Page 5 of Sire: On Your Knees

"I understand, sir," she quickly replied with a trembling voice.

Her fear brought me great joy. "Not sir but Sire." Slowly standing, I backed away from her. "Let's go. For that stunt you pulled, you get to sleep on the terrace until I decide to let you take that shower I offered earlier."

Tears slid down her cheeks in tiny rivers, but they didn't faze me. This bitch and her friends tried to take another sibling from me. The mere thought had me clenching my fists as the urge to grab my Glock and blow her brains out tried to overpower me.I was already down one sibling and refused to allow anyone to take a second.

"Let's go," I barked in a hoarse voice.

She jumped to her feet, hearing the growl in my tone. I marched her to the terrace and slid open the door. Pushing her outside, I closed then quickly locked the door.

Knovah banged on the door with tears still sliding down her cheeks. I stood there watching her cry. Her theatrics made me smile. When she saw the joy her fear brought me, she backed away toward the railing. I watched as she looked over the side to see how high up we were. When she turned to look at me over her shoulder, I saw the defiant set of her jaw. It told me this woman would be a problem, but it was a good thing being a problem solver was one of my strengths.

He was such an asshole...

With my arms wrapped around my body to protect myself from the harsh chill of the wind, I watched Sire enter his living room in a pair of black silk pajama bottoms. I didn't want to check him out, but I couldn't help but allow my eyes to slide up and down his chiseled and ripped midsection. Fuck... his body was a dream.

Now that I was seeing him in better lighting, I couldn't lie and say he wasn't handsome. His toasty almond complexion housed low brown eyes, a small and perfect nose, and bottom-heavy lips with a pink center. His mustache and goatee were cut low. There was a stud nose ring in his right nostril and diamond earrings in both ears. I think my favorite feature was his silky and curly black hair, which he currently had up in a man bun. While he was very attractive, I learned rather quickly a demon lived inside of him.

Sire sat on his couch with a food tray loaded with pasta that looked amazing. Kicking his feet up, he turned on the television to watchThe Wire. He comfortably sat enjoying his meal and TV show like I wasn't on his terrace, freezing my ass off.

I couldn't believe the situation I'd landed in. Jumping over the ledge to put myself out of my misery seemed like a temptingresolution to the bullshit. I was too pussy to do it, though, so I stayed put, allowing the busy city below to keep me distracted.

I never should've gone along with Ria and Rico's stupid plan. While they were free doing God knows what, here I was being held captive against my will. I wondered what valuable item they'd stolen from Sire. Once I got myself out of this situation, I was tracking those two down. To know they had abandoned me really broke my heart, especially where Ria was concerned. If you had told me my friend would switch on me like this, I wouldn't have believed it. I always coined Ria as a ride-or-die, but I guess Rico altered things because she'd indeed left me to die at the hands of this stranger.

Glancing over my shoulder at Sire enjoying his show, I tried not to think about how handsome he was. He was a cruel and dangerous man. I felt a pit in the bottom of my stomach, thinking of when the calm, cool, and collected man disappeared, and only a monster was left behind. I couldn't be a victim again. Subject to physical, emotional, and mental abuse until it overwhelmed me, and all I desired was to escape. That need to escape already cost me my sister. I never expected to end up in a similar situation again.

All my life, people treated me like I didn't matter. I knew my time under Sire's iron fist would be no different. Tears welled in the corners of my eyes as the fear of my past tried to swallow me whole. I froze when I heard the terrace door slide open. Sniffling, I quickly wiped my eyes, not wanting him to see me emotional and think it was weakness. Men like him preyed on that.

"Are you ready to behave?" Sire's husky voice sent chills down my spine.

Why is he referring to me like I’m some kind of dog?

I sighed, then spun around to face him. "Yes, can I please take a shower?"

I felt disgusting with all the dirt, piss, and shit caked on my skin, not to mention I smelled even worse. It was my own fault for thinking it would be so simple to escape him. He was obviously so confident because he knew I was trapped in his luxurious yet empty penthouse. I noticed how it didn't seem lived-in but a place of convenience and privacy rather than comfort.

Sire eyed me with an unwavering, penetrating glare. "You could've taken a shower a while ago, but I had to teach you a lesson. There won't be too many of them before I lose my cool, so play nicely, and I won't make your life a living hell. Understand?" Swallowing my pride, I nodded once. "Good. Come inside."

It kinda hurt to walk into the warm comfort of his home after freezing for the last few days. I placed a hand over my stomach when it growled loudly. He placed a hand on my arm to stop me before I could fully pass him. I flinched, anticipating a tight grip to follow, but it didn't.

"Your plate will be in your room when you finish up."

I couldn't even speak because his stormy brown eyes had pain swirling in their depths. I inhaled sharply before dropping my eyes to the floor. I was okay with eating in my room. All I could think about was escaping this nightmare. I'd never craved my freedom more than I did now. I refused to die as a slave after escaping a terrorizer hellbent on ending me.

While in the shower, I allowed my tears to blend in with the running water. I was an emotional wreck with no one to turn to. Sniffling, I realized my only option was to save myself. I tossed many ideas around in my mind.

Now, knowing the elevator was out of the question, I would have to wait until Sire took me to work at the club. That seemed like the only time I would get a chance because if he kept me locked up here, all hope would be lost. By the time I stepped out,I felt better knowing I had a plan. I only had to patiently wait for my opportunity to put it into motion.

Various motorcycles littered the parking lot as I approached The Core. It was what we called the Carolina Cutthroat Boyz clubhouse, where we handled business, hung out, and got checked out by the commissioned doctor. Even though my mother told me Tahmir was okay, I had to see him with my own eyes.

I wouldn't be able to handle losing another sibling of mine. I'd been on edge since the robbery because it was a close call. I tried not to think about what would've happened if I hadn't shown up looking for Clea's locket. It had to have fallen out of my pocket when I was over there earlier in the evening, and because it meant so much to me, I would stop the world from spinning to go back and get it.

When I walked in and saw that nigga with a huge duffel bag on his shoulder, I already knew what it was. Thirsty ass nigga had the nerve to be wearing the jewelry my brother left Pleasures in. I reached into my waist for my Glock at the same time my voice boomed in the room, catching him off guard. That pussy ass nigga lit my brother up after introducing himself and dodging my first shot. I would've caught up to him and his bitch if I hadn't stopped to check on Tahmir. Seeing him unconscious made my heart stop. I just knew he was gone. By the grace ofGod, my brother was still here. With the last breath in my body, I was going to make those who'd caused him harm pay for it.

Pulling open the entrance door, I stepped into the dimly lit bar area where everyone was lounging around. People called out to me as I made my way toward the back exit that led to the other areas in The Core. I only offered a nod here and there because I was on a mission.

I only stopped when one of my closest friends, Kalias, walked up on me. "Yo, Si," he greeted me.

Turning toward him, I accepted his hand to do the CCB handshake. "What's good, my boy?"

---