Page 8 of Broken Empire
Robert raised a brow. “You think the viewers would ever wantconsent?” he asked, voice dripping with scorn. “They don’t. They only want to see misery and suffering.”
I stared at him, nostrils flaring. “I can’t believe I actually thought you were one of the good guys,” I said, voice dripping with disgust. “You’re a fucking monster.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “You only think that because you share the same basic belief system as most others in our society. You think everyone is born with an innate right to equality. But I, and many others in the Schöneberg Group, see the truth—that it’s a dog eat dog world. Someone always has to lose for another to win. We simply choose to be the winners. We’re lions while everyone else in the world are sheep.”
“That’s not true,” I said stiffly. “You’re not fuckinglions.You’re just power-hungry assholes.”
He smiled thinly. “It’s true whether you like it or not, Shay. That’s why I’m on top right now and you’re at my knees.”
I didn’t have a response to that. I just glowered at him instead.
He glanced at his watch. “I better go. I have a meeting in DC tomorrow morning, so I have to catch the next flight down there,” he said. “Don’t bother screaming after I’m gone because no one who cares will hear anything. These rooms are all soundproofed and located on a hidden floor.”
I know, asshole,I replied silently in my mind, lips pressed into a thin line.One of the Manhattan chapter members uses a spare suite up here as his own personal fuckpad, and he told me all about the soundproofing.
That made me wonder what Leon would think if he ever saw or heard about me being the Schöneberg Group’s latest sale item. Would he recognize me, or would I simply blur into the long line of women the organization had used and abused in exchange for money and power?
“Someone will come by in the morning to bring you some food and run you through your daily costume details,” Robert went on. “Until then… try to get some sleep.”
He turned and briskly headed for the door. I jumped up and ran after him, but he overpowered me easily, shoving me backward before slamming the door in my face. I heard the key turning in the lock a second later.
Even though I knew it was futile, I screamed and pounded on the heavy wooden door with my fists, desperately needing an outlet for my fear and fury. Then, with hot tears splashing down my cheeks, I sank to the floor.
How could this happen to me? How the hell had I become a prisoneragain?
When Killian took me and locked me away in a dark castle, I thought it was the worst thing that had ever happened to me, barring the death of my parents. Then, when Cooper stole me from him and forced me to become his bride, I thoughtthatwas the worst thing that had ever happened to me.
Both of those incidents paled in comparison with tonight’s horror. Killian and Cooper always planned to let me live, but my new owner had other plans. Far darker plans.
Seven days from now… I could be dead.
3
Killian
I stifleda yawn and pulled off the edge of the road as my phone chirped.You have arrived at your destination.
A decrepit old bus stop stood before me, sagging under the weight of years past. Gnarled trees flanked it, throwing splintered pools of light onto the dusty ground as the bright moon shone through the skeletal branches.
Connor was nowhere to be seen.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, I grabbed my phone and sent him a text.Here. Where are you?
He didn’t reply, so I assumed his phone had finally died. I waited in the car for five minutes before getting out to take a look around, figuring he might’ve wandered off to take a piss in the woods.
“Connor!” I called out, squinting into the darkness. “Where the fuck are you?”
There was no response beyond the wind whistling through the trees. With an irate grunt, I fished my cell out of my pocket again and sent another text.In case you’ve just switched off your phone for a while to conserve the battery, I’m at the spot you asked me to pick you up from. Hurry up and get in the car or you’ll fucking freeze to death.
He replied five minutes later.Huh? Wrong person?
I frowned and dialed his number. He answered right away. “Hey, man. What’s up?” he said. I could hear loud bass throbbing around him, along with raucous masculine laughter and the sound of glasses clinking together.
“Where are you?” I asked, brows rising.
“Club opening downtown. Want to join?”
“Are you serious?” I said, free hand tightening at my side. “I just drove for two fucking hours to pick you up. Did you catch a ride back with someone else?”
