Page 52 of Slaughter

I grab the glass and take a drink. “She’s pissed.”

He sits back in his seat. “Well, that is expected. She tried to escape and failed. But I’m sure she’ll try again.”

I snort and take another sip, needing more. My cock is so hard for her it hurts.

“She’s smarter than I remember,” he says with a smirk.

I nod. “Seems so.”

“So what are you going to do now?” he asks, taking a drink from his own glass.

I shake my head. “No clue.”

He arches a brow.

“What?” I snap.

“Well, that’s not like you not to have a plan.”

I know. It’s not like me at all.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

AVERY

THE FOLLOWING DAY, I SIT at the head of the table drinking a cup of coffee when I feel her enter the room. I had sent Marvin to fetch her this morning. I decided last night after talking to my brother in the study that it’s time to pull back. She needs to think she has some freedom. Security. It’s part of fucking with her mind.

“Morning.”

She remains silent, and I finally pull my eyes from the emails I’m reading on my cell to look at her. She stares down at the table, her hair a disheveled mess, and hands placed in her lap. She doesn’t move. I don’t even see her chest rise in the black nightgown. The right strap hangs off her shoulder. She looks like a statue—gorgeous and breakable.

I place my phone in the pocket inside my suit jacket and stand. Walking over to her, I reach out and run the pad of fingers up her forearm. She tenses, and I smile. “How did you sleep?” I ask.

“You shouldn’t ask questions that you already know the answer to,” she answers softly.

My smile grows. She’s referring to the cameras. Of course, I watched her again last night. She slept like shit, tossing and turning mostly. Every now and then, she would sit straight up and look around like she was lost. Then the moment she realized she was living a nightmare, she would lie back down and turn her back to the camera.

My hand reaches her upper arm, and I gently pull her strap back onto her shoulder. Leaning over, I pull her hair back to expose her neck to me. I kiss the warm skin. “I’ll be home at five, and I want you in my study waiting for me. On your knees.”

She slowly lifts her head, and those blue eyes I’ve missed all these years glare up at me. So much anger. Hate. With one look, I swear I can feel my body heating up as if she’s setting me on fire. “That won’t happen.”

“Oh, it will, Bunny,” I assure her. “Either you’re waiting for me on your knees, or I punish you.”

“The punishment would be me on my knees for you,” she snaps.

I step back and let her think she’s won. That I am actually taking her seriously. Walking out of the dinning room, I spot Kayn in the hallway.

“I’m ready when you are, sir ...”

“Then let’s go.”

PRESLEIGH

Entering the bedroom, I look around for anything I can use. I can’t leave this room; that is too risky. There are men on the other side of my bedroom door. If I can escape from here, I may have a chance.

I walk over to my bed and yank off the comforter and then both the black sheets. I run into my closet and shut the door. It’s the only room that doesn’t have a camera in it that I know of. I’ve never seen a red blinking light in it anyway. That has to be a good sign. I tie each end together and pull on them to make sure they are secure, though the odds of them staying tight aren’t all that great. My weight may pull them apart, and I may fall to my death. Knowing my luck, I would just break a leg, but I’ll take my chances.

Taking a deep breath, I walk out of the closet and over to the window, but of course, it’s locked. I look around for something to throw at it but come up empty. “Think,” I say to myself.

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