After completing the call, one of my guests began to stir, indicating the other two would arise shortly after. He held his stomach, looking alarmingly around his surroundings. His face turned sour and his lips puckered with his cheeks engorged.
“There is a bucket in the corner of your cell for your convenience,” I told Adam. “Use it.”
Spinning quickly, he dropped to his knees and repeatedly expelled his sick into the bucket. His retching sounds awoke the person I wanted to engage with the most.
Wavering on her feet, she stood and looked around her surroundings. As expected, she stared at the room in the glass case. I stood behind the three wheeled trays containing three food items, covered in cloche covers for my guest.
“You cock-sucking bastard of a whore. You—” She moved forward and was immediately shocked by the live wire. She fell backwards with a hard thump, rendered unconscious for a few moments.
She roused awake and crawled toward the front of her prison cell, her eyes squinted at me. “H-how? You…changed your face?”
“It’s amazing what a nose job and subtle improvements can do.”
“I bet. Your plastic surgeon needs an award. You look…real and not all plastic and stretched like you’re constantly facing a wind machine like so many other dip-shits who unnecessarily go under the knife do. God. This whole thing makes so much more sense now.”
“Are you hungry?” I asked with a wolfish grin as I padded toward the control panel to turn of the electric charge. “I’m quite sure you are. I had a meal prepared for a woman befitting of your stature—and for your cellmates if you’ll allow it.”
“You think I don’t know the tricks?” she asked, waving a trembling finger at me. “You’re setting up the stage to prove you’re the head bitch in charge. I’m not doing it.”
“This meal will be the only one you will have for the next few days. Do you think it’s a wise decision to piss me off so early? Appreciate the severity of your situation, Nadine. While I was never your god before, you can consider me one right now. Your cellmates’ quality of life will depend on how well you treat me. While I won’t hurt you, I won’t hesitate to hurt them. Believe me, or don’t believe me. If they die before the time table was set for them to expire, all responsibility will point to you.”
“Look at you,” she said with patronizing grin. “All grown up and ready to play with a big girl.” She jumped to her feet and placed her hands on her hips. “Don’t forget, I remember when you were a virginal one-pump idiot who was so horny for my pussy you came within five minutes.”
I slowly smiled at her. “Things have changed. I’ve evolved. I’m better than I became with you. Do you remember those times, Nadine? The times I fucked you and you learned very quickly that the protégé surpassed the mentor?”
“What hoops do you want me to jump through so you can set up the scene for who’s the dominant one? Go ahead.” She sat on the metal cot and threw her hands across her lap. “Entertain me and show me how much you’ve learned from the masters you could never be: me and Noah.” Throwing her body back, her spine hit the wall with a slam. “Fuck! You’re supposed to be dead.”
“You discounted my connections, as did Noah. You are doing it at this moment…forgetting who has and will always have the upper-hand.”
“Why bother? You said you were going to kill me.”
“Did a reprieve due to stellar behavior ever cross your mind?” I cast a surreptitious glance at the room of comfort beyond the glass that wasn’t meant for her, but I intended to make her think it could’ve been. “You seem to be giving up before the game has truly had a chance to begin.”
“What do you want me to do, Shiloh?”
“You’ll address me as Mr. Michaels.”
“I’ll address you as asshole if it suits me.”
With a parting nod, I started for the door. “Enjoy your three days without food or water for you or your companions.”
At my trail, Mrs. Sherman spoke for the first time, whispering from her cell, one cage away, to Nadine. “Play his game. If you do, we can all have time and the energy to get out of here.”
“I don’t have to listen to you,” Nadine ignorantly argued.
“Be wise,” Mrs. Sherman advised her. “I know Noah thoroughly and by association, I know Shiloh—Mr. Michaels. Play along.”
“Wait!” Nadine said quickly.
I slid my foot down from the first step and turned my direction back to Nadine’s cell.
Slanting her chin toward the ground, her dark hair flooded her face, covering her bright azure eyes. “Fine,” she gave in. “What do you want me to do?”
“Adam had an unfortunate accident—a very bad reaction to the sedative. The scent is going to permeate the basement unless it’s severely diminished. If I had to guess, three spoonfuls might help.”
She looked around her cell. “There is no toilet here. Where am I supposed to store it?”
The corner of my mouth twisted into a smile. “Where do you think I want you to store it?”
She puckered her lips, her porcelain skin turned sallow. She shook her head, gagging profusely.
“Three spoonfuls will feed all of you,” I informed her. “One will feed a single person.”
Reluctantly yielding, she bobbed her head, agreeing to indulge me.
I retrieved a spoon from Adam’s tray and turned off the electrical pulse transmitting to the exterior of the cages. Standing before Adam’s prison, I tossed the utensil into his cage. Without a second of delay, he slid the bucket over to the side facing Nadine’s prison. Scooping a spoonful of his vomit, he handed her a spoon through the opening.
Snarling at him, she roughly seized the spoon from his hand.
Staring down at her appetizer, she continuously gagged.
I drew my gaze down to my watch. “Did I mention I’m short on time?”
She quickly shoved the spoon in her mouth and swallowed it down, retching during her difficulties with swallowing.
Pacing myself, I slid the wheeled cart toward Mrs. Sherman’s cell.
“Wait a minute!” Nadine protested, marching toward the entrance to her cage. “You said one person.”
“I never said who the person would be. You have two more spoonfuls if you want your dinner.”
Muttering indiscernible words underneath a heated exhale, she handed the spoon back to her husband and barked, “Do it. Go faster this time.”
Obediently, she forced down the two spoonfuls, smartly taking less time to taste it. With the three trays pushed close to their cells, I started with Mrs. Sherman. Removing the cover, I revealed what I knew to be her favorite meal—Chicken Marsala—and slid it through the small slot in her cage, perfectly sized for a dining tray. She took it with a thankful look in her eyes.
I moved next to Adam, offering him his favorite; a simple and empty calorie meal of a burger and fries.
I took my time removing Nadine’s cover. I watched her expression, desiring to see every muscle in her face tense when I removed the cover.
Her eyes widened in terror and disgust when I presented her with molded bread and sooty water. “You bastard.”
“You have quite a bit to learn about selflessness, Nadine. Maybe you will play the game long enough to remain here until I can teach you the principles I’ve learned.” Turning toward the door, I offered my guests parting words. “Enjoy your meals.”
Everything was coming into place very nicely, but I was far from nearing completion. When it did, everyone who ever wronged me would pay dearly, and the woman who was stolen from me would become my most fatal weapon to kill the individual who wronged me the greatest.
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Thank you so much for your support.
V and D: There would be no me, no strength, no pages and no will without the both of you. Thank you for keeping my head straight and reminding me never to quit.
J: thank you for your support and holding down the fort when I'm immersed in another world.
Jamie, my awesome PA: I'm so glad you volunteered to keep this crazy control freak organized. You are invaluable to me and an all around awesome person. Thank you for being an ear, and a woman on a mission. I'm looking forward to doing amazing things this year with you at my side.
Annmarie and Emma, my alpha-readers: You were an integral part of making this story what it is. You dissected its bones and helped me to build a stronger and tidier story. I will always be grateful to the both of you for taking time out of your busy schedules to read (and reread) everything I throw at you while giving me your thoughts and critiques. A special thank you to Angie and Felicia for beta-reading.
Catherine and Elissa: You two are amazing. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you for putting up with my shenanigans, taking time out of your busy lives to support me, and keeping things organized. A very huge thank you to my awesome street team, Mavens of Mischief. You all work tirelessly to get my name out there, and have made so many things possible for me this year. I adore every single one of you.
Jettie Woodruff: As always, and you know why, thank you!
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A special mention: I extend sincerest gratitude to the Bloggers and Authors who persistently help me with each and every release. Thank you! I would name you all, but I don't want to miss anyone and will always thank you personally. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Last, but not least, thank you to the readers! For the messages, recommending my books to others, taking the time to leave reviews, and your constant support; I am forever grateful.
Table of Contents
Contents
THE REBIRTH OF SIN
COPYRIGHT
DEAR READER
PROLOGUE
PART ONE
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
PART TWO
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-THREE
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY-FIVE
TWENTY-SIX
PART THREE
TWENTY-SEVEN
TWENTY-EIGHT
TWENTY-NINE
THIRTY
GRATITUDE
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents
Contents
THE REBIRTH OF SIN
COPYRIGHT
DEAR READER
PROLOGUE
PART ONE
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
PART TWO
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-THREE
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY-FIVE
TWENTY-SIX
PART THREE
TWENTY-SEVEN
TWENTY-EIGHT
TWENTY-NINE
THIRTY
GRATITUDE
Acknowledgements
The Rebirth of Sin (Wicked Trinity Book 2) Page 26