Page 24 of Master

While Sasha and I haven’t delved into her past—I’ll earn her trust first—it is beyond apparent that they all sorely mistreated her. The list of my rules should be the bare minimum behavior of any Dominant.

Period. No discourse needed.

All of them are responsible for her coming so close to dying a couple of nights ago in my club. Each of them put her beneath their needs and desires—ingraining poor information about my world and this lifestyle—until she was so fragile that she wound up with a man like Isaac. All of them deserve to pay for that.

And they will…

“I’m sorry,” Sasha inhales, embarrassed about the current state of her emotions. Half joking, she blurts, “I’m broken.”

“Don’t say that,” I admonish before taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. “You’re not broken, Sasha. You’re hurt, and I’m going to help heal you.”

Staring at the delicate woman before me, I am met with the reality of how much work she’s going to need as my student. This is no longer about an overwhelming protective desire to teach her about this world. It’s so much more. I am determined to watch her grow. To fucking flourish. By the time she leaves me, I want her to be a powerhouse. A strong, confident sub that willfully gives her submission to a Dominant who earns it and is grateful for the gift she’s bestowing upon them when she kneels at their feet.

For the gift she is temporarily giving me.

My phone buzzes a few times against the dark mahogany of the table, and I flip it over to see a text message from Layla.

LAYLA

All set, Li.

It might be good to ease her into all of us before family dinner on Sunday. If she wants, I’d love to get together with her this week for lunch.

If that isn’t the fucking truth…

All of us would.

“Layla is wondering if you would like to go to lunch this week with her and my sisters-in-law,” I inform Sasha. “I’m goingto tell her yes for you. I think it would be good for you to have confidants. Other women who will understand what we’re doing and be more than open to talking with you about their experiences.”

“Okay,” she responds, nodding nervously.

Swiping my thumbs across the phone, I send my reply.

Definitely. Thank you.

Please also take her shopping for anything she needs.

Shopping. I guess… If I have to

After paying the check and walking to the car, we begin the near-hour-long drive to my apartment. Free from the earshot of others, I disclose, “If you’re going to be a part of my life for the next six months, there is something that I feel is important to share with you.”

Sasha shifts her weight, the black leather of the seat crinkling beneath her as she turns to face me.Good fucking girl.She hesitates for a moment and trepidatiously asks,“What is it?”

“My brothers and I, we do more than run the club.” I pause for a second to gauge her reaction. “We have anotherbusinessthat puts us—and you—at risk.”

With a tiny nod, she confesses, “I know.”

“You know?” I ask with a shock-laced tone.

Sasha lets out a tiny giggle, teasing, “It’s not exactly a secret who the Evans brothers are.” While I do not appreciate her tone andthe bit of brattiness it has, I am so pleased to see a bit of her personality that I let it slide.

“Knowing that and so little else about me, why did you agree to let me train you?” I ask with genuine curiosity.

“You have been nothing but kind and compassionate to me since the moment I met you.” She gives a little shrug of her shoulders. “And Layla and, sort of, Tristan.”

I glance from the road to her with an arched brow, silently urging her to expand on her admission. When she doesn’t, I encourage, “Go on.”

“Layla confirmed what I thought, that you have a good heart. And your brother… It was the way he treated her when she was bratting him. He didn’t get upset or hit her. He just informed her a correction was coming, which she accepted willingly.”

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