by Dani René
He’s always been more of a businessman than a doting dad. I love him dearly, but deep down, I wish he’d show me the kind of love I’ve seen dad’s on TV offer their daughters. I suppose, being from a family like ours, I had to get used to having an absent father. All the girls at the private school I attend have the same problem I do. Work is always more important than family.
I don’t respond, merely nod at her request. “Thank you,” she says in her rigid tone, then pivots on her sparkly, silver heels and leaves me to get dressed. My mother expects me to entertain a man I have no inkling to talk to.
Taking in my appearance, I notice how the black corset I chose tonight hugs my curves. It’s beautiful, shiny and delicate. Slipping the black chiffon, floor-length dress from the hanger, I pull it on and as it cascades down my body, the sheer material feels heavenly against my smooth skin. It’s the color of night with a thin silver belt that wraps around under my breasts. I’ve opted for short sleeves because in this heat, I’ll never survive stifling clothes.
The heels I’ve chosen are a delicate silver sandal with just enough height to put me at a comfortable five foot eight. My waist-length red hair falls down my back in loose waves, and the mask I’m wearing is jet black with red gems placed intricately between my eyes and over each brow. It’s in the shape of a bird born of fire, the Phoenix.
Taking one last long look in the mirror, I head to the door and leave my bedroom. The door clicks closed behind me with an ominous sound. Something stirs deep in my gut, call it intuition, but I realize that something is going to change tonight. Something that’s going to alter the course of my life. I just don’t know what.
The living room is opulent. Dim lighting from the chandelier and candles give it an ethereal feel. Although, the room isn’t filled with angels tonight, it’s packed tight with devils. My father’s business associates haven’t always been above board, and I know more than he thinks I do.
Yes, I may only be eighteen, but I’ve grown up around this life, around the secrets that are hidden behind closed doors. I’ve overheard his meetings, phone calls. The small grate in my bedroom affords me a front row seat to conversations I’m sure he’d rather I not hear. When I’m away at school, I’m sure I miss a lot more. And that’s how I’ve still not come to meet Harlan Wolfe yet.
“Paige, come here, pumpkin.” My father’s deep rumble comes from behind me. It’s enough to give me shivers. As I near him, I notice the older man beside my father. His salt-and-pepper hair is thick and shiny. The mask that hides his face resembles a hawk—black with a silver streak of lightning across one eye. “This is my partner, Harlan, and his son, Samael.” I drag my gaze up to cobalt eyes that pierce me, as if they’re looking straight into my soul.
I can’t see his face because of the charcoal mask that covers it, but I can see his mouth curl into a smirk that’s dark and devilish. “A pleasure.” His voice is smooth like silk, but holds an edge to it. The tone has my stomach tumbling unwillingly with a flurry of butterflies.
“I’m sure the pleasure is mine,” I murmur as he lifts my hand to his lips. They’re soft and warm, causing a jolt of heat to race through every bone in my body, leaving me breathless.
“It will be,” he promises illicitly. “Care to dance?” I nod. Leaving our fathers in the wake of the strange yearning swirling between us, I step beside him until we reach the open area reserved for dancing. A slow tune starts, and I recognize Aaron Richards singing “My Hell,” and I wonder if it’s as ominous as I think. We weave around the floor. He leads, I follow. “There’s something intriguing about you, Red.” He gazes down at me curiously. A scorching gaze simmers below his mask.
His hand drops to my lower back as he pulls me along with him. Our bodies move in a fluid motion. “There is?” I question, cocking my head to the side as I regard him.
“Yes.” The one-word answer leaves us in silence for the rest of the dance, and as it comes to an end, he releases his hold on me and offers a curt bow.
“Thank you,” I murmur, responding with a curtsey. Everything in my life is formal with nothing out of place, and the respect I was taught to show others is blindingly clear as I turn to walk away.
The night goes on with many more introductions, and by the time I glance at the clock, it’s almost midnight. A moment alone allows me to take in the remaining guests. The party is still in full swing, everyone chattering about money, deals, and contracts, all the while drinking expensive champagne and eating the canapés my mother ordered.
Taking the opportunity to make my escape, I head out to the garden.
Our property is enormous, and the pristine grounds are immaculate. Stepping into the night, I take a calming breath. It’s quiet outside since everyone is more interested in what’s happening inside. “Should you be out here alone?” The thick, decadent tone of Samael startles me, and I spin, tripping on the step, but before I hit the ground his strong arms wrap around me.
His broad chest is flush with my breasts, causing my nipples to harden against the material of my corset. I might be a virgin, but I’m no stranger to lust and desire. “Thank you,” I breathe as he straightens me. Instead of releasing me from his grasp, he tugs me against him as if we’re dancing to the music that filters from the ballroom. His mouth is close to mine, but he can’t kiss me because of his mask. In that moment, I’m cursing the fact that we had to have a masquerade ball.
“I shouldn’t do this, but no one can stop me,” he growls, and the predator staring at me looks as if he’s about to devour me. He reaches up with one hand and pulls off his mask, giving me the full effect of Samael.
Tanned, masculine jaw with a light dusting of stubble. His straight pointed nose is elegant, almost classic. Those cobalt eyes—now matching the midnight sky—stare with hunger under thick eyebrows. Dark and brooding, he drinks me in. His full lips have me wetting my own. The butterflies from earlier awaken in my belly reminding me what it’s like to be this close to a man. My ex-boyfriend wasn’t anything like Samael, but I used to feel the excited tingle race through me in the beginning of our relationship.
My gaze drops to his lips, I want to taste them, to taste him.
Before I can ask what he wants to do, his mouth crashes down on mine. The longing tightens everything south of my belly button, attacking me with vengeance, just like this man is devouring me. His tongue licks my lips, each one fevered as he sucks them into his hot mouth. His pearl-white teeth graze them, biting down causing a soft whimper to fall from me each time.
A low growl rumbles through him, animalistic, feral, and powerful. Everything about him is dominating. As his hand grips the hair at my nape, positioning my face just right for him to lash me with his tongue, I open, allowing him into my body. He may not be taking my virginity, but he’s fucking me with everything he has.
Our tongues dart around each other, dancing, teasing, taunting. He presses me against the enormous cement pillar. His erection pushing into my thigh as he steals my breath along with my moans and whimpers.
My hands reach up, but before I can touch him, he grips both my wrists. Holding them at my sides, pressing them against the cold concrete. Without warning, I feel his teeth—razor sharp—bite down on my lower lip, while sucking it hard into his mouth. I feel the skin break. He laps at the crimson liquid that seeps from the cut and as much as it should have scared me, it doesn’t and my body is on fire for him.
Quickly, he steps back and releases me. Leaving me a frenzied mess, he spins on his heel, puts his mask back on, and saunters away.
I hear the words fall from his lips just before he’s out of earshot.
“Soon, Firebird.”
2
Kael
As I head into my bedroom with a towel wrapped around my waist, I can’t help thinking about the new girl I’m going to be training today. I’ve heard her name before, I’ve seen her from a distance, but never had the chance to talk to her.
As I get the usual clothes I wear when with my pets, my min
d plays back on the day my life changed. I wasn’t ready. I fought against it from the moment I knew what fate had in store for me. The only person I trusted was my best friend. The memory plays in my mind like it happened yesterday.
“Fuck!” Axel stares at me. He’s the only one who knows what I’ve been told to do. “I’m fucking twenty years old. He wants me to start now?” I glare at my best friend, but there’s nothing he can do to fix this. My father is a tough man, and if I refuse, I’ll be in a world of pain. That’s the only thing my father knows how to do—how to inflict pain. Whether it’s on his sons or his daughter, or any of the whores he allows into his bed.
“Kael, man, you need to go. I’ll see you later,” he informs me. I push up from the chair and grab my jacket. He’s right. When I get summoned by the devil himself, I need to make sure I’m there as soon as fucking possible. I was late for a meeting once and he made sure I felt it for days after.
“If you head to the party, let me know. I may need to sink into some pretty girl to get the filth of what I’m about to do off my body.” My frustration is evident in my retort. Heading down the hallway, I hear my best friend’s response.
“You just want pussy. Don’t make excuses.” Axe smirks and nods.
He knows what my father does. What the Wolfe family business is. My Maserati sits waiting for me as I near the parking lot of the bar I just left. A sleek platinum beauty. But before I can escape, I hear my name. “Kael Wolfe, isn’t this a surprise?” I turn to find the familiar bleach blonde, blue-eyed woman staring at me. I can’t remember her name, but I sure as hell remember how she swallowed my dick.
“What do you want?” I pin her with a glare, but she doesn’t even notice. This is my problem. I hate when they cling. Pushing the remote to unlock the car, I pull open the driver’s door, leaning on the frame. Her gaze falters for a second, but she swiftly straightens her posture, offering a smile.
“You didn’t call,” she murmurs. Her attempt at being seductive fails because I see through the tension in her shoulders. Shrugging, I smirk at the insecurity that laces her tone.
“I don’t hit it twice, sugar. I have to go.” With a cocky wink, I slip into the plush leather seat. Once the door is shut, I push the Start button and the engine purrs to life. I fucking love this car.
Before I head onto the main road, I notice she’s still standing there. The pout on her Botox lips causes me to shudder. I must have been wasted when I thought she was beautiful.
I’ve gotten used to my life as it is, no relationships. I’m not allowed to have any commitments because when it comes to my father and his business, there are strict guidelines to follow. No long-term women hanging around. No love. There’s no room for that in my life. His rules are law. I can’t disobey because the path I’m about to follow will lead me straight to hell.
If I wasn’t born into this family, I’d have chosen one without the dark shit that is our legacy. As much as I’d love to walk away, I can’t. The blood that runs through my veins is Wolfe blood—toxic, poisonous—and as it slowly siphons the goodness from my heart, it blackens my soul.
Pulling up to the estate, I wait for the large, ornate metal gates to slide open. The security at the Wolfe compound resembles a prison, just short of giving blood allows you entrance. As the foreboding house comes into view, I inch closer to the nightmare that is Wolfe Enterprises headquarters. My father runs his devilish shit from home. The grounds house the mansion, which is split in two sections: our living quarters, and the East Wing where the girls live. The club is in the same section, and that’s where they’re trained. My older brother, Sam, has taken to this business easily, and I’m afraid he’s going to turn into my father. The change in him has been immediate. His nickname, The Grim Reaper, is not to be taken lightly.
Once I pull into my private garage, I get out and head inside. The kitchen’s always been my favorite place in the house, and as I stroll through it now, the scent of dinner wafts through the air.
“Kael, how are you?” Our chef is a short stout woman in her fifties, and the smile she offers is motherly. Sometimes I wonder what she’s doing in the wolf’s den, but she seems happy enough turning a blind eye to the number of girls who come and go. When my mother died, she looked after the three of us, caring for us in a way that made us feel as if we had the love of a parent, since my father was too interested in his business to care about three kids.
“I’m good, Hesta. It’s been a long day, and Dad has summoned me.” By the look in her eyes, she knows what this means. She’s been through it with my brother, and now me.
“Good luck, Kael,” she murmurs as I head out of the kitchen and through the house. It’s empty, and I wonder where everyone could be. The ground floor is silent, where normally there’d be masses of staff rushing around, preparing for tonight. The sweeping staircase looms before me, and as much as I’d like to rush upstairs and hide out in my wing, I can’t, so I head in the opposite direction. To the basement.
Most may picture a dark dungeon, but the club is far from it. Decked in rich auburn and dark chocolate colors, the place looks like an elite gentleman’s club. My father’s office door is open when I reach it. Before I push it open, I hear him talking. “Yes, we’ll collect her tomorrow. I’m about to talk to Kael.”
Suddenly an ear-piercing scream echoes through the hallway, and I realize my brother must be playing with one of the toys. My brother likes blood. He loves to see the deep crimson seeping over smooth, creamy flesh.
“Come in, Kael. Don’t skulk in the shadows.” My father’s deep, booming voice filters through my thoughts, and I head into the Wolfe’s den.
I shake my head trying to clear my mind of the memory. As much as I try, I can never forget the day I became someone I despise. It was the day my father took me into Caged and showed me what he wanted from me. We’re here to train girls to take punishments. The club is well known for its clients enjoying BDSM. The only thing we’re not allowed to do is fuck the girls, or get personal. The men who frequent the club pay a high price for the pleasure of taking a virgin.
“Brother, I had a taste of your new pet last night.” Sam’s gravely tone crawls over my skin. It’s been six years since I was brought into Caged and told about what lies in my future. My father insisted I become part of the underground world our family started generations ago. As much as I should be used to it, I’m not. My brother however, he’s different. Where I’m less violent, he enjoys the blood and he taunts me every time I get a new girl. He’s never kissed any of them. I wonder what makes this one so different.
I was told she’ll arrive today, and I’m getting ready to meet her in an hour. Apparently, she’s a feisty redhead. When my gaze lands on him, I can tell he drew blood. As if he’s a fucking vampire or something.
“And? Is she sweet?” I’ll play his game if he leaves me to do my job. I’m not stupid. I’ve been doing this for long enough to know that she’s nothing more than a toy. Something to be broken in. Like a dog when first brought home. I wonder if this puppy bites.
“Fucking delectable. The little firebird made me so hard, I almost took her right there in her garden. I bet she’s still a virgin from the way she moaned as I sucked on her tongue.” He smirks, leaning against the doorjamb of my suite and looking overly confident as usual. “Dad was going to gift her to me, but decided otherwise. Also, since you couldn’t be bothered to attend the gala last night, I figured I’d see what the fuss was about with this one.”
“Great, I’m glad you had your fun. Now it’s my turn.” I pull on my black hoodie, covering the mask I wear when I enter the girls’ rooms. Before I’m out of earshot, he utters the words I dread.
“Make her bleed, brother, because if you don’t, I will.”
Dressed in an impeccable suit, his blue eyes chill me and his words slice through me like a sharp blade because I still wish he wouldn’t become the savage he so clearly is. I always wanted my older brother to be someone I could look up to, but I can safely say I
’ve lost him to this darkness. Without responding, I head out and leave the venomous snake behind. There’s no love lost between him and me. I used to think he was my hero.
When the realization hit and I saw the sadistic bastard that lies behind the smile, behind the lies he likes to portray, I knew there was no longer anything good inside him. The darkness of our bloodline has taken over, and he’s no longer a man, but an animal.
The hallways are quiet as I stride toward the room where I know she’s waiting. Perhaps patiently, maybe not. The girls will be at work now, so the new pet and I will have the floor to ourselves. Sam said she’s in the room at the end of the hallway, and as I near the bedroom, a soft scent of lemongrass hits me. Reaching for the handle, I push the door, swinging it wide. With a quick glance inside, I find her sitting against the headboard, her legs hugged against her chest and her head on her knees. Fiery red hair hangs like a curtain, shielding her from me.
This room is my favorite. Deep reds, with a touch of silver and black that accentuate the plush furnishings. It’s exquisite, everything a princess could want. Even after six years of walking into one of these rooms, I still get this sinking feeling. All I want to do is escape. But then I remind myself that won’t be happening.
The girl lifts her head when she hears my footfalls, her deep green glare enough to make me smile. I take her in once I close the distance between us and recognize the face I’ve dreamt of for a year now.
Paige Madden.
Her father’s a partner in Wolfe Enterprises. I’m momentarily shocked at how beautiful she is up close, then distracted when she lowers her legs and the blanket she had around her falls open. She’s beautiful. Dressed in a skintight pastel pink top, which hugs a pair of incredible tits. Her fiery red hair is a mass of waves, framing a delicate yet fierce expression.