Page 35 of Theo

“Stoplight system.”

“Exactly,” she laughs, dropping the lid onto the ground.

Moving forward, I adjust Eric’s body until it looks like his knees will clear the rim. He’s squealing louder than I thought possible with the drugs in his system, but there’s no movement in his limbs as I carefully lower him into the barrel.

The liquid sizzles softly on contact with his bare feet, and Eric screams. Marco crouches down, looking at his feet through the side of the barrel. “You’re good. It’s bubbling, but his skin isn’t coming off yet.”

I lower him further, stopping just before his waist clears the liquid line. It almost sounds like he says “no”, but it’s quickly replaced by another scream as I lower his crotch into the acid. I keep my movements slow, ensuring no acid spills over the edge. Once he’s submerged up to his shoulders, Marco pops up next to me with a smile.

“Drop him. He’ll hit the bottom before his head goes under.”

I’m all too happy to oblige, letting him go with a quick step back. A single drop of acid leaps from the barrel, splashing onto my hand. I suck in a breath, but the pain subsides quickly. I try to imagine how much it would hurt to have my entire body submerged in the acid, and I smile.

“Would you like to do the honors?” Marco holds up the barrel lid, a vicious look on her face as she watches Eric’s body tip to the side, the acid crawling up his neck.

Taking the lid from her, I step forward again, making eye contact with Eric. His gaze is far off, but his panic is evident even as his screams grow quieter. I place the lid against the far edge of the barrel, slowly lowering it into place. “Wish we could stay longer, buddy, but I’ve got a woman waiting for me back home. Have a good night.”

Viper

Wishing you were here?

The question mark confuses me, but not for long. A photo follows the text, and I nearly put the gas pedal through the floor in desperation to get to Dane’s apartment. Charity is fresh out of the shower, with water droplets still lingering on her skin around the towel hanging loosely in front of her body.

Theo

Are we playing this game again, sweet girl?

Viper

You did say there was something else I needed to know.

And this is how you intend to get it out of me?

It worked last time, didn’t it?

Another image comes through, this one of her hip and thigh with her hand disappearing between her legs, and I groan in frustration. I’m pulling into the parking lot three minutes later when my phone buzzes loudly.

“Ch—”

“Theo,” she pants my name, a breathy little moan dragging out the final vowel. “You didn’t text me back.”

“I was driving, Viper.” I slam the car in park, getting out as quickly as I can with my dick standing at full attention.

“You—shit—you were gonna make me come on my own?”

“Never, sweet girl.” The apartment door is locked. Of course, it is. They think I’m out of town. Groaning, I race back down the stairs. The lock-picking kit is hidden beneath a fingertip vibrator I was going to leave in Merrick’s apartment. I grab both, darting back up the stairs as Charity moans my name again.

“Daddy, please.”

“What do you need, Viper?” I kneel before the door, shaking my head when I realize it’s a standard lock. “You need me to talk you through it, sweet girl?”

“Yes, oh fuck, yes.”

“Are you touching that pretty pussy for me, Viper? Are you going to make yourself come for me like a good girl?”

Charity moans right as the lock clicks open. I’m going to talk to Dane about replacing the lock as soon as he gets back from work. Another moan cuts through the air, echoing in the phone still pressed to my ear.

“Please, I?—”

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