Page 28 of The Puppetmaster

And I shouldn’t. Guilt like that is a reminder. A reminder to never let it happen again.

And now he knows about it, too.

He knows that about me and he still wants me to be his puppet.

Even Riley doesn’t know about the horrible truth in that note. And she doesn’t need to.

But I’m glad she knows about him now—and about the fact that I’m about to do something insane by accepting the invitation to become his puppet.

“Wow, that’s... crazy,” Riley says after I conclude.

“I know.” I agree.

And that’s all she says in response to my confession. She doesn’t try to talk me out of it, she doesn’t try to warn me, she doesn’t pry for details. Instead she just finds her very own way of giving me her blessing by not saying anything at all. I know that’s how she is. She’s always been like that, cautious, reclusive, and overly considerate. It can be annoying, to be honest, but today I greatly appreciate it.

My eyes scan my living room, latching onto the suitcase that’s lying open in the middle of the room. It’s the smallest one I own, the one I’d normally use for a short weekend trip or business travel. That’s all I’m allowed to bring with me. And he told me that I shouldn’t worry about bringing too many clothes—because I won’t be wearing much while I’m with him.

My cheeks glow at the thought of it, only fueled further by the rapid beating of my heart.

“And I thought I was the mad one,” my sister goes on, giggling before she asks, “Wanna know what I did to get fired?”

A wide grin appears on my face, and I plant myself on the couch, my feet dangling over the armrest as I lie down on the worn-out fabric, grateful for a little distraction.

“Yes I do, and I’m listening!”

Chapter 18

Alena

I’ve been in a daze of disbelief for the past week.

Seven days. That’s how much time I was given after he revealed his decision to me.

A decision that I still can’t quite fathom.

My life has turned upside down within less than two weeks. I quit my job, I attended the Puppetmaster’s hunt for the first time in years—and now I’m sitting on a freaking private jet that’s headed for New York City to play a seductive and potentially dangerous game with a man who is as promising as he is mysterious.

I still don’t know his name, and that’s one thing that really irks me, especially now that he knows so much about me. A part of me doubts the decision to hand everything over to him this easily. I was running out of time, and instead of taking a step back to think, I hurried to fill out everything he asked for, just so my chances wouldn’t be jeopardized by something as stupid as the timer running out.

This is all so crazy.

How can he still want me after the things I told him? How can he still want someone as his puppet who is as tainted and wrong as I am?

As I sit on the softest leather seat that has ever hugged my body, and my absentminded gaze trails across the landscape thousands of feet below, I begin to wonder whether he wants to punish me.

Maybe the Puppetmaster chooses his puppets based on their sins? Maybe he tries to correct those who deserve to be punished. He is strict, and while his hand may give pleasure to those who submit to it, maybe that’s not his reason for doing it.

I told him that I feel a strong urge to be put in my place. To be beaten and hurt until I scream for mercy—but not receiving any. I know that I need to experience it at least once.

And I feel like I deserve it.

“Miss Prey?”

The friendly female voice yanks me back to the present. I’ve been so deep in thought that I didn’t notice the change in altitude as the jet started approaching our destination. The only stewardess on board, a young blonde woman dressed in a navy-blue uniform with a pencil skirt and a bright yellow scarf, smiles at me and gestures for me to fasten my seatbelt.

“We’re getting ready for landing,” she pipes, and I nod on instinct.

“I’m sorry, I was just… yes, thank you.”

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