d shown zero remorse. Nothing more needed to be said. He was my enemy. I¡¯d never trust him again.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. But I wished my heart was hard, not broken. Mostly because I couldn¡¯t control the tears. They slipped down my cheeks, plinking my dress. Great, now I¡¯m crying to my kidnapper. I shook as I faced myp, gutted, barely holding in a sob. I didn¡¯t want him to see me break down, but I couldn¡¯t hold it in. I cried into my hands. A deep male sigh echoed in the room. Then Cainan sat beside me, draping his arm across my shoulders. The proximity lodged a ball in my throat. Doubt congested my thoughts as I looked up from my palms. He smiled, but I shrank from the cold light of his gray eyes. Cainan patted my shoulder. ¡°Get it all out. But for future reference, I prefer my women¡­upbeat. I¡¯m not into criers. Or girls that go into hysterics when they¡¯re around me. It¡¯s a downer.¡± His psychotic response burned the grief from my chest. ¡°You are sick and pathetic,¡± I growled, wiping my face. ¡°All of you are certifiable! Do you know how many federal crimes you¡¯remitting? Aggravated kidnapping. Human trafficking.¡± Cainan stood from the bed, yawning. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re shutting me out?¡± I demanded, firing up again. ¡°You think I¡¯ll stop bringing this up? You think I¡¯m letting a man tell me what to do?¡± ¡°I think I have a collection of gags to keep you quiet when you¡¯re not sucking me off.¡± He opened a dresser drawer and fished one out. ¡°So you should watch what you say. Or you¡¯ll stay muzzled until I like whates out of your mouth.¡± Jesus. He was a piece of work. A lump lodged in my throat as Cainan tossed the gag aside and ripped off his shirt. I sucked in my breath at the V of his mouthwatering frame tapering to a trim waist. He had a godlike body, muscle packed on muscle. He removed his shorts and prowled to the bed. When his naked knee touched the mattress, I shoved myself toward the headboard as though shocked by electricity. ¡°A-are you going to rape me?¡± Cainan raked his auburn waves, the muscles in his chest jumping with the movement. ¡°Not tonight. We have an early day tomorrow.¡± He didn¡¯t even deny it. My stomach bottomed out further as hope dimmed to a distant fog light. Cainan climbed into bed. ¡°You may take off your clothes.¡± Like I wanted to remove more barriers to him. I threw him a look of deep loathing as his muscled body slid between the sheets. He pointed next to him. ¡°In.¡± ¡°No.¡± Once again, he showed zero reaction to my disobedience. He grabbed handcuffs from the nightstand. ¡°If you don¡¯t get under the sheets in five seconds, I¡¯m putting these on you. One.¡± I stared at them, horrified. His eyes shed. ¡°Two.¡± I couldn¡¯t risk the asshole following through. Shaking, I slid into bed, taking the side farthest away from him. As I ripped the covers over my legs, his unblinking gaze raked my body. He erased the distance between us. Suddenly, a sculpted male chest loomed over me. His cool finger brushed my cheek, turning my head toward him. His impossibly beautiful face creased with an unreadable emotion. What was he thinking? My heartbeat skyrocketed as he traced my cheek. His nearness overwhelmed me, kindling feelings that needed to die. I took his wrist. ¡°You can still undo this, Cainan.¡± His face hardened. ¡°I regret nothing.¡± He leaned over, forehead against mine. Then his lips touched mine, soft and sensual, the heat just as intense as a couple of days ago. As our mouths collided, electricity careened through my body. Hairs on my forearm prickled. I¡¯d kissed him plenty of times, but this was very different, with his nakedness molded to me. Sex was implied, a promise, and a fire had consumed all the oxygen. I couldn¡¯t breathe from the effects of his gentle assault. I floated on clouds, pleasure obliterating the pain. Wet heat delved in my mouth as he deepened the kiss. I gasped from the violentshes of his tongue. His hands weaved into my hair, holding me in a way that made me feel possessed, but safe. He explored the roof of my mouth, the sides, iming me. Kissing him was supposed to make me terrified, but instead I felt protected by the evil outside. Cainan released me from the kiss, his hand still buried in my hair. His eyes shed like dying embers as he breathed hard. It was like we¡¯d both awakened from the same dream. The pain in my heart became a sick gnawing. ¡°Cainan,¡± I whispered, tears slipping down my cheeks. ¡°Please take me home.¡± His next words cut into me like steel. ¡°You are home.¡± 3-11 CLAIRE Get out now. I had no idea what Cainan had nned, but all signs pointed to an indefinite sexual envement. He¡¯d drugged me. Smuggled me on a ne. Fucked me with his finger. Spanked me. God only knew what the dawn would bring if I didn¡¯t escape. But I couldn¡¯t leave while trapped in Cainan¡¯s arms. So I waited. For hours, I gathered my courage, listening to the cacophony of crickets and frogs filtering through the open window. My head was begging for rest after a day of nonstop adrenaline, but I couldn¡¯t stay here another minute. The male body pressed up against me didn¡¯t help. Our entangled limbs teased my mind with images that shouldn¡¯t be in my head. The smell of him wreathed me in a pleasant mist, mingling with the florals saturating the air. When his breathingbored and he settled into a deep sleep, I inched my hand to his. It curled around my waist, and I needed it to move. I sped my fingers on his wrist. He twitched. I sucked in my breath. Don¡¯t wake up. Please. My heart jackknifed into my chest as I lifted him off my hip. Waited. When he didn¡¯t stir, I moved his heavy arm behind me. Then I glided across the pillow, inching to the end of the mattress. Finally, my toes met cooler air. I slid from theforter. My feet touched tiles. I stood, peering at the faint outline of his sleeping form. Sayonara, shithead. I slipped on my shoes and headed to the French doors. Gritting my teeth, I fingered thetch. I muffled the sound with my palm, unlocking it. Throwing a nervous nce at Cainan¡¯s body, I pulled on the sliding ss door. Fuck. That was loud. I squeezed through the crack and stepped into the unlit backyard. My feet glided over damp grass glowing from the illuminated pool. I hugged the walls as I peeked around the corner at the house, where armed security patrolled the grounds like silent shadows. The backyard faced a thick wall of silhouetted trees and bushes. The jungle roared its night music, the sound seeding my belly with fear. I couldn¡¯t navigate this terrain with these shoes. I¡¯d wear out my feet long before I reached the airport. If I could even find it. My gaze jumped toward an opening within the maze of vines. I approached, spooked by the sweeping beams of shlights, and peered over the cliff. A steep mountainside gave way to a vast valley, where a gray horizon emerged over the ck ocean. Staring at it stabbed my chest with a new panic. I had no idea where I was. And I wouldn¡¯tst a week without hiking shoes, a map, and apass. I needed a n. I had to be patient. Which meant I needed to head inside if I didn¡¯t want to get caught. I turned, then a harrowing sense tingled the back of my neck. I froze. A sigh tore through the thick air as heavy footsteps crunched the grass. Cainan stood several feet away in loungewear, a light brown robe with a blue pattern that ended above his knees. The whiteness of him struck my heart with awe as it unnerved me. It contrasted with the dark jungle, but hismanding posture left little doubt that he belonged among the ghouls roaming the grounds. He strode forward, his elegant face set in a serene expression that mimicked angelic frescos. ¡°Did I give you permission to leave my bed?¡± I folded my arms. ¡°You didn¡¯t say I couldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how this works. You¡¯re not supposed to look for loopholes.¡± ¡°Can you me me?¡± His charcoal eyes seemed to probe my soul before he let out another impatient sigh. His hand met mine in a warm sp. Then he led me toward the forest opening. ¡°ire¡­everyone tries to escape, but they never get far. Most are hauled back before the hour¡¯s out. Navigating a jungle isn¡¯t easy¡­and those that run don¡¯t live long. Many a time, I¡¯ve happened upon bodies in the forest.¡± I breathed in rapidly. ¡°You¡¯d think surviving a ce teeming with life would be simple. But even if you can identify the poisonous nts from the edible ones¡­strange things happen to the brain when you¡¯re scared, dehydrated, and starving. Your mind ys tricks on you. You lose your sense of direction. You see monsters in the dark. Only one girl made it to the beach¡­and she drowned. Most die from exposure,¡± he deadpanned, the ice in his voice chilling my body. ¡°Stop. I don¡¯t want to hear any more!¡± I pped my hands over my ears, but he removed them with a merciless yank. ¡°You need to understand what¡¯ll happen if you walk in there. You¡¯ll get caught. Or worse, you¡¯ll die. You will not try to escape.¡± His gray eyes narrowed and hardened. ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t.¡± ¡°No.¡± He caught my cheeks in both hands. ¡°Promise me, ire.¡± The light restraint flushed my chest, but his plea made my head pound. It sounded like he cared. Was it a trick? ¡°I will not.¡± I ripped from his grasp, my heart hammering. ¡°You give this speech to everyone you kidnap?¡± His tight frown darkened with frustration as he turned me around to face the vi. ¡°You¡¯re the first I¡¯ve ever brought here.¡± My lip quivered. Lucky me. His gentle touch glided to my waist. ¡°Let¡¯s get you back inside.¡± ¡°Cainan, please. I want to go h-home.¡± ¡°Your life in Boston wasn¡¯t doing you any favors,¡± he said tly, gripping my biceps and marching me toward the guesthouse. ¡°You had no purpose. You were frustrated. Struggling. Desperate for other experiences.¡± ¡°Have you any idea how delusional you sound?¡± He gave my wrist a sharp yank, and I stumbled and hit his chest. ¡°I¡¯m not. I¡¯m just good at what I do.¡± ¡°Which is what? Breaking people? Grinding them down until they do what you want? Enving them? Fucking them?¡± ¡°Yes. But I don¡¯t expect you to break.¡± Cainan pulled me into the bedroom and closed the sliding doors, a smile shing across his perfect lips. ¡°You¡¯re here because you¡¯re strong enough to survive what I have to do to you.¡± Wearing a grave expression, he untied his robe. A lump lodged in my throat. ¡°We¡¯re taking a bath.¡± He eased a muscled shoulder out of his robe. ¡°If I have to drag you into the water, I will, but I¡¯d rather not risk you hurting yourself. So be a good girl and take off your dress.¡± He pushed me into a marble bathroom with two sinks. The door mmed shut with his kick, trapping me with him. He released me. I clutched the counter, my heart pounding. He truly was a monster. Bewildered, I watched him undress. His tant beauty distracted me, the robe uncovering more of his sculpted body. Much more than he¡¯d teased through the text messages. I drank in his impressive chest, the sheer work he¡¯d put into his physique. My gaze flicked on his thick thighs,nding on the biggest uncut cock I¡¯d ever seen. It stood at attention, obscene in its size, framed by a trimmed bed of dark hair. He gripped his cock and gave it a slow tug. Flushing, I returned my gaze to his face. ¡°You can¡¯t want me this way,¡± I breathed, clutching at my waist as though he¡¯d tear into my clothing. ¡°Look at you. You don¡¯t need to do this.¡± ¡°What if it¡¯s the only way I know?¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s another lie you tell yourself. You¡¯ve shown me that you can treat a woman right. You spent weeks doing it with me.¡± ¡°Men like me aren¡¯t content with that lifestyle.¡± ¡°You seemed pretty happy to me.¡± His narrowed gaze softened as his long legs ate up the distance between us. ¡°It was fun while itsted, but the n was always to bring you here.¡± ¡°Is that why you took me fruit picking?¡± ¡°I needed your trust, so I Googled cute date ideas and checked them off like boxes on a list.¡± ¡°You needed nothing.¡± I backed into the wall. ¡°You could¡¯ve kidnapped me anytime. Instead you took your sweet time getting to know me.¡± ¡°Seducing you.¡± He was close enough to punch, but his calming presence stopped me. He was too serene. His whispering purr dismantled my rage. Confused me. When he spoke about forcing me into submission, I felt his yearning. His hunger. ¡°You¡¯re desperate to believe that I¡¯m not a bad person¡­because of what happened to you in college.¡± I hugged myself and inhaled deep breaths. I tried not to picture him, but his face popped into my mind. Shame, swift and hot, engulfed my body. Hot tears welled in my eyes, and Cainan¡¯s mouth ttened as though the sight of them disturbed him. ¡°Is that why you picked me?¡± I asked him, my voice tearing from grief. ¡°Because I was the perfect victim?¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Victim?¡± He gently grasped my jaw, and I flinched. ¡°No. You¡¯re a survivor. What I¡¯m going to put you through will be hell, but you can take it. Your strength is why you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Tell me what that means.¡± ¡°What I will do to you will be worse than what he did.¡± He transferred his grip to my elbow and pulled me out of the bathroom so that I faced the bed. ¡°You can bathe with me, or you can spend a few hours there.¡± He pointed at the ck bars I¡¯d mistaken for the bed frame. It was a fucking cage. A cage underneath his bed! My mouth opened as my gazended on the iron door wide enough for a person to slide through. ¡°You¡­you lock women in there?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Of course he did. Cainan had been very transparent with his reasons for kidnapping me. I gaped at him, and his free hand moved to my neck. ¡°And you get off on that?¡± He nodded, immune to my judgment. My heart hammered, my pulse beating into the palm that still held me. I wasn¡¯t a coward, but the thought of being forced through that narrow door naked, being locked up, and waiting for him to change his mind, intimidated me. ¡°It¡¯s not always a punishment,¡± he said with a silky caress in his voice. ¡°Sometimes she hasn¡¯t earned the right to my bed.¡± Heaviness bottomed out in my stomach. ¡°I¡­I guess I should feel lucky I skipped that step.¡± ¡°You should.¡± A bolt of lightning shot up my spine as his touch skimmed my corbone. The softest strokes caressed my skin in winding paths. He followed my shoulders, the sensation tickling. Then it reached more intimate areas. ¡°I don¡¯t allow women the liberties I¡¯ve given you.¡± A tremor shook my leg. ¡°I can¡¯t wear the clothes I want. I can¡¯t go for a walk. I can¡¯t say no if you want to fuck me. And apparently, disobeying your orders, no matter how insane, is off limits, too. What liberties?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand yet. But you will.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t! I¡¯m getting the hell out of here.¡± Cainan tutted, shaking his head. ¡°Threatening escape? I thought you were smarter than that, ire.¡± The taunt buried in my chest. ¡°And I thought you were a good person. I thought you were sexy and fun and witty, but now you¡¯ll always be the man who lied to me.¡± 3-12 CAINAN If anyone could survive this ce, it was ire. Someday, she would understand. She might even forgive me. But not today. irey inside the cage, her hair a wild nest of blond. A grass stain streaked the pink fabric of her dress. Her position looked ufortable, but with her wrists and ankles bound, she couldn¡¯t do much about it. Her ferocious gaze had the air of a tigress longing to devour her captor. I couldn¡¯t me her. I¡¯d left her to stew there for an hour. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± She didn¡¯t respond. I tapped the bars with my foot, and she snarled. ¡°Go away.¡± I knelt and stuck my arm through the gaps in the bars. Then I ran my fingers along her tense jaw. ¡°When you disobey me, I take things. Your voice. Your ability to move, to do anything but lie still and ept my thrusts.¡± Her lips thinned. I traced the elegant arch of her neck, thumbing the base of her throat, which fluttered wildly with her pulse. ¡°Starling, the tough girl act neversts long. You think you¡¯re the first willful girl I¡¯ve brought to heel?¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting off this ind and going home.¡± Iughed. ¡°Keep repeating that to yourself, sweetheart.¡± I was charmed by more than her stubbornness. The cute set of her jaw. Her unflinching defiance. Her determination to escape while she was handcuffed in a cage under my bed. She was fucking adorable. ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± she said, her potent re diving into my chest. ¡°And you can¡¯t stop me.¡± Impossible. Even if she made it to the beach, she would have to find transportation. Given that the airport and marina were locked down tight, she had no chance. Anyone who picked her up would recognize her as mine. They¡¯d rather drive her back than risk my wrath. I could¡¯ve exined everything to ire, but I doubted it¡¯d dampen her resistance. ¡°I could keep you underneath my bed and only take you out to feed and fuck you. I could tie you down and edge you, over and over, until you beg me to let youe. I¡¯m cruel by most people¡¯s standards. So yes, I think I can stop you.¡± ire blew out a fierce breath, her chest pulsing rapidly. I imagined she was probably weighing her options. Deciding she had no choice but toply. She opened her mouth, obliterating my expectations. ¡°Prove it,¡± she drawled. ¡°Do something that actually scares me.¡± Calling my bluff? My mouth tugged into a disbelieving grin. Then I fished the key from the nightstand and unlocked the cage. Reaching inside, I gripped her ankles and pulled. Her body slid out of the opening. She rolled on her side. A vivid blush stained her cheeks as I teased the neckline of her dress. Following her curves, I swept downward. Then I stroked the center of her breasts. A gorgeous red tint flushed her skin. ire frowned, her expression murderous. Her handcuffs clinked as she stretched them taut, but I ignored her unspoken demand. Her nostrils red as I edged her dress by the straps. They fell down her slender curves. The fabric squeezed her tits. I admired the sight of them spilling over, her arms held in ce by the cuffs. Glorious. My mouth parched at the sight of her perky breasts, the dusky pink nipples budding to alertness. Beautiful. I¡¯d have fun ying with them, but I had to see the rest of her. I grabbed the scissors and sawed through the bundle linking her arms together. Then I ripped it in half. The dress spilled onto the tiles. My breathing slowed as I drank in her helpless position. She waspact and hard, with the body of a dancer. Her tits barely filled my hands, but they weren¡¯t too small on her petite frame. They would fit nicely in my mouth. I caressed to her navel and then to the trimmed bed of dark hair. I¡¯d seen her naked when I¡¯d stripped her while she was unconscious, but I didn¡¯t let myself stare at her. I¡¯d touched her as little as possible, enduring a serious case of blue balls until I stroked my cock at her bedside. I¡¯d never done that before, but it felt necessary to stave off the madness of my primal instincts. The same wave of lust blew through me as I studied her, tightening my chest until I couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°Fuck. I can¡¯t look at you without my cock aching.¡± I traced the seductive line of her curves. ¡°You¡¯re just as beautiful as I imagined.¡± Her eyes contracted before she rolled them. ¡°Meanwhile, I¡¯m fighting the urge to vomit.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re definitely battling urges. As am I¡­it¡¯d be so easy to take you right now. But as pleasing as that would be, I know better. Threatening you with a good time gets us nowhere.¡± As my thumb rubbed her hip, a shiver rippled through her. ¡°It won¡¯t work on me.¡± ¡°I think it will. And I have plenty of material from our spicyte night conversations.¡± I scooped her up from under her legs and stood, heading for the bath. ¡°Perhaps I should read your texts aloud?¡± ¡°Those?¡± she scoffed, turning a bright shade of magenta. ¡°I send all guys the same script. Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± I smiled down at her, thoroughly amused by her lies. Her attitude was borderline reckless, considering her situation. I strolled into the bathroom and set her down on the edge of the tub. I turned on the hot water and unlocked her ankles and wrists. Despite her bravado, I could feel her nerves fraying as her hands trembled. When it filled, I picked her up and stepped into the bath. ire hissed as we sank into the heat. Then I made her sit between my thighs, her weight folding into mine pleasantly. Her abdomen strained against my arm as I dragged her backward. When her back touched my chest, her breathing kicked up to a faster rhythm-no doubt worried about the cock pressed into her ass. My heartbeat thudded loud in my ears. I held her, trying to get a grip on the desire throttling my veins. Suddenly, I fought the pull to close my eyes and drift off. This felt too good. Like a dream. She clenched my arm. ¡°W-what are you doing?¡± ¡°Enjoying you,¡± I whispered with a sigh that echoed. ¡°You can¡¯t know how much I¡¯ve wanted you¡­ Stop struggling and rx.¡± ¡°I thought you were punishing me.¡± ¡°Oh, I will. But I like to drag it out.¡± I grabbed a bottle, squirting soap into my palms. ¡°Carry the tension for as long as I can¡­ lift your arm for me.¡± I started with her hands, massaging the individual knuckles, the meaty pad of her palms, soothing the red lines where the cuffs dug into her flesh. Then I traveled up her forearms, squeezing thepact muscle. I rubbed the divot in her elbows, and she released the tiniest exhale. When I reached her shoulders, she was boneless. Completely limp. I couldn¡¯t count how many sensual massages ended with a woman begging me for punishment. Even if I hadn¡¯t nned on doing anything, the anticipation made them crazy. Made them plead for mercy and do desperate things to gain my favor. Getting to that point was the fun part. I would punish her, but it made a bigger impact when I took it slow. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she muttered. ¡°Taking care of what I own.¡± I watched the suds cascade down her skin. ¡°You¡¯re very tense. Loosen up.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how I get when men threaten me.¡± ¡°You asked me to scare you,¡± I reminded her, soaping her neck, her chest, the delicate bones bird-like. ¡°Maybe I wanted to do the opposite.¡± ¡°I seriously doubt that. I-¡± A groan cut her off mid-sentence as I burrowed under her shoulder des, slipping under the bone. She flinched. I stopped. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯m sore from the handcuffs.¡± The reminder that I¡¯d forced her to wear them seemed to put her on guard. ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± ¡°I like giving massages.¡± ¡°I¡¯d think you¡¯d be the one to get pampered.¡± I reached for the shampoo. ¡°For the most part.¡± Back in Boston, I had no shortage of willing subs eager for me, but I tired of them quickly. I got what I wanted and dumped them. Meanwhile, I¡¯d chased ire like it was my full-time job. I still had no idea why I¡¯d done that. Or why it soothed me tother her hair and massage her scalp. I rinsed her off. ¡°Taking a bath with me was on your list.¡± I hefted her breast in one hand, smearing soap over her pebbled nipple again. ¡°You told me you liked being washed.¡± ire closed her eyes. ¡°The idea pleased me more than the reality.¡± Iughed. ¡°You¡¯re a rotten liar.¡± Her nipples stood at attention, betraying her real thoughts. I pinched her nipples, and then she turned around to face me. Her ass wiggled on my groin. I pulled her over myp. She gulped, legs firmly pressed together, her lips parted-rage and lust fighting to control her expression. ¡°Tell me why. Help me understand¡­¡± ire trailed off as she seemed to search for the right words. ¡°How did you get like this?¡± ¡°Why does it matter?¡± ¡°Because¡­you lied about everything, and I have no idea who you are.¡± ¡°I showed you who I am. Or do you still need more convincing?¡± I hesitated, enjoying her wide-eyed innocence and how small she felt in my arms: a bird trapped in my ws. ¡°You¡¯re so fucking beautiful when you¡¯re afraid of me. You flush all the way down to your tits.¡± She squirmed, trying to get away, but only seeded in pushing herself closer. She was working me up. I dug my fingers into her hip. I needed to taste her tits, to bend her over the tub and take her- ¡°Convince me,¡± she demanded, her tone ringing with a sweet resonance. ¡°Tell me about yourself.¡± I ced my hand over her breast, savoring how her pulse pounded into my palm. ¡°I¡¯ll answer your questions for some of mine.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± I nodded, indicating she should go first. ¡°Okay, um¡­where were you born?¡± ¡°Right here, on Leda.¡± Her voice shrank to a whisper. ¡°There can¡¯t be a women¡¯s health clinic on the ind.¡± ¡°No. My father had a doctor flown in. He couldn¡¯t risk taking my mom to the maind.¡± I sshed water on her left shoulder, which sprouted with gooseflesh. ¡°She was a captive.¡± She gasped, the horror of that not lost on her. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­I can¡¯t imagine a child growing up here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a good ce for children. I saw a lot of things I shouldn¡¯t have. Mom tried to shield me, but she couldn¡¯t protect me from everything. And after a while, you get desensitized.¡± ¡°Was she kidnapped, too?¡± ¡°No idea. I never got the full story of where she came from.¡± And my prick father still refused to give me any details. ¡°All I know is her first name. Cassandra.¡± She frowned, looking troubled. ¡°When did she pass away?¡± Pass away. I¡¯d always found that phrase dismissive. Even its structure was passive. It assumed dying was a gentle process, but in my experience, death was brutal. ire took my shoulder. ¡°How old were you, Cainan?¡± ¡°Eight.¡± I smiled at ire¡¯s stricken expression. ¡°H-how did it happen?¡± Wake up, angel. We need to leave. Pain struck the back of my throat. ¡°Are all your questions going to be about my dead mom?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. We don¡¯t have to talk about it if you don¡¯t want to. I should¡¯ve asked something less¡­intense.¡± She nched and bit her lip. ¡°So she died¡­and then you had your dad?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What was that like?¡± I rubbed my left temple as the ringing started. ¡°Not great. Losing my mother changed me. I had¡­behavioral problems. I soon became a nuisance to my father, so he shipped me off to a New Ennd boarding school.¡± I shouldn¡¯t have allowed her to ask whatever she wanted, but it¡¯d been a long time since I¡¯d told anyone about my life. My skin prickled with heat. Her heavy stare drilled into me. ¡°What happened after that?¡± she demanded. ¡°Life went on.¡± I lifted my hand, gesturing to the door. ¡°I vented my rage on the boys at school, who were no match for me. I enjoyed hurting them. I got good at it. Too good. The school kicked me out when I was seventeen. Then I was back with my dear old dad full time, learning how to fuck women that didn¡¯t want to be fucked and make them think they liked it.¡± The hand on my shoulder trembled. ¡°And you don¡¯t feel bad about any of it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t let my thoughts go there.¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re a psychopath.¡± I lifted my brow. ¡°Wait until you meet my father.¡± Her fingers contracted on my muscle. ¡°I don¡¯t want to meet him, Cainan! Your family is so¡­unbelievably messed up.¡± You have no idea. ¡°How did I not see thising?¡± she said, a hysterical note threading through her voice. ¡°How?¡± ¡°I gave you no reason to doubt me.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve been with men like you. You didn¡¯t show any red gs. You weren¡¯t crazy or¡­or possessive. You respected my boundaries. You did all the right things.¡± I shrugged. ¡°You and I are very different. I thought it¡¯d be a fun challenge.¡± ¡°You wanted a taste,¡± she whispered, her eyes lingering on mine. ¡°Of the other side. So instead of making me your ve, you seduced me with good, old-fashioned, wholesome dating. You didn¡¯t expect to like it that much. Did you?¡± I stared at her, stunned. Then shock yielded to anger. ¡°Are these questions a strategy to free yourself?¡± I taunted, my mouth curling into a wide smirk. ¡°Do go on. I love it when you girls try to outsmart me. I love it up until I teach you a lesson for being an insolent brat. Let¡¯s make one thing clear. You¡¯re here to get fucked. That¡¯s it. And it can be nice and pleasant, like the way I¡¯m holding you now, or it can be rough. Which do you want?¡± Wide-eyed, she backed from my arms. In the tub, she couldn¡¯t travel far. I waded toward her, upsetting the bathwater. Itpped up the sides and spilled as I drew closer. I lifted her out of the water and set her on the edge. Her eyes widened as she lost her bnce. I caught her torso before she pitched forward, admiring her glistening curves, the rivulets tracing sinful paths that I wanted to follow with my tongue. It was my turn to ask questions. ¡°How badly did you want me? And don¡¯t try to deny your feelings weren¡¯t deeper than a crush. If we¡¯d kept dating, it would¡¯ve been more.¡± How much more? ¡°Did you fantasize about the future? What did that look like? Did you picture us moving in together?¡± I studied her closely, holding in my breath as I waited for her to speak. ire shut her eyes, apparently overwhelmed by my questioning. ¡°Maybe I thought of those things. But that ship sailed, crashed, and sunk the moment you drugged my protein shake. Actually, no. When you opened your fat, lying mouth and introduced yourself to me.¡± My smile wavered when she opened her tear-filled eyes. The horror of my duplicity seemed to dawn on ire, and then I felt it again, throbbing low in my throat. That poisonous emotion, guilt. Her pain stabbed deep inside me. ¡°I had to lie. You wouldn¡¯t have let me get within five miles of you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t give a damn. Got it,¡± she snarled, standing. ¡°Because what¡¯s left of your cashew-sized brain is located in your cock, and it does all your thinking.¡± She wrenched a towel off the rack and wrapped herself in the cotton. I watched her stomp off, wanting to chuckle at her stupid insult and the cute way she¡¯d red at me, but I couldn¡¯t let that shit fly. I dried myself off and followed the wet footprints leading to the least safe room in the house. The bedroom. ire sat on the bed, covered by the towel. I snatched it off her and threw it across the room. She aimed a right hook at my head. I caught her wrist, and then the other. A stream of colorful swear words flowed from her mouth. Tutting, I pushed her into the mattress. ¡°Your offenses keep racking up.¡± ¡°Let me go!¡± I couldn¡¯t. Much as I hated hurting her, she had to be perfect. She had to obey. She had to wipe that look of grant disrespect off her stunning face. I needed to turn her on her side, pull her over myp, and beat her ass blue.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°This won¡¯t be pleasant.¡± I put my hand on her hip and squeezed. ¡°Scream if you have to.¡± My hand whistled through the air, connecting with the fullest part of her ass. She screamed. I couldn¡¯t me her. The strikesnding on her ass weren¡¯t teasing smacks. My hand struck cruelly, my cock growing harder at her sweet cries for mercy. ¡°Please!¡± She rolled onto her side, trying to get away from my hand. ¡°It hurts.¡± ¡°Of course it hurts. It wouldn¡¯t be a punishment if you liked it.¡± I grabbed her shoulder and pinned her back down, continuing my assault on her raw flesh. ¡°I¡¯m doing this because you deserve it. You don¡¯t listen. You think you¡¯re above the rules. You¡¯re not. You are a disobedient ve, and you need to be put in your ce.¡± My strike revisited the glowing mark on her right cheek. She howled, struggling to get away. Inded another rough p and grabbed her blushing cheek. ¡°If you keep defying me, I¡¯ll use my belt instead of my hand.¡± She stilled, grimacing. I smacked her again where her thigh met her cheeks. She moaned and shuddered, stabbing my chest with guilt. Guilt. What a useless emotion. I had to do this. It was for her own good. I couldn¡¯t protect her if she didn¡¯t obey me. Whatever it takes. I blocked out her groans and brutalized her ass. I closed my senses. I felt nothing but the sting of my palm. The warmth of the blood rising to her skin. ire let out a soul-shattering whimper. The sound cut into my chest, and I stopped. I stroked her burning flesh. My heart thundered as shey there, motionless. She turned her head and red at me, her eyes sparkling with rage. But then her gaze slipped to my hands, and her fire dimmed. ¡°You goddamned bastard,¡± she croaked before dissolving into tears. The low, tortured sound ripped at the center of me. Nausea boiled in my stomach as I forced myself toply. My hand cupped her ass but refused to strike. I mustered my strength, lifted my arm, and then ringing mmed into my left ear. I grimaced, the agony splitting my skull. I can¡¯t do this. A suffocating pressure built up in my body. I was a fuse, ready to explode, and then I took one look at ire¡¯s flushed mouth. ¡°Fuck,¡± I whispered. Iy down beside her and kissed her. She let out the tiniest sigh as I brushed my lips into hers. Surprisingly, she didn¡¯t bite me. She opened for me. As I cradled her head and kissed her in slow, melting strokes, her body seemed to release years worth of tension. She went still as my tongue traced the contours of her lips. She was soft. Her fingers curled into my chest hair. Pleasure bloomed inside me as she yielded, kissing me back. A need within me clenched. It was building¡­I saw myself stealing her away- No. My heartbeat pulsed wildly as I broke from the kiss. ire gave me a questioning look, her golden hair framing her with a beauty that stuck in my chest. No. Do not have feelings for her. I couldn¡¯t let her soften me. I needed to be ruthless to stop the cycle, even if it destroyed me. Patience. I would fuck her. And it would be against her will. I hadn¡¯t made my peace with that. I probably never would. But it didn¡¯t matter¡­If I won her consent, I¡¯d still be the devil that seduced her. I kissed down her lovely throat to the round globes on her chest. A high-pitched whine escaped her lips as I kneaded her breasts. ire¡¯s gaze glossed over. I rubbed her nipples. Her breathing hitched as I seized those budding peaks and pinched. I yed with them, alternating between a sensual massage and wedging them between my knuckles. ire whimpered, her back arching. I rolled her nipples between my fingers. I watched her expression soften as I dialed up the heat, trailing my tongue on her creamy tits. A burning desire leapt inside me to explore her cunt. To taste her, but I was still having fun with her perfect tits. I hefted one breast in my hand, and then the other. I bent my neck and licked, grazing the skin surrounding her nipple. ire made an inarticte sound, her eyes boring into mine. I ttened my mouth, tongueshing against the hard bud. Herbored breaths became heaving sighs. Then I gathered her nipple in my mouth and sucked. I teased her hips, spreading her knees as far as they¡¯d go. Her pussy opened for me, glistening. Fuck. My thumbnded on her clit, the hard nub already wet. I rubbed her gently. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she whispered, her voice shaking. ¡°Only what you desperately want.¡± I inserted my finger into her cunt, the soft walls squeezing me in response. ¡°You¡¯re not even trying to get away.¡± My mouth returned to her tits. I flicked my tongue harder. Withzy swipes, I tongued her nipple. ire screwed up her face and moaned. My cock swelled as I sucked the skin beside her nipple, raising a red welt that wouldn¡¯t fade for a few days. I pushed her breasts together and suckled her cleavage. My face buried, I breathed in the scent of her skin. So intoxicating. My teeth grazed her right breast as I held her to my mouth, fighting the urge to bite. A doorbell rang, stopping me. 3-13 CLAIRE What now? Cainan lifted his head, ring in the door¡¯s direction. Lightning strikes of arousal kept me from protesting. My pussy throbbed. Pleasure tingled up my outer lips. The glorious wet heat withdrew from my breast as he curled back his tongue. Frowning, he eased off my body. The ringing persisted as Cainan grabbed the set of robes, tossing me one. He covered himself in the plush fabric, his smoldering gaze meeting mine with a devilish nt. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back. Don¡¯t move.¡± He patted my leg and strolled out, leaving me alone. I waited until his footsteps descended the stairs, and then I shot upright. I needed to take advantage of his distraction. My adrenaline skyrocketed as I leapt off the bed. As the voices downstairs rumbled, I tore through drawers. My fingers wed through silk button-up shirts and women¡¯s lingerie. I had to get my phone. I¡¯d call Indie and she¡¯d get the police involved, and this nightmare would end. If I could find the damned thing. Where the hell did he hide it? I ripped back the sheets and dug into his pillow case. I checked underneath the mattress frame. Ibed through the closet, ripping aside pastel shirts and dresses. Frustrated, I wrenched a dress too hard, and it spilled off the hanger. Fuck. I seized the cor, my eyesnding on the small rectangr strip inside. It was in my size. I raked through the other dresses, scanning. They all were. He must¡¯ve had them brought in. ¡°This is crazy,¡± I breathed in a hysterical whisper, lightheaded. ¡°Completely mad.¡± I searched the furnishings as though an exit would materialize and spirit me back to Boston, and then a scrape of footsteps jolted my attention to the doorway. ¡°So disappointing.¡± Cainan prowled in the bedroom, his robe hanging open. Pale muscle peeked through the dark blue cotton. His beautiful face wore a solemn expression. I backed away, my elbows banging into the dresser. He cornered me, caging me within his arms. ¡°I told you to stay put.¡± ¡°It was cold. I needed clothes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s seventy-five degrees in the house.¡± He picked up the dress I¡¯d knocked on the floor, a white sundress, and handed it to me. ¡°Put this on.¡± I yanked it over my head and studied myself in the mirror, impressed by the craftsmanship. It was gorgeous. The material tapered to my waist and red out into a short skirt that exposed much more thigh than I liked. The cut of the dress and the sheerness of the fabric made hiding my breasts impossible. ¡°Lovely,¡± he murmured. ¡°I chose well.¡± ¡°You bought me these?¡± Cainan nodded, looking like my date with his hands on my hips. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Do you even care? I held back my retort, shrugging. ¡°It¡¯s cute.¡± That was putting it lightly. It was by far the nicest gift anyone had ever gotten me¡­and the fact that it came from my kidnapper threw me. ¡°I noticed you wear a lot of pretty dresses and thought, how about something that shows off those wless legs?¡± Cainan exhibited his mercurial smile that made me want to retreat back a step. He offered me his arm. ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°But-I need a bra. I look indecent in this dress.¡± He raised a brow. ¡°It¡¯s perfect for your figure.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because it¡¯s not covering anything!¡± Cainan fingered the red mark on my breast. ¡°That¡¯s the idea.¡± I wavered on my feet, blinded by hispliment and the warmth spiraling in my chest. He took my hand and led me downstairs, the hard pinch giving me no choice. He pushed me through the French doors to an outdoor patio where the jungle sound red to a full roar. Mist peppered my cheeks from the enveloping heat. He brought me to a table syed with tools and ck silicone toys. An older man in a Hawaiian shirt and cargos sat at the head of the table, his bronzed arms wreathed in tattoos. His cold smile widened when Cainan and I approached. ¡°Who is that?¡± I burst, heart hammering. ¡°He¡¯s none of your concern.¡± I whirled at him. ¡°What is going on?¡± ¡°This will only take a few minutes.¡± Cainan lifted me onto the table so that my back faced the man. ¡°Unfortunately, his presence is necessary. But I don¡¯t want you to look at him. Eyes on me at all times. Understood?¡± This couldn¡¯t lead anywhere good. I kicked off his grip and wed to the other side of the table, but a sharp pain wrenched in the back of my head. Cainan had fisted my hair, ring with such reproach that I burned. I caught his hand, intending to fight his grasp, but I only strengthened the sensual thread between us. I encircled his strong wrist and pulled. ¡°Put your hands on the table.¡± His voice rumbled with a thunder of foreboding. ¡°And bend over.¡± Fuck you. He seemed to hear my unspoken insult. His firm stare raised a row of goosebumps on my arms. ¡°Starling.¡± My stomach twisted. ¡°Why do I have to do it near him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s here to induct you as a permanent member of our family.¡± Cainan towered over me, wielding a dominance that unnerved me to my core. He loosened his grip and slid down my neck. He seized me at the base in a hard pinch. A shiver ran up my thighs. I trembled, ignoring the excitement building between my legs. ¡°Do as I say,¡± he began calmly, his baritone clouding my mind with doubt. ¡°I doubt you want me to rip off that dress and make an example of you.¡± Heat imed my cheeks, confusing my humiliation with that enticing image. While sitting upright, I ced one palm on the wooden table, then the other. The corners of his mouth curled, but the warmth didn¡¯t touch his eyes. The only way I¡¯d ever get a genuine smile from him was if I were on my knees. Was that what he nned to do to me? ¡°Good girl,¡± he murmured, rubbing my neck. ¡°Now your knees.¡± A sickening amount of pleasure swooped my insides at his glowing praise. And during that split second, I was d to please him. My mind floundered as I bent over, and Cainan¡¯s grip ttened to a stroke. ¡°Beautiful.¡± The smooth melody of his words hinted at his predatory amusement, but the hope of making it out of here unscathed kept me still. Cainan stroked me with the gentleness of a lover as I followed his hungry gaze to the front of my dress. I blushed hard, knowing how I must look, my dignity barely preserved by the sheer dress. ¡°I am going to y with your body.¡± Cainan¡¯s intimate caress stole the breath from my lungs. ¡°And you¡¯ll hold still. Understand?¡± I gasped as warmth glided my thigh, and my backside contracted at the hit of cooler air. The voice begging me to run faded to a whisper, dominated by more primal urges. A pulse pounded between my legs as he positioned himself behind me. The pleasant shudder teasing every delicate spot heated to an inferno. My heart galloped into a seizure as he held my thighs, his thumbs stroking me. What the hell was going on? Why was I bent over a table in this obscene dress, allowing my abductor to stare at my bare sex? This wasn¡¯t me. The real ire was a fighter. I should¡¯ve wed his eyes out, not submitted to his loathsome touch like a ve. Was this fear? No, the pulsing between my legs wasn¡¯t panic. ¡°You¡¯re wet,¡± he murmured. I dug my fingers into the wood, wishing I could disappear. I was wet. Cool air touched my pussy, which I ached to touch. I didn¡¯t know what was worse-getting turned on by this or that he¡¯d witnessed how my body responded to this humiliation. The embarrassment wrapped my chest like thick rope, binding me in ce. I struggled to inhale. My mind froze. I couldn¡¯t close my legs and protect myself from the sadist who¡¯d drugged and kidnapped me. He palmed my backside and I gnawed my lip, expecting him tond a harsh blow. Instead, his thumb pulled me open, exposing me fully. Coolness touched an invasive spot. The fluid joined his thumb, which rubbed it into me. I gasped as it slipped down, caressing my lips. Was that lube? He gathered it and rolled it up¡­way too high. He rotated, teasing my entrance, and then he pushed. I bit my lip. Difort gripped my stomach as it pulsed inside me. ¡°Always wanted to fuck that ass,¡± he said in a gritty tone, sliding his thumb out. ¡°You¡¯re too tight for me right now, but in a few weeks¡­I¡¯ll be inside you.¡± A whimper escaped my lips as something much broader reced his finger. Cainan soothed me as the pressure expanded, widening me. ¡°I could¡¯ve used a smaller plug, but you disobeyed me. So your little ass is going to get quite the workout.¡± I groaned as it anchored inside me, my chest heaving from the unfamiliar sensation. My voice wavered as he stroked both cheeks. ¡°It¡¯s too big.¡± ¡°You can handle this. It¡¯s not even half the size of my cock.¡± ¡°I-I can¡¯t. Take it out.¡± ¡°No, my pet. We haven¡¯t even begun.¡± His thumb nudged the plug, sending a shockwave of pain through my belly. Heughed again. Then he reappeared beside me, his hand soothing my upper back. He beamed at me, his delight transforming him into the sweet gentleman I¡¯d bumped into weeks ago. ¡°Remember. You need to stay still.¡± I had no interest in jostling the plug. His wicked smile widened when I dropped my head, defeated. His baritone barked an order to the other man. ¡°You may begin.¡± Chairs moved, and then another pair of hands gripped my thigh. I whirled around as the man I¡¯d forgotten about pulled out a slender ck tool with a needle tip. A mechanical buzzing filled the air, and my leg jerked. ¡°What the hell is he doing?¡± I shrieked. ¡°Keep still.¡± Cainan¡¯s gentle touch glided up my neck, turning my face back to his. ¡°This won¡¯t take long.¡± ¡°Is that a-I don¡¯t want a tattoo!¡± He grabbed my neck and squeezed. ¡°If the lines aren¡¯t straight, he¡¯ll start over. Somewhere else on your skin. And we¡¯ll keep going until I get what I want.¡± The first needle struck me cruelly, and I screamed. Pain shed through my flesh as it traced a burning path. The leg I kept on the table shook as Cainan grappled with me. ¡°That¡¯s it. You¡¯re doing beautifully.¡± He stroked me, his nails raking my neck. ¡°Concentrate on the pleasure.¡± Hot tears rolled over my cheeks. I opened my mouth to scream, but then I felt pleasure through the stinging thigh. God, what was wrong with me? I forced myself to remain still as the resounding bite of the needle yed with the delicious fullness. Another tear tracked my cheek as Cainan lowered his head, iming my mouth in a kiss. He pressed his open mouth to mine, forcing through my lips with his hot tongue. I made a desperate sound, unable to stop the moan from escaping me. ¡°Such a wanton girl,¡± he purred, his chastising tone vibrating between my legs. ¡°How will you react when I take your pussy?¡± I gritted my teeth. ¡°Probably the same way as your victims.¡± ¡°There¡¯s that word again. I¡¯m disappointed that a strong woman defines herself that way. You¡¯re not my victim, you¡¯re my little bird. I might clip your wings to keep you from flying away, but they¡¯ll grow back. And when you leave this ce, you will be stronger. You will survive. You will master your fears. The only thing you¡¯ll fail at is hiding from the pleasure I¡¯m giving you.¡± Was I living a nightmare¡­or a sinful dream? ¡°Kiss me.¡± Cainan¡¯s burning eyes held me still, his words somehow more than amand. Some magic worked through my veins,pelling me to obey. I didn¡¯t know why, but I wanted this. I squeezed my hands into fists as I leaned forward, my mouth colliding with his. My lips barely moved as he ravaged me with a frenzied growl. Then he broke away, panting. ¡°Give me your tongue.¡± I did, inching it over my teeth. Cainan sucked on it as another cruel sh hit my leg, but it didn¡¯t register. The pulsating heat between my thighs demanded more. I crashed my lips into his as he thrust his tongue inside me with a slow, pulsing motion. My pussy clenched, desperate for friction. Cainan pulled back, rewarding me with the smile I¡¯d been wondering about. ¡°Are you trying toe?¡±Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. I shook my head. He crushed his mouth against mine, and the mounting heat returned so quickly it was like his touch fueled all desire. Then he was gone, disappearing behind me. My gaze jumped on the powerful frame between my legs. The fullness inside me rotated and pushed. The plug buried in me so deep I could do nothing but take his thrusts. ¡°Did you think you coulde without asking me?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m not even close.¡± ¡°Your cunt is soaking, begging to get fucked, and you¡¯re lying to me?¡± he growled over the buzzing, hiszy p hitting my ass. ¡°Ask me.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Ask me for permission, and I¡¯ll let youe.¡± No. I would never ask him for that, but every muscle in my body tightened. Tears obscured my vision as I rocked against the plug, hoping I could stay strong, but I needed a release. I needed it more than air. Cainan¡¯s hand pped my swollen clit, ricocheting desire through me. I groaned and cried with each delicious push. ¡°That¡¯s it, ire. Surrender to me.¡± My arms trembled from the effort of holding myself upright, because I¡¯d enlisted all my strength in resisting him. The buzzing from the tattoo gun stopped. Then a cool gel coated my burning thigh. Cainan¡¯s light touch sailed up my back and gripped my hair. He pulled, forcing me to flop on my side. He seized my hips and dragged me across the harsh wooden surface. I kicked his hands and flipped my torso, wing at the table. My thigh screamed with agony. I struggled to gain purchase, but then a mouth-watering pressure returned to the plug. I went limp as the pleasure returned with an overwhelming force. It rotated and pushed, each thrust bringing me closer¡­Cainan scooped me into his arms to where he sat. I fell onto hisp, straddling his legs, confronted by his marble-like chest. ¡°Surrender.¡± Cainan smirked, the caress of his words contrasting with the brutal way he fucked me with the toy, ramming into me hard enough to steal my breath. ¡°That¡¯s it, Starling. Let it go. Give in to your master.¡± I shook my head. Stop. The word fumbled from my tongue, lost in unintelligible babble. Cainan swore. He dragged out the plug slowly. The silicone rubbed my walls until the tip kept me open. Waiting for him. I panted, digging my nails in his chest. Grunting, he shoved the plug back in. The swift impalement sent a shockwave to my pussy. He began thrusting, ripping cries from my throat. I copsed on him, face stered against his chest. He chuckled. ¡°You love this. You poor slut.¡± I cringed at the pathetic whimper that made my protest, but it seemed to embolden Cainan¡¯s efforts. His firm stare stabbed into me with the unforgiving force of his fingers shoving the plug into me. ¡°You¡¯re mine,¡± he crooned. ¡°My perfect toy. Your only purpose is serving me. And you¡¯re going to do every-¡± He pulled out. ¡°-thing-¡± He thrust inside. ¡°-I say.¡± I couldn¡¯t resist the pleasure from being filled in a spot that¡¯d never been taken. Tears clung to my eyelids as I arched my back and pushed, desperate to feel good. My clit tingled where my body met the fabric of his robe. The hard bump of his erection soothed the aching spot. A jolt mmed into my pussy. I dug my nails into his shoulders, and then I clenched. A cry ripped from me as my orgasm doused me in bliss. He pushed in deep, impaling me as my thighs twitched with the rolling ecstasy. My kidnapper made mee. Fucked me in the ass. Humiliated me on a table where anyone could see my shame. And now he kissed me as his hand gripped the plug soaked with lube and my arousal, which had somehow gotten everywhere. He stood with me in his arms. Iy in a pool of glowing bliss, too faint to trust my feet. In a blur of movement, he brought us into the guesthouse and swept into the bedroom. He rolled my body onto the bed, my syed legs making no secret of my desire. He made no attempt to cover my modesty. I felt like a discarded fuckdoll, my insides aching from what he¡¯d done to me. But that wasn¡¯t more monstrous than the sparks flying across my jaw when he cupped my cheek. ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll get you to beg.¡± I stiffened, answering him in a rush of defiance. ¡°I-I¡¯d rather die!¡± His dark expression smoldered with an unspoken warning. You just might. 3-14 CLAIRE The asshole branded me.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Blinking away tears, I inspected the ink. A stic bandage wrapped my upper thigh, peeking out from under the dress. I peeled it away, revealing therge, ck letters spelling ¡°Sandor¡± burned, slightly warped by the clear gel. I sat on the bed, reeling with shock. I touched the angry flesh and it hurt, ruling out the possibility of a bizarre dream. After I¡¯d washed off my humiliation, Cainan allowed me a few minutes alone to ¡°process everything.¡± Dimly, I wondered what he did when he wasn¡¯t enving women. The floorboards creaked, and my head snapped to the right. ¡°Your time is up,¡± he boomed. ¡°Come out.¡± My heart hammered as I stared at the door that separated us. If I didn¡¯t obey, he¡¯d barge in. Nothing in my life had prepared me for getting kidnapped. I hadn¡¯t the faintest idea how to handle a man who¡¯d tattooed his name on me. I left the bathroom, stewing. Cainan stood by the dresser. He nodded, his firm mouth smoothing into a smile. ¡°Good girl.¡± That phrase incensed me. I crossed my arms. ¡°So what fresh hell have you nned for me now?¡± His haphazard nce pierced me as he buttoned a green silk shirt. ¡°I¡¯m sensing a bit of attitude. While that might¡¯ve been cute in Boston, insubordination is not tolerated on Leda.¡± ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t like my bad mood? Well, here¡¯s a thought-maybe you shouldn¡¯t have tattooed me like a farm animal!¡± ¡°It¡¯ll heal in a couple weeks.¡± His dismissal did nothing to help my temper. I red at him through a haze of tears, a violent purge building in my throat. ¡°I never wanted a man¡¯s tattoo on my skin. I find it tacky and stupid. This is unforgivable.¡± Cainan ran fingers through his hair. ¡°Give it a rest. Haven¡¯t you taken enough punishment for one day?¡± ¡°You put your name on my fucking thigh!¡± ¡°Yes, I did,¡± he said, his mocking drawl fanning my rage. ¡°It keeps you safe from the other traffickers on this ind, should you wander outside the vi. They¡¯d consider you fair game-unless you had a mark identifying your owner.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not my owner.¡± My inmed voice erupted to the ceiling, but Cainan ignored me. He grabbed something from the nightstand, bulldozing right through my words. ¡°And this willmunicate to everyone that I will punish anyone who touches you.¡± Silver shed through the air as he wrapped a pretty ne around me. Then he positioned me in front of the standing mirror. A thin silvery chain hung on my neck, the links studded with diamonds beforeing together in a floating solitaire diamond. ¡°Beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± I shook my head, frowning. ¡°I look like an expensive hooker.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not for sale.¡± His mouth widened in a predatory smile, making my thighs clench on nothing. Then a warm shock touched my leg and glided up, cupping my ass. ¡°One of our more frequent guests is a jeweler. Years ago, wemissioned these cors for the girls. I have to say, I¡¯ve never seen a woman wear her bondage so perfectly.¡± My cheeks flushed. The neplemented my skin beautifully. I fingered the diamonds, following their path to a sp on the back. It easily came apart. ¡°What¡¯s stopping me from taking it off?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± His fingers curved under my chin as his voice grew stern. ¡°Except the promise of my displeasure¡­and the fact it will not help you get off the ind. You must always have it on.¡± I scrambled to push together my wild thoughts. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because if you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll be considered fair game.¡± ¡°A tattoo isn¡¯t enough?¡± ¡°Every girl on this property has one, but not all of them have your ne. It protects you from the others.¡± ¡°Even your brother?¡± ¡°Especially him,¡± he grunted. ¡°Trust me, there wille a day when you¡¯ll desperately cling to your bondage.¡± The edge in his gravelly voice tingled me with warmth. I stared at him, intimidated by Cainan and what he wanted from me. I couldn¡¯t help but feel like this wasing full circle. The cor. The tattoo. Getting me off on the table. He smiled and patted my head. I stewed as he buttoned the rest of his shirt, so angry I could tackle the motherfucker. But fighting with Cainan ended on his terms, usually with me on the floor. I needed to stop provoking him. There was something deeply wrong with him. Cainan met my hand in a warm sp and pulled me from the room. Heat touched my skin as he led me outside, the pain in my thigh twinging. We stepped onto the vi¡¯s grounds. Its ominous beauty struck awe into my battered heart. I gawked at the mansion resplendent in the garish foliage climbing the walls, spilling from potted nts. Nude girls sshed in the dazzling pool, watched by guards in ck. Some sunbathed on the white lounge chaises. If it weren¡¯t for the man standing next to me, insisting that it was real, I wouldn¡¯t have believed my eyes. ¡°You see that girl in the kitchen?¡± He pointed out a woman wearing a silk blouse, a thong, and a gold cor as she prepared a te of fruit. ¡°Gold represents the higher tiered girls. They¡¯re entertainers¡­courtesans, cooks. They¡¯re loaned out to visiting guests.¡± I choked on my saliva. ¡°Loaned out?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cainan¡¯s mouth pricked into a measured smile. ¡°tinum nes like yours mean that you¡¯re private property. Nobody can touch you without my permission.¡± Apprehension knotted my throat. I didn¡¯t want to be touched by anyone else, and that thought pitted my gut with shame. Cainan let out an amused snort as we walked across thewn. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t do that¡­I don¡¯t have morals, but I do have limits.¡± ¡°What are they?¡± Cainan smirked he led me around a thick palm tree. ¡°Hoping to figure out my weaknesses?¡± ¡°Everybody has preferences.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve told you what I like.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯ve rified that I¡¯m stuck here¡­and the only way out is appeasing you. How am I supposed to do that if I don¡¯t know where you draw the line?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t divulge that information.¡± Taken aback, I gaped at him. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Leda might be filled with riches, but a man¡¯s weaknesses are the ind¡¯s real currency. That¡¯s how you destroy a person. By finding out what makes him tic, and exploiting it.¡± Cainan let out a tense breath, rubbing a knot in his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s part of my job. Or it will be soon. My father is retiring and leaving the estate to me.¡± Congratu-fuckingtions. I couldn¡¯t imagine a more soul-wrenching job in the world, but clearly he¡¯d made his peace with it or he wouldn¡¯t have branded me. ¡°Can you exin why?¡± ¡°Like I said, there are no rules on Leda. But there¡¯s definitely a culture.¡± He gestured at the house, where topless women sunbathed on lounge chairs. ¡°The mindless pleasure gets boring after a while. Everybody needs something to work toward, and for most of the men here, that¡¯s simply more money. More pussy. And we mostly get that from each other, because trafficking new girls here doesn¡¯t happen as often as everyone likes.¡± The blood drained from my face to pool near my feet. I wiped my brow, struggling to process what he was saying. ¡°Trafficking women isn¡¯t easy. Finding girls, training them, flying them in undetected¡­that takes time.¡± He inhaled a hitching sigh and blew it out slowly. ¡°Time that nobody has.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t sound happy.¡± He seemed bitter as hell. Cainan hated this ce. It made sense-his mother had died here. He pocketed his free hand, shaking his head. ¡°This is what my life has been leading up to.¡± I studied the lines of tension on his face. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine a more depressing legacy.¡± ¡°It is what it is.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s so much more to you than that.¡± ¡°There¡¯s not. I just¡­wanted something of my own for a bit longer.¡± His gaze met mine, and they seemed to melt with a secret tenderness. Does he mean me? That look lingered too long for it to be a coincidence. The embers in Cainan¡¯s eyes glowed like smoldering rocks, pulsating. His eyes fell on my mouth before he seemed toe out of it. He cleared his throat. His fingers pinched into my wrist as he dragged onto a path I hadn¡¯t noticed yesterday. It led into the jungle and opened to a giant garden filled with fruit trees, sugarcane, pineapple, and dozens of leafy greens. I knelt beside the nearest nter box, examining the jagged leaves popping from the deep red earth. Women in green coveralls worked the fields. They seemed to range from their early twenties to mid-thirties. Leather encircled their necks. A group of men sat at a table watching them as they yed cards. They scrambled to their feet the second Cainan stepped onto the farm. He lifted his hand in greeting. I frowned, studying the gardeners. ¡°What are the leather cors for?¡± ¡°It means she¡¯s up for grabs,¡± he deadpanned. ¡°Anybody, including the guards, can fuck these girls. No restrictions.¡± My God. These men were worse than beasts. How long had they been allowed to run this ce unchecked, filling this Pablo Escobar nightmare with trafficked women? My heart pounded as he led me from the awful sight of the women working the fields. Angry tears rushed to my eyes. ¡°Why are they treated like that?¡± ¡°Because they broke the rules,¡± he answered smoothly. ¡°Runaways get the cor for three months before they¡¯re moved up to gold. Girls that don¡¯t learn to shut their mouths and obey wear leather permanently. You don¡¯t want to be one of them.¡± I never doubted it. A deep hurt throbbed inside me as I followed Cainan, too discouraged to fight. I was out of my depth. Surrounded by hostiles. How would I fight my way out? 3-15 CLAIRE ¡°Help yourself.¡± Cainan gestured toward the open-faced kitchen, the marble countertops gleaming like polished bone. A banquet of tropical fruit, pastries, poached eggs, and slivers of ham piled on the counters. After our tour of the grounds, which he spent reminding me that any escape attempts were futile and would result in my injury or death, we circled back to the main house. Cainan sat on the patio outside in a very rxed posture, the breeze ruffling the tight auburn coils on his head. His muscr arm reached for ted slices of meat. He stared out into the valley below the cliff. A beach glimmered in the distance. Tiny sails floated on the turquoise sea. I thought of the sailors on those boats. How many people wereplicit in this madness? My freshly-inked thigh pulsed as Cainan brought a ss of pulpy juice to his mouth. My lips ttened and curled. ¡°What¡¯s that body of water called? ¡®ver¡¯s Bay¡¯?¡± Cainan barely nced at me as he filled his teacup. ¡°Sandy Beach.¡± I scoffed. ¡°Original.¡± ¡°Subtlety is not on the menu here. And if I were you, I¡¯d keep the catty remarks to a minimum.¡± Cainan¡¯s pointed re slid from me to the corridor, where a shirtless Rn appeared with a leather-cored girl in tow, swim trunks hanging low on his hips. She was naked, her olive skin flushed with handprints and other red marks. She entered the kitchen with her head bowed, her long, ck hair brushing the tops of her breasts. Rn swatted her behind and tore into a muffin. ¡°Morning.¡± Cainan nodded and returned to his meal, sipping his tea. He craned his neck around, his charcoal gaze meeting mine. ¡°Fill a te and join me.¡± I glowered at him, my teeth grinding. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± ¡°But everything is organic.¡± ¡°Gosh, how thoughtful of you,¡± I burst before I could control myself. ¡°I didn¡¯t have an appetite after the ve Ind tour, but I am ravenous now that I know it¡¯s all organic.¡± ¡°You either eat nothing or you swallow your pride. Your choice.¡± He speared a piece of watermelon and ate. ¡°Keeping up your strength to survive what I¡¯ll do to you is essential.¡± Whatever that meant. I firmly turned my back on the food as he spooned white crystals into his cup. He tapped the spoon, releasing the grains as his brother stuffed his face. Something about their manner was intolerable. ¡°Even the sugar in your tea is the product of vebor.¡± He nced at me. ¡°But it¡¯s cruelty-free.¡± My lips ttened. ¡°That¡¯s not funny.¡± ¡°I decide what¡¯s funny.¡± I stomped toward his table. ¡°Yeah? Well, while you¡¯re cracking jokes, there are people suffering in your backyard!¡± ¡°The girls volunteer to do it. They like the work. They need to feel they have a purpose besides taking cock, even if they don¡¯t. An idle mind is the devil¡¯s ything,¡± he murmured, rolling a strawberry on his te. ¡°If you¡¯re a good girl, perhaps I¡¯ll let you run around the garden.¡± He smiled benignly as though his offer was tempting. Heat flushed through my body. ¡°No. I won¡¯t take part in this.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll want to before long. If I lock you in day and night, you¡¯ll break. Just like the rest of them.¡± I wouldn¡¯t-but the boredom might kill me. I gnawed my lip, thinking it over. A job meant a schedule. People waiting for me to show up. On the other hand, I couldn¡¯t do much inside the guesthouse. At least, I¡¯d have opportunities to talk to other girls, find out more about the system here, and n an escape. ¡°Maybe,¡± I said, swallowing hard. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± He shrugged, reaching for a piece of fruit. Cainan wrestled a grape from the vine and ate, the sound of his chewing digging at me. I was hungry. My face burned at the thought of eating anything that came out of this kitchen, but I wouldn¡¯t get out of here while on a hunger strike. A rich scent wafted from the ky pastries. My tongue watered as I filled a te, sliding it over the table. Cainan¡¯s gaze raked me like I was nothing more than a collection of tits and ass. ¡°Sit.¡± I reached for a chair, but he grabbed my wrist and yanked. My butt pped his thigh. His arm glided across my stomach. My abdominal muscles tensed as he dragged me backward, gluing my back to his chest. A gasp stuck in my throat. I stared at ourps, mine-practically naked-over his board shorts. I bnced myself on his knee, my palm gliding over the fine down of his leg hair. ¡°That¡¯s much better.¡± Cainan¡¯s purr stroked me like feathers. ¡°I like a beautiful woman on myp. Especially when she¡¯s wearing my name.¡± I licked my lips, fuming. ¡°You only think you own me.¡± ¡°Not true. I imed you long before today.¡± His fingers traced the bandage, warmth blooming over my skin. ¡°The ink is just a symbol.¡± I cleared my throat, the burn from my cheeks spreading like a head-to-toe bath. ¡°A symbol of what?¡± ¡°Our connection,¡± he murmured, his hands roving over my thighs. ¡°The need pulsing through my cock right now.¡± A thrill of anticipation touched my nipples. ¡°I-I don¡¯t want you at all.¡± ¡°The more you say that¡­the more I feel an imperative to prove you wrong.¡± He lifted my dress, revealing my bare pussy, and uttered a soft groan. Then he shifted me on hisp, and I felt him. A bulge thickened underneath my pulsating core. For a wild moment, I thought he¡¯d stuffed a smi in his shorts. A thick shadow-it was absurdly big-spread to his groin, disappearing under my thigh. Oh my God. ¡°You can touch me,¡± he whispered, sliding his cheek against mine. ¡°Or is too soon, my beautiful, shy little pet? Turn around.¡± My husky breaths cut the air, so intoxicated by him that I lost my bnce. His affection confused me. Set me on fire with its gentle authority. ¡°I said, turn around.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Turn the fuck around.¡± He kissed my jaw, and my pulse thundered. ¡°I don¡¯t enjoy repeating myself.¡± I licked my mouth. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Yes, you can, and if you keep me waiting, I¡¯ll do it for you.¡± Cainan teased my neck with a finger. ¡°My rules are simple. Disobey me, and you lose privileges. Please me, and I¡¯ll give you clothes, treats, whatever you want.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a fucking pet.¡± ¡°Wrong. You¡¯re my ything to spoil or neglect. We could spend our time getting to know each other, or I could hogtie you on my bed and fill you with so much cum you won¡¯t be able to walk without spilling me.¡± I mumbled an inarticte word, my lips parting with an absurd need to kiss him. I couldn¡¯t be attracted to this man. He was a foul beast, and I would do what I could to destroy him. ¡°ve, I want you to face me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your ve.¡± ¡°Are we back there again? I drugged you. Kidnapped you. Tattooed your goddamn leg. Your rtives do not know where you are. And even if they did, they can¡¯t get here. I will do anything I want to you.¡± I breathed hard, overwhelmed. I could tell that he wasn¡¯t worried about consequences. He meant it. I could either be violently taken, or I could try to gain the upper hand somehow. ¡°Turn.¡± Cainan nipped the shell of my ear. ¡°Or I¡¯ll make you regret it.¡± My palms slipped on his thighs. I couldn¡¯t handle the heat spinning my insides, but I obeyed. I had to ept this wasing. That I¡¯d have to give my body to him. ¡°Didn¡¯t I promise you would feed me grapes on our vacation?¡± He kissed my cheek, and I jumped at the sharp jolt. ¡°Here, I¡¯ll be a gentleman and go first.¡± Cainan shifted himself, the movement distracting because his erection dug into me. He plucked a white grape and held it to my lips. The sensation was more intimate than a kiss. Trembling, I opened my mouth. He pushed it inside. I swallowed without biting. Then he tapped another grape to my mouth. I opened, but he teased the outside. I tried to close my lips around it, but he moved it out of reach, smirking. ¡°Give it to me.¡± ¡°Oh, I will.¡± He shoved his finger past my lips, thrusting the grape inside, the gesture so erotic my thighs clenched. ¡°Suck.¡± God, it was demeaning. It should¡¯ve pitted me with nausea, not excitement. What the hell was wrong with me? I bit his knuckle, not hard, but enough to make him slide out and give my cheek a disapproving tap. Disoriented, I struggled to bnce myself. My arm flew out and caught his other leg. He palmed my stomach, the heaviness of his stare disarming. ¡°Your turn.¡± Burning, I seized a piece of pineapple and brought it to his perfect lips. His teeth sliced it and he chewed. Then he leaned forward and snatched the other half from me. He devoured the fruit and sucked my fingers. His suggestive growl tingled way too low on my belly. No one had ever made me feel like this. ¡°More,¡± he demanded. ¡°Give me more.¡± I picked up a ckberry, intending to smear it over his mouth. His tongue slipped under my finger, inviting me, but I didn¡¯t push the berry in. The dark juice erupted, sliding down his generous lip. ¡°Lick it off,¡± he barked. My body stiffened ¡°Lick you?¡± ¡°Do it, or I¡¯ll make you suck something else.¡± The threat teased more heat in my pussy, proving I¡¯d lost my mind. The drop slid down his strong chin, hovering on the precipice. I hesitated as he held my gaze, daring me to challenge him. My heart faltered. I caught the drop threatening to fall and dragged my tongue across his beardless skin. He groaned, the sound flooding my mouth with saliva. Encouraged, I sucked the berry¡¯s juice off him. His head nted, and his breath brushed my lips. A tremor coiled inside me as his hand drifted up my back, and then his mouth was on mine. His kiss was hard and overwhelming, iming, and when I stopped to inhale, he deepened the kiss. He seized my tongue between his teeth and suckled. Shivers broke out on my skin. Warmth curled around my chest, circling down my hips to join between my legs with a throb. An electric jolt of arousal shot down my spine. The grip on my shoulder softened. He caressed me in winding paths. His thumb grazed my neck, the sensation tickling. Then his hand dove into my hair, and my pulse hammered. His mouth returned, crushing me with harder strokes. He cupped my face as I released tortured sighs. Amazing. It wasn¡¯t supposed to feel good. What was it about this man that kept me vaciting between fighting him and craving his touch? Stop kissing me, I begged him silently. Please stop. I¡¯d rather he raped me than own my soul. I nced at his face. He seemed torn between rapture and devastation. And when he opened his eyes, I glimpsed the old Cainan. The man whoughed and looked down at his shoes when I called him an angel. He was into this. His racing heartbeat and his flushed cheeks proved that. Ringing shattered the spell. We separated as though struck by the same lightning. His attention darted in Rn¡¯s direction, who gaped at us. Cainan straightened, hardening. He fished out the phone from his pocket. When he flipped it open, I realized it was mine. His mouth pulled into a cruel grin. ¡°Nothing from your parents. Five missed calls from your sister. Plus a few voicemails.¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. My throat tightened. ¡°Let¡¯s see what they say.¡± He jabbed one of them, and Indie¡¯s panicked voice filled the room. ¡°I need to warn you about Cainan. We know each other¡­he ckmailed Knox and I. You¡¯re not safe. Call me!¡± Cainan tutted. Then he yed other messages, all of them pleading with me to stay away from the man who¡¯d already kidnapped me. Her terror infected the air, sticking in my lungs. My chest stung with the pain of listening to my sister crying. I tried to grab the phone, but Cainan lifted his arm out of reach. ¡°Let me call her. Please.¡± My stomach bottomed out as he exchanged an amused look with Rn. ¡°Swear to God, I won¡¯t tell her about this ce.¡± ¡°Swear it with a cherry on top?¡± Rn chortled, scrolling through his phone. Cainan pretended to offer me the phone, his massive hand swallowing it at thest second. ¡°Do you take me for a fool?¡± I clicked my tongue. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Do you think I haven¡¯t heard every sob story known to man?¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not a ploy to escape,¡± I growled, exasperated. ¡°I just don¡¯t want her to worry about me.¡± ¡°She¡¯s worried?¡± he mocked, his brows furrowed. ¡°I¡¯ll y one more to make sure.¡± He stabbed the screen. ¡°ire, I¡¯m at the apartment. Your stuff¡¯s on the floor. I¡¯m worried-¡± He yed another. ¡°ire, we know he took you. We¡¯re going to find you.¡± She choked on a sob. ¡°I love you so much. I¡¯m so sorry, ire. It¡¯s all my fault.¡± The recording ended, cutting her off her frantic sobbing. Hearing my sister¡¯s desperation somehow brought it all home-that this had really happened to me. And that I was in grave danger. ¡°Please,¡± I begged him. ¡°At least let me text her that I¡¯m okay.¡± He pocketed the phone. ¡°What¡¯s the point? She¡¯s never getting you back.¡± His cruelty was a knife hitting my heart, even though it was probably for Rn¡¯s benefit. Cainan¡¯s nk stare hardened. ¡°Should we send her a selfie?¡± ¡°No.¡± His eyes bored into mine. ¡°I thought you wanted to put Indie at ease.¡± Not like this. ¡°I-it won¡¯t make her feel better. She¡¯ll freak out.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one panicking.¡± He swiped to the camera app and raised his arm. ¡°Look at the screen.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to!¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± he murmured. ¡°What is it about being photographed that frightens you?¡± I didn¡¯t quite understand it. After the incident at Colorado, I couldn¡¯t look into a lens without overreacting. It was embarrassing. It made me feel stupid and ridiculous. I was hundreds of miles away from Colorado and the scandal that¡¯d forced me to drop out of college. I clenched my fists, trying to master the shaking. ¡°I¡¯m not-fucking-scared! I just don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Taking a chaste picture shouldn¡¯t be a such a problem.¡± I shuddered, the air in the room vanishing. ¡°Please don¡¯t.¡± Cainan¡¯s hand cupped my cheek. The sweet embrace would make a good photo. My body was covered. There was no reason to be terrified. ¡°Starling, you need to smile.¡± That prompted augh from Rn, who watched us closely, a wolf waiting to pounce. His mockingughter struck me deep inside, opening a vat of rage that boiled to the surface. My watery gaze shifted to the glowing rectangle in Cainan¡¯s grip. I saw myself perched on hisp, and lost it. I lunged for the camera, knocking it from Cainan¡¯s fist. The phone skidded over the tiles and came to a halt at Rn¡¯s feet. Cainan raised an eyebrow, but made no move to retrieve it. My limbs froze as I processed the enormity of what I¡¯d done, and then Rn¡¯s disbelieving snort shattered the quiet. ¡°Bro, you gonna let her get away with that?¡± ¡°¡®Course not,¡± Cainan deadpanned without ncing at his brother. ¡°I like to take my time.¡± Rn shrugged. ¡°You sure do.¡± Cainan¡¯s features hardened as he lifted me off him and stood. Rn put down his spoon and backed away from the counter. Cainan crowded him against the ind. ¡°You have something to say about how I run things?¡± His warning was low and deadly. ¡°You¡¯re too soft,¡± Rn blurted. ¡°You can¡¯t even raise a hand to that girl.¡± Cainan grabbed the scruff of his neck and mmed him into the cabs. ¡°Your opinion is worthless to me. Get lost.¡± Cowering, Rn slid out from under Cainan and ran out the kitchen, dragging the girl behind him. I mentally cheered Cainan on. His predatory gaze didn¡¯t leave his brother until he¡¯d disappeared. Then he headed back toward me, picking up my phone. ¡°Now, where were we?¡± he purred in a much softer voice. ¡°Ah, yes. You were disobeying me, yet again. How very naughty of you. I wouldn¡¯t expect that behavior from a girlfriend, let alone a ve.¡± I swallowed. ¡°I don¡¯t like that word.¡± ¡°Would you prefer pet? What about my little bird?¡± He stopped before me, fiendish delight growing in his dark eyes. Then he seized my shoulders and forced my knees to knock the floor. He made me bow until I pped my palms over my legs. He fisted my hair. The sound of a zipper shed the tense air. A thrill shot through me. He wouldn¡¯t. My lips parted as he tugged down his shorts. I was taken aback by his muscled legs and the briefs straining over his cock. It pushed against the cotton as though fighting for release. Cainan¡¯s hand dove into his briefs and pulled out his monster cock. Rolling jerks of his wrist stroked it into hardness. ¡°I like my dick sucked a certain way, but I¡¯m not in a teaching mood.¡± His gaze scoured me. ¡°I¡¯m going to fuck your mouth. You¡¯ll keep your hands behind your back while you take it. No movement. No matter how much it hurts-even if you¡¯re seconds from passing out. I will use your body like a doll.¡± His shaft traced my trembling lips, my body swelling with heat. ¡°And dolls don¡¯t speak. They don¡¯t have opinions. They do not push me away.¡± I did what I was told. A strange sensation tingled my nipples as Iplied. He fitted his cock to my mouth, teasing me open. I barely looked at it before the head bumped into me. A glistening bead smeared over my cheek before his length rolled over my tongue. I opened to amodate him. He shoved inside, filling me with a firmness I couldn¡¯t breathe around. He was flesh wrapped over steel, so wide, stretching my cheeks until they hurt. I choked as his hips pulsed. I¡¯d given head before, but never on a man this massive. I knelt on the floor, just taking it. It was rough. An assault on my mouth and throat. Sloppy. Painful. And yet, somehow, immensely satisfying. I didn¡¯t understand why, but his brutal thrusts did something to me. He sighed as though with relief, and warmth ignited my pussy. He cupped my cheek and stroked me. His fingertips left trails of fire, and the agony lingered like one of his steamy kisses. He groaned as pain hit the back of my throat. His iron fist grabbed my hair and tugged. Harder than I¡¯d expected. The strain shot a pleasing thrill to my belly. As it buried between my legs, I squirmed from the pleasant glow. It poked in and out, in tandem with his thrusting hips. I kept my hands crossed at the back, fighting the urge to seize control. ¡°Are you ready for your master¡¯s cum?¡± He pulled out, his shaft rubbing my cheek obscenely. ¡°Answer me.¡± Instead of using my words, I answered him by taking him back inside my mouth, sucking hard as juices ran over my chin. He indulged me for a few seconds before his fingers curled into my hair. He yanked, forcing me to take him to the root. I choked. Cainan controlled the pace, which started off slow and deep. He filled me to the hilt and stayed in that position for several heartbeats, and then pulled out. ¡°Perfect,¡± he sighed, staring at me as though dazed. ¡°Hold still.¡± He held me tightly. Then he inched forward. His girth spread my jaw. Air vanished as his length slid down. His balls smashed into my lips. Gagging, I could barely keep him down, but I forced myself to wait. To let him enjoy himself. He moaned, pulling back. He fucked me in tight bursts. Strands of saliva hung from my lips. Then he¡¯d pause, his cock anchored, and I¡¯d feel it pulse on my tongue. I gagged. He allowed me to inhale. Gobs of spit fell as he fucked my mouth. I suckled the head,shing at him, desperate for more, and then the relentless possession began anew. Cainan¡¯s grip on my hair tightened as he battled my gag reflex. He inched back and forth. He nailed me with harder thrusts. He withdrew enough so that I sucked the giant head. Then his savage growl grew like a monster unleashed. Stepping back, he clutched himself. A thick rope shot over my lips. Two more jets coated my face, dripping down my chin, the dropsnding in my cleavage. It was slimy, thick, and degrading, but strangely, I felt no horror. All I felt was more desire, my pussy clenching for more. Cainan made a satisfied sound, his eyes rolled to the ceiling. Waves of orgasm convulsed through his body, and I marveled at the sight of him undone. Then he studied me, panting. ¡°That was very nice. But you¡¯ve made a mess.¡± He motioned at his cock, his expression feral. ¡°We clean up our messes, don¡¯t we?¡± I gaped at him, stunned by the depravity of his demand. Yet I nodded, breathless with lust. He smiled. ¡°Then get to it.¡± I took him inside my mouth again, and his face dissolved into rapture. Cainan rocked his hips as my tongue cleaned him. ¡°You¡¯re going to make mee again. You ready for it, baby?¡± The pet name caressed me like zing feathers. It sounded like he¡¯d let that one slip, which made me feel on top of the world. His mask was slipping. I sucked him more vigorously. Eyes shut tight, he groaned. His cock kicked the roof of my mouth, and then another warm jet coated my tongue. The taste of him invaded me, bright and sharp, like mint. He untangled his hand from my hair and tucked himself away. I fought the shiver of wanting as he zipped up his shorts. ¡°What a perfect, cock-sucking slut.¡± He gave my cheek a condescending pat. ¡°Come here.¡± He gripped my waist and lifted me onto the table. His hands curled around my biceps and pushed, forcing my back to tten. ¡°Keep still while I finish my breakfast.¡± His throaty purr implied what he¡¯d be devouring and that I¡¯d have no chance of stopping him. It should¡¯ve pissed me off-the reminder of how horrible men could be. They lied to getid and they took without asking and humiliated women. Never again. But Cainan didn¡¯t make me feel unsafe, especially when he chased off predators. My heart hammered as he released my wrists. I expected him to recline in his seat, but Cainan didn¡¯t pull away. He moved down my body, nting searing kisses that burned through the fabric. When he reached my waist, his tempting mouth separated from my skin. He grabbed my ankles and spread me further and further apart. The gleam in his hungry gaze told me what wasing-and that he¡¯d take it no matter what. No amount of pleading would stop him. I locked eyes with him and silently implored him. This had gone far enough. I licked my lips. ¡°No, I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°What a defeatist tone. Of course you can.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want this,¡± I whimpered, the lie heating up my face. ¡°And I don¡¯t care. Your purpose is pleasuring me, and what I want is to stick my tongue in your cunt and drink the honey inside. So lie back like a good little whore.¡± I flushed, hating my body¡¯s reaction to those words. My pulse pounded. I couldn¡¯t move. In this position, with his weight bearing on me, I was utterly helpless. I obeyed him, spreading my legs wide. Heat stole into my cheeks as he caressed my wrists, confusion erupting inside me. His tight hold bit into me, but he released me as though he¡¯d sensed my difort. My legs were free. I could¡¯ve kicked him. Instead I fidgeted, suppressing swells of joy as his lips touched my thigh. He felt great. So soft. His arms locked around my thighs, his brutal strength keeping me vulnerable and open. I weakly protested as his head lowered. His hair brushed my inner thigh, my flesh prickling from the contact. Was this still rape? Was it not what I wanted if my heart thundered with every kiss? I trembled as his breath warmed my pussy. He kissed right where I ached for him most. I squeezed hard as his path zed up my leg, and then Cainan spread me apart. Heat zed on my pussy. He engulfed me with his hot mouth. Then he swirled his tongue in a way I¡¯d never experienced, the ecstasy immediate. He yed with my clit in slow, melting strokes. He thrusted and sucked as I begged him for more. His tongue flitted back and forth, torturing the bundle of nerves between my legs¡­which pulsed with pleasure. He kissed me, licking the opening. Then the warmth delved into me. I gasped. Cainan¡¯s hold tightened around me, his determination to make me wet so that I could be a vehicle for his lust making me lightheaded. My nails raked the wooden table because I couldn¡¯t grab him. A growl rumbled from his throat as he flicked from side to side, up and down, hisshes growing harsher as my shocked gasps became tortured begging. A wave loomed over the horizon, his tongue tormenting the soft core of my body. My nipples hardened and I panted. A moan escaped my lips as a violent tsunami crashed into my cells, befuddling my senses with rapture. High-pitched cries burst from my chest. Then I copsed, closing my eyes. I quivered as he rolled the dress over my legs. Then he loomed over me. His hands nted on either side of my head. Shame warmed my cheeks, but desire scorched my inhibitions. He wanted to take my body, but for the first time¡­I wanted to give him more. ¡°Look at me,¡± he growled. I didn¡¯t want to, but Iplied. My gazended on his puffy lips, still damp with my arousal. I waited for him to unzip his shorts and pull out his cock, so he could take me. I was open and ready for him, waiting for him to fuck me. ¡°Did you think you could y with the devil and not get burned?¡± Cainan straightened and returned to his breakfast, leaving me panting on the table. He ripped off a small piece of croissant. Without looking at me, he pressed it into my lips. I turned my cheek, mouth closed. I was his prey, but I was far from helpless. 3-16 CAINAN The charade ended tonight. Everything was under control. My father¡¯s estate would be mine. All I had to do was make him sign it over. Best case scenario, I sent ire to Boston before the week was out. One more brutal night, and it was over. Sweat poured down my back as I returned to the guesthouse. I¡¯d spent the whole day preparing for Father¡¯s return. He¡¯d arrive in an hour. Nothing could be out of ce. I oversaw the decorations for the ballroom. Walked through the kitchens. I wheeled his six-tiered monstrosity of a cake into the refrigerator. Dozens of guests would be at his retirement party, and their rooms had to be prepped for their arrival. Plus, there was my moronic half-brother to corral. I was exhausted. And I still had to get through an entire evening without ire disobeying me. I¡¯d kept her locked her in the guesthouse all day, not willing to risk her running amok on the grounds. She was probably pissed, but she hated my guts anyway. I looked for her through the windows, but the golden curtains shut out the light. As I stepped inside, rattling metal osted me. I followed the noise into the kitchen, where ire¡¯s back pressed against the door leading outside. A men¡¯s white T-shirt swallowed her petite frame. I admired the sight of it on her, my gaze tracing her nipples. ¡°And what are we up to?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± she blurted, her arm behind her back. ¡°I was just-¡± ¡°Show me your arm.¡± A flush imed her cheeks as sheplied, trembling. I rolled my eyes. ¡°Your other arm.¡± ire hesitated. I seized her shoulder and whirled her around. Steel jutted from her clenched fist. She nced at the knife and wetted her lips, the movement making me imagine that perfect mouth on my cock. ¡°And what were you nning to do with that?¡± I sighed, annoyed by her silence. ¡°ire.¡± Her eyes danced over my face, the mute appraisal boiling my patience. She didn¡¯t seem to mind that I¡¯d caught her. How many times had I already punished her today? This girl baffled me. I stared at her. ¡°You can¡¯t do this.¡± ¡°What?¡± Sullen brat. ¡°Try to escape.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t escaping,¡± she blurted. I gestured at the trim she¡¯d ruined. ¡°The damage to the fucking door gives it away.¡± ¡°What do you care?¡± she hissed, her voice shaking more than I liked. ¡°You¡¯re rich. Buy a new one. Or better yet, get a ve to repair it for you!¡± I swear to God, she¡¯d lost all sense. I held out my palm. ¡°Give me the knife.¡± ire threw it on the floor like a petnt child. Heaving a sigh, I clutched her arm. ire attempted to twist out of my grasp, but I pinned her to my chest with hardly any effort. Then I lifted her onto my shoulder in a fireman¡¯s lift. She bellowed as I took her upstairs. ¡°What are you doing?¡± My hand glided up her thigh and squeezed her ass. ¡°You need a punishment.¡± She hammered my back. ¡°Thanks for the massage, ire darling.¡± I gripped her hips and tossed her onto the bed. ¡°You¡¯ll have to give me another after tonight.¡± She bounced on the mattress and tried to scramble upright, but I pushed her back. She sprawled on theforter, her blond hair a golden halo on the dark sheets. I grabbed her ankle and pulled her across the bed, catching the other leg that kicked at me, then wedged myself between her thighs. ¡°Did I not exin the consequences of escaping?¡± ire froze as I leaned over her. ¡°I know the risks.¡± ¡°Do you? Have you any fucking inkling of the danger you¡¯re in? Jesus. The things I would¡¯ve had to do to you. They would¡¯ve made that tattoo look cute.¡± Just imagining it shattered me. Would I be able to go through with it? Or would I yield to the pain in her blue eyes? Every time I looked at her, there was one more splinter in the ss wall separating us. Focus. Don¡¯t let your spirit be misguided. I buried my guilt, soothing my tightening chest, and opened my mind to the other voice in my head. The demon. He didn¡¯t give a damn about right and wrong. He only cared about vengeance and forcing ire Starling into submission. Punish her. A reckless need to rip the T-shirt off her body and taste her budding tits inmed me. Soon, I¡¯d have her squirming and begging. I¡¯d wanted them all-ass, pussy, and mouth. First, I¡¯d rail that wanting hole between her legs. Fuck me, I wanted it now. ¡°Honestly, ire.¡± I let go of her wrist and traced her breasts. I stroked the dark circle peaking the white fabric, teasing it into firmness. ¡°It¡¯s like you want me to rape you.¡± Pinned underneath me, with my hand locked around her wrists, she couldn¡¯t move. She trembled, though I couldn¡¯t tell if it was from fear or excitement. A rich pink blossomed over her cheeks as she held my gaze, her eyes glossing over. ire¡¯s lip curled with a contemptuous lift. ¡°I fucking hate you.¡± ¡°I¡¯d discipline you for saying that, but I know you don¡¯t mean it. You¡¯re ashamed you feel anything toward me but loathing and disgust. And you desperately want to fuck me, but you¡¯re not sure what¡¯ll happen to your soul if you submit.¡± Silence loomed between us like a heavy mist. ire blinked and nced away, her expression pained. ¡°You make things so much worse for yourself when you run.¡± I gripped her chin, forcing her to look at me. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt you.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that why you brought me here?¡± A rock settled in my throat as she raised her head, herpelling stare riveting me to the spot. Should I tell her the truth? A war of emotions raged inside me as I considered letting her in on my secret. Too risky. My hand softened, and I watched as the pink patches on her cheeks deepened to red. ¡°You¡¯re here tofort me, not to be brutalized. I am not a violent man. I don¡¯t relish in your pain.¡± ¡°You do. Y-you spank me.¡± ¡°To warn you,¡± I growled. ¡°To stop you from running your mouth to my brother, or God forbid, my father. The things he would do to you, ire¡­¡± ¡°Will I ever go home?¡± Tears leaked from her eyes as the question trembled from her lips. I traced them with my eyes, fighting the urge to kiss her open pout. Instead I smoothed the hair from her brow, my voice dipping to a whisper. ¡°Not if you don¡¯t behave.¡± ire gulped as the gravity of her situation seemed to finally sink in. I felt her anguish like ice growing in my stomach. ¡°You¡¯ll behave for me, won¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said in a low, tormented voice. ¡°This is hard.¡± ¡°I know it is, little Starling.¡± I suppressed a grin as I broke through her fragile control, caressing her long tresses. ¡°Everything you¡¯re feeling is normal. There is always an ufortable period of adjustment. Once you ept your fate¡­your life will be so much easier.¡± My thumb passed over her mouth, and her tongue darted out as though to taste me. She caught my stare and flushed deeply, looking disoriented. ¡°What is my fate?¡± ¡°To surrender to me,¡± I murmured, my lips against her forehead. ¡°Give in to your darker side and embrace your new reality.¡± My palm grew heavy with the weight of her head as she leaned into my touch. She was breaking, but not in the permanent way that destroyed a person. The vestiges of her resistance were slowly melting away. She lifted her head, her eyes glossed over with need. ¡°That will never happen.¡± A pulse pounded in my cock as I backed from the bed, leading her forward. I stopped when I had enough room. I fingered her chin. ¡°Do you know what I will do with you?¡± Her brows flickered, her beautiful face knitted with concern. ¡°Punish me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. You broke the rules. If you want to suffer the consequences like a good girl, you will kneel at my feet. If you¡¯d rather do things the hard way, I¡¯m happy to do that, too. So, are you going to put up a fight?¡± Her firm eye contact told me no, but she hesitated. She opened and closed her mouth. She rubbed a hand through her hair. Her knees bent and straightened. Then she seemed to think better of it, and knelt. Finally. Watching her submit gave me a rush of ecstasy. She was truly stunning. My tongue dried as I took in her curves filling the T-shirt, the tempting shadows of her breaks, the peaks of her nipples, the hollow at the base of her throat that pulsed with her heartbeat. It wasn¡¯t difficult to tell she was aroused-her parted lips gave it away. My re lingered on her mouth and tits, memorizing every trembling inch. ¡°Fast learner,¡± I purred. ¡°We¡¯ll add that to your list of skills, right under world-ss head.¡± She flushed a vivid scarlet. My smile broadened as I stroked her cheek. She¡¯d really blown my expectations with her enthusiasm the other day, sucking my cock like her life depended on getting me off. Why had it felt so good? She was just another toy, one of the many innocents I¡¯d corrupted, and yet¡­none of them had affected me like this. It was harder to resist the senseless pull toward her-the heat unfurling in my chest at every stolen nce. It was a problem. I traced her lips, ignoring the pounding in my head. ¡°I could¡¯ve lived in ignorance of what I was missing, but now that I¡¯ve tasted paradise, I¡¯m going to be insufferable. I¡¯ll need your mouth daily.¡± I unzipped my shorts and took out my cock. I was full mast. Ready to go. All she had to do was meet my gaze without flinching, and I was instantly hard. I studied her, waiting for a show of defiance, but she seemed at peace. Only a pure soul like hers freely gave her body to the damned. I tapped her cheek. ¡°Open.¡± Sheplied. Gripping my cock, I yed with her for a bit. A glistening bead rolled off my head, and I smeared it over her mouth. Her tongue darted out, catching it like it was honey. She closed her eyes and made a delicious sound. I pped my cock on her cheek, marveling at how small she looked beside it. My fingers dove into a tangle of hair. She squirmed as I sank into her pink mouth. Her bold stare tempted me to jackhammer her. When she gagged, I pulled out. She gasped as I stroked myself. ¡°I imagined taking your mouth many times, but this is something else. For the life of me, I don¡¯t know why.¡± I chuckled, watching her pull herself together. ¡°What is it about you?¡± She wiped her lips and shrugged. ¡°You tell me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you. Because I don¡¯t understand this.¡± I grabbed her jaw, and her heated gaze flicked to mine. ¡°What is so special about you?¡± ¡°I have what youck.¡± ¡°And what is it that Ick?¡± ¡°A heart,¡± she grated out, looking so beautiful with her hands on her knees that I wanted to kiss her. ¡°A sense of reality. Genuine connections with another human being.¡± ¡°My master/ve rtionships are real. What makes this one so different?¡± My thumb passed over her lips, and a shudder went through her. ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not scared of you,¡± she said in a rush, her lie ringing sweetly. ¡°Because I¡¯ve met the person behind the mask¡­the man you could be if this ce hadn¡¯t warped your mind.¡± Seriously? The list of atrocities I¡¯dmitted against her kept growing, and I didn¡¯t scare her? Why not? Everything she did weighed on me. I reyed her words in my head, stumbling over thest part of the sentence. ¡°The man I could be?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not evil, Cainan,¡± she whispered, stunning me. ¡°But this ind is forcing you to behave a certain way. In Boston, you felt safe enough to be yourself, but you can¡¯t do that here. It¡¯s too dangerous. So you put on this act and you have everyone deceived except me.¡± She¡¯s wrong. And yet, my world tilted off its axis as I stood there, as windblown as a stringless kite. ¡°Then why leave me?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m terrified of what¡¯ll happen to me if I stay here, and I can¡¯t stick around and wait for you. I won¡¯t stop until I¡¯m free. I¡¯m leaving, and I want you toe with me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere.¡± ¡°Why?¡± she begged, her eyes dancing over my face. ¡°What¡¯s worth jeopardizing your soul?¡± ¡°It¡¯s already damned.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not!¡± She bumped her fist into my leg, sounding close to tears. ¡°You can¡¯t give up on yourself. It¡¯s never toote to change. To break free. You want that. I know you do. You just don¡¯t belong here.¡± I tried to block out her words, but they glowed inside me. ¡°You have no idea what you¡¯re saying.¡± ¡°Cainan,¡± she sighed, shaking her head. ¡°You have everybody else fooled, but I see that you¡¯re conflicted. It¡¯s subtle, but there. You don¡¯t want this any more than I do. It hurts you. I can tell.¡± She sped my limp hand and kissed my knuckles. I looked down, shock flying through me at our interconnected fingers. This was dangerous. The more feelings she stirred, the more likely they would be revealed and destroy everything. I had to kill them. And I needed to take her down a peg. I fisted her hair and dragged her mouth to my cock, shutting her up with one swift stroke. The sides of her throat bulged. I fought against her gag reflex as a stream of saliva poured from her mouth. She was a mess of drool, her lips swollen. She was a vessel for my pleasure, struggling to breathe around me. Now, that was a sight I could jerk off to for the rest of my life. When she turned red, I allowed her a sip of air. ¡°You¡¯re right. I am conflicted. Should Ie down your throat or on your face?¡± ire breathed in deeply. She wiped her mouth, and then her hand returned to my thigh. Her touch was light, painfully teasing. Then her gaze bore into me with silent expectation. Daring me. My cock throbbed.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. She wanted more? Fine. I¡¯d give her more. After this, she would never look at me the same again. Easing through her clenched lips, I pistoned in and out. I made her swallow me, root to stem. My grip slid down her wless skin and tightened on her throat. I squeezed, robbing her of air. Her neck flushed. Tiny crimson dots exploded on her eyelids. I expected her to panic. Instead ire widened her legs, clearly into this brutal iming. I shook my head, smiling. ¡°I told you. One day, you¡¯ll choke on my cock just to please me.¡± She was turning a dangerous color. I released her and let her breathe. I waited until she recovered, then resumed thrusting. She settled into my rhythm, bobbing, her tongue riding my shaft. What did I have to do to this woman? A cruel idea seized me, and I grabbed my phone. I opened the camera app. I held it at waist level and hit the record button. While she sucked me off, I recorded her. My hand fell to her cheek. I tucked strands of hair behind her ear. ¡°Look at the phone, Starling.¡± She did, her calm shattering. She made desperate sounds and gripped my legs, digging in her nails. ¡°This cheap little slut can take a cock.¡± I thrust my hips, silencing her tortured groan. ¡°Keep still while I chase my pleasure.¡± Her eyes burned with reproach as I hammered her mouth. The way she looked at me struck me with a lightning bolt of lust. I wanted more. The demon insidemanded me to fuck her ruthlessly, im her, leave no hole unplundered. My heart thrashed, transported. Too close. I stopped before I blew my load and pulled out. I breathed hard as though I¡¯d finished a sprint. ¡°ve, whose clothes are you wearing?¡± ¡°Yours.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± I murmured, my thumb ying with her swollen lip. ¡°Now, show the world that your tight pussy is mine. Lift your shirt.¡± She rolled her shirt up her thigh. A flood of euphoria drowned me as she uncovered her perfect body. ¡°Your mouth is made for cock but that pussy¡­is perfection. Touch yourself. I want to see how wet you are.¡± Sheplied. Shaking, she lifted her hand, which was drenched in her arousal. ¡°Fuck,¡± I said hoarsely, my heart pounding. ¡°Suck it.¡± She obeyed, sliding her fingers over her tongue. ¡°Take my cock and get to work.¡± I hissed when her wet heat surrounded me once again. I wouldn¡¯tst long. A few seconds, if that. The video recorded my tortured groan as I spilled inside her. I didn¡¯t have to order her to swallow. She kept sucking, milking me of every drop. Shudders ran up my thigh as she stroked me into a pool of bliss. I ended the recording and tossed the phone aside. Our gazes shed, and I couldn¡¯t tell who was the captive anymore-because she¡¯d owned me with that orgasm. I took a staggering breath, then dragged her upright. Tears slid down her face as she wiped it. She looked even stronger when she was crying. Finally. I¡¯d left a burning imprint on her. Severed all remaining goodwill. I thought I¡¯d be relieved. Instead I felt drained and lifeless, as though she¡¯d sucked more out of me than my seed. ¡°Do you feel better about yourself?¡± she asked, her voice hard. ¡°Did you convince yourself that you¡¯re evil?¡± The question froze in my brain. Her gaze drilled into me, my stomach sinking. Nothing I did made a difference. She saw right through me. She¡¯s breaking you. You¡¯re turning into a decent person who can¡¯t take down your father. 3-17 CLAIRE If Cainan was the devil, why did he feel like paradise? I sat on the bed, my body still tingling from unspent pleasure as he showered. He¡¯d been in there a while. Perhaps I gave him a lot to think about. He¡¯d certainly given me a mindfuck. Sex with Cainan felt no different than a primal act of iming. Was it rape if I¡¯d submitted to him eagerly? If this cor made me feel protected from the evil outside? The water stopped running. Cainan emerged, wreathed in steam with a towel tied to his waist. He seemed oddly subdued, as though he¡¯d picked up on the energy shift between us. He changed into cks and a shirt. ¡°We have a retirement party to get to. Put on the dress Iid out for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather be locked in the guesthouse.¡± ¡°It¡¯s non-negotiable.¡± Cainan shrugged on a cream zer. ¡°And Starling, I need you to be perfect. My father can¡¯t know that you¡¯re disobedient.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± His re dove into me as he smoothed his jacket. ¡°Look, I¡¯m close to something I¡¯ve wanted for a very long time. You¡¯re not going to mess this up for me. But you¡¯re right. You¡¯re here for a reason other than being my toy. And it¡¯s important.¡± My belly fluttered with hope. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you after tonight.¡± He took my face, the gentle touch filling me with heat. ¡°What are you nning?¡± His hand contracted on my cheek. ¡°The less you know, the better.¡± * * * Fifteen minutester, we left the guesthouse. Dozens of people wandered the grounds in a drunken stupor. Soft red light illuminated the pool where naked women leisurely swam like swans on disy. Men in board shorts and tropical button-ups mingled outside, smoking and eyeing the girls. There seemed to be twice as many guards on patrol as a constant stream of cars headed into the property. Loud, bawdyughter filled the air. A heady scent saturated the octane-fueled atmosphere, mingling with the savory aroma of cooking meat. The chains draping my body bounced as I walked across thewn, striding beside Cainan. I wore a bodice of hundreds of thin, tinum strings. The dress ended mid-thigh, and nothing covered my modesty but a nude thong. Cainan¡¯s handnded on the back of my neck as we approached a house teeming with people. It was hot, with air so thick that breathing in beaded moisture on my upper lip. We strolled into a grand ballroom of tables and chairs, where everyone wore masks. White cards shed among the sea of masked men after a woman in lingerie was paraded onto the stage. The bass from the annoying club music pulsed through me as I gawked at the bespectacled man at the podium. ¡°Do we have ten thousand?¡± he offered, staring out into the crowd. ¡°I have fifteen. Fifteen-twenty.¡± An auction? My shattered mind refused to piece it together. After a smattering of apuse, the girl was escorted off stage and another was brought in to rece her. She looked terrified. This is fucked up. My mouth dried as the auction proceeded. A man imed his prize at the end of every sale, following a brief chat with a man I assumed was his trafficker in a private room. I stared at my shaking palms. This had to be a dream. Nothing but a wild nightmare could conjure such madness. Rough fingers circled my bicep as Cainan led me away. We walked past an archway of ck and gold balloons on strings. It could¡¯ve been a Gatsby-themed party with the art deco ents, the gilded serving tters, and the rich food. The opulence and glitz made me sick. Iced Dungeness crab. Bowls of sturgeon caviar. Mussels sat in shells with olive oil from Greece, ording to the little cards beside them. Girls were everywhere, naked and spread-eagled. One straddled an older gentleman whose pants were shoved to his ankles. She bounced on hisp, their flesh pping loudly as another girl sat on his face, his tongue greedily devouring her pussy. Another man forced a bound woman to snort a line of white powder before yanking her head back to his erection. A brtey on a craps table while men rolled dice over her body. They reached into the table, dipping their fingers inside her, and then in the mounds of cocaine. They pped her breasts. A red-faced woman bent over a poker table moaned as a man finished inside her with a series of punishing thrusts before standing aside for the next. Cainan¡¯s bored expression flickered with interest. ¡°See anything you like?¡± His cavalier tone filled my mouth with bile. No, he was not the perfect man I¡¯d met in Boston. Perhaps that man had never existed, but I refused to believe he was a one-note bastard who threw retirement parties side by side with ve auctions. ¡°Can¡¯t you see how awful this is? How evil?¡± I pleaded to him, balling my hands in his shirt, dragging his disinterested gaze to me. ¡°Cainan, you have to stop this.¡± He blinked, breaking eye contact to scan the debauchery. ¡°This? This is nothing to be rmed over.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a disgrace.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a party,¡± he grunted. ¡°You should see this ce when a girl tries to escape.¡± Tears stung my eyes at the hopelessness of the situation. Was there not enough humiliation at being sold? I tried to block out the debauchery, but everywhere I turned there was horror or the sounds of the men grunting. Oblivious to my torment, Cainan wheeled me into a private room saturated with smoke. He ushered me through the lightly tinted gray haze. A row of naked girls in leather cors knelt, their heads pointed down, like dolls waiting to be picked up and yed with. An older man sat at the head of the table surrounded by a group of chain-smoking men. He lifted his lit cigar, tapped it against the crystal tray, and stuck it in his mouth. Smoke streamed from his nostrils. His hawkish re narrowed as it fell upon Cainan. It was unfair that Cainan resembled his dad so much. They were clones, even in their mannerisms. His father did the same one-shouldered shrug and his face creased with a dimple when he smiled, in the same spot. I gaped at him before remembering Cainan¡¯s advice from earlier. Don¡¯t look at my father. Don¡¯t talk to him. Att is better at spotting defiance than I am. I averted my eyes, cheeks flushing. Cainan detached from me and shook hands with the others, who beamed at him like a favorite nephew. Then he nodded at the elderly man. ¡°Father.¡± Att gave Cainan a grumpy nod. ¡°How was the trip?¡± ¡°Uneventful.¡± Cainan¡¯srge hand settled on his father¡¯s upper back. ¡°I¡¯m d to be home.¡± That¡¯s right. He grew up on this batshit insane property. No wonder he didn¡¯t blink when we wandered through the party. Att¡¯s firm mouth didn¡¯t reciprocate Cainan¡¯s smile, but something in his manner softened. ¡°Have you made yourself useful since you¡¯ve returned?¡± ¡°Oh, yes. Lots of inquiries to deal with.¡± Cainan slid his hand from Att, a condescending grin hitched on his handsome face. ¡°It seems my half-brother has beenx with his responsibilities. And of course, I¡¯ve been breaking in my new girl.¡± ¡°Yes, Rn told me about the fiasco at the airport.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call it that,¡± he said with a conspiratorial wink at me. ¡°Merely a learning opportunity for my pet.¡± Ice stabbed my heart. Cainan¡¯s stare broke as he addressed his father. ¡°Are you enjoying your retirement party?¡± His father grunted. ¡°I¡¯m seventy-five. I don¡¯t need cunt like I used to.¡± Cainan snorted. My lip curled with disgust at thought of this old man¡¯s wizened cock engaging in intercourse. No doubt, he had to take pills just to get it up. ¡°So is this the little Starling bitch?¡± Att¡¯s attention centered on me as he clutched the table. ¡°Let me have a proper look at her.¡± Cainan grasped his father¡¯s upper arm to help him to his feet, a gesture that he didn¡¯t seem to appreciate. He ripped his bicep out of his son¡¯s grasp and, using the table as a walker, stubbornly made his way toward me. Cainan watched me intently. Behave. Cainan¡¯s father limped into my personal space, strangely imposing for an older man. His gaze swept up and down my body. He touched my hip. Brushed his fingers on the bandaged tattoo. He prodded it gently, and I let out a low hiss. ¡°Do you know why you¡¯re here?¡± I pressed my lips into a firm line. A horrible feeling that Cainan had led me into a trap consumed me. Rn¡¯s gloating smirk shed across the room. Att whipped his head around, snarling. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t the bitch answer?¡± ¡°I told her that her mouth had only one use, and it wasn¡¯t for speech.¡± Cainan¡¯s weighted stare dove into me before he eased into a smile. ¡°I give you permission to speak.¡± Stubbornness gripped my throat, but Cainan had been very clear. If I disobeyed him in front of his father, he would show me no mercy. I didn¡¯t trust him now, with his full mouth curling with a cynical twist. I especially did not trust my feelings when I met his dark eyes and studied his secret expression. If you don¡¯t behave, I can¡¯t protect you. ¡°No,¡± I blurted. ¡°I¡¯ve no idea why I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Ah. Well, allow me to bring you up to speed. You¡¯re here because of your sister.¡± ¡°Indie?¡± My heart skipped as I nced from him to Cainan, whose arrogance betrayed nothing. ¡°What¡¯s she got to do with this?¡± ¡°Your nosy cunt of a sister dug too deep in my affairs and ignored multiple warnings to stop. Since we couldn¡¯t kidnap her, you¡¯re here instead. You will pay for her indiscretions. You belong to the Sandors. You are my son¡¯s whore. You will obey him in everything. If hemands you to kneel, you will drop to the floor and open your mouth. If he wants to hurt you, you will endure it. If he¡¯s inclined to share you, you will spread your legs. If he wishes to breed you, you will thank him for the privilege.¡± They¡¯re all fucking crazy. Heat stole into my body as I studied Cainan¡¯s, who seemed emboldened by his father¡¯s speech. He stood behind his father, a lion eager to pounce. My attention snapped to Att. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°You will address me as master.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± Att straightened, nodding curtly. He let me go and stepped aside. Then Cainan swiftly took his ce, his gentle hand cupping my face. He stroked my cheek, firing up nerves that should be dead. My breath burned in my throat. Cainan lightly fingered my jaw. ¡°Kneel.¡± I hesitated for a second before I cooperated, my knees touching the marble. Cainan¡¯s soft touch returned to my head, stroking. ¡°Look at me.¡± I obeyed. ¡°Open your mouth. Wider.¡± I widened my jaw until it ached, unable to suppress the tingling from spreading to my lips when Cainan¡¯s thumb yed with my mouth. He slid inside. ¡°Suck,¡± hemanded. I trembled as I closed my lips around him. He thrust inside my mouth, pressing down on my tongue, and then he pulled out with an affectionate pat on my cheek. ¡°Get on the table.¡± My breathing hitched as the rawmand stirred unwanted feelings. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy. Climb up.¡± Cainan offered his hand, and I awkwardly hauled myself over the table. ¡°Stay on your hands and knees. That¡¯s it. Good girl.¡± I winced at the pleasure it gave me as I bent over, horribly vulnerable in that position. Cainan roughly wedged my legs apart, the chains gliding up my waist. I had no protection against these men. I had nobody except my owner, a man who¡¯d taken advantage of me several times already. And probably nned to do it again. His touch returned in an intimate spot. I choked on my saliva as his thumbs pressed into my vulva and opened my lips. He didn¡¯t prate me, but he held me open. I heard the others move closer. I squirmed, wanting to get away from the torturous pressure stimting me. ¡°She looks tight,¡± Attmented. ¡°She is. Feels like a virgin.¡± Cainan slowly began to massage me, and I breathed in shallow gasps. ¡°She fought a bit in the beginning, but stopped when we started fucking. I think taking her ass was our turning point, wasn¡¯t it, sweetheart?¡± He told me this would happen, that I¡¯d be humiliated, but I wasn¡¯t prepared for how it¡¯d feel. A lump raised in my throat as he massaged me. Pain shot through my jaw from my clenched teeth. I felt a lot of things-angry, scared, annoyed. Aroused. I was shamefully wet. ¡°Why im her for yourself?¡± grunted his father, who stood in front of me. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be a better punishment to give her to the collective?¡± ¡°True, but I don¡¯t like sharing. I¡¯m selfish. Just like my old man, in that regard.¡± Cainan¡¯s arm glided over my breasts, his hand snaking up my throat to hold it gently. ¡°Once I¡¯m finished with my little bird, I¡¯ll wrap a leather cor around her pretty neck¡­but not until she stops entertaining me.¡± My heart thudded. Was he lying for his father¡¯s benefit? He pped my ass, and then lightly smacked me between my legs. The shock almost made me crumble. Att leaned in close enough for his foul breath to billow over my nose as his son held my throat. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I believe this bitch ispletely tame.¡± ¡°How so?¡± asked Cainan. ¡°Defiance. You can see it here.¡± Att rapped the space between my eyes. ¡°She¡¯s not intimidated by you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to break a woman to make her obey.¡± ¡°She won¡¯t be a ve until she is broken.¡± Att¡¯s re, hooded with disappointment, flickered to his son. ¡°Until she has no sense of self and there is nothing in her gaze but a hollow abyss. You have much to learn.¡± I swallowed hard. Cainan seemed to sense my distress. He rubbed my back, his fingers lingering too long on my head. Att frowned. ¡°You treat her like a beloved pet,¡± he said in a scandalized tone. ¡°She is your ve. Not a girlfriend.¡± ¡°I¡¯m well aware,¡± Cainan responded coolly. ¡°Don¡¯t mistake myck of brutality for weakness.¡± ¡°She is not afraid of you. Until she is, she¡¯ll be a threat.¡± Cainan tried to bury his smile. ¡°I can handle one little girl.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not dangerous to you, my boy.¡± Att pointed at me. ¡°That bitch will turn on you the moment she has a chance.¡± My hackles raised, but I forced myself to look down. To appear like a cowed submissive. ¡°If she does, she knows what¡¯s in store for her.¡± Cainan tapped my spine, indicating I should answer. ¡°Don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± He stroked me soothingly. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, she¡¯s a good girl. Does she test boundaries? Yes. But that¡¯s a normal part of the process, one that I happen to enjoy.¡± Att stopped pacing, and I chanced a look at him. Att stood in front of his son, studying him. ¡°You are the same boy you¡¯ll always be.¡± Cainan blinked. ¡°Father?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not ready to take over the estate.¡± The effect those words had on Cainan filled my chest with ice. His fingers bit deeply into my hip as he stared down his father, who held up a hand to silence him.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ¡°I don¡¯t question your motives, son. I question yourmitment.¡± Anger trembled in Cainan¡¯s voice. ¡°I assisted the Boston branch from the ground up on your orders.¡± ¡°You let a ve escape three years ago. From this ind.¡± A tic jumped in Cainan¡¯s jaw. ¡°Tony Costa was more useful to me in Boston than he was in a fighting ring.¡± ¡°Still, you set him free.¡± Att reached his chair at the head of the table, his arms shaking from the effort of keeping himself upright. ¡°Last I heard, he has a wife and child.¡± ¡°We free ves after they¡¯ve fulfilled their use,¡± Cainan shot back. ¡°Do we not?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Att admitted after a pause. ¡°But you had him under your control. You could¡¯ve kept him as a bodyguard. Or a hostage. You could¡¯ve negotiated an exchange. Instead you released him.¡± ¡°What I do with my property is my business.¡± ¡°Your actions reflect on this family. You are supposed to be my heir, but you¡¯re too soft for this work.¡± He gestured wildly at me, and I flinched. ¡°You can¡¯t even tame this girl to my satisfaction!¡± Cainan¡¯s brittle smile hardened into a leer. ¡°Since I was a child, you¡¯ve told me you needed an heir. You swore you¡¯d hand it over.¡± ¡°I did. And I still do.¡± Cainan balled his fists. ¡°Then let¡¯s get this over with.¡± ¡°No,¡± he snapped. ¡°I¡¯m not ready to retire.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have the luxury of time!¡± ¡°Calm yourself, son. You¡¯re embarrassing yourself with these hysterics.¡± Att dragged the cigar out of the ashtray and put it to his lips. ¡°I am not unreasonable. If you want this as badly as you im, your ve will prove it to me. I will choose three arduous tasks to be performed by your ve. If shepletes the tasks, I will sign over everything to you. But if you¡¯re not man enough to control this girl, you¡¯ll never rece me.¡± 3-18 CAINAN I should have known better. The mad cunt was never going to make my session easy. I¡¯d hoped the cancer would mellow him out, but if anything, he was more unbnced. More set in his ways. Bitter disappointment pitted my stomach. For one shining moment, I¡¯d thought the nightmare was over. Turns out, it was only beginning. Never mind. If it took an army, I¡¯d kill him and my brown-nosing brother. I¡¯d level the whole goddamned ind if I had the means, but unfortunately, I didn¡¯t have godlike powers. My father¡¯s estate would have to suffice. Iy on the grass with ire a short distance away from the pool. I clutched a bottle I¡¯d swiped from the party moments after walking out on my father. I swigged it and drank, fire burning down my throat, nning my next move, and then warmth zed across my wrist. ¡°Cainan.¡± Her needy tone gave me a shback to Boston, when she used to whisper my name with reverence. I rolled onto my side, my upper body propped on my elbow to get a better look at her. rm widened her eyes. I tensed. ¡°What is it?¡± She pointed at a crowd a short distance away. They¡¯d gathered around a motionless girl on the ground. Blue light danced on ire¡¯s stunned face as she watched them attempt CPR. ¡°Oh. That¡¯s just a drug overdose.¡± I settled back down. I¡¯d seen so many people die that it no longer held any terror for me, but ire¡¯s face was alive with grief. ¡°Is she going to die?¡± Tears budded in her eyes. ¡°Isn¡¯t there something you can do?¡± ¡°Even if I could, I wouldn¡¯t. I can¡¯t do anything he perceives as weakness.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t just sit here while she dies!¡± ¡°Yes, we can. I¡¯ve done it many times.¡± ¡°Right,¡± she grated out, her lip curling. ¡°Well, I¡¯m going to see if I can help.¡± In an instant, she stood, making a beeline for the unconscious girl. I shot upright and grabbed her arm, yanking her backward. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± ¡°She¡¯s lying there, not moving!¡± ¡°And what are you going to do? Hold her hand while she strokes out?¡± I said it as gently as I could, but two small tears slipped down her cheeks. My stomach clenched as she wiped them away. ¡°How can you be so heartless?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t survive this ce with any semnce of a heart.¡± I gave her a grim smile and folded her hand in mine. ¡°We¡¯ve got plenty of naloxone. She¡¯ll be okay.¡± ¡°God,¡± she whispered. ¡°None of this is okay.¡± One of the guards administered the nasal spray to the woman. Her legs stirred, and she was hauled to a seated position. Saved. Good for her. It¡¯d probably happen again, but some things were better off left unsaid. I sped ire¡¯s hand and headed away from the debauchery, walking down the path to the garden. I ventured west, toward a maze of rosebushes. A series of turns brought me to a circr area enclosed by hedges. If I closed my eyes, I could still see my mother with her enormous straw hat and shears. The ghost of her seemed to cling to the garden. My throat thickened. ¡°Cainan? Why are we here?¡± ¡°Taking a trip down memoryne.¡± I pulled at my cor, unsnapping the first two buttons. ¡°I haven¡¯t stepped in this garden in over a decade. It hasn¡¯t changed much.¡± ¡°Sounds like¡­you¡¯re avoiding something.¡± ¡°My mom.¡± I ran a palm along the hedges, marveling that gardeners had actually maintained them. ¡°I don¡¯t like thinking about her too much, but on nights like these I get dangerously¡­sentimental.¡± I¡¯d spent many afternoons here with my mother. She needed to get away from it all. This was the only refuge. Our one safe ce. ire hugged herself, her gaze tracking me. I gestured with the bottle, motioning toward the stump thaty beyond a stone bench. ¡°That used to be a pomegranate tree. My father had a tree nted the year he ¡®started dating¡¯ my mother. I thought¡­¡± I shook my head, confounded by my feelings. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ire soft footsteps padded close. Her hand rolled over my arm. ¡°Obviously, it matters to you.¡± ¡°Used to. Now it¡¯s just another dead thing in my past.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± I smiled at the caution in ire¡¯s voice. Sweet little bird. I ought to reward her for being so good. My mood slipped as I approached the remains of the tree. I was too drunk. Scenes of my mother opening the thick flesh of a pomegranate and shaking the seeds onto my open palm shed in my mind. ¡°Cainan, what happened?¡± prompted ire in a whisper. What happens to everything I love? ¡°She died.¡± ire stepped forward. ¡°While she was escaping with you?¡± ¡°I was just a child, too weak to save anyone, but I took it hard. I couldn¡¯t find any sce within these grounds, except for this garden. I would sit under the tree¡¯s branches and pretend she was still with me. When Father found out what the garden meant to me, he took an axe and¡­¡± My insides clenched with the memory of him hacking at the trunk. ire looked like she didn¡¯t want to hear anymore. Color leached from her face. ¡°I hate my father. My hatred for him is a monster that lives in my belly. It awakens whenever I see his face, hear his name, or listen to him speak. Every day I can feel it slithering inside of me, silently raging.¡± I swigged the bottle and drank deeply, but it was like pouring gasoline on a fire. ¡°I didn¡¯te here to take over. I¡¯m here to kill my father.¡± ire released my hand and slumped onto the bench, her palms gripping the stone. ¡°Kill him?¡± I peeked over the hedges, making sure we were alone. A few scantily d women lounged by the pool. There was zero privacy in this ce, what with the guards and the fact that cameras pointed at us in every direction. ¡°He¡¯s taken everything from me.¡± I smiled bitterly, thinking of our conversation shortly before I kidnapped ire. ¡°My happiness. My freedom. Even my humanity. I am not a good man, but he disgusts me. He is obsessed with bringing pain and horror to every moment.¡± Her brows drew together as I joined her on the bench, my head throbbing. ire hugged her chest. I drank the rest of the bottle and tossed it aside, watching it roll under the hedge. ¡°I¡¯ve waited years for this. I¡¯ve thwarted his attempts to expand this empire. I¡¯ve helped girls escape. I saved someone from the ind, which estranged us for a while until my father realized he needed an heir. I¡¯ll torch the whole fucking vi. And once the keys to his kingdom are in my grasp, I¡¯ll make him watch as his legacy burns to the ground. That will be the highlight of my life¡­and then¡­when I¡¯ve exhausted myself from torturing him, I¡¯ll kill him.¡± ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± ire¡¯s widened eyes danced all over my face. I¡¯d terrified my poor pet. My free hand drifted to the back of her neck and kneaded the tense knot of muscle. ¡°Because¡­I¡¯m tired and frustrated, and you¡¯re the only person I can talk to without putting myself at risk.¡± I let out a lowugh. ¡°How absurd-a master and his-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me a ve.¡± ¡°Nothing has changed between us. Your role is the same it has always been. But I had toe clean because we¡¯re stuck here for weeks.¡± ¡°Wait. Why can¡¯t we leave?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll have us killed before we get to the airport. I¡¯d be shocked if he hasn¡¯t instructed his guards to report on my behavior.¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ¡°So¡­we¡¯re both trapped?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I removed my hand and exchanged a long look with ire. ¡°I know this isn¡¯t your fight and I don¡¯t expect you to understand¡­but I need yourpliance. You¡¯re going to give it to me.¡± Her nostrils red. ¡°Why should I bother helping you?¡± I opened my phone and scrolled to the scorching hot video I¡¯d recorded hours earlier. I stopped on a still-frame of her lips wrapped around me, my cock thickening with need as I stared at it. ire glowered at me, her expression solidifying into hate. A stab of guilt buried in my chest. ¡°Do as I say and when this is over, I¡¯ll delete the video.¡± Her eyes tracked its movements as I shut off the phone, sticking it back into my pants pocket. She spoke with quiet but desperate firmness. ¡°You can¡¯t just ask for help like a normal person?¡± My hand twitched. ¡°Would you have given it?¡± ¡°Delete it.¡± Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. ¡°Right now, and I¡¯ll do whatever you want. I¡¯m begging you, Cainan. Do the right thing. For once.¡± My eyes raked her curves, still discernible in the darkness. ¡°Making sure you¡¯repliant is the right thing. This keeps us both safe.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you just be ruthless with your father?¡± she hissed, her nails digging into my cks. ¡°Why do you torture me?¡± To make you hate me. To kill my feelings for you. Instead I felt like I¡¯d killed myself. My chest ached as I hauled her to her feet, heading for the guesthouse. Once inside, I ordered her into the cage under the bed. I spent the night on the couch, not trusting myself toy beside her. I didn¡¯t sleep, tormented by her words, the hitch of breath in her lungs, by every single fucking thing she did. When I couldn¡¯t stand it any longer, I climbed the stairs and checked on her. She was on her side, eyes closed, her chest rising and falling. Her blond tresses nketed the floor. She was an angel, sound asleep in my cage. Fierce little thing. I stroked where the moonlight kissed her cheek. I needed this woman too much. And it would be my downfall. 3-19 CLAIRE The next morning, Cainan¡¯s guards drove us from the estate down the sweeping cliff to a deserted cove, whose turquoise wavespped at a white-gold beach. Steep green cliffs broke the breathtaking view of an endless horizon with gentle water. I wasn¡¯t in the state of mind to appreciate the beauty, but if I blocked out armed soldiers and listened to the ocean, it was almost peaceful. I stood on a patch of damp sand. I nced over my shoulder at the two chairs and the tent with refreshments. Bowls of papaya, sds, and cut watermelon sat under the shade, covered by mesh lids. Was this a pic? I shaded my eyes and looked at Cainan. He stood beside me, his firm, sensual lips set in a slight frown. I tried not to stare at the rich outline of his massive shoulders filling his T-shirt. The lines on his face hinted at a sleepless night. Something was eating him up. I wanted to grill him, but I was hesitant to poke the bear so soon after yesterday. I battled with the urge for several minutes and blew out a sigh. This is absurd. Weeks ago, I asked Cainan anything. He evaded questions he didn¡¯t want to answer with grace, but he never shut me down. I sucked in a deep breath. ¡°So¡­what are we doing here?¡± ¡°I thought a day at the beach might help us both dpress. We haven¡¯t had the opportunity since we got here.¡± He was right. Honestly, I was amazed I hadn¡¯t experienced a panic attack. I was definitely stressed. My stomach churned with nausea and I¡¯d barely picked at my food, too overwhelmed to eat. A guard marched past us, rifle bouncing on his shoulder. I grabbed Cainan¡¯s wrist and spoke in a low whisper. ¡°Do they have to follow us?¡± ¡°Yes. The ind isn¡¯t safe.¡± That delicate reminder raised the hairs on my neck. He seemed to sense my anxiety, his brow furrowing as he took my waist. Gently, he pulled me close. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± ¡°I¡¯m great. Slept well, considering it was in a cage. The padded floor is a nice touch. Surprisinglyfortable. I bet the other men don¡¯t have that eye for detail.¡± I paused, hating how sarcastic I sounded. ¡°And I¡¯m on a gorgeous beach, having a pic with my¡­master.¡± Cainan smirked and gave my cheek an affectionate squeeze. ¡°See, that¡¯s what I like about you. You make everything so much lighter.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m not flexible enough to perform your level of mental gymnastics.¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Oh, I disagree. You bend exactly where I want you to.¡± I burned with the implication behind that sentence as he slowly wound his arms around me. ¡°Most people crumble under stress,¡± he continued. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it happen so many times. I watched the son of a Mafia don break under a leather strap.¡± Cainan kissed my brow ridge, easing the ache in my heart. ¡°You should be proud.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I muttered. ¡°I¡¯m a hero. Going along with what you do to me is so brave.¡± ¡°What are you supposed to do?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Fight?¡± ¡°You are¡­you¡¯re just doing it on my side.¡± Cainan rubbed my back, the sweetness of the action so incongruous with my situation. ¡°When we return to the vi, I¡¯ll try to find out what the hell he¡¯s nning for the first task.¡± Fuck. I¡¯d forgotten about his father¡¯s stupid game. ¡°What do you think it is?¡± ¡°No idea,¡± he murmured. ¡°He¡¯s done nothing like this before. You need to be prepared.¡± My throat tightened. ¡°For what?¡± ¡°Anything.¡± Cainan¡¯s eyes bored into mine, steeped with an energy I¡¯d never seen before. ¡°Whatever it is, it won¡¯t be easy.¡± I inhaled sharply. ¡°What if I can¡¯t do it?¡± ¡°You can. You¡¯re stronger than you know.¡± ¡°What if I¡¯m not?¡± I croaked, so starved forfort that his tenderness broke myposure. ¡°What if your psychopath father sets up a ridiculous challenge and I fail? Then what? We stay here forever?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t fail.¡± He just smiled at me, his belief in me draining my doubts. He lips touched my head, the pleasant buzz too much. I¡¯d missed his softer side. My heart still ached for the man whose kiss lifted me into clouds. Just the memory of his lips on mine made me lightheaded. I angled my head. He lowered his, as though in a trance. Don¡¯t do this. A breath away from kissing him, I pulled back. A flood of heat engulfed my cheeks as I gestured at the sea. ¡°So what will you do once this is over? Where will you go?¡± Cainan looked as flustered as I felt, his hands running down to graze the bottom of my bikini. He teased the naked skin. ¡°Boston, I suppose. I haven¡¯t thought about the future. Maybe I¡¯ll move to the burbs, find myself a small ce, and live an honest life. Wouldn¡¯t that be something?¡± ¡°Think bigger, Cainan.¡± He shook his head, looking wistful. ¡°I don¡¯t dare to dream. Ever.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Things I care about tend to be taken from me.¡± ¡°One day, it¡¯ll be safe to want things for yourself.¡± I stroked his hand, and his attention zeroed in on me like I¡¯d grabbed his balls. ¡°Once you leave this ind forever, you can create the life of your dreams.¡± ¡°The life of my dreams,¡± he echoed, his eyes raking my curves. ¡°All I picture is you, chained to my bed.¡± Shock flew through me. How did I feel about that? I yed with my hair, my heart spasming in my chest. ¡°What else do you see for us?¡± ¡°Picking up where we left off.¡± Cainan¡¯s protective embrace became a furnace, his uneven breaths ghosting my face. ¡°I¡¯d just been introduced to your sister. Would I have met your parents next?¡± I pressed my lips together, burying the smile. ¡°My birthday¡¯sing up, so yeah. I guess.¡± His re darkened. ¡°When?¡± ¡°The thirteenth. I¡¯m turning twenty.¡± ¡°And what does the birthday girl wish for?¡± ¡°My freedom. Yours, too.¡± I grinned, enjoying this lighter side of him. ¡°But mostly, for you to make good on your promise for a romantic getaway.¡± ¡°A pic on the beach isn¡¯t romantic?¡± ¡°It is, but the circumstances leave a lot to be desired.¡± I fingered my tinum ne. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I quite enjoy having you at my mercy.¡± ¡°Instead of chasing me relentlessly?¡± His brow quirked. ¡°The chase was fun, but it didn¡¯tst long. Someone kept sending me texts at two in the morning.¡± ¡°I was ying.¡± ¡°You were,¡± he growled, the sound reverberating deep in his throat. ¡°But what did I tell you about ying with the devil?¡± You¡¯ll get burned. He fisted my hair. My mouth went dry as he pulled, not hard, but enough to make me wince. It hurt. The heat from my stinging scalp spread to my nipples. My thighs clenched with need as a glow pulsed between my legs. Why did this keep happening? He¡¯d done so many unspeakable things. He¡¯d marked his name on my flesh, and yet, my body loved his touch. What was wrong with me? Why did I weaken around this predator? Cainan circled me, his energy darkening with every measured step. He leaned in, his lips brushing my ear. ¡°On your knees.¡± I obeyed, and a pleasant tremor ran through me. He opened his phone and scrolled his messages, shoving them in my face. ¡°Do you remember this?¡± ire: I¡¯m touching myself to you. ire: I want to taste your cum. Good Lord. He tightened his fist, the pain sharpening my arousal as warmth stole into my cheeks. ¡°Answer me.¡± ¡°I only sent that because I needed an orgasm. I used you.¡± I expected him to scowl, but Cainan quirked a brow. ¡°You think I didn¡¯t know that? I let you use me. I liked that you fucked yourself to my words. I enjoyed picturing you in your bed, hand between your thighs, those slick fingers working hard to soothe an ache only I could relieve.¡± I had done that. Cainan¡¯s gaze riveted on my glowing face. My skin tingled as he searched my eyes. Passion bloomed inside me, betraying my resolve. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± ¡°You know what I want.¡± His thumb yed with my mouth, the sensation stroking me in intimate ces. ¡°Release. I need you.¡± Was there more than lust packed into that phrase? I could tell that he meant it, that he¡¯d brought me along to enable his self-sacrifice, that he suffered every day. If I could help relieve his stress, shouldn¡¯t I? My hands slid up the board shorts that left little to the imagination and felt the tip of his mushroom head. Cainan shuddered. I pulled down his shorts and took him in my mouth. Cainan sighed as I sucked and glided, guiding my movement with his hand. He groaned. More heat teased my nipples. He was so thick, like velvet steel sawing into me. I gasped, struggling to breathe around his plunging length. My tongue swirled as I tried to make hime, but I couldn¡¯t move my head from his fierce grip. So I let him take his pleasure until he growled like a beast, filling my mouth with thick cum. ¡°Fuck. You¡¯re too good.¡± He took himself out and stroked his shaft, the head glistening with a milky-white drop. His heated re seemed to admonish me for making hime too quickly. He lowered me on the sand, his sculpted chest gliding over me. Then he groped me as though searching for pleasure points. His mouth trailed over my skin, sucking, biting, as he loosened my top. I breathed in harshly as he climbed between my legs and suckled my nipple. I could feel his engorged cock grinding into my sex. ¡°I love tasting you,¡± he whispered, that word clenching my heart. ¡°I love looking at you. Watching your hatred of me dissolve as your need for me takes over. It¡¯s beautiful to witness.¡± He shoved the bikini down my thighs and palmed my pussy. I was slippery, dripping with need. He chuckled, moving his hand into position. He slipped through my tight walls. Then he rotated, a third finger joined the other two. Slick with my arousal, he moved it back. Way too back. I uttered a soft cry of protest. A p hit my thigh. ¡°Keep still.¡± But I couldn¡¯t. I¡¯d never done this without a toy, and it felt dirty and wrong. ¡°Please.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. I won¡¯t hurt you¡­but I am going to broaden your horizons. You need training before my cock takes you here.¡± I gasped as he shifted, pressing into the puckered skin. ¡°Do it already. Don¡¯t drag it out.¡± For a moment, he froze. Then he smiled down at me. ¡°I¡¯ll never let you go.¡± His dark promise gripped my soul. Did he mean that, or was it something he¡¯d said in the throes of passion? He slid two fingers inside me. My heart fluttered as he forced them in farther, stretching me. He¡¯d only begun, but it was too much. His knuckles teased me open, slowly widening the hole, as he worked my pussy. I was so full. I clutched his shoulder, drowning in euphoria. I struggled under him, pinned but freed. There was nothing I could do but enjoy it. My heart thundered. I wished he¡¯d take out his cock and fuck me. I wanted him to do it quickly, to pound me until I bled so that I¡¯d stop craving him. ¡°Just do it,¡± I begged him, breathing hard. ¡°Get it over with.¡± ¡°Oh, Starling. If you could see yourself.¡± His strangled voice, hoarse with pleasure, fucked me even harder than his pulsing fingers. ¡°Why would I want to end this?¡± He searched and probed until he hit the right spot. Then I bucked my hips and groaned. I rutted into his fingers, seeking the sweet ecstasy. My toes curled. I tensed my stomach, desperate for more friction. I cried out, lost in the overwhelming sensations and his seductive purr. ¡°That¡¯s right. Use me.¡± My thighs clenched as my body exploded in white-hot bliss. His throat rumbled with a pleased sound. I contracted on his fingers. Then he withdrew, leaving me bereft and clenching on air. I closed my legs. I felt like a brain-damaged woman whose lust for her captor defied logic. He kept pushing my boundaries, and yet, none of it was against my will. Oh my God. I wasn¡¯t fighting anymore. Perhaps it had never been a battle. He¡¯d won on the ne, when he¡¯d called me his ve and I¡¯d kissed him anyway. He didn¡¯t break me. I was already broken. Despair sat heavy in my lungs as Cainan¡¯s hold became less punishing. He seemed to sense my distress immediately. His hand was on my cheek before tears stung my eyes. He hushed me, his arm encircling me. The agony was like a sh of lightning, gone the moment he gave mefort. ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you. You¡¯ve been such a good girl.¡± I have? His praise and the flush iming my cheeks battered me with more confusion. I knew enough about psychology to realize this wasn¡¯t normal. The repeated traumas had fractured my spirit. Weakened me. And I¡¯dtched on to the only person who made me feel safe. I fisted his shirt as a sharp pain dug into my chest. ¡°You¡¯re the only woman I¡¯ve ever dated,¡± he whispered so faintly, I had to strain to hear him. ¡°Did you know that?¡± ¡°N-no. I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°You stole my attention before we met. When I first saw you, you were having lunch with your future brother-inw. I could tell it wasn¡¯t going well for Knox, that you were giving him the goods. Knox is an acquaintance of mine. He has a big ego. He destroys anyone who insults him, but you didn¡¯t care. You were feisty. You were alive. And I was intrigued.¡± His words dipped me in liquid heat. Then he covered my mouth with his, detonating my confused feelings. The kiss was long and hot, packed with a million things he could not say. Promises. Apologies. And something I could¡¯ve sworn was affection. A voice called from down the beach. Cainan broke our kiss and restrained me as though I¡¯d bolt. A shirtless man in ck board shots headed toward us. Rn. His grin shed, dazzling against his olive skin. ¡°Get up. We need to go.¡± He held up his hands when Cainan shot him a cold smile. ¡°Don¡¯t be upset with me. It¡¯s Father¡¯s orders. She needs to get ready for the challenge.¡± Fuck. Cainan glowered. ¡°When is it?¡± ¡°Tonight.¡± 3-20 CLAIRE I wasn¡¯t here to fall in love. This was about survival. Rn¡¯s arrival was the rude awakening I needed. No matter how much I wanted to keep my heart my own, a man like Cainan would take it for himself, if I let him. I couldn¡¯t trust him not to break it again. And yet, it seemed inevitable. I clung to him, even as he led me to the first task. Cainan kept me sane as we strolled the parking lot. The sounds of a raucous celebration grew as we headed through a tiki torch-lined path through sand. We passed glowing umbres dotting the beach. Men sat underneath them, lounging in the squashy cushions as they nursed cocktails. They whooped with delight. A few raised their drinks at us. I swung my head at Cainan. ¡°Who are these people?¡± ¡°Spectators,¡± he grumbled. I gawked at a buffet table under a huge tent. ¡°They¡¯re here for me?¡± ¡°Yes, only to watch.¡± ¡°Yeah. There¡¯s a betting pool on how long you¡¯llst,¡± Rn drawled, shing his sneer in my direction. ¡°That reminds me. I put in a decent amount of money against you, so don¡¯t let me down.¡± Rn had hinted at the danger during the two-hour drive after a tedious wait in the guesthouse. It¡¯d been a long day of guessing, waiting, and enduring Rn¡¯s taunts. He expected me to give up after five minutes. Only Cainan¡¯s hand clutched on mine had stopped me from telling him to fuck off. Cainan took care of it, his palm striking the middle of Rn¡¯s chest. ¡°Stop fucking taunting her.¡± Rnughed, his beer slopping over as he paused mid-stride. ¡°Since when do you care?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had enough.¡± I blinked, reeling at the emotion in his voice. He even sounded like an overprotective boyfriend, which seemed to set off Rn¡¯s rm bells. He red at Cainan, suspicion dawning on his gaze. ¡°I wonder¡­if you¡¯re getting attached to your ve?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid. I just want her to win.¡± Rn scoffed, his attention snapping to me. ¡°You¡¯re better off taking your chances in the jungle.¡± ¡°Leave,¡± Cainanmanded in an icy whisper. ¡°You¡¯re making her nervous.¡± I was more than rattled. I could barely inhale through my clenched throat, and I¡¯d started to gasp. Rn¡¯s dark eyes swept me up and down. He shook his head and turned around, storming up the beach. We followed a few paces behind. It was like a fraternity party on steroids, with the beer-pong tables and women ying topless volleyball. Men in Hawaiian shirts drank from hollowed-out pineapples. Ribs roasted in a giant smoker. Music sted from speakers wedged in the sand. Cainan dropped my hand as we reached a raised tform where a crowd had gathered. Rn stood beside his father, dusting his shirt. Att sat in awn chair, his white hair matching his linen shirt and pants, surrounded by armed soldiers. His mouth curled as we approached, mirroring Cainan¡¯s so precisely that my heart skipped. ¡°Cainan. It¡¯s good to see you again.¡± Cainan inclined his head in the coldest greeting I¡¯d ever seen, but Att didn¡¯t seem to notice his son¡¯s contempt. ¡°And you, Miss Starling.¡± Die in a fire. ¡°I can¡¯t say the same.¡± Cainan¡¯s hand reappeared on my shoulder in a gesture that probably seemed menacing. He squeezed hard, but it felt supportive. Like a lover¡¯s stroke. Att soured. ¡°You¡¯re going to let her talk to me like that?¡± I held my breath as Cainan looked down at me, impassive. ¡°Starling knows she¡¯ll pay for her disrespect.¡± ¡°Then hit her! Make the bitch shut up!¡± ¡°I will. Later.¡± Cainan detached from my side to soothe his dad with a pat on his back, like an adult coddling a child. ¡°But we agreed on several rules. No punishment before a task. It¡¯s unsporting and detracts from the entertainment.¡± I had the feeling Att changed the rules at his whim. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s get on with it.¡± Att seized his walking stick, gripping the mahogany handle as though it was my neck. ¡°Your task is simple. Get to the sandbar.¡± He gestured at a distant stretch of sand illuminated by floating buoys. I peered at it, judging the distance at half a mile. That didn¡¯t seem too bad. Cainan¡¯s grip tensed. Color faded from his face, but it was the crashing of the waves that dropped a heavy stone in my stomach. I walked up the sand bluff. Below us, colossal waves arched ten, maybe twenty feet high. The tide sucked in, joining the monstrous wave that somehow kept growing. And then it curled into a massive drop that mmed into the beach with the force of a small bomb. I stumbled backward, heart pounding. Beyond the shore, violent navy water stirred like a ho¡¯s nest. Underneath them were powerful rip currents that would drag me out to sea. My skin tingled as I watched the ocean batter the shore. I can¡¯t swim in that. I¡¯ll drown. Which was what the bastard intended. Rage pulsed low in my belly as Att pped his hands. The crowd exploded with jeeringughter, the noise obnoxious as Cainan spoke in my ear. ¡°Do you know how get out of a riptide?¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°You swim parallel to the beach, right?¡± ¡°Yes. If that¡¯s too difficult, let it carry you out and try again.¡± Cainan¡¯sposure darkened as he pointed in the distance. ¡°See those rocks? Stay away from them. They¡¯re a death sentence.¡± I nodded, but I couldn¡¯t quite process his words. All I could hear was theughing¡­the male faces stretched in grotesque shapes of human amusement. This was a nightmare ripped from college, but so much more humiliating than a public sex tape. Worse than unwittingly sharing my body with every single fraternity was this casual cruelty. Strangersughing as they watched me die. Would they screech and howl when I begged for help? When I drowned? ck spots crept over my vision. My heartbeat thrashed. I couldn¡¯t breathe. I was already drowning, and I wasn¡¯t in the water yet. I trembled violently. ¡°I-I can¡¯t do this. I¡¯m not brave enough.¡± ¡°Bravery isn¡¯t ack of fear. It¡¯s being scared and doing it anyway.¡± Cainan brushed the spot over my heart with his knuckles. ¡°You can do this. Just look within.¡± A rock lodged in my throat as I searched for the courage that¡¯d make me dive into that insane storm. I¡¯d never done anything like this before. This was crazy. My heart hammered as I nced at Att, who¡¯d sank into a chair to watch the spectacle. His re burned through me. Something in that man¡¯s cruel amusement set me off. This was the man who¡¯d ruined so many lives. Who thought nothing of enving countless women. Rage leapt in my chest, consuming my fear. I had to win. If only to prove to this garbage human being that I was stronger than him. Tearing my gaze from him, I stripped to my bikini. I tossed the sundress at Cainan, who caught it. ¡°Don¡¯t disappoint me, Starling.¡± His smile glowed with pride as I strode to the shore. I probably looked a lot braver than I felt, but it was terrifying to walk from safety into the swirling ckness. I stared out into the sea. Boats navigated the treacherous waters. Then a roar shook through the sand. The noise from the party disappeared. A massive wave smashed the shore, the tide like hands gripping my ankles. I ran forward before they toppled me. I sshed into the water, swallowed by ck. The sea swelled. I kicked hard to ride the wave, but like a monster, it sucked me in its mouth and dragged me backward. I was a fish struggling to break free. Then I crashed. The ocean threw me onto the beach, ttening me, as water surged overhead. I opened my eyes underwater. Darkness. I tried to lift my head. I couldn¡¯t. The current was so strong. Only when it had recededpletely was I able to move. My head broke the surface. I gasped- A force punched my skull, nearly knocking me out. My palms sank in sand that kept flooding. I coughed up brackish water, wing to a standing position, but I was buffeted by another wave. Tauntingughter rang in my ears. Get up, damn it. Another wave crashed. I tried again. It tossed me back. I dove in once more, fighting for every bit of purchase, slicing through the wave before it crested. The current dragged me out in the wrong direction, but fighting it was impossible. Shit. Swimming against it was no use. And I was getting too close to the western shore. I tried to swim parallel, but couldn¡¯t break free of the current. Each swell yanked me closer to the sharp rocks. Toote. I couldn¡¯t avoid them. Shit! I propelled my arms madly, but a surge of water caught me in its embrace. It mmed me onto a jagged rock. Then it was gone, taking its gravity with it. I clung for dear life, screaming. My legs slipped on the wet rock as I found a foothold. If I fell, my body would shatter on the rocks. The sea battered my body as though angry that I¡¯d narrowly escaped death. My head smashed into the rock. My vision exploded with stars and tilted, but I held on. Shaking, I let out a low whimper. I was stuck. Unable to get down without impaling myself. A wave gripped my body as I slid down an inch. I hugged the rock, shouting epithets. ¡°Had enough?¡± I barely registered the voice before I saw Rn in a boat. Somehow he¡¯d made it out here. The ocean tossed the boat violently. Rn grabbed the wheel for bnce. Behind him, several more boats approached with revelers. There was no way in hell anyone could swim in that¡­but Att had said, ¡°Get to the sandbar.¡± He¡¯d never specified how. ¡°Get down.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous!¡± ¡°The water isn¡¯t shallow over there.¡± Rn pointed at a spot with swirling navy water several feet to my left. ¡°Jump.¡± Did I trust him? I gritted my teeth andunched myself, preparing for my bones to break. I shot into a deep pool, clearing the rocks. Rn tossed a life preserver and I looped it around my head. Then I seized a loose piece of rock. My heart thundered as he hauled me overboard. I copsed onto the deck, sputtering. I needed this boat. I had no idea what might happen if I didn¡¯tplete the task. Failure wasn¡¯t an option. Rn returned to the helm of the boat and took the wheel. Another strong wave battered the boat, and he almost lost his bnce. I stood with the rock in my hand. I swung at his face. The rock cracked against his head. He staggered, blood streaming his cheek. I rushed forward. My palms mmed into his chest. He stumbled. His legs hit the edge, and he bounced over the side. A pang of guilt stabbed my chest as he emerged from the water, wiping hair from his eyes. ¡°What the fuck?¡± I threw a lifejacket in his direction. Then I snatched the wheel and jerked the boat toward the sandbar. I gunned the motor to full throttle. Rn iled in the water, screaming, as I zipped past him. I slowed the boat as I reached the sandbar, circling it twice before I returned to shore. I cut the engine and jumped out. The crowd cheered as I trudged up the beach. Among the rabble of partygoers was Cainan, who shoved people aside in his haste to reach me. He wrapped a towel around my shoulders and pounded my back. ¡°Well done!¡± Att¡¯s frown stood out from the bemused men. He shrugged, his mouth curling into a nasty grin. ¡°I suppose anyone could¡¯ve stolen a boat.¡± ¡°Did you enjoy the show?¡± I shouted, aiming my wrath at Cainan¡¯s dad. ¡°Must¡¯ve been hrious to watch me almost drown while you motherfuckers sipped mai tais.¡± I ripped away from Cainan, grabbed a chunk of wet sand, and flung it at Att, sttering his linen pants with mud. The men surrounding us hooted withughter, and Att slowly smiled. ¡°Get this bitch out of my face.¡± ¡°Right you are, Father.¡± Cainan threw me over his shoulder and stalked out of the party, giving everybody the appearance that he would flog me. But as soon as we reached the parking lot, he let me down gently.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°ire, that was brilliant.¡± His big smile warmed me from the inside out. ¡°I¡¯ve never been prouder of you.¡± My cheeks flushed with pleasure. ¡°Did you send Rn after me?¡± ¡°He wasining about not being able to see anything, so I suggested he take a boat. You handled yourself beautifully. You made both of them look like fools.¡± His shaking hands tightened the towel around me and fussed over my hair, grimacing. ¡°You¡¯re bleeding.¡± ¡°I-it doesn¡¯t really hurt,¡± I hissed, teeth chattering from cold. ¡°The waves knocked my head on the rock. That was wild. I wasn¡¯t sure I¡¯d make it until I saw the boat. All in all, though¡­not bad. What was it like for you?¡± ¡°Like something out of a horror movie.¡± Cainan rummaged through a first-aid kit he removed from the car and blotted the wound with gauze. ¡°It was¡­terrifying.¡± ¡°You were scared?¡± He nodded with a taut jerk. His frown dipped with raw fury. ¡°I hated every second of watching you risk your life for me.¡± I was too afraid to breathe. Exhaling might blow away Cainan¡¯s vulnerability. I threaded my fingers through his auburn curls and his movement stopped. He leaned into my touch. Then he grabbed me, wrenching me against his chest. He wrapped me in a bear-like hug and released a tight breath. The tension on his face melted. He squeezed me as though to shove me into his heart, where I¡¯d be safe. Then he kissed my head, sparking a fire under my shivering skin. Tears of pleasure found their way to my eyes. We didn¡¯t have a future. We might not even live to escape. But if I didn¡¯t go back with him, it would end in heartbreak. 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