Devil’s Toy

by Starling, Isabella

  “Who do you think you are?” he asked, huffing and puffing. His face was getting redder and redder. “You think you own this town, kid? Maybe your Daddy does, but he’s nothing compared to me.”

  I smirked at him, clicking my fingers. In moments, our hostess was back.

  “Hello, Maria,” I said calmly. “I’m afraid Connor here has upset me.”

  “How unfortunate,” she replied, giving the man on the opposite side of me a cool look. “How can I help you with this matter, Mr. Windsor?”

  “I’d like him gone,” I told her, never taking my eyes off the man in question. “Please have security remove him from the restaurant. And I don’t want him here ever again, or in any of your other restaurants. Can you ensure that?”

  “Of course,” she replied smoothly while Connor’s face got redder and redder. “Security!”

  “You can’t do this,” he screamed at me while the whole restaurant watched. “Who the hell do you think you are, Windsor? You’re nothing without your father!”

  “No?” I asked innocently. “Then I’m sure you’re not afraid of me.”

  His eyes betrayed him, telling me he was very afraid indeed.

  “I didn’t mean it,” he backtracked. “I was only joking…”

  “Of course,” I replied smoothly. “Make sure it stays at that – a joke. Or I won’t just have you exiled from every restaurant I know of. I’ll have you gone from the city. Tell me, does Georgia know how obsessed you are with her little sister?”

  “Our wedding was a business move,” he told me, his voice starting to shake. “It never meant anything, and I wanted it to be Violet all along! She was just too young at the time.”

  “You’re a disgusting pervert,” I told him. “And if I even hear you are bothering Violet… if you so much as appear in her vicinity… I will fucking end you.”

  He snorted just as security appeared. A tall blond man set his thick, meaty palm on Connor’s shoulder while the man stared at me, bewildered.

  “You can’t be serious,” he told me. “It was nothing… merely a business proposal.”

  “I’m sure it was,” I replied with a cold smile. “And I’ll keep it between the two of us as long as you stay away from Violet Cabot.”

  He fought his emotions internally, the battle depicted on his handsome face. Connor wasn’t a bad looking man. It was just his corrupt mind that made him ugly.

  “Take him away,” I told security, waving my hand dismissively. “Now.”

  “Please, Windsor,” the man begged. “Reconsider. We could both benefit-”

  “Shut your fucking mouth,” I stopped him in his tracks. “And if you don’t stay away from her, I’ll have you put in prison. Remember that little thing that happened between you and a fifteen-year-old girl you attempted to solicit in Michigan?”

  His expression faltered, and he got paler and paler.

  “How did you…” he started. “How did you know about that?”

  “Same way I know how you avoided prison, but don’t think that the sins of the past could come back to haunt you—or I could create a brand new one for you to go down for,” I told him and gave the security guard a nod. “Now take him away.”

  He barely resisted as the security guard dragged him out of the restaurant.

  A moment later, Maria reappeared with my food, setting the steak au poivre on the table before me.

  “Bon appetit, Mr. Windsor,” she said with a pleasant smile.

  I looked at the patrons of the restaurant, all watching me with shocked expressions.

  “Don’t fuck with the devil,” I said loud enough for every to hear, then stabbed my fork into my food.

  Thirteen

  Violet

  I managed to shift the bag with the journals to the side before I threw up for the second time. I was vomiting so hard that it felt like I was going to pass out. I was flooded with so many emotions—so much sickness that resonated in my soul. I just wanted to be out of the Devil’s Manor. It felt like the walls were going to close in on me. I pushed myself up, but I felt my arms shake. My chest started to tighten. I was having a panic attack—I hadn’t had one of those since I was a child when I woke up screaming for my mother after she died.

  “Miss Violet, are you okay?” Belle came running and knelt beside me. “Oh my goodness, we need to get you in bed.”

  “No.” I tried to push her away, but my arms were too weak and my vision was starting to get blurry. “I’m fine, just leave me alone.”

  “You just threw up on the floor. I don’t think you’re okay.” She put one arm behind my knees and the other around my shoulders. “At least let me get you over to the sofa so that you’re not on the floor.”

  Belle was surprisingly strong and I didn’t have any strength in my body to fight her. My head was spinning and my stomach was twisted into a knot so tight it hurt when she started to move me. My chest felt like it was going to cave in and I was struggling to even draw a single breath. I held onto the bag containing my mother’s journals as long as I could, but I was too weak to keep my grip. Belle carried me over to the couch and gently placed me on the soft, pillowed cushions. I felt like I could melt into them.

  “I’m going to get you a glass of water and a cold washcloth for your head.” She patted my leg and stood. “Then I’ll call Mr. Windsor and get a doctor over here.”

  “No doctor.” I forced out my words and held up my hand. “It’s a panic attack—I had these when I was a kid.”

  “My cousin used to have those. I’ll be right back.” Belle ran from the room.

  I couldn’t make sense of time to know how long Belle was gone. One second she was running out the door and the next she was running back through it carrying several things in her hands. She knelt beside me, put a cold cloth on my head, and then I felt her push something into my hand. My hand felt numb, but she squeezed my hand around what felt like an ice cube.

  “Everything is going to be okay, Miss Violet. You just have to wait this out. It will pass. Close your eyes and imagine that you’re a big balloon and you’re trying to fill it when you breathe.” She held my hand tight and took my breaths along with me. “That’s it—keep going.”

  The sensations of fear, panic, and despair kept sweeping through my body. I didn’t know how to turn them off. My father always came into my bedroom when I woke up in the middle of the night and talked me through them. I squeezed my eyes shut and pretended that he was there beside me—holding my hand—telling me that things were going to be okay. I wished I could believe it, but I couldn’t even trick my mind into pushing past the overwhelming sense of despair that tried to close me off from the rest of the world.

  “Keep breathing, Miss Violet. Squeeze this ice cube—do it yourself now.” Belle let go of my hand and I did my best to hold onto it.

  I felt foolish, like some kind of child that couldn’t even get a grip on my own emotional unraveling. I fought back against despair until I found a piece of calm in the middle of that darkness. Georgia. She was reaching out to me—her hand was desperately trying to grab mine. I pushed through the crushing feeling in my chest, the weakness that had tried to destroy me, and I latched onto her. That’s what I should have done in the beginning. I should have never trusted Devlin.

  I can handle Connor. He’s just a perverted fool. Why didn’t I realize that in the beginning?

  Georgia led me back from the despair until I was able to cling to something else. I kept moving forward until I felt like I could open my eyes. The crushing feeling in my chest was gone. My stomach was no longer twisted in a knot. I took several deep breaths and was suddenly aware that the ice cube in my hand was making it hurt. I let go immediately and it fell to the floor. I turned my head to the side and saw Belle looking at me, slowly nodding her head.

  “You’re okay.” She picked up the glass of water and held it up to my lips. “Just try to take a drink—that should help.”

  I sipped the water and it was cold when it ran down into my stomac
h. The sense of hopelessness and dread faded. I had a path out of the Devil’s Manor. I just had to walk it. If I was brave enough to walk through the front door and sign my name on one of Devlin’s contracts, then I could find the courage to escape.

  “Do you want me to help you upstairs?” Belle tilted her head to the side.

  “No, I think I’ll just stay here for a little bit. Thank you so much.” I gave her a warm smile—an authentic one.

  “My job is to take care of you, Miss Violet. Mr. Windsor would throw me out the front door in a heartbeat if I let anything happen to you.” She stood and walked towards the door.

  I hope not, because I’m not going to be here when he gets home.

  Belle left and I sat up on the couch. My strength was returning, but my head was still spinning a little bit. I had to put myself back together quickly if I was going to make my escape. I wouldn’t be able to control my emotions of Devlin came home before I was gone. I would lash out—I might even hurt him—or he would hurt me. There was no way I would be able to look into his eyes without one of us bleeding.

  You’ll get yours, Devlin. As soon as I’m out of here, I’m going to make it my mission to destroy everything you love.

  I won’t rest until they put you in a fucking cage and throw away the key.

  You’re going to regret the moment you decided to follow in your father’s footsteps and come after the Cabots.

  I’m no longer your captive, your submissive, or your toy.

  When I’m done, you’ll be the one on your knees.

  I heard a noise outside. My legs were wobbly, but I forced myself to stand. I could see a car in the driveway and it was a long black sedan with tinted windows. It definitely wasn’t one of Devlin’s cars. I had to go. I had to find my strength. All I had to do was put one foot in front of the other and then the nightmare would be over.

  My mother’s journals.

  I grabbed the bag and started walking to the door. I didn’t see Belle. That was probably for the best. I didn’t want to see her—not after she showed me so much kindness. I pulled open the front door and stared at the sedan. As I walked towards it, I quickened my pace. My walk turned into a run. A smile formed on my face.

  Then I saw another car—one approaching in the distance.

  Devlin. Fuck.

  “Drive!” I jumped into the car and looked out the back window. “Go!”

  “Go ahead. Let’s get out of here. We have what we came for.” A voice shook me to my core, and when I looked at the person sitting next to me, I realized it wasn’t Georgia—it was Connor.

  “Where’s my sister?” I looked at the other seats and all of them were empty except for the driver.

  “She couldn’t make it. She’s a bit under the weather.” Connor chuckled as the car started driving away. “What’s this that you have?”

  “That’s none of your concern.” I clutched the bag close to my chest.

  “Let me have a look.” Connor yanked the bag out of my hand.

  “Those are mine!” I reached across the seat to grab them, but he turned so that I couldn’t get them.

  “Books? No, you won’t need these.” Connor rolled down the window and dumped the bag.

  “No!” I turned my head and watched as they all hit the ground along the driveway that led away from Devlin’s house. “You bastard!”

  “You should be nice to me, Violet.” Connor turned in my direction. “I just saved you from Devlin Windsor. That’s the kind of favor that should be met with gratitude, not insults. Pardon me, if I don’t want any Windsor filth in my car.”

  I balled my fists, but I choked back what I really wanted to say.

  “Those were my mother’s journals.” My jaw tightened.

  “Then they’re a part of the past.” He put his hand on my knee and patted it. “It’s best to look towards the future.”

  “Don’t touch me.” I pushed his hand away from my knee.

  Wait a second, we should have turned back there. Georgia’s house is in the opposite direction.

  “Where are we going? We just missed our turn.” I looked over my shoulder.

  “Oh, Violet.” He smiled and put his hand back on my knee, squeezing it so that I couldn’t easily push him away. “I’m in no hurry to get you back to my house—I think you need to show me a little bit of that gratitude first.”

  Connor jerked my leg towards him—so hard that my head bounced against the side window as I was pulled out of my seat. He was on top of me in an instant with his forearm against my throat. I squirmed and struggled, doing everything I could to hit him, but he pinned my arms to the seat and pressed a knee to my inner thigh. He dropped all of his weight against my body and grabbed the front of my dress.

  “Help!” I looked towards the driver, but he didn’t even turn his head.

  “Nobody is coming to help you, Violet.” Connor shook his head back and forth. “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this moment—you little fucking tease.”

  “Get off of me!” I violently threw my body from side to side, but he was too heavy and strong.

  “You gave yourself to Devlin Windsor—became nothing more than one of his little sluts. The least you can do is show me how good that pussy is.” He released his grip on my arm and backhanded me across the face so hard I saw stars. “I bet you didn’t even feel Devlin’s cock when he fucked you. You’re going to feel mine, Violet. I’m going to make you bleed.”

  Connor grabbed my dress and bunched it around his fists and then I felt him tearing it off my waist. I screamed—cried out—begged him to stop—but all I got in return was another taste of his knuckles across my lips. My mouth started to fill with blood and I used it as a last line of defense—spitting it in Connor’s face. He hit me again. I was about to lose consciousness. He leaned forward and I felt his breath on my ear.

  “You’re all mine now, Violet Cabot. You see, Devlin Windsor isn’t the devil. He’s little more than a boy playing a man’s game.” Connor laughed—a deep sinister laugh. “I’m the real devil and you’re about to find out how much I love to break every one of my toys.”

  He pulled back and hit me again—and I heard his laugh echoing in my ears as the darkness engulfed me.

  Fourteen

  Devlin

  I palmed the bouquet of flowers in my hands.

  I wanted to celebrate the fact I'd gotten rid of Connor. That Violet was all mine now, without the shadow of another person lurking in the background. I wasn't letting anyone else near her from now on. She would remain my pretty captive, locked away behind closed doors, like a beautiful flower should be, with only her owner being able to admire her.

  I smiled to myself as the view of Devil's Manor came into view through the car window.

  Noticing another car on my driveway, I furrowed my brows and glanced at it as we drove through the gate. It had tinted windows.

  Just as my driver parked, the other car sped up, getting off my property at a too-high speed. I got out of my own vehicle before Jasper had the chance to open my door for me. I glared down at the trail of dust the car was leaving behind.

  "What the fuck was that?" I muttered to myself. "Who the hell was that?"

  "I have no idea, Sir," Jasper muttered from behind me.

  I took my sunglasses off, passing them to my assistant.

  "Clear my schedule for the rest of the day," I told him. "I'm going to be busy tonight."

  "Yes, Sir," Jasper nodded, noting something down on his clipboard and walking into the house with me. "What do you want us to do if we get any calls for you?"

  "I'm unavailable," I got out, turning around to stare at him. "Unavailable to everyone. No distractions."

  "Got it," he nodded, looking a little embarrassed about not realizing that sooner.

  Good, I thought to myself. I want him to stay sharp.

  "I'll see you tomorrow, Jasper," I said, nodding to him and making it clear he was dismissed, then walking further into the house.

  I was
greeted by chaos. A crying Belle sat on the floor in the main hall, sobbing her eyes out, and the servants surrounding her all looked at me with terror in their eyes.

  "What the hell?" I growled, walking right up to Belle.

  The employees parted before me like the Red Sea for Moses. But it wasn't God who was on my side. It was the Devil himself.

  "What happened?" I got out, grabbing Belle by her apron and pulling her to her feet.

  I was careful not to touch her or harm her in any way, but she still cried out when I raised her to reach my own face.

  "What did you do?" I demanded. "Where's Violet?"

  "G-Gone," she whispered, and I struggled not to let her fall to the ground. "Please, Mr. Windsor! Let me down!"

  "Where?" I barked instead, flattening her back against the wall behind her. "Gone fucking where?"

  "With h-her sister," Belle managed to get out, fat tears slipping down her cheeks. "She went with Georgia, I think..."

  "Georgia Cabot," I repeated quietly, knowing that meant one thing, and one thing only.

  That fucking bastard had taken her.

  I let go of Belle, not paying attention to her wails as I ran out into the driveway, the bouquet of flowers still clutched in my right hand.

  I put a hand over my forehead to block out the sun and stared at the road leading off my property.

  There was nothing but dust on the horizon.

  I didn't let go of the flowers. Instead, I crushed the stems between my fingers until green juice ran down my fingertips, the flowers dying beneath my fingers.

  "Connor Peterson," I growled to myself. "You're going to fucking die."

  Prison is too good for you.

  To be continued…

  * * *

  Thank you so much for reading the second book of Violet and Devlin’s story! If you’d like to read more from Kelli, try her newest release.