Page 1 of Vicious Rule

CHAPTER ONE

Sasha

For five months, I’ve been Alex Rule’s assistant, his right hand, as he likes to call me. I knew on the first day he wasn’t like his brother. Gideon never failed to be professional because he cares about the family business. Alex is nothing like that.

It didn’t take me long to understand he doesn’t care about business, family or otherwise. All he cares about is his own pleasure. Women. Drugs. Alcohol. Death. Those are the things he loves, and not necessarily in that order. One day he seems obsessed with snorting anything and everything up his nose, while the next day he doesn’t touch a thing except his guns.

He adores those, but I guess they could be filed under his love of death. He holds them and strokes them like they’re a woman he wants to please.

Women he seems to enjoy the most. Notice I didn’t say love because I doubt he has the ability to show anyone that. No, he revels in them, and they surround him at nearly all times. Orgies are his favorite way to pass the time when it comes to women, so he holds them often.

And all the while I get to be present to witness his debauchery. His hedonism seems to have no limits. I thought I loved pleasure, but Alex Rule makes everything I’ve done in my life pale in comparison.

All of this drifts through my mind as I stand beside him in his office as he readies himself for yet another night of booze, drugs, and sex. I watch as he runs his fingers through his dark hair and hums his satisfaction at the guest list for tonight.

Lifting the paper so I can see it, he asks, “Is this Francesca the same one from last week?”

I lean over to read the name he refers to and nod. “Yes, that’s the same woman.”

Another hum, but this time it sounds almost like a question he asks himself. Turning to look up at me, he smiles. “I think Castor would enjoy her, don’t you? He’s been doing good things for me, so why not?”

I nod, unsure what that particular henchman of Alex’s would like. I’ve never spent much time around him, although I do know he has a penchant for drinking too much. More than once, I’ve seen him stumbling through the hallways of the villa in the middle of the night.

“I’m sure you’re right. You know him better than I do.”

Alex narrows his eyes and stands up to face me. Looking down, he says, “I get the feeling you disapprove of something, Sasha.”

I purse my lips for a moment as I consider whether or not today is the day I want to broach the topic of what we’re supposed to be doing and why we haven’t been for the past five months. One look up into his intense dark brown eyes gives me my answer.

Today is not the day. Maybe tomorrow.

As I turn my head to look away, I answer, “Nothing at all.”

He gently grabs my chin and moves my head so I have to face him. He does that a lot. For a man who has never attempted to do anything sexually with me, he loves to touch me whenever the chance presents itself.

“I get the feeling you’re unhappy, Sasha. What’s wrong?”

Once again, I think about voicing my opinions, but a few seconds haven’t changed my decision. “Nothing’s wrong.”

Alex hates that I don’t chatter on like the other women he keeps around him. If he asked any of them what’s wrong, they’d give him chapter and verse about why what he does bothers them.

Assuming it even upsets any of them.

From what I can tell, his behavior isn’t anything they disapprove of. I guess as long as the drugs and booze are available and his orgies make them happy, they’re fine.

With his fingers still holding my chin, he smiles. “Yes, something is wrong. Tell me.”

When I don’t answer immediately, his expression darkens and his smile instantly disappears. “Is there something I need to know? Have you heard something?”

I shake my head, understanding what he means. “No. I haven’t heard any more threats against you or your family. Despite the fact that you’ve spent the last five months doing little more than satisfying every carnal desire known to man, no one appears to think they should strike at you.”

My news makes him happy, and his smile returns. “Ah, there it is. Are you jealous that I’ve been with other women?”

Tired of this conversation, I push his hand away from my face and shake my head. “That would require me to feel something for you, Alex. I’m your assistant. Nothing more. I told you that when I agreed to work for you.”

He scans my face to determine the truth of my words, and I hope he can’t see I’m lying through my teeth. I don’t care for him like I did with his brother, but there’s something about this man I can’t deny intrigues me and makes me want him.

And then he forces me watch him fuck half a dozen women a night and that makes any feelings I might have disappear. If only they didn’t come back.

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