Page 7 of A Heart So Savage

To which Kingston growled, “Refer to Ava like that again and Malcolm won’t be the only one passing through the incinerator.”

It did not sit well with Kingston that Carson skated away without payingsomething.His former friend must forfeit at least one thing, even if his debt was being transferred. Something he would hate losing. Of course, the price paid would be insignificant in comparison to Ava’s virgin blood, but still, Kingston would take it.

He planned on handling the matter in a very personal fashion, but first, he had a new pet to tame.

“Is Oliver angry about Malcolm?” Ava asked.

“If he is, it doesn’t matter. It needed to be done.”

Ava’s eyes swept downward. “I—I’m sorry, Kingston. If I could go back and do things differently, I would.”

“You aren’t to blame for that man’s actions. Your only culpability lies in disobeying my instructions.”

She shot him a glance from beneath lowered lashes. “And you’ve punished me for that mistake.”

Kingston said nothing. It would frighten her to know how much he ached to do even more. The things he wanted, all the wicked, immoral things he ached for, made his head swim.

His little lamb had no idea how much he had changed since the day of her parents’ funeral. How mired in violence and danger he’d become. It was a deep hole he couldn’t emerge from.

Ava’s gaze darted to the folder still laying on the billiard table. “What is that?”

Kingston picked it up, his gaze tracing her features as he considered his next move.

Ava’s eyebrow rose high at his silence. “Is it a list of souls you own or something? An accounting of people you’ve killed?”

A muscle twitched in Kingston’s jaw. “It’s the contract detailing your debt. I want you to sign it.”

She retreated a few inches, her eyes flaring with alarm. “I’m not signing that.”

“Oh, but you are.”

“I won’t. How could such a thing be binding in a court of law anyway? That’s insane.” Ava’s chin lifted in stubborn resistance, and a pang of guilt stabbed Kingston’s gut at his methods of keeping her.

He brushed it aside.

“You’d be surprised how binding this document truly is. I’m giving you two choices, Ava. Sign it and spend your time paying the debt in relative freedom. In luxury. Your every whim granted… within reason, of course. Or don’t and spend your days in the cell. I’ll visit often to fuck you and punish you.”

“Pretty much the same thing, aren’t they? The fucking…” Her eyes narrowed as she spat out the epitaph. “And the punishments.”

“You’ve no idea how unpleasant I can make both,” he growled in annoyance. “Make your choice.”

Kingston could see the mutinous bend of Ava’s thoughts so clearly in her translucent features as she reasoned things out. She wasn’t very adept at hiding her emotions from him, and he relished these little peeks into her soul. She desperately wanted to defy him… recklessly wanted to choose the cell as a means of avoiding the contract’s finality. Her sweet, sensible, practical nature demanded otherwise.

“Iwillfuck you whenever I please, Ava.” His voice remained calm. “Might as well enjoy some freedom along with that reality and in between punishments. Who knows? You may even enjoy the things I do to you.”

“You won’t allow another man to touch me, but you will take whatever you want from me.” Ava’s words were strangled with outrage. “And I must allow it because a piece of paper gives you that right.”

“It’s how things must be. I told you before. I don’t forgive debts. Someone must pay. Someonealwayspays.”

Ava glared at him. “You made me think I would be safe with you.”

Kingston could not help his smirk. “Safewithme, lamb. Not safe from me.”

ChapterThree

The needles and pins

You pushed in

---