Page 16 of Beg the Night

“Get out of here,” I sighed. “If you let anyone else in here—including your brother—I’m going to be pissed. Understand?”

Margaret’s wide eyes lit up. “Got it,” she nodded. “Again, I’m so sorry. I really didn’t expect him to barge in here.”

“It’s okay,” I sighed, my body deflating. “I have a feeling it won’t be happening again.” I hoped not, at least.

NowI understood why Margaret was respected around here. Her brother was terrifying.

I finished my shower without more intrusions, and when I stepped out, Margaret had found clothes for me. I rinsed my disgusting boots in the water, but there was no way I was going to put my feet back in those things. I wasn’t even sure I could, not after taking them off for the first time in days.

I took off my wet bra and underwear, washed them quickly, and tucked them away with my boots. I wasn’t sure my clothing would remain unbothered around here, but if they were still here in the morning, I could put them back on. Margaret had found a shirt that was three sizes too big for me and a pair of men’s slacks I had to roll over at the waist to keep in place, but they were better than nothing.

I slipped the fabric over my now semi-human skin.

“Ready?” she asked me.

I nodded, tucking them under my arm. Margaret walked around barefoot, as did half the men in here. I guess I would be doing the same.

She slipped her arm through mine as we walked back out to the main dungeon. What the hell had Sinner meant when he said not to sleep in the middle of the room? It wasn’t like there was a wide selection of available cots to choose from.

The men had claimed just about every one, especially those in the corners, where there was a little more privacy, and no one had offered to give theirs up. They may be afraid of Sinner, but they weren’t exactly chivalrous.

I turned to head toward our usual spot, but Margaret stopped me, her lip caught between her teeth. “Um, why don’t we sleep over there tonight?” she asked, pointing to a cot that hadn’t been available before I stepped into the restroom. And of course it was the cot directly next to Sinner’s.

“Absolutely not.”

“Oh, come on. Why not? It’s way better than sleeping out there on the floor!” Though she whispered, her voice carried in the dank cell.

“You know exactly why,” I sneered as I scanned our surroundings. “I much prefer our spot on the floor. Come on.”

“Something wrong?” a male voice boomed from far too close for my comfort. “Or are you disobeying my direct orders already, New Girl?”

FIVE

sinner

God, she looked even more shocked now than when I’d snuck up on her in the shower. Her eyes widened, and she instinctively took a step back.

Was she surprised that I was speaking to her? Or that I insisted she and my sister sleep on this cot instead of on the floor like rats?

I couldn’t care less about the new addition, but my sister had chosen to befriend her, and I did have some family loyalty, after all.

New Girl stood frozen in place, mouth agape, staring at me.

“What?” I pushed, taking another step forward. My voice was drawing attention now, but I didn’t give a fuck. This wasmydungeon. New Girl would follow my orders. Someone needed to teach her that lesson, it seemed. “Can’t speak now? Or is there some other reason that you’d rather not sleep over here?” I pointed to the cot.

Yeah, I’d told her to leave me alone, but I had the right to change my mind, didn’t I?

I had to admit, now that she wasn’t covered in dirt and blood, she didn’t look half bad. If I had to guess by her lean frameand sculpted muscles, she wasn’t a stranger to hard work. But I wasn’t going to let her physical features distract me.

New Girl here was hiding something. I could fucking smell it.

“Can I talk to you for a second?” Mags hissed.

Squinting, New Girl looked from my sister to me and back again, clearly suspicious.

Mags gripped my arm and pulled me a few feet away. She was small, but damn, the girl was strong. And from the look on her face, she was about to piss me off.

“What do you want, Mags?”

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