"No." She grips my hand, pulling it to her chest and staring at me with pleading eyes. "Please, Pandora. Promise you won't say anything."
"But why?" I demand. "You know he loves-"
"Stop." Her eyes fill with tears, and she blinks fast, shaking her head. "Please, stop. I can't."
"Okay." I don't poke her further, knowing I've overstepped already. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."
"It's alright." She manages a weak smile, getting up from my bed and smoothing down the white apron she's wearing over her sky-blue uniform. "I should get back to work. My mom will be wondering where I am."
"Minnie..." She shakes her head again, shutting me up. I want to comfort her, to offer her solace and friendship, but it seems as if she doesn't want that. She's pushing me away, eager to keep the topic away from Brazen. And while I may not understand her eagerness to not speak of my brother, I owe her not to push the subject as her friend. "Okay. I'm sorry. I'll stop. You can leave."
"Thank you, Miss." Minnie seems relieved as she gathers her cleaning supplies and leaves my bedroom, softly closing the door as she leaves.
I'm left alone with my thoughts, which are circling through the people I've met in Eden Falls. The people who think they've used me, played me to their advantage. Soon enough, they will all find out I'm the one who's got them twirled around my little finger...
Chapter Seven
Pandora
It's hours after my conversation with Minnie. I've been sitting in my room for ages, feeling restless and needing a breath of fresh air. My life is so complicated, and I need some space to think. The walls in my bedroom don't provide solace, but instead confine me. I need to get the hell out of there, if only for a few minutes.
I'm surprised when I find the door unlocked. I suppose now that I'm worthless to Father, he doesn't give a damn about what I do anymore. I fully plan on using that to my favor.
I stalk down the hallway unnoticed. It seems like nobody is at home, but then I hear noises when I walk past Father's office. There's the faint hint of somebody crying, the sound barely audible. But it catches my attention, and I walk up to the door that's been left slightly open, and peek inside.
My father is blocking my view. He's standing in front of his desk. I can't tell whether there's anyone in the room with him, but judging by the cries I heard, he can't be alone. And then he speaks up, solidifying my thoughts.
"Take it."
I hear crying again, and I push the door inward slightly, wincing when it creaks. They don't even notice. I keep trying to steal glances at what's happening as my heartbeat picks up, hammering loudly in my chest.
There's a blood curdling scream next, and I instantly recognize the voice as Minnie's. I push the door open then and stride into Father's office. He turns to glare at me over his shoulder, his eyes wild and enraged as they meet mine and he hisses, "Get the fuck out."
"No," I say firmly. "What the fuck are you doing?"
"None of your goddamn business."
He picks himself up from the desk and strides toward me, but I'm too preoccupied with the sight before me to be worried for my own well-being.
The pretty blonde maid is splayed out on my father's desk, trembling, blood trickling down from the corner of her mouth and a bruise blooming over her left eye.
"What the hell have you done to her?" I whisper as he advances on me, but neither of us gets a chance to speak again.
I hear the sound of a door slamming in the hallway, and a moment later, a tall, broad-shouldered figure appears behind me.
"You sick fuck."
I whip my head around, meeting my brother's gaze. "Brazen, I..."
He ignores me, taking a long step forward and grabbing our father by his neck. He backs him up against the wall, slamming his body against it with force I didn't know he possessed.
"If you fucking touch her again," Brazen snarls. "I'm going to rip your fucking heart out through your mouth."
Father laughs out loud, eyes sparkling with cruelty as the two face off. I rush to Minnie's aid, shocked when I see the state she's in. My father has gone insane. He's hurt her so badly I can't even imagine what he thinks she's done to deserve this. He's a madman.
Minnie's right arm is hanging from her body on a strange angle, and she winces when I touch her there, eyes filling with tears. I realize it must be broken, only then seeing the girl's clothes are in tatters.
"I'm calling an ambulance," I whisper, whipping out my phone and dialing the hospital. "Hello, we need an ambulance sent to Oakes Estate. There's... been a problem."
"Get the fuck off that phone." Father rips himself away from Brazen and knocks my phone out of my hand. I watch in disbelief as it falls to the ground, shattering. He's out of control. "You don't call for help. You don't disobey me. You do as you're told."
"What about Minnie?" I demand. "You broke her arm..."
"What?" Brazen approaches us, only then seeing the maid and the shape she's in. His eyes narrow as he takes her in, his jaw setting into place with a painful click. When he turns to face Father, I see pure, undiluted rage in his eyes. I wouldn't want to be Emilian Oakes right now. "You're fucking dead, old man."
Father laughs, but Brazen is on him in seconds. This time, there's no holding him back, and Minnie and I watch in horror as he attacks Father, fists flying, blood spurting. He's making Father unrecognizable, and the sick fuck laughs while those punches land.
"Keep hitting me, son," Father spits out through a mouthful of blood. "For every punch you throw at me I'll hit her. For every kick I'll fuck her. I'll keep going until she's a broken little-"
There's a horrifying crunch and then Minnie screams, loud and shrill. I embrace her, whether out of fear or because I'm trying to protect her, I don't know. She shakes against me and a moment later, staff fills the room. Belle's screaming and crying, clutching at her daughter. Another maid faints. The butler grabs an enraged Brazen from the back, trying to get him to calm down while the pulp that used to be my father snickers on the floor.
There are teeth lying on the hardwood, in pools of dark red blood. I stare with my eyes wide as three male employees drag my screaming brother off Father. Before they remove him from the room, Brazen spits in our father's face. My blood is running cold and I'm terrified. I don't know whether Father even survived the attack. The mess on the floor says otherwise.
"I need to get out of here," I mutter, pushing past figures that I don't recognize, their faces blending together into one mess. Someone calls out after me, but I don't listen. I recognize a panic attack brewing, but it's never been like this before. I'm shaking, I feel disoriented and my heart is racing.
I nearly stumble as I walk down the stairs, clutching the banister and telling myself to calm down before I get hurt, too. All I know is, I need to get out of that toxic house and its inhabitants.
I pass Tianna on the stairs. Her expression is unreadable and she looks as beautiful as ever. I've nearly reached the hall when she calls out my name. I turn over my shoulder to look at her.
"Pandora," she repeats. "Get out of here while you still can."
I knit my brows together. "W-What?"
"Get out of here. He's going to hurt you more if you don't," she mutters. "Run."
I swallow thickly, my breath calming for long enough so I can say, "I don't run. I fight."
***
Somehow get in the car and tell Kelley the one place on my mind: Dexter's house.
I manage to calm down somewhat on the ride over, and am finally breathing normally by the time the car pulls up in the Booths' driveway. Kelley gets the door for me and I stumble out. I fired off a quick text to Dexter to let him know I was on my way. It's been days since I've seen him at the whipping. I chew my bottom lip nervously, not knowing what to expect as I use the knocker on his front door.
There's no answer for ages, and I begin regretting sending Kelley away. What if he's not home?
Then, finally, I hear movement, and moments later, the front d
oor opens. Dexter Booth stands before me in nothing but a pair of gray sweatpants, and my eyes go to the bulge there first. My mouth fills with saliva and I force myself to look up, over his chiseled torso to his tortured, beautiful face.
"Pandora," he mumbles.
"Can I come in?" I don't wait for him to answer, but stroll into his house right away. "Why are you answering your own door? Where's the help?"
He chuckles weakly. "Already getting used to the high life, aren't you, Pandora?"
"Where's your butler?"
"He quit." Dexter closes the front door with a wince and motions for us to go to the sitting room.
"Won't you hire someone new?"
"Maybe." He walks funny, with a limp, and when he passes me and I see the mess that is his back, I gasp out loud. "What?"
"Your... your skin," I whisper. "It's... ruined."
He stops a few steps ahead of me and groans as I reach him, pressing my fingertips to the only place on his back that isn't bleeding or scabbed over.
"He did this to you?" I ask, shaking my head. I knew Dex had been whipped after interrupting the ceremony, but I had no idea to what extent. I feel sick looking at him now, knowing it's my fault he's been hurt like this. "My father hurt you. It's my fault."
"No," Dex hisses. "It's Oakes' fault. He did this to me. And it's not the only thing he's done."
"What do you mean?"
He shakes his head, rubbing his temples. "Sitting room. Come on."
I follow him through the hallway and sit on the sofa in front of the roaring fireplace. I can't help but notice his house is looking dirty and unkempt. There are dust bunnies in the corners of the room and spiderwebs on the ceiling. Dex settles on an ottoman and winces again as he sits down.
"I'd offer you a drink, but you'll have to make it yourself," he says. "Don't have much in the house."
"It's fine." I wave my hand dismissively. "I do hope you hire someone soon, though... Have you seen a doctor?"
"The first day after." Dex motions to the coffee table. "There are some creams and painkillers there I'm supposed to take. But I can't put the ointment on my back by myself. Can't reach back there."
"Want me to do it for you?" I ask, my heart breaking for him. I hate the bastard, but I still feel sorry for him.
He battles with his decision, but I don't wait for an answer. Instead, I pick up the tube from the coffee table and approach him. Slowly, Dex turns his back to me, and I come face-to-face with the horror that is his wounds. I inhale sharply, trying to not let him see how scared the sight of him makes me. The wounds have scabbed over, and there are stitches in some of them. I touch the area with my fingers dipped in the ointment, and Dex hisses.
"Sorry. I'll try to be as gentle as I can."
"You should." He groans when I begin massaging the medicine into his skin. "I don't deserve it."
I don't comment and continue to work the salve into his skin while he glares at me suspiciously.
"What are you doing here, anyway?"
"My father." The words fall from my lips before I can stop myself.
"What else is new," Dex sighs. "What'd the old prick do now?"
"He..." I swallow the truth down. I'll tell Dexter what happened, but I want to thank him, first. "Doesn't matter. Just more Oakes bullshit. Eden Falls this and that. I hate this godforsaken town."
"So do I, toy," he mutters. "So do I."
"And I wanted to thank you." I put the cap back on the tube of ointment and place it back on the coffee table, feeling Dex's eyes on me.
"What for?"
Sitting on the sofa next to him, I clear my throat. "You helped me after what happened with the boys. I wanted to see you, help you like you did for me. I haven't seen you in days."
"So, you finally care about me," Dex scoffs. "Took you long enough."
"Don't make a big deal of it. Your ego can't get any more inflated."
"That's where you're wrong, toy." He shifts his position on the sofa, and my eyes are drawn to the impressive outline of his cock pressing up against the fabric of his grey sweatpants. My mouth waters at the sight of his size, and he grabs his goods with one hand. I look up into his smirking face. "Like what you see? Want another taste?"
I don't answer, picking myself up instead and clearing my throat. "I'll take that drink now, if you're still offering."
"Pick something out of the wine cooler," he suggests, motioning to a refrigerator in the corner. "Not like anyone else is going to drink it, anyway."
I examine the bottles in the fridge with fancy names that mean nothing to me. Finally, I pull out a bottle of red and sit cross-legged on the floor next to Dex. He uncorks it for us and hands me the bottle back, raising his brows with amusement when I swig the juice right from the bottle.
As I lower the bottle, I realize just how nervous I am. Dex's presence has made my heart speed up, and shivers are going down my spine every time his leg brushes against me. My dress is long enough to cover me up, and I'm deliberately facing away from my ex. I don't need him seeing how flustered his presence has made me.
"You going to share?"
"Sure." I pass him the bottle and he swigs out of the bottle, too. Together we work through the wine, passing the bottle between us. By the time we're halfway through the wine, I feel my nerves melting away and being replaced by something that scares me even more - lust. Desire for Dex to stop all pretenses and take me right here. Prove to me we belong together.
I shake my head to get the thought out. His influence over me is there, try as I might to deny it. I hate Dex for the havoc he's wreaking on me, but I also don't want to fight it, and when his hand brushes my hair over my shoulder, I let out an involuntary gasp, making Dex chuckle.
"Still so easy, aren't you, toy?" he whispers in my ear, his breath tickling my neck. "No matter how many times you say no after, you want this. You live for it."
I close my eyes, forcing myself to count to three as I take deep, long breaths. I won't let him get to me. I won't let him break me. I won't let him between my legs again.
But Dex shatters all of my intentions when he begins to kiss my collarbone. His teeth dig into the tender skin there, and he bites and sucks me. My head cocks to the side of its own accord, enabling him easy access to whichever part of me he wants.
Dex slips on the floor next to me, his hand wandering between my legs and cupping my pussy over the lace panties I'm wearing.
"Just as I thought," he mutters against my hair. "Wet like always..."
"Fuck you." I sound helpless despite the curse word, and Dex chuckles gravelly.
"Oh, you will, Pandora. You will soon enough."
But then, unexpectedly, he picks himself up from the floor and takes the bottle of wine. "You've had enough of this."
"What?" I glare at him. "Who are you to decide how much I can drink?"
He gives me a stern look. "I'm just watching out for you, toy."
"Since when?"
He doesn't answer, heading into the kitchen with the bottle while I fume silently. Once again, he's proven how much control he has over me, and I hate him for it.
When Dex returns a moment later, I'm ready. I'm not letting him use me like the toy he wants me to be, not anymore. Now, I hold the strings, and I'm going to make him dance the way I want to.
"What the fuck are you doing?"
"Showing you what you've been missing," I purr, sliding my dress straps down my shoulders. My right breast pops free and Dexter's glare turns troubled as he watches me pull the top of the dress down, exposing my chest. "Remember, Dex? Remember how much fun this was? How you used me?"
"Don't," he hisses. "I'm not fucking you."
"Why not?" I pout, twisting my nipple between my fingers and whispering. Dex's hands form fists at his sides and I laugh with excitement. I've got him eating out of the palm of my hand - just how I wanted it. Now is when the real fun can begin. "Come here, Dex... please..."
He approaches me warily, staring me down.
"M
aybe you should kneel this time," I suggest innocently. "Come on, on your knees."
"Excuse me?"
I point to the spot on the floor between my legs. "Come on... taste me..."
He struggles with his decision, but does what I've asked him to do a moment later, dropping down and looking into my eyes with silent, pitch-black eyes.
I push my tits together and lean forward, teasing him, but before I can get away, he's captured my nipple between his lips, pulling on it to bring me closer.
For the first time since I've met him, I don't feel like Dex has all the control. No, this time we're sharing it - passing it from one to the other.
"You want it to hurt?" he grunts, and I find myself nodding before I can stop myself. Dex bites into my skin and I whimper as he sucks a love bite onto my breasts. I throw my head back and allow him in fully, giving him more and more of myself as he marks my skin.
Forgetting what happened, I allow my hands to wander his back, making Dex hiss as I slide my nails against his skin.
"Forgetting something?" he growls.
"You hurt me, I hurt you," I whisper. "Simple."
He gets up then, walking away from me as I stare behind him.
"We can't do this."
"Because?" I cross my arms over my body, shielding it from his view. Even this small gesture seems to piss him off, and Dex glares at me with contempt-filled eyes.
"Because you're..."
"I'm what?" I glare icily. "Damaged goods?"
"Don't fucking put words in my mouth." He runs a hand through his hair, sighing. "You're not mine to break anymore."
"That's right," I mutter. "I'm nobody's. See? No ring on my finger, no fiancés left."
"Yet you somehow fucked us all," he smirks, pointing to his dick. "Here." Then, he points to his head. "And here."
I shrug carelessly, getting up from my seat and striding to where I left my bag. "Anyway, I brought you some notes. Figured you might want to catch up at them."
Dex stares me down as I hand him the notes and swing the bag over my shoulder.
"I'm going now."
A Hurt So Sweet: Complete Dark Bully Romance Series Box Set: Elite of Eden Falls Prep Page 37