Page 65 of The Puppetmaster

“Yes, Mr. Puppetmaster, I think I’m aware of your little show.”

“Don’t mock me, little brother,” I growl at him.

Nate lets out an exasperated sigh. “What is the problem then?”

“This one is too strong, too unyielding. I absolutely fucking need her to do this, because everything is at stake. There’s no way around it. But I’ve been working her for long enough to know that she won’t turn a blind eye to what I need her to do,” I snarl. “That’sthe fucking problem.”

“Mm-hmm,” Nate retorts, letting a few moments pass before he adds, “I think I know what to tell you, but I’m not sure you’re gonna like it.”

“I don’t like most things you trot out, Nate. Just spill it.”

“I don’t need to hear the full story to know that whoever you’re talking about is a special person,” he says, feeding the impatient rage within me. “So I would tell you two things. First: hold on to that one. Don’t fucking let her go.”

I roll my eyes. How is that going to help me?

“What’s the second thing?”

He clears his throat again, adding another torturous pause before he shares his brotherly wisdom with me.

“Do what I did,” he says eventually. “Don’t lie to her. Don’t try to force her to turn a blind eye to what you’re trying to do. Make her your ally.”

Chapter 40

Alena

I’m sitting in his regular spot on the terrace, my eyes resting on the pond where a lonely Koi carp is swimming in circles. There’s usually more than one, and I know there must be at least three of them living in there, but the others must be hiding while this one restlessly circles its tiny world. Salwa is not allowed out here, otherwise I’m sure she’d be sitting at the edge of the pond, curiously observing the fish yet keeping her distance. She’s an elegant creature and weirdly averse to getting her pristine paws dirty. Raad worries that she could run away and never come back if he’d let her run freely out here in the backyard.

“I’d never hear the end of it,” he said, referring to his housemaid, whose name appears to be Dorota.

I wonder if she knows what her employer is up to when he sends her away for weeks. When I asked him about it, he just shrugged, claiming that he doesn’t care. He never told her anything, but he knows just as I do that the woman is not stupid, and there’s a reason why she has never inquired about it either. She understands that some things are best kept secret, especially if knowing about it would put her in an awkward position.

I’m wrapped in a thick, soft blanket, sitting on the bench with my legs pulled up under me and a hot tea steaming in front of me. It’s nice and sunny out today, but so chilly that my breath fogs in clouds in front of my eyes while I bask my face in the early-morning sun. The colder temperatures and my desire for fresh air have forced me to eventually dig into my own suitcase for some warmer clothes. Long pants and an auburn-colored turtleneck pullover are way better suited for this weather than the cute lingerie I like to wear for him.

I’ve been bad this morning. I broke a rule I have never broken before.

When he didn’t show up at my room at the usual time, I was bold enough to step out on my own. It still surprises me that he never locked me up in there. I was always able to leave on my own, just as I’d be able to remove the cuffs around my wrists if I wanted to.

But I never did. The thought never even occurred to me up until this morning.

Truth is, I want to see what happens. Am I testing him? Maybe. He always warned me against trying to play him like that because he doesn’t like brats. But I’m not a brat. I’m also not trying to top him from the bottom.

If anything, I’m teasing him just enough to wrinkle a little tension between us. Tension that might lead to a punishment, but a punishment that I’d gladly accept because I know I deserve it.

Besides, the morning sun was too beautiful to be ignored. I know it only hits this seating area during the morning hours, so now was really my only opportunity to take advantage of this wonderful fall weather we’re having.

I didn’t think I’d be actually be afraid of his retaliation, but my heart wrenches up in a scare when he suddenly appears next to me, walking through the wide French doors in slow but meaningful steps.

He is dressed rather casually in a dark gray cashmere pullover and black pants. He looks as handsome as he always does, his black hair styled to the nines, the dark stubble framing his strong jaw trimmed perfectly, and a fresh scent engulfing his presence when he sits down next to me. He doesn’t look angry or bothered by the fact that I dared to come out here all by myself without waiting for him to fetch me from my room.

But he does appear to be preoccupied. A contemplative expression masks his handsome face as his eyes trail off into the distance.

“Good morning, Master,” I whisper in a demure voice, shifting closer to him.

A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Good morning, Puppet.”

He doesn’t even look at me as he speaks. I’ve never seen him like this before—and it worries the hell out of me.

“Did something happen?” I inquire, leaning over to him in an attempt to catch his gaze.

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