Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 590(@200wpm)___ 472(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 590(@200wpm)___ 472(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Gritting my teeth, I didn’t retaliate.
I wouldn’t.
Not until I spied a chance to get the fuck out of here.
Going where they pushed me, I walked carefully down the stairs and clung onto the banister when my vision threatened to black out from lack of food. The towel around my waist threatened to come undone as we reached the foyer and they pointed for me to head toward the ballroom.
Faint smells of breakfast still lingered even though the buffet had been cleared away. My stomach snarled as I stepped into the cavernous room. Only a few tables were occupied by Masters and their jewels. The men enjoyed an early afternoon coffee in the spilling sunshine.
Scanning the impressive room with its arched painted ceilings and wide-open doors spilling onto the deck beyond, I searched for Ily and Peter.
A loud chuckle wrenched my eyes to a table by the podium. “They’re not here, I’m afraid. Just you, my dear friend.”
I couldn’t stop hate curdling through me as the guards marched me toward Victor. He sat like a king, reclining in his chair, his long legs kicked out, ankles crossed, and fingers toying with a couple of mini tarts on a flower-painted china plate. His charcoal suit glimmered with wealth while his skin glowed with vitality, highlighting my downfall in all the worst ways.
Rachel sucked in a sharp breath as our eyes met.
Instead of sitting on the floor by her Master’s feet, she rested in the chair beside him. A rich ruby robe draped her usually naked frame, hiding the baby bump slowly appearing beneath. She cupped her unborn child, her posture as calm as possible, all while her energy stabbed me with shards of fear.
I gave her a quick smile, grateful Victor hadn’t hurt her. That he’d stayed true to his word and treated her far better now that she carried his heir.
Victor looked me up and down. “I have to say, you smell a lot better than you did on my last visit.”
“It’s not for your benefit, believe me.”
“And yet, I’ll benefit anyway.” He chuckled. “Now that you’re presentable. Let’s test your obedience, shall we?”
“Where’s Ily? What have you done with her and Peter?”
“They’re safe. You’ll see them later.”
“Let them go.”
“Nope.” He laughed again. “Now kneel, mon ami. You have three seconds.”
I might be willing to put up with his torture so Ily wouldn’t be hurt.
I might be prepared to endure whatever nightmares he delivered.
But…that first request. That simple command to do something as demoralising as submitting to him…fuck, I couldn’t do it.
Standing to my full height, I looked directly into his awful eyes. “Go fuck yourself, Vic.”
He laughed and popped a lemon tart into his mouth. Chewing elegantly, he nodded with a gleeful grin. “I thought you’d say something like that. I’m so glad you didn’t disappoint me.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a very familiar, horribly recognisable device.
Waving it at me, he smacked his lips and leaned forward. “One last time.” His eyes flashed with pure evil. “Kneel.”
“I’d rather ram that china plate down your throat.”
“So be it.” His hand came up, his thumb pressed down.
And…
I dropped like a sack of stone onto the ballroom floor as the hottest, coldest, fastest, wickedest current arced through me.
My teeth clamped down on my tongue as I twitched and thrashed.
I couldn’t stop it.
Couldn’t help it.
Every wallop of electricity felt as if I was back in that cave. Back on the ground while seven men kicked the living shit out of me. It didn’t flow like fire. It punched and kicked and strangled. Fisting my heart, my lungs, my stomach, my spleen.
I couldn’t see. Speak. Or breathe.
My fingers curled involuntarily. My toes clenched. My towel came free as I jerked like his fucking puppet by his feet.
Stop.
Fuck…please—
Christ, I’d done this to Ily.
I’d pressed that fucking button and delivered this agony to Peter and all the jewels.
I deserved this.
A dose of my own medicine but goddammit…I needed it to end.
My organs shut down the longer he shocked me.
Pain became agony and agony became unbearable.
I couldn’t even beg for an end.
Nothing worked.
Nothing existed apart from thwacking, whacking pain, pain, pain.
And then, it was over.
My ears rang.
My mouth full of blood.
My bare body twitched as aftershocks worked through me.
“Chain him to the stage.”
I groaned as hands landed beneath my arms and dragged me over the smooth dance floor. Tossing me face first onto the stage, a length of chain jangled like demons clacking their teeth and locked onto my collar.
The guards stepped back just as Victor helped flip me around and sit me up.
My bare ass stuck to the polished wood beneath me. Cupping my cock and hiding my vulnerability, I spat in his direction.
He danced out of the way as the glob of blood splashed on the floor. “Oh, we’re going to have so much fun, you and I.” Bending over, he pressed a kiss to my sweaty forehead.