by Breena Wilde
Just like my fucking mother. Always choosing her newest drug addict boyfriend over me. That’s why I started playing with my sister’s dolls. They never yelled at me. They never chose another man over me. They kept quiet and did as I wanted. I was the most important person in the world to them.
When my mother saw me “playing” with a doll, she went nuts. Yelled and called me a perverted deviant. Like I even knew what the fuck that was.
But I made her pay.
I make them all pay sooner or later because I realize there’s no changing who I am.
Once Cadence knows why I am the way I am and that’s it’s all her fault, I’ll take my time. Keep her around much longer than any of the others. It’s the least I can do for the doll I love. I even broke down and bought some blood so that I can make sure Cadence lasts longer.
She’ll be different in another way as well. With the other girls, I didn’t fuck them—well, at least not during the cutting. Sometimes I picked them up and they were all over me. I certainly wasn’t going to turn down a free fuck. But once they're in my special room the game changes. They aren't girls anymore. They're dolls, and I want to redesign them, decorate them in blood, change them. Do all the things I’d done to one as a child until my stupid fucking mother stopped allowing it.
With Cadence I intend to fuck and cut her.
Thinking about my plan makes me shiver in anticipation. I’m surprised at how excited I am. In the past I tortured and disassembled girls because I enjoyed listening to them scream. With Cadence I want to make her scream, but I also want to make her come while she screams.
The idea makes me hard. My dick is bursting against my pants. I already jacked off once in the shower, but I’m almost insatiable. If I want everything to go as planned I need to relax. Taking my cock in one hand I close my eyes and stroke while I think of Cadence. Her body pressed against mine. Her wet pussy as I slide in and out of her. I think about her ankles chained to my table, the way she’ll strain as I stick my fingers inside her, massaging her clit with one hand while I carve into her thigh with my scalpel. The way she’ll writhe and scream and come at the same time. She’s a fucking whore. It’ll probably turn her on.
My orgasm comes quick. “Damn.” I open my eyes and stare at my reflection. I am like a god—the hottest man on the planet—the man every one wants. It’s totally her fault she didn’t choose me. “Stupid fucking cunt.” If she had I’d still be the sweet, kind man she fucked in front of everyone on set.
I’d given up my demons. Until her. Now the real me is back and I’m here to stay.
I make my way down the stairs. Open the door, and check my special room to make sure everything is ready. It’s perfect.
I dress, taking special care to look my best. When I’m sure I can’t look any better I leave and drive to the party.
“Let the games begin.”
Chapter 15
Cadence
I’m one of the first to the party. Nigel lets me in. He seems surprised. “Hey sexsay. I hadn’t expected your fine ass so soon.” He’s already drunk.
The house is contemporary with high ceilings, white walls, and high-end furnishing is cheerful blues, airy white, and mossy greens. Along one wall are floor to ceiling windows. A waiter is sliding them over, opening the glass wall to an large outdoor patio. I can see it overlooks the ocean. A light breeze envelops me. My skin tingles at the briskness of the late Fall air.
“You cold?”
“Nah.” Then, to answer his other statement, I go on. “ I just wanted to make sure I had the opportunity to thank everyone for all their hard work on the film. In fact, I’m going to go talk to the camera guy—Steve, isn’t it?” I pat Nigel on the arm and walk away.
“I’ve heard you can’t take the whore out of a hooker…” Nigel doesn’t finish the sentence.
My insides freeze to solid ice. I turn. “Why would you say that?” Had someone told him I was a hooker? I can’t imagine Zane would. Did Cruze? He might have if he were angry.
Nigel takes a drink from a nearby cocktail waitress and hands it to me as his eyes slowly rake over my body. “No reason. It’s just what I’ve heard. A little small talk between friends.” He slides one hand around my waist. “Maybe you and I should talk. The two of us. Alone. My bedroom upstairs?” His eyes wander to the second floor landing.
I follow his gaze. “Is that your wife?” A pretty redhead is staring jagged daggers at Nigel and probably me.
“We’ll let her watch,” he whispers, the hand on my waist sliding to my ass.
I step out of his grasp, shocked. “Listen, fucker. You may be talented and have everyone in this town throwing themselves at you, but that will never be me. You’re a bastard.” I turn away as he snickers like a hyena on the hunt.
Steve watches the whole exchange. He seems upset. I can’t talk to him right now, though. I need fresh air. Immediately.
I make my way to the deck. The floors are smooth concrete, as is the railing. I cross my arms. The beach is lit up from the lights on the house. Waves casually lap at the edges of the sand. The moon shines down languidly. I can’t help but look at it and wish…
“There will always be assholes, Cade. I’m sorry about Nigel.” He stands directly behind me. He’s so close I can feel the heat rolling off his body.
“Thanks, Cruze, but you don’t need to apologize. I can handle guys like him.” At least I know what they want. There are no surprises. Nigel would never tell me he loved me and then leave. He might use me, flaunt me, possibly even try to share me, but that would be the end of his awfulness.
Unlike Zane.
He kept showing up and making me feel. Even Cruze would treat me better.
“You want to get out of here?” Cruze asks, placing a hand on the small of my back.
I glance at his perfectly handsome face. He’s smiling, his eyes sparkling with kindness. I'm tempted to say yes. The party would probably suck anyway, but leaving would make Nigel think he scared me off. Plus I wouldn’t get to talk to anyone else.
“Thanks, Cruze. Maybe in a while. I’ve still got a lot of party left in me.” I lift my glass. “To beautiful nights and assholes.” I clink my glass tumbler against his champagne flute.
He lets out a low chuckle. “To finding yourself.”
I smile, thinking Cruze really is kind of strange.
Mindy walks toward us and I skirt around Cruze. “Hey, Mindy. Glad you came.”
She’s swearing a white spaghetti strap dress that hugs her voluptuous figure. “Cadence, you look stunning.”
It’s about fucking time someone noticed my dress, I think. “Thanks, Mindy.”
“Hi, Mr. Cruze.”
He smiles. “Hey back.” He turns to me. “I’ll see you in a little while.”
“See ya,” I wave and watch him walk over to the newly arrived Scarlett. She isn’t wearing her signature red but is dressed in a baby blue cashmere sweater dress. Her makeup is light and fresh and her hair is swept up in a lightly curled ponytail.
“Holy shit, Scarlett looks like a hot Cinderella.”
“Agreed,” I say, surprised and curious about the sudden change.
Chapter 16
Cruze
Cadence flits from one group of people to another. I’m surprised by how socially adept she is. I would’ve thought as a child of the streets, a woman who only knew men by the ways they wanted to fuck her and women as competition, that she would be awkward around regular people.
She’s quite the opposite.
People flock to her. If I didn’t know first hand that she was a hooker, I never would’ve guessed. By the way she’s acting tonight I would think she’s a product of a rich upbringing. She presents herself with class; she’s funny and completely likable.
Yet under the smiles and the gentle laughter I sense her sadness. Occasionally she lets her façade slip and I see the hurt she’s trying desperately to keep hidden. Knowing the pain she’s harboring is for John Zane, it makes me want to scream, curs
e, and tear my hair out. But I resist.
Instead I decide it’s time to make Cadence squirm. I need her to leave the party and I need her to leave with me.
I make a call and, twenty minutes later, the doorbell rings.
Nigel’s coke-addicted wife answers. A delivery guy is waiting and has her sign for a large bouquet of flowers. When the door closes, she hefts the giant silver vase. “Cadence Norton. These are for you.” She seems
I watch Cadence’s face. The surprise. The wonder. She moves away from a group of people, saying, “Excuse me,” and walks over to the flowers.
“Who are they from?” Someone shouts.
Cadence takes the flowers and then appears to be at a loss. “Is there someplace I can put these? Sorry,” she adds, searching for a place to set the flowers down.
“Put them here,” Nigel’s wife suggests.
Once the vase is on the counter Cadence pulls the card from the flowers.
“Read it aloud!” Mindy shouts.
Cadence glances around the room. Everyone is watching her. She seems a little nervous to be the center of attention. When she gets the card out, she scans it. Her mouth falls open and she drops the card. Mindy swoops down and picks it up. Everyone starts talking at once.
“What’s the matter?”
“Who sent them?”
Nigel steps forward, grabs the card from a visibly shaken Mindy, and reads. “Cadence. Your days are numbered. Prepare to die, whore.” He clears his throat and turns the card over—I’m guessing to see if it’s signed—and then drops the card on the counter next to the vase of white roses.
Cadence is clearly upset by the words on the card. Mindy wraps an arm around her shoulders. “Did you want to lie down?”
Cadence shakes her head no. “I need a strong drink.” A shot glass appears and someone pours her a shot of vodka. Cadence slams it down.
I watch from a distance, waiting for the right time to make my move. Cadence likes to act tough, but I know what she really needs.
“Should we call the police?” Nigel’s wife asks.
“I doubt it. Probably just a sick joke.” Nigel pats Cadence on the arm awkwardly then turns back to the crowd. “Someone crank up the music. Let’s party!”
The music gets louder.
Cadence tries to shake it off. I watch her smile at Mindy. As soon as the makeup artist leaves I make my move.
“Are you alright?” I ask, keeping my voice smooth and mellow.
Cadence looks at me, and smiles. “Fine. Thanks.”
I lean against the counter next to her. “You’re such a fucking terrible liar,” I say in a way that lets her know I’m joking.
She tries to laugh. “Yeah.”
“Ready to leave? I can get you out of here.”
She nods and my pulse rate rises.
So close. Almost there, the voice inside me whispers.
I walk her out to my car. “Didn’t you like the jewelry I got you for your birthday?”
She gives me a strange smile and I realize she’s forgotten what I gave her. Until it dawns on her. “Oh, I’ll wear them,” she says. “They just didn’t go with my outfit.”
I seethe. She usually always wears a pearl necklace. She seems to love pearls, which is why I bought them. It feels like she deliberately chose not to wear the pearl necklace tonight so she wouldn’t have to wear the earrings I bought to match.
“Maybe someday,” I say, clenching my jaw. Just biding my time until the whore is right where I want her. Soon she’ll be doing and saying exactly what I want, how I want, where I want. She’ll be my beautiful doll.
When I shut her into my car, I know my life is about to change. I can feel it. Everything I am, everything I’ve ever done has been for her, has led me up to this point. Cadence. I look over at her as I slide into the driver’s seat. She gives me a grateful look. It’s obvious she’s sad about something. There’s melancholy rolling off her. Not for long though. I’ll change those feelings. Soon they’ll be fear. I wonder if she can sense what I am, the kind of person I am—not the sweet man who allowed her into his hotel room, but the monster with a penchant for blood.
She leans her head against the seat rest and closes her eyes. That’s definitely the sign of someone who doesn’t feel threatened.
I do a dance of joy inside.
She really is all mine. I open the leather console between my seat and Cade’s and pull out the needle filled with liquid toxin. The needle is so thin and the poison works so fast she won’t even feel it, and it’ll knock her out for the next eight hours.
Chapter 17
Zane
Lincoln bursts into my room. “He’s got her, sir.”
I rise from the counter where I’d been reading the newspaper and occasionally glancing at the TV for any updates. It’d been quiet the past few days. I know the film has wrapped. I know John and Scarlett were kind of an item. Nigel threw an after party at his house last night. I’d debated going, just walking in and killing John on the spot.
But I resisted. I needed to catch him in the act. I needed the police on my side, even though they would arrive on the scene too late. It’s the only way to clear my name because of the whole Solokov incident.
“How long?” I ask, picking up my phone.
“At least eight hours.”
“Eight?” I growl. “That’s too long.”
Lincoln lets out a loud breath. “I know, sir. Did you want to change our plans? Just bust in there and get her?”
I take his question to heart. That’s not a bad idea, but if I kill him without the police at least on their way it won’t look good. If I want to return to L.A. with a full pardon, I need to handle this carefully.
“Sir?” Lincoln urges.
I glare and press a button. Cruze picks up on the second ring.
“John Zane. What do you want?” I hear the smirk in his voice. I want to have the power to reach through the phone and rip it off.
“Have you seen or heard from Cadence?” I ask, keeping my voice calm. Cruze is a great actor. He can read and understand even the slightest inflection in a voice.
“I saw her last night. She came to Nigel’s after party.”
“Uh-huh,” I say, waiting for more. He doesn’t offer. “Alright, well, I’ll keep trying,” I add, hoping he takes the bait. In fact, I’m counting on it. Cruze thinks he’s so much smarter than everyone else.
“Hang on,” he begins.
“Yeah?”
“I still have those Cuban cigars we talked about.”
I smile internally. The motherfucker is as predictable as a clock.
“Did you want to stop over tonight and light one up?”
I shrug. “I’ll let you know. Depends on how my day pans out.”
“You still wanted by the police?”
“Not necessarily,” I say, nonchalant, but make my voice a little nervous. I want him to think he has the upper hand.
Lincoln watches the exchange, his face stoic. I glance around the hotel room, the same one I stayed in the night I met Cadence. I hadn’t met her for the first time here. I’d actually seen her for the first time at my warehouse. A blue room had been designed there. I’d had it taken down. For some reason that made me sad. Fucking Cadence in that room had been incredible. She and I were the perfect combination.
“Come after dark, if that’s better. I’ll be here.”
“I’ll think about it,” I say, and hang up.
“We’ll go according to plan. He won’t kill her until after he brings me into his house and as close to her as I can possibly get without seeing her."
“Are you sure you’re up for this?” Lincoln asks.
“More than up for it. I’ve been waiting a long time. Nothing and no one will stop me from accomplishing my goal. John Cruze is going to die tonight.”
Chapter 18
Cadence
I wake unsure of where I am. My head feels like I fell down wood stairs and smacked it against the rails along the way. M
y mouth tastes like cotton. The room is cold and smells of antiseptic. I’m almost afraid to open my eyes.
The last thing I remember is riding in Cruze’s car. I’d rested my head against the back of the seat and closed my eyes.
A door opens... or closes. The sudden noise scares me and I sit up with a start. Cruze is leaning against a white door. The whole room is stark white. Even his clothes are white.
I sigh with relief at seeing him. “God, you scared me.” I move to swing my legs off the tiny bed and throw off the white blanket. It’s then I realize I’m naked and my ankles are clamped in metal casings.
“What the fuck is going on?” I didn’t take Cruze for a kinky guy. If I’d been in Zane’s room, I’d expect anything, but this felt out of place for Cruze.
He pushes himself off the door and walks over. “Welcome to your new home, Cade.” He brushes some hair out of my eyes.
I slap his hand away. His perfectly kind eyes don’t seem so kind anymore. They’re hard, cold. “Don’t touch me,” I whisper. “Get me out of these fucking cuffs and bring me my clothes."
One side of his lips curls up. The back of his hand strikes my face. He roars, “I’ll touch you whenever I feel like it, whore!”
He pulls a small blade from the back pocket of his white pants and before I have to time realize what he’s doing, there’s a line of blood across my right thigh. I grab for his hands but he pulls back and laughs.
“Lie back and let me kiss you,” he commands softly.
“Fuck. You.” I seethe, my chest rising and falling quickly in fear. It’s like I just completed a ten mile marathon, I’m so out of breath.
John’s face gets serious. “Oh, you will fuck me. Whenever and however I want.”
I cross my hands over my breasts and pinch my lips together, trying to stop the trembling. No one knows I’m here. No one will come for me. My survival instincts—the one’s I’ve used every day for the last seven years—kick in. I relax my body, loosen my shoulder muscles, and sit up straight. “If you want to get a little kinky, Cruze, all you had to do was ask.” I’m even impressed with the purr-like quality of my voice.