Page 52 of Psyop Kings

I meet Caius’s icy stare as Theo clomps down the stairs. Sitting upright, I pull my knees together and hug them.

“What?” I arch an eyebrow at him. “What’s wrong?”

The only telling cue that he’s angry is the narrowing of his eyes. I hate when he looks at me like this—like he can get right inside my head to discover my motives and secrets. Emboldenedby the liquor, I glower back, imagining I have a scalpel, cutting into his mind and his mysteries.

“You seem pissed,” I blurt out, again trying to get him to speak. “Are you?”

“Nope.”

Liar.

“Well…” I give him an exasperated look. “What do you want from me?”

“I want you to be smarter than that, little girl. You’re not a whore. You’re my girlfriend.”

I flinch at his word choice. “I hate when you call melittlegirl. Do you get off on it? I’m a grown woman, not a child.”

“Grown women don’t try to fuck their boyfriend’s younger brother. Bratty little girls do.”

Hatred for this man boils deep inside of me. I jump to my feet and then nearly topple over the coffee table. If it weren’t for his quick reflexes, snagging my bicep, I’d have a few new bruises.

“Let go of me,” I snap, not bothering to be thankful for his save.

He releases me and steps out of the way. “Theo is like a cat. He brings in his prey to toy with. Eventually, though, he goes in for the kill. You’re revealing yourself to be a weak mouse, little girl.”

“I’m not weak.” I shoot him a withering glare. “I like to play games. Looks like I’ll fit right in around here.”

I try to walk straight, but my steps are wobbly. I’m sure I look every bit the small mouse, ready to get devoured by his brother. But I’m not. I won’t let these evil men win.

Before I reach the steps, an arm hooks around my middle. I let out a screech of surprise. Caius hoists me off the floor and manhandles me down the stairs, not letting me walk down them alone.

Since he’s stronger, I don’t fight him off, but I do curse like a sailor, all of which are aimed directly at him.

He carries me down the steps and then to his room. I tense in his hold, suddenly apprehensive about what comes next. Moments ago, I was considering if I could have sex with Theo to use him to get a ticket out of here. Now the idea of Caius raping me has terror clawing up inside me.

“No,” I croak out. “No, no, no, no.”

“Sorry. Unfamiliar with that word.”

I let loose a blood-curdling scream, twisting and turning, trying to get out of his grip. “Let me go, you monster!”

We enter his bedroom that smells like him, only stronger and more intense. I shriek when he tosses me onto the bed. When I start to crawl toward the other side of the bed, he grabs hold of my hips and drags me to him.

What have I done?

What’s happening?

Fat tears well in my eyes and roll down my flushed cheeks. I squeal when he flips me onto my back. With one hand on my stomach holding me down on the bed and his legs pressing into mine, Caius towers over me like some wicked overlord about to claim his unwilling bride.

I think I’m going to be sick.

“Time for bed, little girl. Night night.”

He shoves a pill down my throat like our last encounter in a bed together, and I gag around his fingers. And when my body eventually loses all will to fight, he finally pulls away.

My lids are heavy despite my desperation to keep my eyes open. The last thing I see is Caius unbuckling his belt.

Everything goes black.

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