Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 36950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
“Let’s have a talk. Why don’t you sit on Mommy’s knee so we can chat.” Winter walked to a very large chair and sat down.
“Excuse me…” I blinked in confusion.
“Don’t make this difficult, Violet.” She patted her knee. “I’ll even let you have this blanket once we’re done.”
“Fine.” I sighed and walked over--feeling quite foolish as I sat on the smaller woman’s knee.
“Tonight, after you sign the contract, you will accompany us to the playroom.” She put one hand on my leg and the other one on my head while she spoke--like she was trying to cradle me. “I really want to know what my son is willing to pay so much money for…”
“I thought you hated the Cabots.” I tensed up in her arms, but didn’t try to pull away because I wanted to see just how much she would reveal. “Now you want to--play with one?”
“Trust me, darling. I have enough hatred in my heart for your whole family, but you won’t be my problem anymore after you sign Connor’s contract--you’ll be nice and pacified, just like your sister.” A light chuckle echoed in Winter’s throat.
“One by marriage and one by contract.” I sighed. “It sounds like you’re getting everything you want.”
“What’s the plan, sweetheart?” She leaned back. “Did you think you could cuddle with me and ask sweet little questions until I told you everything? I didn’t get this far in life being stupid--the only mistake I ever made was marrying Dominic Windsor--I haven’t made a single one since.”
“I’m just curious. It’s not like I have anyone to tell…” I tried to keep my voice calm as I spoke, despite wanting to throttle the bitch I was sitting with.
“That’s true, but you know everything you need to know. Tonight, you’ll find out just how much I hate little Windsor whores when you get a taste of my hairbrush.” She squeezed me tighter. “You might not have screamed for Connor, but when you’re over my knee, the moment you scream is the moment your torment truly begins.”
“You won’t break me--Ms. Sloane.” I pulled away from her embrace.
“Everyone thinks they can’t be broken until they are.” She pushed me off her knee as I was pulling away and I landed with a thud at her feet. “You’ve been beaten by a man, but you’ve never been punished by a woman. I know there are limits that go beyond being broken--the dark place where hope is lost forever and you will do anything to have a taste of humanity again--that’s where you’re going tonight, Violet, and you may never find your way back.”
I stared at Winter as she stood and walked to the door. I wanted to say something--something that was laced with defiance--something that showed her I hadn’t lost my will to fight--but I didn’t know what to say. Winter actually managed to terrify me because I believed she meant every word she said. She was the living embodiment of cruelty and malice--Connor was a child compared to her.
If she’s behind everything, I’ll suffer--I may not get any closer to the truth tonight, but she will eventually let her guard down--I really do hope I hang onto enough of my humanity to make my torment worth it.
I didn’t want to accept my fate, but I mentally forced myself to do it. I wasn’t going to let Devlin give up his fortune to save me. I knew how hard he worked to get away from Dominic--how important it was for him to be his own man. Deep down, I cared about Devlin a lot more than I should have--the love that had been inside me since I was a little girl never really left.
If everything I go through is for nothing, I hope he does honor his agreement and save my father--if I meant anything to the devil at all.
Eleven
Devlin
Getting to my father's house unnoticed was going to be a problem, so I kept the plan under wraps, making sure only the men involved knew what was happening.
I sat in a black limousine with tinted windows with seven of my men sitting in the back with me. As we pulled up to the front gates of my father's estate, the guard gave us a suspicious glance and I rolled down the window, addressing him directly.
"I'm here to see my father. He'll know what it's about."
"Of course, Sir." The guard tapped the roof of the car and opened the gates for us, and the car slowly made its way onto the property. Well, that was fucking easy. Too easy...
As soon as we were out of the guard's view, I got out of the limo and ignored the men filing out behind me. It took me them minutes to subdue my father's men, and by the time I rang the doorbell, there would be no one left to protect him.