Page 24 of Brutal Empire

My skin felt hot as a fire burned through it. I was across the world, and he still had a hold on me. I needed revenge. I needed to free myself of the shackles that my master and whoever was responsible for me being here did to me.

I turned around to where Bastian and Roman still looked at me, both with curious eyes. I didn’t stop until I was at the foot of Bastian’s bed.

“You’re right. I am weak, but right now, so are you. Whether you like it or not, you will need me, and I promise I won’t be useless.”

TEN

My life could have been so fuckingsimple. My only problems would have been too much money and bad PR. My dick would be getting sucked regularly, I would have taken the reins of my father’s company, and I would have died after remarrying two or three times.

Now, here I was again with a wound. Not close enough to death’s doors, but somehow all too familiar with them to know how frightening it is to knock on them.

Roman and I watched as Cam walked away. I knew I had been a dick, but she didn’t belong here. She was better off back in the fortress Daphne had set up.

“I think your little show did the opposite of what you wanted,” Roman smirked.

I flipped him off.

“I need to go to the Riveras’,” I told Roman. “If Damian is testing me, all would be good. I will be executed on sight if he no longer trusts me.”

“Nah,” Roman added.

“If he doesn’t trust you, he would make a show at the castle and execute you there. Then he would go after Daphne.”

He was right. Damian didn’t particularly fear anyone or anything, but for some reason, he always kept tabs on Daphne. She was smart. She had been planning to overthrow him for years, and he was currently winning. But I could never understand why he feared she would do so. From what I knew and what everyone else knew, they had equal footing in Sekten.

“Has she called?” I asked.

Roman shook his head.

“She’s probably being watched. She won’t risk it.”

“I need to get stronger. I need to figure out what Damian is up to.”

Roman didn’t answer me, but he did get some fluids to pump into me.

“Take it easy for two months.”

* * *

One monthlater

I had never been good at being on my own. In my old life, I was surrounded by people who always kissed my ass—socialites, associates, or instructors. The moments I had to myself were few, mostly just before I passed out and went to bed.

After I joined Sekten, there was always someone around, and when there wasn’t, I buried myself in pussy so my mind would stop going back tothatday.

When I had moments to myself, I could see Katia’s face as she looked at me through that two-way mirror and begged for someone to save her. I had not been able to do a thing then. For all my heroism I thought I was doing in the end, it meant dick.

As I walked down the stairs, I heard grunts from the patio. It didn’t matter how early I woke up. She was always up earlier.

“Good morning,” I chirped as she came into view.

She halted before she continued to do her next set of reps. Her lean body was covered. It didn’t matter how hot it got, she was always wearing a long-sleeve. The Mexico sun was warm and hot already despite it being early. The nights were chilly, but the days went from warm to burning hot. Most of the houses were made of cement so they would stay cool, but once you get used to air-conditioning, a “cool” house is not the same.

“I think we should head down next week,” I said as I took a sip from my water.

She paused and turned to look at me. “Are you ready?”

The morning sun made her eyes shine. The brown was vivid and filled with so much hurt and rage that, as mesmerizing as it was to see, it also made me feel sorrow.

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