Page 110 of Charity's Redemption

My stomach flipped.

If I was lucky, I’d get to stab him before dessert. But what would I do with the guards standing out front, packing heat? They’d hear the struggle and guaranteed Miss Docile would scream.

It would have to be a silent kill. The million-dollar question was, how?

Nico placed his hand on my shoulder, then slid his hand down my spine to rest just above my ass. His feather-light touch sent fire licking up my spine.

Adams led the way but paused as he noticed we weren’t moving. My feet refused to move as though they were in sticky tar, unmoving, unyielding.

“We’ll be there in just a moment,” Nico said before Adams could question anything.

Nico turned and blocked my view of Adams walking away. “What’s going on?”

“I need to get him some place quiet, away from her.”

“Do what you have to do, Charity. I’m here to back you…” he placed his hand on my waist. “Anything you need, beautiful.”

I swallowed hard, wracking my brain with a solution, then nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.”

We walked into the dining room with smiles on our faces and took our seats at the immaculately decorated table full of pasta, breads, dipping oils, and salad.

“Wow, this looks fantastic,” I said, taking my seat beside Adams, who stood at the head of the table, Zoe at the opposite end of him, and Nico across.

The men took their seats, but Zoe remained standing with her hands folded loosely in front of her and her head tipped down.

“Are you going to eat?” I unwrapped the neatly bundled silverware, then placed the napkin on my lap and thanked my wretched mother for all the etiquette lessons she taught me at the dinner table.

“No, Zoe will serve us.”

I frowned and looked at Nico, my fake blonde hair hiding my expression.

And I thought Luca was bossy and a prick sometimes. This went beyond anything Luca had inflicted on me… and that means even locking me up for killing Morgan.

“She doesn’t have to do that. I can serve myself.” I laid my hand on his and gave him my best flirtatious smile.

His hand traveled down to my fingers, resting against his. “She enjoys it. Don’t you, pet?”

Zoe nodded without making eye contact.

“Then serve us.” He snapped his fingers, and she jumped into action.

I removed my hand from his before she proceeded around each person, placing the requested amount of each item on our plates, and clenched my fists under the glass table.

I’d questioned before whether she enjoyed the things he did to her or if she had no choice. Today, she gave me the answer.

She may not like everything he does—just like every partner with their significant other—but she enjoys the dynamic. Or he’s brainwashed her into thinking she does. But she’s rather pliable under his rule, which makes me believe she likes it.

My head spun with all the possibilities. There was no way I’d wrap my head around this.

Basil and olive oil mixed with the smell of gluten-filled spaghetti sailed up to the rafters, making my mouth water and in turn wiping my memory of the thoughts plaguing me just moments ago.

“This looks and smells amazing,” I said, smiling at Adams while batting my lashes.

Nico looked at me quizzically.

Adams liked pliable and easy. So I’d show him what I wanted and hoped he bit at the chance to fuck his lawyer’s girlfriend.

I barely touched my food

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