by Dark,A. A.
The strike across my cheek sent my face snapping to the side at the impact, but my nails were connecting with something. I dug them in squeezing and ripping into the flesh I knew had to be his throat.
“I remember this, slave. I think you show your feeling toward me adoringly. So … beautiful.”
Whack!
Lights flashed at the hit and my arms fell limply to my side for only as long as it took for my strength to soar back through. I felt sick. Sick from the blow to my head. Sick for coming and believing this could be Bram. Sick for even holding to hope he was still alive. It was me who had to have written those words. It was always me.
“No! No!”
I kicked back against him, repeatedly slamming my legs into his large frame as I used the leverage of the floor to crawl out from his weight. The lightness of being free had me moving faster than I thought myself capable of. I pushed to my knees, dashing forward on all-fours. Agony crushed into my ribs as he threw himself on top of me. The pain was so unexpected that my mouth flew open and once again oxygen failed to come. The ball of wood from the end of club was between me and the floor as he tried to flatten me to the surface. For what seemed forever, I fought to breathe. Agony scorched my insides and it was only when he flipped me on my back that a broken up gasp managed to come.
“I knew you’d submit, slave. You always do.”
He spread my legs, tugging me down until my thighs were fitted over his. The clink of metal from his belt was like a gunshot to me. I turn back, feeling wood slide out of my reach as he held his forearm barred over my hips.
“Mistress! Mistress!”
Eleven’s shouts drove me to the side, harder. Pain from the spikes cut into my skin at wrapping my hand around them and I knew there was no other way. I threw myself forward, slamming the sharp edges into the Master’s head with everything I had. Our screams were both delayed and became one as we became impaled with the long nail-like protrusions. At his jerk back, he dislodged my hand.
I didn’t think. I was past the point as I forced myself to my feet and raced for the door. The lock turned at the snap of my fingers and I crashed into Eleven, nearly collapsing. Instantly, he swept me into his arms and raced us away.
“I fucking told you. Goddammit, why didn’t you listen?”
Blood poured from the three holes in my hand and I could barely see the white walls as the lights flooded the space. My mind wasn’t right. I was losing this battle and exhaustion wasn’t helping.
Eleven got to the end of the hall, pausing as he took in my battered face. I could see his horror just as clear as I could taste the blood that was leaving my nose and racing down my chin.
“Bring her here! You!”
Eleven’s head rose and his expression stayed overwhelmed as he took off in a jog toward Jarrett. This was bad. Worse than I could process. He was running forward, just as panicked as the slave in me was beginning to feel.
“What the hell were you thinking! Did you not believe me when I told you about Master Norris? Stubborn woman!” Jarrett’s yells grew angrier as he came to a stop before us and grabbed the hand I had clutched to my chest. “Jesus. I knew when I got that call that you were up to no good. How did that happen?”
“The club,” I managed. “I had to know for sure whether or not it was Bram. Now, I do. Can I go back to my room or do I finally get to leave?”
“Your room?” Jarrett exploded. “You need to go to Medical. Those aren’t fucking scratches, Mistress Harper. You’re bleeding out all over yourself. You need stitches. You need a doctor. If you could see your eyes. Your face.”
“I won’t leave my slave. If I go to Medical, he has to go and stay at my side.”
“I’ve heard about your deal with Master Kunken. The storm you’ve started, you will never know.” His eyes moved up to Eleven, infuriated, but whatever he wanted to say, he didn’t. “He is your slave. If you wish him to accompany you, he may do so. If he so much as tries to escape, I’ll put a bullet through his head. Got it, slave?”
“I know my place.”
“You better hope you do. My orders are crystal clear. One mistake on your part, our Main Master has ordered your head on a stick. I hope convincing her to keep you was worth it. You may not think so in the end.”
Chapter 9
West
“You shouldn’t be up yet, Main Master. You need to rest and heal.”
My eyes cut over to Jarrett while I went back to pacing. Angrily, I watched the screen, ignoring the pain that came with each step.
“You watched while I slept. Did he touch her?”
“No, Main Master.”
“Did he get close to her? Look at her any way that was inappropriate?”
He paused, blinking while he shook his head. “They share the same cell, but he still sleeps on the floor. He doesn’t leave her side, yet he keeps his distance.”
My lip peeled back through the anger. “And Master Norris?”
Jarrett stepped closer in my peripheral. “The last I talked to him he demanded medical attention and to be set free. I haven’t said a word to him like you ordered.”
“Good.” My lids closed as I came to a standstill. Two days had passed since Everleigh was attacked. She had multiple sections of stitches on both sides of her hand. The whites of her eyes were almost gone with broken blood vessels due to the choking. Two of her ribs were bruised from landing and being pinned on the club. She had a minor concussion and bruising on her face. I was beyond pissed. Sure, there was satisfaction in her enduring pain, but the husband in me—the man who loved her—was ready to kill for how close she’d gotten to actual death.
“You will help me get downstairs to the dungeon.”
“Main Master, I can do this for you. You shouldn’t be out of bed. You certainly shouldn’t be torturing some man. If you’d like me—”
“Don’t, or you may find yourself restrained next to Master Norris. I’m fine. Now get over here and help me.”
The High Leader came to my side, keeping our pace slow as we headed down the hall. I wasn’t technically supposed to be so active, but the doctor said this morning that I was healing at a fast rate. Faster than he expected. He saw no reason why I couldn’t be mobile, as long as I took it easy. But I wasn’t going to, come a few minutes. It was beyond my control. I kept seeing my wife lying in that hospital bed. It should have been me by her side, not that fucking slave. How the hell had I allowed myself to ruin what I had worked so hard for?
The smell of mold perfumed the air and my nose crinkled as I took each step at a leisurely pace. Although my blood was pumping through my veins at a swift pace, I let the adrenaline feed my rage. My pain.
“Are you okay, Main Master? We can take a break if you need to rest.”
My hand slid down the wooden rail and I shook my head. I was beyond speech. Blood wasn’t just about to be on my hands. My name was forged in the life source. Harper. How many times had I seen my father drenched in the dark red substance? How many times had he thrust a knife in my hand and said, ‘take care of it’? Oh, I was going to take care of this bastard all right. He’d hurt what was mine. It didn’t matter that I had put Everleigh in the situation or not. This man was going to pay. He was going to be begging for his life by the time I finished with him.
The light dimmed and the large stone room came into view as I eased down another step. Dark hair rested just over one of his eyes and from his still body, I knew the nude Master tied to the thick wooden beam was either unconscious from his injuries or asleep.
Further, I made my way down, until I was heading across the cement floor. Master Norris’s fingers twitched and a groan escaped through the gag fastening his head to the beam. Rope was wrapped around the top of his shoulders and at his waist and feet. If it wasn’t for the restraints, I doubted he’d have been able to stand at all. There was a paleness to this naturally tanned skinned. Of course, he had been without medical attention, food, or water, for two days.
“Wake the fuck up.
”
My voice had his head bobbing as he tried to lift it. His eyes fluttered open and the long hair moved even more to the side to expose the pitted holes covering the top of his forehead. The sight almost made me want to smile. My Everleigh had done that. She’d won against this man. Maybe not without injuries, but he hadn’t killed her like he had wanted.
“Give me your knife, Jarrett.”
I held out my hand as I approached, grasping the handle my High Leader held out to me. When I came to a stop, the man didn’t so much as flinch. I let the blade trace over his rough cheek, hating the features I took in. His resemblance to Bram wasn’t significant, but close enough for me to instantly despise him. Where Bram had blue eyes, this man had green. His nose was wider than Bram’s and his lips were thinner. He was handsome in an exotic way. I could see how my wife had mistaken the two from a distance.
The blade flattened over his jaw and I brought it up, sliding it under the dingy white cloth that kept his head stable. A soft sound left him and I flicked my wrist, hard, cutting through the material.
“What is … the meaning … of this?”
Master Norris licked his lips, flexing his jaw open and closed while he swallowed.
“The meaning? You tried to kill the Main Master’s wife. My wife.”
Green eyes darted up to me and my own lids narrowed as a weak laugh left him.
“Main Master? You’re not … Main Master.”
“I assure you I am. If you didn’t spend so much time on the third floor, perhaps you’d know that.”
He took deep inhales, his brow crinkling while he took me in. “She do that to you? Is that why you locked her away?”
“You don’t worry about me.”
“Then, perhaps, it’s because she loves … another man? Me? Yes.” He smiled, weakly. “She loves me. My … slave. She was so wet for me.”
My hand thrust forward, pushing the tip of the blade into the side of his neck. A bead of crimson slipped over the metal while I thrust in harder. “She loves me. No one else.”
“Not even Bram—the ghost who haunts the fourth floor?”
I cocked my head to the side, letting his skin split open even more under the sharpness. He winced, releasing an angry sound as his dilated eyes shot up to mine.
“Bram is dead. I went to his funeral. He breathes no more.”
“He may have looked half dead, but I assure you … my Main Master is very much … alive.”
I dropped my arm, switching hands with the knife so fast, he never saw my fist coming. The impact was crushing. Pain shot like electricity through my body, but the pleasure at the blood that raced from his mouth and covered his teeth was worth the twinges. I reared back, desperate for more as I hit two more times in quick succession.
“Bram. Is. Dead. Soon, you will be, too.” I glanced at the tool rack off to the side, pointing as the man groaned. “Flogger. The one with the razors.”
“You can’t kill me.”
It was my turn to smile. “Says who? Your ghost? I rule this motherfucker, now. I can kill you if I damn well please. You assaulted my wife. You were going to take her life. You’re going to pay for that.”
He licked over the cut on his bottom lip, suddenly appearing more aroused than afraid. It made my blood boil even worse knowing that Everleigh was the cause of his pleasure.
“She wanted me,” he breathed out. “I can still taste … her blood on my tongue as I sucked against her neck. Soft … little moans from that one. So soft.”
I took the flogger, stepping back. There was no hesitation as I brought my arm back and swung the razor-embedded strands across his chest. The muscle ripped open at the contact and his hiss didn’t stop him from continuing.
“Tight pussy. I almost got … four fingers i-inside of her. I can still feel her tearing—”
Again, I swung. And again, and again.
His words were like a scene I could see all too clearly. Just picturing his hands on her—in her—his mouth tasting what was mine.
“Ah! Fuck!” His voice rumbled through the pain and his trembling was shaking his entire body. I dropped to just above the rope at his waist slashing repeatedly before I moved down to his thighs and cock.
“You want to think about my wife some more? Hmm?” I yelled the words, lashing over the bloody weapon he’d intended to use on Everleigh. His dick and balls was in shreds and getting worse as I hit harder. High pitched yells began to come from the Master, but I couldn’t stop. I was screaming while I hit him. With each strike I got harder, seeing my vision warp.
“She’s mine! Mine! You want to take away what’s mine? I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you! No one is taking her away! No one touches her but me!” I lifted, swinging at the face that fought for air. Bloody, I could almost see Bram before me. It was so real, triggering my need to hurt him in the most sadistic ways. “She doesn’t love you! She loves me. Can’t. You. See? See us, Bram! She’s mine!”
Pressure was so intense along the stitches in my face that I felt my hand come to a stop through my exhaustion. I was panting and covered in sweat. The agony nearly crippling me was like I’d never felt before. It was too much, too fast, but damn if I could stop.
I dropped the flogger, turning and jerking the knife from Jarrett as he hesitantly held it out. His stare was glued to the now semi-conscious Master. When I turned back to face him, I let the mutilated image sink in. I wanted to remember this. I wanted to savor seeing a man so closely resembling my former friend bleed out because of what I’d done.
“We’re not finished. Wake up, motherfucker.”
My slap had his head rocking to the side. A sound left him and his face lifted, only to fall.
“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue? Keep going. Speak!”
“He …” Master Norris inhaled, exhaling shakily as his eyes rolled back. His mouth opened again and I stepped in closer to hear. “He … lives. Bram … lives.”
“No. You lie.” My fingers pried apart his jaw and I forced the blade in, trying my best to cut out the muscle that allowed him to speak. Blood poured onto my hands while I dug the sharpness over back and forth. The vibrations from his loud, muffled screams only deepened and hallowed as his tongue spilled out past his red-coated lips.
Immediately, my grasp clutched to his jaw and I moved in only an inch from his eyes as I thrust the knife into one side of his stomach and slit across, spilling the content. The gush of warmth that sloshed at my feet didn’t give me near the satisfaction of the fear clouding his wide eyes as the life left him.
For seconds I didn’t move. It was the shuffling behind me that had me slowly turning to glare at Jarrett.
“I want every guard searching through every fucking room in Whitlock. Again. If Bram is alive, you tell them to bring him to me. In the meantime, I’m going to see my wife.”
“Main Master, please.”
At my look, his mouth clamped close.
“You are going to wheel me to the White Room and you’re not going to speak unless spoken to. My wife has a decision to make. It’s time she faces me for what she’s done.”
Chapter 10
24690
“He’s going to die one way or another. You know that, right?”
I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the voice that filled my cell. Eleven was lying on the floor, wrapped in his blanket, asleep, and I knew even if he was awake, he wouldn’t have heard Bram. Why was this still happening? I hadn’t heard him in days and now he was suddenly back? Sleep. I needed sleep. These hallucinations seemed to get worse when I was weak and tired. And I was. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept well. The nightmares were overwhelming. Every time I shut my eyes, all I saw was blood and violence. I’d already woken up Eleven three times in the last two days from my screams.
“Who do you think will kill him first? Will it be West? Me? He’s closer to you. I think you’ll do it. You’ll take his face. You like his face, don’t you?”
I jerked my stare from Eleven an
d wiped away the tears while I stared at the ceiling. I wouldn’t kill him. Not for pleasure. But what if I had to at some point? What if he betrayed me? Tried to hurt me? I was risking a lot putting my trust in him. Had I learned nothing? No one could be trusted here—slave or Master. Yet, I did. Everything we’d been through—all the times he’d protected me and saved my life … if we could only be real friends. I needed that. I craved someone I could trust and connect with.
New streams raced free and I shot to a sitting position as my door flew open. Seeing West step around the guard had me shooting to my feet. He was dressed in an expensive suit and his brown hair was still slightly damp. He was so out of place with the dark colors that I felt my mouth part at his beauty. And he was beautiful to me. Suddenly, heart-wrenchingly so. He represented everything I knew I shouldn’t want. Even death held allure when temptation mingled with attraction.
Spicy cologne perfumed the room, almost enticing me forward. The smell was so rich, my mind had to try to process what it was at first. The white … it was getting to me. I didn’t want to face the truth, but it was. Perhaps that’s why Bram was coming in stronger.
“Jesus,” he whispered, stepping closer.
“Jesus, what? You look surprised at my appearance. It’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”
My heart was racing and fear made my weak knees almost give out. Somehow I managed to pull myself together enough to force my stare up to the stitches. I made it apparent, not letting him see anything that I was thinking or feeling. To show terror or regret would ruin everything. Not that I regretted my actions. I didn’t. But my heart … ached. No. It wasn’t right to feel love and longing for a man you hated. It was the slave in me. Where she was desperate to beg forgiveness and throw herself at her Master’s feet, the new me wouldn’t display the smallest care for the monster before her. West had somehow brainwashed me. What I felt wasn’t real.